On the Homefront

Help in the garden

Growing herbs and planting a portable salad table are just a few of the ideas in Sean Conway's "Cultivating Life: 125 Projects for Backyard Living" by Conway and Lee Alan Buttala (Artisan Books; $22.95). Step-by-step instructions are paired with photos, sidebars and tips.

Norman Winter's "Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden" (University Press of Mississippi; $28) teaches about combination basics, and creating harmony and contrast. We call that garden pizazz!

Plant it, pot and all

Bonnie Plants biodegradable plant pots reduce the waste created by plastic pots. The company's vegetable and herb plants come in peat pots that can go right into the ground, which means less transplant shock for the plant. It's essential to keep the pots watered before planting, because peat won't hold moisture the way plastic will.

Bonnie Plants are available at Lowe's, Home Depot and Wal-Mart stores, as well as some independent garden centers. You can find a retailer near you at http://www.bonnieplants.com, in the Contact Us section. Suggested retail prices range from $1.99 to $9.98, depending on pot size. Corner Lots

Steps to stairway safety to make your home safer from falls:

• Have handrails on both sides of stairs and steps.

• Have lots of lights at the top and bottom of the stairs.

• Keep the stairs clear.

• Paint the bottom basement step white to make it more visible.

• In homes with young children, use safety gates at the tops and bottoms of stairs.

• Carry small loads up and down stairs. Always hold onto a handrail.

• It is easy to trip on small rugs. Tape them to the floor or do not use them at all.

• To prevent a tripping hazard, periodically check steps and walkways for broken or loose bricks, cement or stone.

To read more on stairway safety, visit the Home Safety Council's Web site at http://www.homesafetycouncil.org. It's time to . . .

Add a thin layer of organic mulch around your vegetable plants. Most vegetable plants have thrived as spring's solar heat warmed the soil surface. As we start getting normal June and July temperatures, the mulch will reduce some of the excess heat on those shallow roots. Clean straw makes an excellent mulch for vegetable gardens. It conserves moisture and helps block weeds.

Richard Nunnally's
gardening Q&A, D3