Swap your planters for straw bales to easily grow herbs & vegetables (2024)

9th Apr 2024, 18:00By Sophie Gable

More ways of scaring pigeons away

Pigeons are believed to dislike the scent of cinnamon, black pepper, as well as chili spice.

One way of deterring them is placing spices in fabric bags that can be hung up, or simply scattering them over the soil and grass.

You can also make a spray to ward away these animals by infusing spices in boiling water, transferring the mixture into a spray bottle, and spraying it on the plants around the garden.

This trick will also keep other animals away from your crops, including foxes and cats.

9th Apr 2024, 17:30By Sophie Gable

Quick tip for scaring pigeons away

According to the professionals, thistrickwill only work as a deterrent if you catch the birds before they start building nests around your property.

Here, simply grab your hose and use it to squirt them with water.

Alternatively, you can purchase an automatic water jet to protect parts of your garden, the experts advised.

9th Apr 2024, 17:00By Sophie Gable

Avoid feeding pigeons to protect plants

Pigeons can eat your plants and crops and gravitate towards lawns because of their search for food.

The Expressreports that it’s important to avoid feeding them if you want to avoid ever having them in your lawn.

9th Apr 2024, 16:30By Sophie Gable

Watch below for tips on growing white lilies

9th Apr 2024, 16:00By Sophie Gable

Weeds to watch out for

There are many common weeds to look out for including:

• Dandelion
• Wild Violets
• Thistle
• Bindweed
• Chickweed
• Yellow Wood Sorrel
• Crabgrass
• Nutsedge

9th Apr 2024, 15:30By Sophie Gable

More tips for getting rid of weeds

Weeding is a tiresome but essential task to keep your garden growing.

Below are some tips to get rid of weeds:

1. Make sure to pull out the roots
2. Weed after rain or water your garden first
3. Use a garden fork to quickly pull weeds
4. Use a triangular blade for closely spaced rows and loop hoes for loosening the soil
5. Use a garden knife for longer roots
6. Opt for a screwdriver to pull out roots in between pavement cracks
7. Mix weed preventer in mulch
8. Don’t leave bare spots

9th Apr 2024, 15:00By Sophie Gable

Why garden snakes can be helpful

Garden snakes, as their name suggests, make an integral part of your outdoor ecosystem.

As long as they’re not overtaking your yard, you shouldn’t deprive your plants of their influence.

Garden snakes will eat mice who nibble on your plants.

The majority of them are also harmless to humans.

9th Apr 2024, 14:30By Sophie Gable

Why skunks can be helpful

While no one wants a skunk in their yard, these creatures can do you a favor.

Skunks don’t spray unless provoked. When left alone, they’ll eat beetles, mice, rats, crickets, and grubs.

You can leave opossums alone, too, while you’re at it. They kill off the same small pests skunks do and also slurp down slugs, snails, and venomous snakes.

If there’s a dead animal in your yard, an opossum is likely to find it and consume it, saving you the trouble.

Plus, they eat overripe fruits, which can really improve your garden.

9th Apr 2024, 14:00By Sophie Gable

Why moles can be helpful

Moles are considered a pest by many gardeners, but they can be great for the health of your soil.

Experts explain thatmole tunnelsmix and aerate your soil, providing your plants with better living conditions.

To avoid a mole infestation, experts suggest avoiding over-watering your plants — a wet environment brings worms to the surface of your yard, thus attracting moles.

9th Apr 2024, 13:30By Sophie Gable

Pests that can actually help gardens

A number ofmisunderstood “pests”are actually good news for your garden,according to garden expertswho spoke with Family Handyman.

“When we don’t understand them, it only leads to hasty and ill-conceived attempts to resolve a perceived problem,” John Griffin, senior director of Urban Wildlife Programs with The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) told the outlet.

And many gardeners end up using methods to get rid of pests that are “inhumane and ineffective,” he added.

“Not all of them are bad,” agreed Mary Phillips, head of Garden for Wildlife. “They’re just misunderstood.”

SOIL-UTION My non-toxic tips keep pests out of your garden, a fleece trick does double duty

9th Apr 2024, 13:00By Sophie Gable

How to tell if compost is ready

Gardencompostcan take anything from six months to two years to attain maturity, according to the Royal Horticultural Society.

If you think yours is ready, make sure it has the correct look, feel, and fragrance.

It should be dark brown in color, crumbly like earth, warm to the touch, and smell like damp woodland.

9th Apr 2024, 12:30By Sophie Gable

Tips to remember when composting

It’s important tokeep an eye on your pileand turn it as needed after it starts to take shape.

This introduces air into the mix, which is necessary for composting to take place.

Depending on the size of your pile and the materials in it, a turn with a spade once or twice a week should be enough.

In warmer weather, don’t forget to add water when the heap becomes dry.

9th Apr 2024, 12:00By Sophie Gable

What to avoid when composting

While it may appear that you may throw anything into your compost bin, there areseveral itemsthat should be avoided.

Meat and dairy products, which attract pests, as well as any high-processed meals, fall into this category.

The list of items you can put in, on the other hand, is extensive.

Fruit and vegetable peelings, offcuts, coffee grounds, tea leaves, grass clippings, dried leaves, manure, herbs, and hair are all acceptable ingredients.

9th Apr 2024, 11:30By Sophie Gable

Materials for composting

It’scriticalto have the correct materials mixed in the bin.

Soft green elements, such as grass clippings, weeds, or vegetable kitchen waste, should account for 25 to 50 percent of the total, with woody brown materials, such as wood chippings, accounting for the balance.

It’s also a good idea not to allow any one element, particularly grass clippings, to dominate the heap.

9th Apr 2024, 11:00By Sophie Gable

Containers needed for composting

Place thebottomless containerin a shaded area of your garden once you’ve settled on it.

It may be placed on any surface, but if it’s going to be on hard ground, be sure to add a spadeful of dirt to the bin first.

Then lay a few inches of whatever logs or branches you can find on top of that to help aerate the pile.

9th Apr 2024, 10:00By Sophie Gable

What to know about composting

While it may appear difficult,home compostingis actually rather simple – even for those with the tiniest kitchens and gardens.

It may also be done at any time of year, however, the best period to make compost is from late summer to early winter.

9th Apr 2024, 09:00By Sophie Gable

How to make a DIY watering system

You could create another slow-releasewatering systemby hanging a plastic bottle over your plants.

Simply take a bottle, pierce tiny holes in the bottom half, and then enclose the bottle in a sock – other fabric should work just as fine.

You can then hang this above your plant by securing it to a stick that rests inside of your plant pot – but make sure it’s done so securely.

Just like with the “magic” burying method, the plants will have a steady flow of water.

9th Apr 2024, 08:00By Sophie Gable

Repurpose old plastic water bottles

Gardening experts have said that a cheap, plasticwater bottlecan be an eco-friendly watering tool for gardeners.

“Using a plastic water bottle to create a simple, yet effective, watering system is a great solution to repurpose an item that could otherwise end up in a landfill,” expert Sara Dixon said.

To make the irrigation system, simply poke holes in the water bottle and cover it with a sock or another piece of fabric before burying it inside of the planter – with the opening visible at the top of the soil.

The small holes mean the bottle will act as a slow-release watering system.

9th Apr 2024, 07:00By Sophie Gable

When to remove weeds

De-weedingafter a spell of rain could save you a lot of time and hassle and lead to a healthier garden, according toOne Good Thing.

You’ll have a much easier time removing weeds when the ground is wet because damp soil is more flexible and should allow you to rip out the root of a weed intact.

Yes, there is an extra mess but it’s much easier than trying to dislodge weeds when the ground is rock-hard.

It also minimizes ripping the body from the stem, getting a clean sweep instead.

9th Apr 2024, 06:00By Sophie Gable

Make your flowers last longer

Cutflowerscan last for weeks with just three simple household items: sugar, bleach, and optional fresh lemon juice.

It’s also important to change the water often and trim the stems.

About a teaspoon of sugar and a drop of two or bleach will combine with the flower’s water to help the plants stay fresh

9th Apr 2024, 05:00By Sophie Gable

Ditch the fertilizers by cheaper household item

ExpertJordan Page— the “Fun Cheap or Free Queen” — revealed how she uses sugar to keep herlawn greener than ever.

Rather than spend somewhere around $300-$500 on weeding and fertilizers, you can use white table sugar tosolve many of your lawn’s problems.

Typically costing around $4, sugar is both super cheap and super easy to apply to yourlawn.

Other than making your grass extra green, she said sugar is also beneficial for the environment.

FLORAL FRENZY My homemade 3 cupboard ingredient solution means all your plants will flower

9th Apr 2024, 04:30By Sophie Gable

Cheap product to liven up dying plants

A gardening influencer (@houseofhargrove) shared a product on Instagram that livened up dying plants.

In the video shared, the influencer took a can of a mystery product and sprayed it on plants, turning them a brighter shade of green.

"This is my new favorite find. It covers brown spots while allowing existing plant to grow," she said.

“It will not harm your plant, doesn’t wash away and has over 2000 5 star reviews.”

She then revealed the product was called Grass and Shrub Renew Pristine Green.

9th Apr 2024, 04:00By Sophie Gable

Best states to garden

States includingCalifornia,Arizona,Texas,Florida, and other southern areas are known to support year-round gardening.

This is because these climates do not experience cold winters.

Hunkerdescribed that in these areas, the first crop is usually planted in January, and the second in late August.

The outlet added that warm-season crops can be grown from April to early winter.

9th Apr 2024, 03:30By Sophie Gable

Best states to grow tropical fruit

Fruits like mangoes and pineapples grow best in warm climates with considerable rainfall.

HawaiiandFloridaare the best locations in the US for these fruits.

While some midwestern states are warm enough, they do not receive enough rain to grow tropical plants, according toHunker.

9th Apr 2024, 03:00By Sophie Gable

Best states to grow vegetables

The top five states for vegetable production areCalifornia, Idaho,Washington,Wisconsin, andFlorida,Hunkeralso reported.

According to USDA Economic Research Service, California produces 60 percent of US fresh vegetables.

Idahoand Wisconsin produce the most potatoes, the outlet reported.