The warmer weather is finally here and we have some ideas to help with spring gardening and planting. As a home owner, it's important to know that the outside can be just as important as the inside.

First step is protecting those hands. It is best to wear some type of gardening glove but when a task requires getting in there with your hands one secret is to sink your fingernails into a bar of soap. This will basically prevent dirt from collecting underneath the nails and then once complete take a brush and you can wash your nails clean.

What about your pots? Any of those made of clay and have salt buildup from the winter? An easy way to remove the deposits of salt is to combine equal parts white vinegar and rubbing alcohol and water in a spray bottle.  Spray and scrub and allow pots to dry before planting anything. Clay pots can also provide good protections for young plants from frosts and freezes. Another good use for clay pots are using them for hose guides. Simply place a one-foot length of steel reinforcing bar into the ground at the corner of a bed and slip two clay pots over it: one facing down, the other facing up. The guides will prevent damage to your plants as you drag the hose along the bed.

Another interesting tip is to reuse water from boiling or steaming vegetables. Use that water to water potted plants. You can also use leftover grounds from tea or coffee in plants like azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, gardenias and even blueberries that are known as acid loving.

Finally, are you growing herbs to use in cooking? One quick way to dry them is to lay out on newspaper in your vehicle. Keep the doors closed and windows rolled up and if laid in a single layer they should dry beautifully and add a pleasant aroma to your vehicle as well.