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How to prevent weeds from growing in your mulch

Posted on By Willy Green 1 Comment on How to prevent weeds from growing in your mulch



 

How to prevent weeds from growing in your mulch

Are you tired of dealing with those annoying weeds that are consistently growing in your mulch? Of course you are! At times, it really can feel like an endless battle and at times it is. You get everything cleared out and looking pristine and then the very next day, there is something sprouting up that you did not plant. Frustrating? Absolutely. So what do we need to do to finally put a stop to this never ending supply of weeds? Let’s dig a little deeper and see what solutions we can find. We have compiled a list of a few things that will hopefully help to keep all of your landscaping and garden areas free of those pesky weeds.

1. Prior to installing mulch, make sure you do a very thorough job of getting rid of all the weeds you can find. Really try to take your time here and make sure you have scoured the grounds well. Also, remember that if you are pulling weeds by hand, you really will want to be sure that you get the entire root of the weed. It’s very easy to pull the weed and have it break off where the roots start. This will not be good enough to get rid of the weeds. You have to get the root! IF you are going to use a chemical weed killer, this is the time to do it although you really should try to use natural methods as much as possible & stay away from using chemicals.  Boiling hot water will have the same desired effect without the worry that comes with using chemicals.                                         

2. This seems like an obvious one, but make sure you install and secure your landscape fabric prior to installing your mulch. Again, take your time and really make sure it’s laid down nicely and very secure in it’s position. Make sure you use some type of landscape fabric stakes. Don’t just assume that the weight of the mulch will be good enough because it definitely won’t be.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Make sure you buy a quality mulch. We have all heard the phrase, “you get what you pay for” and mulch is no exception. Don’t get the cheapest stuff. Yes, it does make a difference. You will want to look for shredded bark mulch, wood chips, cocoa hulls, or pebbles / stone.

4. Install your plants, but also try to use some ground cover as this will help to smother any potential weeds. If you are not sure exactly where you are going to plant everything, try drawing up a map so you can at least have a solid idea what it will look like when you are done and you will know exactly where to place everything so that it looks proportionate.

 

 

 

 

 

5. Install a brick border between your lawn and your landscaping. Not only is this going to look really nice, but it will also help to keep things where they are supposed to be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Keep your lawn free of weeds as well. It’s much easier for your landscaping and garden to stay free of weeds if your lawn is free of weeds as well. Products like these will help you to keep your lawn pristine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Try to only water specific plants. When you use a sprinkler that just gets everything wet, you are giving the weeds a chance to get established as well. This is not the easiest method to deal with, but it is something to consider.

Still having issues with the weeds growing in your mulch? or maybe you just don’t have the time nor energy to deal with it? Consider hiring a professional. They deal with these issues every day and will know exactly how to approach your specific situation. This will also free up some time for you to devote to things you truly enjoy!

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Gardening, Gardening How to, Lawn Care

Interesting Ways To Use Epsom Salts In Your Garden

Posted on By Willy Green No Comments on Interesting Ways To Use Epsom Salts In Your Garden



Interesting Ways To Use Epsom Salts In Your Garden

Having green spaces and in particular, a vegetable garden, is always a big advantage, because it is very pleasant to grow beautiful and delicious things! Both amateurs and the most experienced are therefore often interested in methods to promote healthy and abundant growth.

Although not popularly known, Epsom salt can do real wonders if you know how to use it — no, not as a foot bath or a relaxing bath — but in the garden, where Epsom salt, which is also often called magnesium sulphate, is a natural fertilizer.

Let us tell you more about its benefits and the possible uses of this great natural product on your plants. Below are 13 interesting ways to use epsom salts in your garden.

What Are The Benefits Of Epsom Salt?

Epsom salt is composed of hydrated magnesium sulfate, a natural mineral first found in the waters of Epsom wells in England. It has a variety of home remedy applications – the two best known, being a saline laxative and pain reliever. What many people don’t realize is that Epsom salt also has several uses in organic gardening for healthy plants.

Thanks to its richness in sulfate and nutritious magnesium, the natural mineral nutrient that is Epsom salt has many virtues for the garden which are useful at all stages of growth. In a nutshell, this salt adds the following benefits to your garden:

  • It solidifies the seed and allows it to better absorb minerals.

  • In addition, it allows the roots to be stronger.

  • It offers longevity and vigor to plants to avoid dead plants and grasses.

  • It promotes photosynthesis processes as well as those related to chlorophyll.

  • These trace nutrients allow the plant to develop fruit and flowers in abundance.

  • It causes plants to green even more and yellow even less. The flowers are brighter in color, and the fruits are bigger and tastier because they have more energy and therefore produce more sugar.

  • And most importantly, it does not accumulate in the soil or water over time.

Now let’s break down in detail how Epsom salt optimizes your garden to the fullest potential.

Interesting Ways To Use Epsom Salts In Your Garden

1. Improve Seed Germination

Using Epsom salt as a soil amendment before seeding will give your garden a boost from the start. Magnesium facilitates seed germination and helps strengthen cell walls, resulting in more and stronger plants.

Thus, it contributes to the development of seeds. The chemical reaction generated by magnesium sulfate causes an acceleration of the reproduction phenomenon, that’s too much biology jargon, right? Let’s just say it promotes the multiplication and growth of plants.

For best results, apply 1 cup of Epsom salt per 100 square feet of cultivated soil or mix 1 to 2 tablespoons into the soil at the bottom of each hole before seeding.

2. A Salt that Protects Against Salt

Magnesium sulfate is also beneficial for potted plants as it removes common salt that naturally accumulates in the container. They undertake this job by blocking the cells at the level of the roots of plants and prevent them from assimilating nutrients in the soil. Thanks to Epsom salt, potted plants can eat properly, which promotes their growth.

3. Increase Nutrient Uptake

Many commercial fertilizers add magnesium to help plant roots absorb essential nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur). For those who are for all organic matter to nourish their gardens, adding Epsom salt to the soil will improve absorption naturally, eliminating the need for processed chemical fertilizers.

4. Countering the Shock of Transplanting

We have all seen how our plants and seedlings wilt when we move them from a small pot to a larger one, indoors to outdoors, or from a greenhouse to the ground.

Try feeding the transplants with Epsom salt once they are in their new environment to help the injured roots overcome the shock of the transplant. Remember to add a layer of soil over the salt strewn with holes so that the roots do not come into direct contact with these concentrated minerals.

5. Green Foliage

Plants that don’t get enough magnesium can be identified by their yellowing leaves. Indeed, magnesium is an essential element in the production of chlorophyll. Try sprinkling Epsom salt around your plants for healthier foliage.

About 1 tablespoon per 12 inches of height once a month will benefit the plants in your vegetable garden, as well as any trees, shrubs, flowers, and herbs that you want to green.

6. Prevent Curling

Short-term curling, a very common defect in plants, can also be caused by a deficiency of magnesium in plants. Again, add Epsom salt to the soil around the base of the diseased plant.

For faster absorption, you can also mix 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt in a gallon of water and apply directly to the leaves.

7. Garden Pests

Although Epsom salt does not dehydrate slugs and snails like table salt (sodium chloride), it can still be used to deter pests. Hydrated magnesium sulfate crystals are sharp, and when sprinkled around plants, they can scratch and irritate the body and feet of unwanted creatures in the same way as diatomaceous earth.

Keep in mind that Epsom salt dissolves very easily in water, so any amount of rain will likely wash them away.

 

8. Growing Sweeter Fruits

The production of fruit bodies is the most trying process in a plant’s life cycle. Apply Epsom salt to fruit and walnut trees, shrubs as well as vines using the same methods and amounts as given above to stimulate chlorophyll levels inside the plant cells. Increased energy means more sugar, which allows the plant to produce sweeter, healthier fruits.

9. Grow Tastier Tomatoes with Epsom Salt

Epsom salt promotes the growth of fruits and helps in the development of vegetable plants, such as tomatoes. For starters, it helps prevent blossom end rot. This disease is usually caused by a deficiency that causes the tip of the fruit to darken.

Tomato vines are among a handful of ordinary garden residents whose ratio of fruit to plant size is heavier than average, resulting in an even greater probability of magnesium deficiency. For this reason, tomatoes should be fed Epsom salt twice as often as other plants.

Additionally, because tomato vines are prone to calcium deficiency, which causes the flower tip to rot, the majority of tomato fertilizers contain calcium which will compete with magnesium for root absorption. Therefore, foliar feeding is the most efficient method of delivering magnesium to these plants.

For tomatoes growing in the ground, pour 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt mixed in 4 liters of water. Do this once a month from planting to harvest. This natural blend promotes growth and prevents rotting during flowering.

10. Grow Healthier Peppers

Peppers are another popular garden plant with an above-average size-to-fruit ratio. As such, they should also be fed magnesium every two weeks for better yields of larger fruit.

Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt for every foot of height around the drip line of your bell pepper plants once a week.

11. Beautiful Abundant Roses

Don’t you wonder why your neighbor’s rose bushes are denser than yours and produce so many flowers? The answer is very likely to be Epsom salt.

Not only does this help roses produce larger flowers in greater numbers, many successful rosaries will agree that the magnesium also helps the growth of new canes from the base of the plant. And of course, Epsom salt increases the production of chlorophyll, which means your leaves will brandish a stronger color.

For maximum benefit, roses should at least be fed Epsom salt at the time of planting, then at the first sign of new growth, and once more when the flowers are in full bloom.

12. A Substitute Foliar Fertilizer

In principle, fertilizer is an organic or human-designed material that stimulates plant growth. In the same way, Epsom salt is a substance containing nutrients essential for plant growth. It promotes better yield since the natural nutrients which it comprises are easily absorbed by the plants.

Epsom salt is often used as a foliar fertilizer, meaning it is sprinkled directly on the leaves. To do this:

Dilute a large teaspoon of salt in 1 liter of water and spray the mixture on the leaves of your green plants once or twice a month.

They will be more powerful and greener because the salt activates photosynthesis.

13. Enhance Your Lawn

It is pleasant to see very green lawns. Like all other plants, lawns need nutrients to optimize their development. And you can cheaply get that optimization in magnesium sulfate which participates in the formation of chlorophyll, thereby giving plants their green color.

However, it is advisable to follow some recommendations so as not to abuse this. Thus, the amount to be used varies depending on the surface to be treated:

1.5 kg of Epsom salt is enough for 25 m2;

3 kg are needed to maintain 50 m2 of grass.

It is advisable to seek the help of a specialist or to draw up a calculation sheet so as not to make a costly mistake in the exact dosage of the product

Another thing! Note that the addition of magnesium sulfate should preferably be done in spring.

How to use Epsom salt in Your Garden?

When planting, sprinkle about 250 grams of Epsom salt per 10 m² of land and turn the soil over before planting your seeds or plants.

At least once or twice a month, water the plants with a mixture of 3 liters of water for a tablespoon of Epsom salt. This chemical-free watering brings nutrients to the soil.

Every two weeks sprinkle a tablespoon of this salt on the tomato and pepper plants. For rose bushes, you can use a teaspoon occasionally.

For a green lawn, gardeners should sprinkle 1.5 kg of Epsom salt per 25 m². Thank you for reading 13 Interesting Ways To Use Epsom Salts In Your Garden

Gardening, Gardening How to

15 Interesting Ways To Use Coffee Grounds In The Garden

Posted on By Willy Green No Comments on 15 Interesting Ways To Use Coffee Grounds In The Garden



15 Interesting Ways To Use Coffee Grounds In The Garden

With coffee being one of the most consumed drinks in the world, chances are you have it in your home. If you belong to a household that never misses their daily morning filter coffee, chances are also high that you throw your coffee filter and its coffee grounds into the household garbage. Without giving up the satisfying taste that your coffee provides you can find new uses, both ecological, economical, and practical, for this ‘waste’, in your garden.

The whole breakfast can work as compost, so before throwing away leftover fruit or coffee grounds, give it a second thought. This drink will not only give you the energy you need to start a new day, but now it will also be your ally to fertilize your plants, and create a natural pesticide.

You may have already heard of the many different uses that can be made of coffee grounds in everyday life, such as deodorizing the refrigerator, maintaining its pipes, or even cleaning the chimney, but did you know that the garden has multiple uses as well? In this article, we will show you 15 different ways to use coffee grounds in the garden.

What is the Composition of Coffee Grounds?

The coffee grounds are what is left in the filter of the coffee maker after running water on them to make your little black gold. This residue is composed mainly of nitrogen but has components of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and copper. These elements are beneficial for both the soil and the plantations.

How to Get Coffee Grounds

To obtain a stable coffee supply, please maintain a good relationship with your local coffee distributor. Many coffee shops provide free coffee grounds in special packaging (such as Starbucks, Black Rock, & Dutch brothers). If they don’t, ask if they can do it especially for you. Most coffee stands will most likely be happy to give you their grounds. If you don’t drink much coffee, you can collect residues from your office lounge, grocery deli, or possibly your local restaurants particularly breakfast places (I.H.O.P., Elmers, Dennys).

15 Ways to Use Coffee Grounds in the Garden

A Compost Activator

If you have a composting bin, called a vermicomposter, to sort your organic or other waste, consider incorporating the coffee grounds into it. Putting coffee grounds in your compost will enrich it with the various minerals it contains such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and copper, but not limited to these.

Also, when buying coffee filters, opt for ones that are unbleached because they are biodegradable and often cheaper. They will therefore be able to go without problem in the compost while the laundered ones will only add to your trash of non-recyclable waste.

Regularly fertilizing with compost, mixing the coffee with the soil and other organic remains can completely reduce the need for conventional fertilizers.

A Feed for Worms

We all know that worms are a welcome sight in gardens because they are really pivotal to working the soil. The main ingredient in coffee is caffeine, and its stimulating virtues in humans are well documented. But we are not the only fans of this soothing effect, the earthworms will do anything for a swing or two.

They enjoy it and it boosts their activity. Earthworms are especially fond of it because it helps them digest the organic matter in your compost pile. Therefore, adding coffee grounds to your compost will allow a faster, and above all, more complete degradation.

Note: Since caffeine is the primary stimulant of interest for our slithering friends, decaffeinated coffee will not produce similar results.

Earthworms like coffee but only in minimal quantity. If you go overboard, the worms could die due to the inability to digest that much coffee acidity.

Hence, do not put more than one small cup of coffee a week in the soil of your garden, so that the worms survive.

Balance Soil pH

Due to their acidic content, coffee grounds can help balance the pH of overly alkaline soil. If you’re not sure what the pH level of your soil is, you can pick up a pH meter like this one. It will also show you the moisture level of you soil as well as the incoming light level.

Suppress Weed

There is a popular conception that fresh coffee grounds have some allopathic components, which are known for stifling plant growth. Therefore, they might become handy in suppressing the growth of weeds. This theory has however not been scientifically validated.

Nitrogenize the earth

A good alternative to nitrogen fertilizers, coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, since they are derived from processed seeds. Its proportion of around ten percent is ideal for enriching the earth with nitrogen, which will be of great help for the growth of plants, their flowering, and, in the case of having a garden, also their fruits.

An Odor Absorber

If you deal with plants like garlic or onions in the garden, you should be familiar with the very pungent smell left on your hands which are very difficult to wash off. Coffee grounds can be very useful in this case, as they eliminate bad odor. Just rub them with coffee grounds and rinse.

Maintain Natural Plant Color                         

Coffee grounds are an excellent natural coloring. With its slight acidity, it is perfect for hydrangeas to help strengthen their blue coloring, as well as for tomatoes. To get premium results, it is best to use coffee grounds with blueberries, cranberries, and citrus fruits. Other plants that benefit from it are camellia, garden saplings, rhododendrons, and virya.

Its pH of 6.2 allows you to modify the color of hydrangea to a magnificent bluish hue. So coffee grounds might just be the ingredient needed to turn your back garden into a Dr. Who-style experiment site.

To do this:

  • Spread the coffee grounds at the foot of the plant.

  • Lightly hoe the soil of the garden to mix well.

Aids Growth of Seedlings

Mix one part of this brown gold with one part of garden soil to obtain an ideal soil to germinate your seeds.

Thanks to a carbon-nitrogen ratio of 20 (one part nitrogen to 20 part carbon), coffee grounds are ideal. They are also especially good as they gradually release nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, rather than at a go, which could be overwhelming for the young plants.

A Natural Repellent against Pests

Many small animals can be harmful to the garden, such as aphids, slugs, snails, carrot flies, and ants. But don’t rule out cats, who especially love to dig up seedlings and do theirs do wherever they want. They have their place in nature but if they could leave our plantations alone, we would be very happy!

To ward off harmful insects and gastropods from your garden and thus preventing them from ravaging your plants and crops, coffee grounds will act in two ways. The first is due to its smell which some do not like and therefore prefer to go their way. The second comes from the fact that the coffee grounds have a granular consistency which is particularly unpleasant or even painful,  for snails and slugs, in particular, when they walk on them.

Beware of the rain which dilutes the coffee in the soil and therefore makes it less effective. After heavy rains, refresh your soil by sprinkling coffee grounds around your vegetable plants or flower beds.

Rabbits will also bypass flowers that use coffee grounds as mulch. As coffee grounds quickly decompose into the soil, they should be consistently refreshed once or twice a week to maintain their effectiveness as a repellent.

Still having issues with pests in your garden? Check this out.

 Natural Pest solutions

Coffee Grounds to Sand and Thaw Paths

Thanks to its acidity, coffee grounds make the floor less slippery, thereby effectively replacing salt which is not allies to plants.

Place it on the paths in the garden or around the house in winter in the event of snow, frost, or ice. It is both inexpensive and more environmentally friendly.

A Winter Soldier

Coffee grounds can also act as mulch for the feet of the most fragile plantations in winter. It protects them against falling temperatures naturally and free of charge.

Note: During sunny days, avoid using coffee grounds as a stand-alone cover, as they can form a waterproof shell when dry in the sun.

To Grow Mushrooms

Here is an amazing tip for growing mushrooms on your own. In a bag, slip coffee grounds and mycelium. Then put it in a dark, warm place for three weeks and then take it out to the light. Always maintain humidity in your mushroom crop and you will see them blossom in no time.

Perfume Your Garden

Use coffee to envelop your interiors and exteriors in a unique and beautiful scent. Stir a little coffee ground into melted beeswax, then place a wick in a jar. Pour the mixture into the jar to obtain a candle with a sweet scent of coffee … Ideal for your dinners on the terrace!

Growing Orchids

The favorite indoor flower of the French, the orchid is a plant with specific needs. Its substrate – or soil – must be rich in phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium, all of which coffee grounds bring! So don’t hesitate to use it.

A DIY Fertilizer

Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphate are found in most commercially available fertilizers, whether organic or chemical.

With the coffee grounds, you will therefore have a free and available fertilizer that will enrich your soil with the minerals and trace elements it needs. It will fertilize the soil by its slow degradation by gradually diffusing its benefits. So you will be eating your cake and having it, or more literally, drinking your coffee and having it.

Coffee grounds are therefore a natural and effective product, but they should not be abused, otherwise, you end up with the opposite of the expected effect.

Thus, to enrich the soil in your garden and/or your vegetable patch, it is recommended not to apply more than 500 grams of coffee grounds per square meter annually.

It is enough to sprinkle it in a thin layer directly on the ground, preferably where the flowers, fruits, and vegetables are planted.

Caution: Watch out for rainy days! Avoid dispersing your coffee grounds if drops of water are forecast in the weather because they will be diluted in the soil and the results will be reduced.

Preparing a liquid fertilizer: step by step

To prepare an effective and free homemade liquid fertilizer based on coffee grounds, simply mix everything you collect from the filter with 2 liters of water.

Stir well then let stand in the fridge for 2 days. After this, filter with a fine cloth. Your liquid coffee grounds fertilizer is now ready to water and feed your plants!

How to Store Coffee Grounds

Before wondering how to store coffee grounds, you should first learn how to collect them. The operation is simple but still requires a little patience. There is a risk of burning yourself if the grounds are taken directly into the filter after the coffee has been brewed. Therefore, it is best to wait until it has cooled down completely.

After this bridge is scaled, lay it out on a flat surface and let it air-dry. If you are in a hurry, you can put it in a not too hot oven, keeping a close eye and leaving the door ajar. The idea is to remove as much water as possible to minimize the risk of mold growth.

When your coffee grounds are dry, the preservation method will depend on when you plan to use them. For use within 10 days, place it in the refrigerator in a tightly closed box. Beyond that, it is best to store it in the freezer in a suitable bag. To thaw it, just take it out 2 to 3 hours before. Thank you for reading 15 Interesting Ways To Use Coffee Grounds In The Garden.

Are you trying to figure out a gift for that family member with the green thumb? We’ve got you covered.


Garden Pests, Gardening, Gardening How to

Organic Pest Control

Posted on By Willy Green No Comments on Organic Pest Control



Organic Pest Control 

Have you been searching for an effective solution that’ll keep those annoying pests away from your precious vegetables? Are you tired of the regular chemical pesticides and you want something more natural for your garden? Organic pest control has proven to be not just cheaper, but safer and better than many other pest control procedures.

Organic sprays can be made with simple products that can be found right in your kitchen. It’s so easy to make and yet very effective. In recent years, many gardeners have embraced a healthier garden experience with organic pest control. I’m sure you want to be part of this!

And I’m willing to help you as well. Right here, you’ll be learning how to create organic pest control sprays for a vegetable garden. I’ve also included 3 powerful tips that’ll keep you a step ahead of these unpleasant pests.

Which Is Better? Organic Vs Non-Organic Pest Controls

If you’ve been searching for ways to control pests and reduce health and environmental risks to your family and pets, organic pest control is for you. These days a lot of gardeners are fast switching to the organic lifestyle to prevent allergies, grow healthier vegetables, and  to protect their younger children and pets.

Generally, organic pest control methods can be more efficient than regular pesticides. In fact, most pest control companies are now using organic methods in their professional services. In the long run, organic pest control will save you a lot more money unlike the quick fix chemical pesticides will give you.

Although both organic pest control methods and regular pesticides are effective at keeping pests away from your garden, they actually work quite differently. While chemical pest control methods may seem to work a lot faster, they may be harmful in the long run. On the other hand, organic pesticides work effectively if given the time and efforts required to take effect. That’s why you may need to apply them several times before you start seeing results.

But here’s the catch, if you’ve finally decided to stop buying vegetables sold in the markets, and grow them yourself for you and your family, wouldn’t it be great to grow them naturally? Won’t it be nice to live that healthier life you deserve? Won’t it make more sense to avoid harmful pesticides?

If you’ve finally realized that a safer and healthier life is completely worth your time and effort, then let me welcome you to the club! You can decide to get some of these organic pesticides in the market or simply make them yourself. It’s not a hard task at all. Here’s how you can do it faster.

how to create organic pest control for your vegetable garden

A Step By Step Guide on How to Create Organic Pest Control for your Vegetable Garden

There are several organic and natural remedies for different pests in your garden. The key is to find out which pests are bothering your vegetables and make an organic pesticide that’ll deal with them accordingly. Sounds good right?

There are numerous organic pesticides currently available. But here, I’ll be leaving you with a recipe that has got a lot of organic ingredients that’ll work for tons of pests.

We’ll be using household ingredients like onions, mint, and cayenne that repel these pests far away from your garden. You’ll be amazed how these disruptive pests can easily be killed by simple and safe ingredients that you already have laying around your home.

Organic all-in-one bug spray

Garlic, onion, and peppermint oil are very powerful ingredients that pests hate. You can use them to create an organic pest control that’ll effectively drive away garden pests such as beetles, leafhoppers, and spittlebugs.

What you’ll need

  • 2 cups of Water

  • 1 medium-sized onion

  • 4 cloves of garlic

  • Peppermint essential oil

  • 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper

  • 2 tablespoons of natural liquid soap (Avoid liquid soaps that contain bleach or any harmful chemical)

Procedures

Step 1

Peel your garlic and onion, then puree them with the cayenne and peppermint oil.

Step 2

Now, strain the mixture and allow it to stand for a few hours, some gardeners will leave the solution to soak overnight.

Step 3

Simply pour the mixture into a container and then add in the two tablespoons of soap and 2 cups of water. Then, mix the solution very thoroughly.

Step 4

Now, pour this mixture into a spray bottle. Your organic pesticide is ready for use! Spray it on the affected areas 1-2 times a week to keep bugs away. You can even preserve the remaining  mixture in the fridge. Just make sure to mark it clearly as this isn’t something you want to ingest.

Organic oil spray

This oil spray would be great to ward off pests like spider mites, aphids, and whiteflies that’ll give anything to suck the saps of your plant. This amazing mixture would make a perfect homemade oil spray that’ll keep your garden pest-free.

What you’ll need

  • Water

  • Vegetable oil

  • Natural liquid soap (Avoid liquid soaps that contain bleach or any harmful chemical)

  • Baking soda

Procedures

Step 1

Making this oil spray doesn’t require much. Simply mix all of the ingredients together properly. Mix 1 cup of vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap. After mixing the ingredients, add 8 ounces of water and mix thoroughly.

Step 2

You don’t need to bother letting the mixture sit for some time as you can instantly pour the mixture into a spray bottle and start using it right away. You should use this spray once or twice a week to keep those nasty pests away.

What you need to know about organic pest control

Before applying organic sprays in your garden, be sure it’s something you want to do and make sure the damage the pests are causing is really a problem. Just like chemical pesticides, organic pest control would get rid of all bugs, this includes other helpful insects like ladybugs and bees that help out in the garden.

Make sure to try out your organic spray on a small portion of your plant first, it could be just a single leaf. Find out if there are any negative results. If there’s no damage then you can now fully use it on the entire plant the next day.

At the time you make your organic spray, if you’re not ready to use it, keep it in a dry and cool place.

I generally prefer to spray my plants before the sun comes out in the morning. You should do this to prevent burning or damaging your plants. The combination of the intense heat of the sun and the oils in the sprays are not good for your plants.

Also be careful not to apply too much of these sprays to your vegetables. You don’t want to end up with a slightly different flavor. Only use this for the portion of your plant that is mostly affected.

Tips For Keeping Pests Out Of Your Garden

While garden pests are almost unavoidable, there are a few tips that can help you keep them in check. You want to avoid creating a pleasant environment for them by taking the 3 powerful steps I’ll be discussing with you here.

Give your plants the best growing conditions possible

Water your plants and do it consistently in the morning. This way, you make your plants less prone to pests. Watering your plants in the morning time keeps them healthier and prevents them from being damp in the evening when pests love to strike.

I’ve found out that these pests mostly attack weak plants. Consistent watering will prevent your plants from wilting and will help them to get larger yields. Take your time to remove all of the dead and or diseased leaves. If they are not removed promptly, then they’ll become an attractive site to pests. Do you know what else could be attractive to these disturbing pests?

Weeds! yes, these unwanted plants can provide a convenient spot for pests in your garden. So you should take weeds off as soon as you see them. Not to mention that weeds will steal nutrients and water before the plant can use them.

 

Feed your plants according to their feeding schedule. Keeping your plants properly nourished will also help to keep your plants healthy and resistant to disease and pests.


Space your plants properly

I used to have a small garden in a previous home. I love to grow my fruits and vegetables organically so I always ended up trying to squeeze too many vegetables into a small amount of garden space. I thought I’d get bigger yields that would last longer for me. But guess what happened? I actually caused my yields to be smaller and I attracted those annoying pests.

If you’ve been doing this same type of thing and you’re still struggling with pests, then consider spacing your plants better. It really will do your garden good! Trust me, your vegetables will get more airflow and you will easily notice any pests before they can cause much damage. It will also help you to see those weeds popping up sooner so that you can get rid of them right away.

Use plants!

Several plants can deal with your pest problem for you. Aromatic herbs like citronella, lemongrass, and basil will ward off annoying critters and also attract their predators. If you ask me, this is a really good strategy. Find a good spot in your garden where you can plant these herb. They will save you a lot of stress and you will end up with a few more options to use in your kitchen.

FAQ

What is the best organic pesticide for vegetables?

There really is no perfect pesticide. What is important is choosing a pesticide that’ll effectively drive out the pests you have while doing little to no damage to your plants. However, Neem oil is one powerful organic pesticide that seems to work for most pests that you will face in your garden.

You may want to give it a try. It acts against a good number of garden pests by disrupting their life cycle and preventing them from feeding on your vegetables. You can find this active pesticide in garden stores, make sure to follow the instructions on the container and effectively spray the affected areas.


What are organic pesticides?

Organic pesticides are mixtures that are made from natural substances or natural ingredients. They are mixtures that are made from simple and natural soaps or ethanol.

Conclusion

I’m sure you are pretty surprised at just how simple it is to create your own organic pest control for a vegetable garden. And I’m happy I’m able to put you up to speed with some organic pest control options and solutions. If you are going through all of the work that it takes to set up, maintain, and harvest your garden, then isn’t it worth it to do the little things that will bring you success? Pay attention to the small details as they will turn into bigger details if you ignore them.

I wish you a healthier and better gardening experience this year and in the years to come. You can purchase already-made organic sprays if you don’t think you have the time to produce one yourself, although it really isn’t difficult to produce at home. Thank you for reading How To Make Your Own Organic Pest Control For A Vegetable Garden

Have you been using organic pest control methods? Share your experience! Did you find this step-by-step guide helpful? Share with your family and friends!

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Garden Pests, Gardening, Gardening How to, Plant Problems

How To Fertilize Your Garden

Posted on By Willy Green No Comments on How To Fertilize Your Garden



 

How To Fertilize Your Garden

When we think of how we want our garden to look and feel, we often have pictures in our heads of vegetables and herbs at harvest that is more than we had ever hoped for. And for the most part, that is not an unrealistic expectation, but there are some things that we need to do so that we can turn that image into reality. One of those things is to fertilize our garden consistently and correctly. Maybe your don’t know exactly how to fertilize your garden? That is ok because we are going to go over everything that you will need to do to fertilize your garden correctly so that your plants get all of the nutrition that they want and need, but not so much that we actually cause damage to our crops.

The soil needs to be healthy to help promote solid root development especially in the early stages of growth. Before you ever plant a seed, you will want to thoroughly till your soil and remove any yard debris and roots. You want your soil to be clean of everything other than soil!

SOIL TYPE

It’s important to know what type of soil you are working with. Specifically, it’s important to know what minerals are in your soil so that you can adjust it accordingly. One way to figure out exactly what is in your soil is with a soil test kit. They are inexpensive and you get the results right away. This will give you a head start on the growing season as you will have the soil exactly where it needs to be so that you can have bigger crops than ever.

Also Read: ​5 Tips on How to Till Your Garden Properly (Simple and Effective)​​​

FERTILIZING YOUR GARDEN

HOW TO FERTILIZE YOUR GARDEN

 

Fertilizing your garden is a process that is necessary, but not compulsory. For someone to add fertilizer to his/her garden is dependent on the soil type, soil texture, soil physical properties, soil depth of the plant crop type, atmospheric weather of the area etc. Fertilizers are the chemical outputs that are produced which consist of many nutrients to help the plants in our garden grow to their full potential. The most common of these chemical outputs are the Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K).

What exactly do those N.P.K. numbers mean? When you go to purchase any fertilizer, you will see three numbers on the container. They are always listed in the order of N.P.K.

  • N stands for nitrogen. This is the nutrient that helps with growths of the leaves and stems. Adding nitrogen will really get everything growing faster. It’s always great for leafy vegetable. It’s the leafy part that we’re after in vegetables like cabbage, lettuce, kale, etc. Some plants will use more nitrogen in the early stages of growth while other plants will use more as you get further along in the growing season. Do your research on your specific plants so you know that you are giving them the proper amounts of nitrogen at the correct time of the growing cycle.

  • P stands for phosphorus. This nutrient is valuable for developing flowers and fruit—plus, it helps roots take quickly to the soil around them. If you’re frustrated by lots of leaves and stems developing on your fruiting crops like pumpkin or tomatoes—but with no fruit in sight—you may need a little boost of phosphorus. Again, if you do your research on what your specific plants want, then you will know exactly what to give them.

  • K stands for potassium. Potassium promotes healthy root systems and helps the plants resist disease. It also works alongside the phosphorus in developing fruit. You’ll notice it’s importance if you’re growing root crops such as turnips, carrots, or stuff like that.

Fertilizers have a high holding water capacity which helps to improve the state of the soil and also has a high ability to hold nutrients in the soil, therefore as the fertilizers decay over time in the soil, the nutrients required from it is released for the development of the crop. You are expected to consistently apply fertilizers on your garden.

METHODS OF APPLYING FERTILIZERS ON YOUR GARDEN

HOW TO FERTILIZE YOUR GARDEN

There are many different methods that can be used to apply fertilizer to your garden. Here are some of those methods.

By applying it unvarying and conforming to one standard throughout the whole garden: This method is commonly adopted by most people in order to have a uniform application of fertilizer on their garden.

  • By applying the solution around the plant in form of a circle in the garden.

  • By applying fertilizers with the process of creating a hole and inserting the fertilizers below the soil surface that are expected to be about 2-3″ deep.

  • By applying the solution on the crop immediately after the sudden uprising of the crop planted.

  • This method of application is done by adding fertilizer via the leaves of the plant by spraying the solution on the leaves.

Related: ​Best Tow Behind Sprayer​​​

Purpose of fertilizing a garden

There are the different purpose of applying fertilizer to one’s garden, but these are the main reasons

  • To incite the quick growth and stimulates the flourishing of the crops planted in the garden.

  • It helps to create the capacity for the crop to resist diseases and seedling diseases.

  • It also helps to shoot up the quality of the seed of the plant.

  • It also helps in increasing the strength of the stalk of a plant.

  • It also helps in increasing the value of root formation.

  • To help in the formation of Chlorophyll and the function of chlorophyll in the plant is to help take in light in order for it to be transferred throughout the plant during the process of photosynthesis.

  • To help in hastening the ripeness or maturity of the crop.

  • Fertilizers also help in regulating the take up of more nutrients in the plant.

  • Soil fertility.

The benefits of fertilization quickly makes us see that this really is a necessity. Prepare your soil before you plant, fertilize during the growing season, and fertilize again after the harvest so that next season you will be ahead of the game.   Hopefully now you have a better understanding of how to fertilize your garden.

FURTHER READING

 

 

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