Garden

Weed Killer
After doing some research on the internet and some trials I have come up with a environmentally and pet friendly weed killer!  It is very simple.  It is 4 parts vinegar (as strong as you can get but it works with normal malt vinegar), 1 part lemon juice, a table spoon of salt and dash of washing up liquid (Ecover or similar of course!).  It works really well on smaller weeds (like on a patio) but not so good on larger ones, although make make some progress after a number of applications  - but the upside of that is that it doesn't kill plants!  Let me know your experience!

Pest (Cat) Control
A novel and fun way of keeping cats off your garden is to use a water pistol.  For ultimate fun and affect you can try a water blaster - such fun but so powerful I don't recommend you do it straight at the cat (I know its tempting!). They are pretty cheap and excellent fun for kids as well as keeping cats and other pests off the garden!

Water Butt
I hadn't used the water butt in our communal garden until last summers hosepipe ban.  I can't believe I haven't used it before. It is so easy and saves so much water.  Why take water from the water table that needs chemical treatment when there is clean water on tap!  I now use it to water plants,  clean my bike, clean my football boots etc. for which I was using mains water beforehand.   Cheap and easy to put in.

Compost Heap/Bin
We used to throw so much food etc away that could be composted. Sixty percent of the contents of an average household bin can be composted. This includes things like cardboard.   We now have a compost bin that was free from the local council. Check with your local council as most off free or cheap composting bins. Now we have great compost for the garden as well as reducing our rubbish. It is no effort to have a container in the kitchen for waste that is then put in the compost bin.  We use an airtight container which means we can empty it when full and there are no smells in the kitchen!  You can compost food waste, paper, hoover bag contents, garden waste, grass cuttings, cardboard etc.  You may want to avoid composting meat if you are in an area that has a problem with rats as it encourages them.

Cardboard Weed Bed
Instead of throwing cardboard away how about protecting your garden from weeds with it?  Apparently (not tried it myself) you can lay it on flower beds and it helps keep weeds at bay whilst letting moisture through to the soil.   Recycle and help your garden at the same time!  A friend uses old carpet on his allotment and says it is great for trapping moisture in the soil over the summer.

A top tip from Julie in London, she is the queen of allotments so it must be good!  "On my allotment I have been using a free mulch for retaining moisture and suppressing weeds for a number of years now.  Find someone who has a guinea pig or rabbit.  They will be delighted to have someone relieve them of their rubbish!  Depending on whose bedding you use, it can have straw, wood shavings, bits of uneaten vegetables and of course poo and wee! Perfect for under the raspberries and runner beans (not ideal for strawberries!"