A Green Way to Remove Weeds

After spending days power washing and hand weeding our 25 sq ft brick patio, I was very discouraged to find a mere 2 days later little green weeds starting to pop up.

I have two miniature schnauzers who have a tendency to put everything in their mouth in the backyard, so the use of any chemicals is out of the question. I needed to figure out how to fight this losing battle.

My grandma who lives nearby has starting using only green methods to do her gardening, she suggested using vinegar. I had some basic vinegar in my cupboard for cooking. I put some in a spray bottle and tried it out on a little patch. It killed them all!

The trick is to make sure everything is dry if any water is exposed to the weed before it dries out completely it will grow back.

You can get two gallons of vinegar perfect for weed killing from Costco for $4!!!

Good luck and happy weeding :)

Outdoor Centerpieces for under $5

Here is Washington, rain is not an unusual thing. Therefore, outdoor centerpieces must be rain resistant. While potted plants are a traditional favorite, something a little different is always nice. Recently while setting up my patio sets I came across a great idea that has been a great conversational starter.

The pic below was taken right after I made the centerpiece. The Hens and chicks will grow and spread so eventually you wont see any stones or dirt. The ring will be filled with these little gems.

For this centerpiece you will need the following:

1) A medium size vase ( I bought this simple vase from Walmart for only $1, They have several great vases for under $5)

2) Bag of small rocks ( Again $1 form Walmart. They have several color and size choices available)

3) Small 1'' planter of Hens and Chicks ($3 from Walmart, this will make 4 separate centerpieces or you can use them in other planters)

4) Small planter drip tray, slightly bigger than the vase ( .79$ from any department store)

To make this centerpiece first place rocks in the bottom of the vase and fill with water. Place small rocks and a small amount of dirt around the vase. Place Hens and Chicks around the vase on top the dirt and rocks. Place the candle on the water and enjoy your new homemade centerpiece for under $5.