3 useful pointers for DIY gardeners

If you're a longtime gardener, you've probably developed your own set of tips and tricks to make things easier. We'll give you 3 more pointers to add to your arsenal, covering everything from tree stump removal to hose guides.

Digging out the stumps of big shrubs and trees is nasty work, and it's tempting to dig out the chequebook and pay a landscaping company to do it for you. But by doing it yourself, you can leave some green stuff in your wallet.

• When you have to remove a shrub or tree that has sturdy branches, don't cut it all the way to the ground before digging out the stump. Instead, remove most of the trunk and branches, but leave two or three stout limbs attached to the stump, spaced around the circumference.
• Now, when you start digging, you can use these branches as levers, giving you major mechanical advantage for working the stump and roots out of the ground.

• Your local home centre might like you to believe that the "weed and feed" mix on sale this week will solve all your lawn problems, but it can cause new problems if you apply it carelessly.
• Many trees, shrubs, and ornamental plants can be stressed or killed by fertilizer and weed-killer mixes applied to the lawn above their root zones.
• Certain plants are extremely sensitive to mixes that contain dicamba or phenoxy herbicides, including apple, box elder, catalpa, dogwood, forsythia, honey locust, lilac, Siberian elm, and sycamore. Keep the spreader well away from such trees, and treat specific weeds only as needed.

If you read gardening catalogues, you'd think that you aren't a good gardener unless you pay for fancy hose guides to prevent your hose from wreacking havoc on your plants and lawn furniture. But it's easy to make your own guides and install them anywhere a hose might snag.

• To start, buy the required number of 46-centimetre (18-inch) lengths of rebar. These are available precut at gardening centres. Drive these rods into the soil with a hammer or hand sledge. To prevent injuries, never leave the end of the rebar exposed.
• You can paint a 2.5 centimetre diameter (1 inch) PVC pipe an attractive colour or pattern, and cut it just long enough to cover the rebar. The hose will spin the pipe as it rolls past.
• You can cut bamboo or copper tubing to the appropriate lengths and use them as rollers.
• Find two ceramic pots that are about 10 centimetres (4 inches) tall and have a drainage hole in the bottom. Slide the two pots over the rebar (the first facing down and the second facing up). The two stacked pots will create an hourglass-shaped roller.
• If the drainage hole is too small to fit over the rebar, widen the hole by twisting the rebar into the opening until it slides easily through.

Use these tips to keep your plants healthy, your hose manageable, and your wallet more full. And remember: gardening is a lifelong endeavor, so keep on learning new tricks to add to your repertoire!