SEED COLLARS

In keeping with my 2011 opt out challenge goals here are a few ideas that work in my garden. The first idea came when I dug up some old pvc water pipe that was destined for the trash. I was going to cut it up for the trash pickup when it seemed like a waste not to reuse the pvc pipe for something. The pvc was 1 1/2 inch diameter and would probably last forever in the landfill.

The idea to reuse the pipe to make some homemade seed collars from the almost indestructible pvc plastic seemed like a good reuse for it. Simple idea which is the type that always work best here at the Sandpit. So the pipe was layed our sideways and sawed through every 2 1/2 inches until I ended up with a mess of pvc collars.

They are practically indestructible and make direct sewing seed in the planting beds a snap.

Just put the collar where you wish to plant a seed and give it a half twist into the soil. Then plant the seed in the middle of the collar. Your seed placement is now marked by the pvc collar.

The collar makes it easy to water the seeds as you can just fill the collar to the top with water and you will have the equivalent amount of water under ground when it soaks in. Besides that the sturdy collars provide protection for your new seedlings when they emerge. Protection from birds, bugs and the wind. After the seedlings form their first true set of leaves you can lift the collars off straight up over the plant and it is ready to use again with new seed starts or leave it on the plant also if you wish. These seed collars can be reused over and over so you only have make them once.

I also have been using plastic collars on some of my transplants made from clear plastic jugs the type cleaning detergent came in. The method is the same turn the jug on its side and slice it into sections like slicing a cucumber. These clear collars fit over the larger transplants and are great for holding back the surrounding mulch as well again for filling the collar with water so the water gets to the plants root zone instead of running off to the side.

The same idea is in play when you add some homemade nutrient tea to the plants . The collars keep the liquid over the root zone until it soaks in the soil.

These collars work well for me here and I have been happy with their benefits to the plants.

Besides you can make them yourself for free and reuse some of the plastic that ends up in our landfills so we all win.

--SANDDUNE--