Author: Vlad Revyuk

When individuals think “go green,” they are usually discussing the reduction of pollution and not eco-friendly garden tips. However, even gardens could be a little greener and a little more natural. Here are five tips to help you transform your entire garden without spending a lot of money. However, even gardens could be a little greener and a little more natural. Here are five tips to help you transform your entire garden without spending a lot of money. Tips For Beautiful Gardens 1. Make Use of Natural Formations Expectations dictate that gardens be flat and uniform. Few yards can lay claim to this trait, so it takes a lot of labor-intensive planning to create the perfect garden. Instead, stop! Take a moment to review what the landscape is telling you. Inclines and hills have extra moisture gathered at the bottom. Consider planting foliage that requires damp soil here. It will take longer for the water to evaporate, and you can add mulch to retain more moisture. Some plants do better on a north-facing slope or south-facing slope, depending on their need for sunlight. Cherries and apples grow better on a north-facing slope because the temperature fluctuations are less damaging to trunks during heavy winters and sharp cold spells. South-facing slopes tend to experience a higher temperature range during the winter and increased sunlight exposure during the summer. Vegetables, grasses, and herbs will thrive in these microclimates. 2. Plan According to the Microclimate Observe the areas around your home and choose items that would thrive in the current conditions. Yards can have several microclimates. Several unique characteristics easily identify these spots. The last place you find snow remaining will usually have the least amount of sunlight throughout the year. Shade-loving plants will thrive here. Areas that seem to be dry during the summer would be ideal for low maintenance plants. A quick way to understand what your land is telling you is to look up the plants currently growing there. They will usually have similar requirements and often trade off each other’s strengths to create a better environment. Choose plants with similar needs and growth patterns. 3. Give the Land a Vacation Taking a break is vital to restoring health. Your land requires the same care. Take a plot that seems to be producing less than you’d expect and allow it to lay fallow for a year or two. During this time, add well-decomposed mulch and work it into the soil. Allow it to remain undisturbed for at least six months before adding more compost. A little time off allows the minerals and nutrients to replenish and the bugs and insects to repopulate the soil. They are necessary to increase the oxygen and nitrogen exchange while allowing the compost to be absorbed deeper into the ground. 4.Use Rain Barrels to Water the Garden If your location allows you to install rain barrels for your garden, do it. Hooking a rain barrel up to drip lines that lay around your garden will provide consistent moisture throughout the day. This can be especially helpful during the early growth phase when most plants need additional water. Not only will these barrels save you time, but they also prevent overwatering. During the summer, water barrels heat up. If you turn on the drip hoses during the night, this extra heat will provide an additional layer of protection to your plants. Sensitive vegetables and herbs will be healthier and last longer with the extra boost. Choose items that work with the current microclimate instead of attempting to change it. Your garden will thrive, and the property will be beautiful.   5. Install Solar Power Solar-powered appliances make gardening more manageable by reducing the workload, protecting the plants, and increasing the overall appearance. A solar-powered water timer irrigates the garden according to a programmed schedule. Birdbaths and water fountains use solar energy to keep the water fresh by regularly cycling through a filter. Lighting is the most common solar usage source in gardens and continues to increase safety while also creating a soothing, relaxing atmosphere. Take advantage of the natural benefits your landscape offers and use eco-friendly practices.  You’ll get more use out of your land, it will look better, and it will be less work in the end. Walk the area you want to turn into a garden and study it very closely.

Pesticides are harmful to the environment and your body if you’re growing any food in your garden this year. While pesticides may make pest control easier, there are several natural ways you can get rid of unwanted insects. Make a few tweaks in your gardening routine to keep your plants healthy and free of harmful organisms. Organic Pest Control 1. Add Ladybugs There are many insects that are beneficial to your garden and ladybugs happen to be one of them. You can easily buy a box of ladybugs in the garden department of your local home improvement store. Ladybugs eat aphids and other mites that chew at your leaves. Regularly set ladybugs free in your garden and they’ll reward you by eating fifty or more aphids a day. You can also plant sunflowers, cosmos, or marigolds to attract ladybugs to your garden without having to purchase them.  2. Don’t Kill Spiders Many people view spiders as creepy insects and your first instinct upon seeing one may be to smash it. But try to resist the urge to kill any spiders roaming around in your garden. Like ladybugs, spiders eat a lot of the insects that harm your plants. Spiders won’t bother your plants and will deter smaller pests. Of course, you cannot purchase spiders like you can ladybugs so you’ll have to attract them to your garden. Grow tall plants like sunflowers, fennel, or bell pepper that spiders will happily nestle into.  3. Shift Plant Rotations  Do not grow plants in the same place every year. There are a variety of pests that will remain in your soil and if you plant in the same place, they will attack the plant they’re attracted to year after year. Changing the position of your plants will mean certain pests do not thrive by attacking the plant they’re able to feed off of. When you change out plant positions, make sure you are growing something of a different plant family. Insects will be able to feed off similar plants so you must place something entirely different in the soil in order to starve pests.  4. Sprinkle Crushed Catnip  Catnip isn’t only beneficial to cats. Dried, crushed catnip will deter insects like stinkbugs. You can sprinkle catnip all over your soil in an effort to rid yourself of pests. Catnip isn’t particularly expensive so this is an affordable and safe alternative to pesticides. No matter how frustrated you become with the creepy crawlies that eat at your plants, do not turn to pesticides. 5. Use Organic Insecticide There are many insecticides that are not artificial and are safe to use on the food in your garden. There are garlic, chili, and soap-based insecticides that will not harm you, your soil, or your plants. You can even make some of these natural insecticides in your own home to insure they are safe. Search online for do-it-yourself insecticide recipes. Grow food in your garden this year that is both safe for you and the environment.  There are many organic options for pest control when caring for your garden.

Nurturing a well-manicured lawn during the blistering hot summer months can be tough. Constant exposure to harsh ultraviolet sun rays burns the grass. Unattractive patches of brown often start dotting y our landscape. Every step through your dry, brittle grass will emit a crunch sound. Crispy, tanned grass splotches aren’t only a neighborhood eyesore. Sun – damaged grass is vulnerable to attack by wild weeds and invading insects. Without precautions, extens ive summer grass damage can lead to a costly fall reseeding project. There isn’t one surefire cure, like sunscreen for your skin. Yet, following these landscaping tips may help keep your grass healthy and green. Landscaping Tips 1. Give Lawns a Tidy Trim Imagine a hairdresser hacking off all of your luscious locks. Your bald head would be more susceptible to sunburn. The same holds true for your grass. Cutting your yard down to short stubs makes it brown faster. Adjust your mower’s blade level to avoid attacking grass like a machete. Aim for a healthy grass height of three to four inches. Keep grass green by mowing only one-third of the blade. Longer grasses have deeper roots to retain more moisture. Lush lawns are better equipped to weather summer droughts. 2. Mark a Mowing Calendar As the mercury rises in early summer, grasses grow quickly. The seasonal change might send your lawn care routine into overdrive. Mowing too often can hurt your yard’s resistance to the sun, though. That’s especially true with a low mower that chomps off inches at a time. Avoid the temptation of riding your mower around daily. Most yards respond well to mowing every four to five days. Time your mowing missions for mid-morning or evening when the sun isn’t as blazing. Early dawn mows will be dewy messes that wake grumpy neighbors. 3. Serve Drying Grass a Drink Summer heatwaves can last weeks with no precipitation. Green grass won’t last that long without a single sip of water. Dehydrated grass goes dormant and becomes unsightly brown shades. Quench your yard’s thirst with regular watering two to three mornings per week. Mimic a rain cloud and soak the turf with about a half-inch each time. You can use a traditional garden hose or sprinkler system. Double-check that your irrigation method is working. Stick a finger or screwdriver into the soil. Bone-dry dirt will require a longer drink. 4. Recycle Tossed Turf Raking up grass clippings is a chore most homeowners would love skipping. Simply blow the clippings off the sidewalk or driveway and back into the freshly cut lawn. Snapping on a mulching mower blade is even less time-consuming. Heaps of grass spattering your yard might not look fabulous that day. However, the organic material in grass decomposes fast. Mineral-rich grass clippings will be recycled back into your yard. The nutritious snack gives grass the best chance of withstanding brutally hot weather. Contact a lawn care provider at the first warning sign of a pest problem too. These landscaping tips will keep grass healthy and green for a beautiful outdoor oasis all summer long. 5. Redirect Heavy Foot Traffic Lawns are especially flattened by foot traffic during the active summer months. Kids are playing tag, dogs are chasing squirrels, and parents are planting gardens. Excessive wear and tear can threaten grass’s health. Patches of brown, hay-like grass can develop in high traffic areas. Lawnmower, wheelbarrow, and car tires will leave their marks too. When problem areas develop, turn on the stoplight and redirect traffic. Maneuver around baring yard spots until the grass recovers. If needed, buy a lawn repair kit and bring the trampled zone back to life. There are plenty more landscaping tricks to make verdant grasses thrive. For instance, try liberally applying an even coat of fertilizer every six to eight weeks. Sharpen dull mower blades that are harshly hacking at grass. Rent an aerator to traverse your turf with holes for air and water flow. Utilize a garden fork to pull wandering weeds instead of dousing with a weed killer. Have four-legged, furry friends go potty in different spots to prevent pee patches.