Plant of the Week – Lilacs

 
I’ve decided that I am going to start posting a “Plant of the Week” blog. I am starting out with one of my absolute favorites- Lilac bushes. I can still remember smelling the Lilac bush at our family’s old cabin when I was about 4 or 5 years old. It has always been my favorite, and the cute little purple flowers will bloom for about two weeks every spring. They have a wonderful scent, and I always make sure to cut a few blooms to bring inside because they make the house smell so good.
Depending on the variety, they can grow to 10-12 feet tall, and once they are well established they will also grow to be quite large in diameter. These shrubs are very low maintenance, and will thrive in full sun and well draining soil. They aren’t too picky, and will tolerate soils from clay to sand. One of the most important things you can do to keep your lilac looking great is to prune it every year, which helps with more blooms the following season.
Lilacs are very versatile, and will work well in most yards. Considering some of the cultivars that have been developed, lilacs will grow anywhere between zone 2 all the way down to the northern parts of zone 9 (depending on the variety of course!) Also, if you really enjoy blooming Lilacs, you can always plant a large variety of them in your yard with different bloom times. That should extend your bloom time to about 6 weeks instead of the normal 2 weeks if everything works out right. Here are the bloom times of some different varieties of lilacs:
Early May
Hyacinth lilac (Syringa hyacinthiflora)
Early lilac (S. oblata)
Pinnate lilac (S. pinnatifolia)
Mid-May
Chinese lilac (S. chinesis)
Meyer lilac (S. meyeri)
Persian lilac (S. persica)
Littleleaf lilac (S. microphylla)
Common lilac (S. vulgaris)
Late May to Early June
Komarov’s lilac (S. komarowii)
Preston lilac (S. prestoniae)
Early to Mid-June
Japanese tree lilac (S. reticulata)
Peking lilac (S. pekinensis)  http://gardencorner.net/?p=78

Уход за сиренью и способы размножения

Дикая, видовая сирень размножается семенами и порослью, сортовая же только вегетативно, т. е. прививкой или черенкованием. По листьям сорта сирени мало отличаются от исходного вида, и поэтому отличить дичок подвоя от привитого сорта довольно трудно. Корнесобственные экземпляры можно также размножить отводками и порослью.

Сроки прививки те же, что и у плодовых культур, но предпочтительнее более ранние. Черенкуется сирень хуже, чем, например, розы. Черенки нарезают с полуодревесневших однолетних побегов в конце цветения. Лучше использовать тонкие обрастающие веточки из середины куста. Черенок нарезают длиной 10—15 см с 3—5 почками и с верхушечной ростовой. Успех укоренения во многом зависит от сорта. Хорошие результаты получаются в туманообразующих установках.
На постоянное место саженцы высаживают в начале осени или весной до пробуждения почек. Сирень успешно переносит пересадку с комом и летом — в июле—августе. Место прививки или корневая шейка должны быть у поверхности почвы. При посадке сирень обрезают, укорачивая однолетние или многолетние побеги. На каждом оставляют по 2—4 пары нижних почек. Мелкие и загущающие ветки удаляют на кольцо.
Цветочные почки у сирени находятся на концах однолетних побегов, поэтому при обрезке, которую производят рано весной до пробуждения почек, только просветляют крону, удаляя целиком загущающие, растущие внутрь куста ветки и слабые боковые веточки. У привитых кустов регулярно в течение всей вегетации удаляют дикую поросль, вырезая ее в месте отрастания.
Как только сирень отцветет, срезают соцветия, чтобы пластические вещества не расходовались на образование семян. Тогда они будут использованы растением на закладку цветочных почек для следующего года.
Континентальный климат высокогорий Балканского полуострова - родины сирени -обусловил ее зимостойкость, выносливость к резким перепадам температур, засухоустойчивость; открытое местообитание – светолюбивость, а особенности местных грунтов (известняковые склоны) предопределили несомненное предпочтение нейтральных или слабощелочных почв с хорошо проницаемым подпочвенным горизонтом. Сортовая сирень во многом унаследовала биологические особенности своего прародителя, поэтому и требования к агротехнике у нее такие же.
Подкармливают и поливают сирень в период интенсивного роста и цветения, т. е. ранней весной и в начале лета, а также в засуху. Не следует перекармливать растения, особенно азотом, иначе снижается их устойчивость к болезням.
При хорошем уходе сирень ежегодно будет радовать вас обильным цветением. http://www.flowers-in-home.info/lilac.html

Easy, Beautiful Window Boxes for Sun

Dress Up a Dormer

Window boxes are the perfect way to make dormers look extra special. Create lots of season-long interest with a mix of profuse bloomers, such as this verbena, and unusual foliage, such as flowering kale and sedge. That way you can enjoy the beautiful leaves and their distinct textures if the flowers take a break.
A. Sedge (Carex siderosticha 'Variegata') -- 2
B. Kale (Brassica oleracea 'Osaka') -- 2
C. Verbena 'Tuscany Violet with Eye' -- 2
D. Coral bells (Heuchera 'Pewter Moon') -- 2

Go Bold with Foliage

You can't beat coleus for gorgeously colored foliage. This mix of super-saturated leaf colors will give you a great view out -- and give your home wonderful curb appeal -- all summer long. Tip: Coleus also grows well indoors; take cuttings of your favorite varieties before the end of the season and treat them like houseplants so you can enjoy them all year long.
A. Coleus (Solenostemon 'Stained Glassworks Copper') -- 1
B. Lantana 'Dallas Red' -- 1
C. Bear grass (Xerophyllum tenax) -- 2
D. Coleus (Solenostemon 'True Red') -- 1
E. Coleus (Solenostemon 'Stained Glassworks Big Blond') -- 1
F. Licorice vine (Helichrysum petiolare) -- 1   

Pick Easy-Growing Plants

Create a "wow" look in your window boxes with double petunias. Their ruffled flowers create a lot more interest than their more traditional cousins. Enjoy their elegant blooms on the plant or snip a couple and float them in a glass of water for a wonderful little accent or summer centerpiece.
A. Petunia 'Ruffle Pink' -- 2
B. Verbena 'Aztec Raspberry' -- 3
C. Coleus (Solenostemon 'Frilly Milly') -- 1
D. Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas 'Marguerite') -- 2
E. Angelonia 'Angelface White' -- 1   

Add Drama to a Big Window

A big window needs a bold window box -- and here's a great example. This container has it all: tons of texture, depth, and dimension. It's a riot of color that'll help your home feel like it's worth a million bucks. And it's bold enough that it doesn't get overshadowed by the size of the window.
A. Bacopa (Sutera 'Bridal Bouquet') -- 4
B. Torenia 'Catalina Blue' -- 1
C. Calibrachoa 'Cabaret Purple' -- 2
D. Shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana) -- 1
E. Heliotrope (Heliotropium 'Marine') -- 2
F. Daisy (Felicia 'Read's White') -- 2
G. Licorice vine (Helichrysum petiolare) -- 1   

Keep It Full

Sweet potato vine is a no-fail trailer that's perfect for sun or shade. It's a quick grower that adds a lush, cascading look and softens the window box it grows from. There are a number of varieties, but the standout is this golden selection that looks great combined with practically everything.
A. Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas 'Margarita') -- 2
B. Snapdragon (Antirrhinum 'Floral Showers Rose Pink') -- 2
C. Browallia 'Blue Bell' -- 1
D. Pentas 'Graffiti Pink' -- 1
E. Snapdragon (Antirrhinum 'Floral Showers Apricot') -- 1   

Use White to Add Elegance

All-white window boxes are among the most elegant you can create. They're also some of the easiest -- since you don't need to worry about your color choices working with each other. After all, white looks good with everything -- especially itself.
A. Geranium (Pelargonium 'Orbit White') -- 1
B. Ivy (Hedera helix 'Glacier') -- 4
C. Bacopa (Sutera 'Snowstorm') -- 3
D. Impatiens 'Xtreme White' -- 2   

Another Take on White

Take an all-white theme to the next level with silvery foliage. From silvery licorice vine to the artemisia shown here, silver foliage adds something special to your planting. Bonus: Light colors such as silver and white show up best at night, and seem to glow at dusk so you can enjoy them longer into the night.
A. Artemisia 'Silver Broacade' -- 2
B. Baby's breath (Gypsophila elegans) -- 1
C. Daisy (Argyranthemum 'Madeira White') -- 2
D. Stock (Matthiola 'Harmony White') -- 3
E. Nicotiana (Nicotiana 'Saratoga White') -- 4
F. Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum) -- 2   

Enjoy a Pastel Color Theme

Like a soft rain, delicate blue lobelia flows over the side of this window box. Many types of lobelia have a tendency to fade out during the hottest summer days, so pair them with another heat-loving blooming trailer such as cascading petunia or million bells (also called calibrachoa) to keep your display looking good all season long.
A. Geranium (Pelargonium 'Bullseye Light Pink') -- 2
B. Petunia 'Supertunia Bermuda Beach' -- 1
C. Lobelia 'Riviera Blue Eyes' -- 2   

Dress Up Your Deck

Take the idea of a window box and put it on your deck rails for a brilliant burst of color. For an outstanding all-put-together look, use the same plantings on your deck as you do beneath your windows. Your friends will love your creativity.
A. Petunia 'Surfinia Patio Hot Pink' -- 1
B. Salvia 'Victoria Blue' -- 1
C. Geranium (Pelargonium 'StarStruck Lavender Pink') -- 1
D. Mum (Chrysanthemum 'Brunswick') -- 2
E. Dracaena marginata -- 1
F. Vinca major 'Variegata' -- 1   

Deck Planting, Take Two

Here's another enchanting planting to decorate your deck or your home. Because pansy is a cool-season plant, you have the opportunity to give your window box a new look as the seasons change. Don't be afraid to swap it out and replace it with a heat-loving plant such as blue angelonia to keep the drama going into summer.
A. Pansy (Viola 'Delta Beaconsfield') -- 3
B. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum 'Fordhook Favorites') -- 1
C. Lobelia 'Riviera Midnight Blue' -- 1
D. Dracaena marginata -- 1
   

Select Fun Foliage

We've always thought grasses have a fun, festive look -- and love to use them to create extra-special plantings. Here, grassy-looking flax lily's shape and zinnia's starry white flowers create the look of fireworks to give you a top-of-the-class container combo.
A. Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas 'Margarita') -- 2
B. Flax lily (Dianella tasmanica 'Variegata') -- 3
C. Zinnia haageana 'Star White' -- 3
D. Salvia guarantica 'Black and Blue' -- 2
E. New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens 'Sonic Sweet Purple') -- 3   

Look to Your Home for Inspiration

Set your window boxes apart by tying in elements of your home's architectural details. Here, for example, the window box blends seamlessly with shutters, while the salmon-shaded geranium blooms play in with the buff colors of the flagstone wall.
A. Asparagus fern (Asparagus sprengeri) -- 2
B. Geranium (Pelargonium 'Fantasia Pink Shell') -- 3
C. Fuchsia 'Angel Earrings Cascading' -- 3
D. Torenia 'Catalina Blue' -- 2
E. Salvia 'Salsa Burgundy' -- 1   

Try It on a Trellis

Trellises are a great way to give your deck, patio, or yard a little privacy. If you're not able to grow vines on your trellising, try creating a colorful display with a light window box. This moss-lined basket is filled with colorful plants that, when placed strategically, give you a double dose of screening.
A. Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas 'Margarita') -- 1
B. Impatiens 'Fiesta Rose' -- 2
C. Marigold (Tagetes 'Durango Yellow') -- 1
D. Geranium (Pelargonium 'Designer Cherry') -- 1
E. New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens 'Sonic Cherry') -- 1
F. Wax begonia (Begonia 'Prelude Scarlet') -- 1
G. Viola 'Sorbet Plum Velvet' -- 1   

Enjoy a Harvest

What could be better than reaching out to your window box and grabbing a handful of edible flowers, herbs, or vegetables for supper? Try edibles with ornamental appeal for two times the pleasure. Tip: Look for dwarf varieties, such as determinate tomatoes, so your plantings don't grow out of control.
A. Pansy (Viola 'Matrix' series) -- 3
B. Scented geranium (Pelargonium 'Rober's Lemon Rose') -- 1
C. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum 'Alaska') -- 2
D. Everbearing strawberry (Fragaria 'Ozark Beauty') -- 3
E. Bell pepper (Capsicum 'Purple Belle') -- 1
F. Johnny jump up (Viola tricolor) -- 3   

Choose Classics

Petunias and geraniums are no-fail choices for hot, sunny spots -- so fill your window boxes with their colorful blooms and know you can enjoy their display of nonstop flowers all summer long. Tip: Pay attention to the variety; many newer petunias and geraniums bloom more and with less care than older selections.
A. Ivy (Hedera helix 'Eva') -- 2
B. Petunia 'Surfinia Patio Hot Pink' -- 1
C. Geranium (Pelargonium 'Orbit White') -- 2   

Add Color to a White Wall

An all-white wall may seem like it needs an explosion of color to dress it up, but you can create an equally impressive display by going with soft, subtle shades. Petunias and geraniums are the perfect choice for adding color either way -- let your personality be your guide.
A. Geranium (Pelargonium 'Orbit Pink') -- 3
B. Swan River daisy (Brachyscome iberidifolia 'Lemon Mist') -- 3
C. Petunia Surfinia Patio White -- 2   

Mix Foliage Tones

Be bold: Experiment with fun new plants for a flashy display of color and interest. We love how this window box has mixed time-tested flowering favorites like verbena and calibrachoa with more unusual selections featuring beautiful foliage.
A. Verbena 'Peaches and Cream' -- 4
B. Calibrachoa 'Terra Cotta' -- 2
C. Flowering maple (Abutilon thompsonii 'Pictum') -- 1
D. Flowering maple (Abutilon 'Bella Deep Coral') -- 1
E. Geranium (Pelargonium 'Occold Shield') -- 1
F. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) -- 1   

Embrace Country Style

If you love country style, you can't beat the simplicity of a rustic window box filled with a few lush plants. Here, for example, purple verbena and gold licorice plant make a striking contrast against the peeling red paint on the walls. Tip: Other ways to create the country look are to pick plants with a loose, open habit and use old-fashioned or recycled containers.
A. Vinca major 'Wojo's Gem' -- 2
B. Verbena 'Aztec Purple Magic' -- 3
C. Calibrachoa 'Cabaret Rose' -- 1
D. Licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare 'Limelight') -- 2   

Make a Mock Window

Be playful with window boxes and enjoy them even if you don't have a window. This weathered box made of planking goes vertical with a vintage window frame attached to the back. The window frame is a perfect trellis for a tropical mandevilla. Bonus: Attach this to a fence and insert a mirror behind the window frame for even more appeal and the illusion of more space.
A. Mandevilla 'Alice du Pont' -- 1
B. Aster alpinus 'Beechwood' -- 3
C. Aster alpinus 'Dunkle Schone' -- 3   

Lighten a Dark Wall

Make your home sing -- even if has dark or faded shutters and siding like this one -- with a colorful window box. This one does double duty thanks to a scented geranium; its soft scent is a great incentive to open the window and enjoy some fresh air. Tip: Other plants that offer great scents include heliotrope, lavender, rosemary, and sweet alyssum.
A. Wax begonia (Begonia 'Bada Boom Pink') -- 2
B. Verbena 'Tapien Plum Frost' -- 2
C. Ivy (Hedera helix 'Eva') -- 2
D. Scented geranium (Pelargonium 'Lady Plymouth') -- 1
E: Thyme (Thymus 'Argenteus') -- 2    http://www.bhg.com/gardening/container/plans-ideas/plant-combinations-for-sunny-spot-window-boxes/

Colorful Touches for Outdoor Decorating

Outdoor Wall Art

Add color to your outdoor decorating with a fence covered with suspended flowerpots. It's wall art for your outdoor room. Start with nine terra-cotta pots and coat the bases with spray paint. Next, plot the grid arrangement and secure pot hangers to the fence. Finish by suspending pots from hangers and filling each container with brightly colored annuals or herbs.   

Poolside Patterns

Use outdoor fabric to add color and style to pool or patio furniture. Polka-dot outdoor fabric adds modern flair and durability to the chairs. A freestanding umbrella in yellow adds a pop of color to the green foliage and neutral patio backdrop.
Editor's Tip: Outdoor fabric is an ideal choice for sun-filled areas and outdoor rooms because it's waterproof and fade- and stain-resistant.   

Bright Table Toppers

Outdoor dining is a treat in warm-weather months, so make it even more special with pretty table settings. A plain table runner gets a color boost from colorful appliques. Bright tableware adds splashes of color to the table. A white awning provides shade and brightens up the space.   

Colorful Furniture

Add pizzazz to a plain deck with colorful furniture. Mix and match chairs of a similar style in a variety of colors. Here, bright pinks, oranges, blues, purples, and greens fill the deck with summer colors.   

Pretty Fabrics

Create an outdoor room with fabric. This deck's setup is similar to an indoor living room arrangement. An all-weather rug anchors the furniture, and outdoor fabrics in pretty patterns cover the plush seat cushions. The arbor serves as a wall and ceiling, and panels hang from it like window treatments. Accents such as lamps and throw pillows complete the look.

    
 

Colorful Starting Point

The home's exterior creates the perfect starting point for this patio's color scheme. Orange accents, such as throw pillows, hanging fabric, and oversize letter B, pop against the green exterior. Wood candle holders and potted plants bring the natural elements of the yard onto the patio. With plenty of seating and multiple tables, this patio is just right for enjoying bright summer days and warm summer nights.   

Patio Dining

The home's blue French doors provide plenty of bright color for this patio. Because the patio is adjacent to the home's kitchen, the simple picnic table is great for taking meals outside.   

Pretty Posts

Separate a garden from the rest of the backyard with a colorful fence. The bright green and blue hues pop against the grass and plants. The fence provides a colorful view from any angle   

Easy Solution

Colorful containers are a simple way to brighten an outdoor space. Choose pots in various colors, sizes, and textures.   

Fire Flies

Create a twinkling treescape by suspending colored-glass votive holders from low-hanging tree branches with fishing line or wire. Colorful outdoor pillows, now readily available at retail, are a simple way to pop a little color into your backyard.   

Party Atmosphere

Metal furniture is generally affordable and it gives a cool color vibe to your garden or patio. A bar cart is always ready for a party, offering up a handy serving surface.   

Sunny Accents

Small basic accessories such as this galvanized container can be brightened with paint for a personal look. To be on the safe side, don't let food come into contact with the surface unless the paint you used is labeled food-safe.   

Citrus Punch

Give your backyard a shot of summer color with accents dressed in fruit-inspired hues. This citrus-color metal bistro table is home to an apple-green hobnail-pattern glass lantern.   

Cottage Charms

An unassuming garden shed becomes a festive focal point with bold stripes and scalloped molding. Before you begin, add a coat or two of water-base primer to the facade -- it will help your creative expressions last longer.   

Double Shift

Lanterns with bright graphic designs can light up an outdoor setting even before the sun sets. After dark, turn on battery-powered lightbulbs to increase the glow.     http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/porch/outdoor-rooms/colorful-backyard-decorating-ideas/?psrc=S1104BRL4042S130_yarddecorating

From the Garden…

A great way to save money on food is to grow your own, then can what you don’t or can’t eat. Then you have homegrown, preservative free foods for the rest of the year and until your garden is up and producing again.

An even better way to save money is to have family do this then share!

Dwayne brought home a baker’s dozen of assorted goodies on Friday after visiting his brother. We now have green beans, tomato sauce, and even some lovely venison (a great alternative to beef).  http://anneonlife.com/2010/11/15/mmm-mmm-good-the-way-to-ones-heart/

Self Help Health Miracles in Your Garden

 A great way to save money and take care of your health is to have your own herb garden. You can actually learn how to grow your own food and make it available for you anytime.

Few tasks can be more rewarding and therapeutic than growing and preparing your own herbs. These are, after all, fascinating plants as each comes with its own traditions and folklore.

More than that, it also comes with medicinal and culinary uses. Put them on a sunny windowsill so that they will survive.

Make sure that they get at least five hours of sun each day. A window facing south or southeast would be the best choice.

Position them away from drafts and use a soil-less potting mix to avoid diseases. Also make certain that the mix is light so that water drains out well.

A good herb to have is oregano. This is commonly used as a culinary herb, but there’s more to it than you think.

It has also been used medicinally for decades. Tea from oregano can treat indigestion, bloating, urinary problems, and bronchial problems.

It also relieves fever and diarrhea. If you’ve been a smoker all your life, you know that your lungs are now getting the care that they badly need.

Spinach is also something you can consider. It grows best with ample moisture and a fertile, well-drained soil.

Grown for its edible leaves, this vitamin enriched plant is a great source of calcium, iron, and protein. Think about the good you can do to your bones when you have spinach in your diet.

Osteoporosis is a big health issue among the older members of society. You can finally do your skeletal system a favor by giving it all the calcium it needs to stay strong.

Lastly, the mugwort. This has many uses and was traditionally utilized as a remedy for digestive disorders and a tonic for various ailments. It improves one’s digestion and increases appetite.

Keep this around if you are extremely sensitive about the food you eat. If you need to gain weight because you are constantly getting sick, consider putting mugwort in your diet.

While you now have free time in your hands, you need to make sure you optimize this. Try to enjoy the taste of herbs.

In fact, with the right combination, your food becomes tastier and eating becomes a more pleasant experience. Eliminate the excessive need for prescription drugs.

When it comes to your health, natural is still the best choice. Get to know your herbs better and try to see which one helps you most.

Do you want MORE out of life? We believe that YOU deserve the best! The best health. The most happiness. And unlimited prosperity too.
  http://www.personal-enterprise-self-help-resources.com/self-help-health-miracles-in-your-garden.html

Money Saving Tips for Your Garden

Whoever said “dirt cheap” never went to Home Depot or Lowes for garden supplies. A coworker was talking not too long ago how he spent $700 on dirt for his vegetable garden!
Here are some tips to making the most out of your gardening dollar.
1. Buy plants in small quantities. You don’t need to plant the Amazon rain forest do you? Buy only what you can plant right away, don’t go over board especially when shopping for plants online even though they are cheap!
2. Settle on a few good internet order sources. The variety offered by mail-order catalogs is inspiring, but don’t overpay on shipping because you order from six companies every spring. Try Direct Gardening and Blooming Bulb just to name a few. These have never failed me, are incredibly cheap and have a huge varieties.
3. Use local sources for heavy items. The cost of shipping heavy items can usually be greater than the item itself. Organic fertilizer additives , like bone meal, green sand and composted animal manure, are cheap but can cost a ton to ship. Check out local sources before purchasing this stuff online.
4. Search out other retail outlets. Though it may seem like it, Lowes and Home Depot are not the only games in town. A bale of straw at a nursery is sold as mulch and priced like mulch, while a bale of straw at a farm store is priced as livestock bedding. Ill go with the livestock bedding!
5. Keep an Eye Out for free garden materials. Tree Limbs cleared from power lines are typically shredded. You can often get the mulch free from the utility company. Many community sanitation departments also give away compost made from leaves and organic waste.
6. Make friends with Pickup Truck owners. Delivery charges can really add up. Offer to fill up the tank, it will be cheaper!
7. Buy certain items in large quantities. You can buy large quantities of compost from or mulch from landscaping centers a lot cheaper than by the bag at the home stores. In fact, as much as 70% cheaper! Bark chips and other mulch also come cheaper when bought in bulk.

8. Go for the small plants. Opt for small online plants instead of expensive gallon containers at your local stores. Perennials don’t usually take off the first season you plant them. They need some time to settle in. The following spring, after a winters rest, perennials start to thrive and, typically both big and little plants alike will reach mature heights at the same time.
9. Purchase late in the season or after the spring rush. You can save over 50% buying stuff at the end of the season vs the beginning. Discounts on plants are common during fall sales. Plus, fall is one of the best time to plant.

10. Make your own gardening potions. A mixture of 1/3 ammonia and 2/3 water is deadly to slugs. See my aphid control article for, guess what, aphid control. Do research on other diy control methods.



11. Mulch your plants. If you live in a hot and dry climate, a thick layer of mulch will dramatically cut your watering bill. Regardless of location, mulch is one of your best allies against annoying and nasty weeds.
12. Make your own plants. Many perennials, like as sedums and many grasses, can be divided. Each will root. Don’t be afraid to divide the mature perennials already in your garden. Not only will it give you more plants, you will also be helping the existing ones out.
13. Save on garden gear. An over priced piece of gardening equipment does not usually make you a better gardener. The best tools are usually available for less than $10 at your local hardware store.  http://plantfiles.info/uncategorized/money-saving-tips-for-your-garden