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Rain Barrel Tutorial

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Why should you have to pay for water for your garden when it literally falls out of the sky for free? Rainy days are great for our lawns- they keep them lush and hydrated. But what about all the other days? You can waste money by watering your plants yourself, or you can try out this awesome idea by Alina Cheng at Greener By The Week and build your own rain barrel! Collect your own rain water with this tutorial:

-Get a large plastic garbage can with a matching, dome-shaped lid

-Cut out a circle in the middle of the top of the lid, place a mesh sink strainer in the hole, use duct tape to create a secure seal.

-Place the lid upside down on the garbage can

-Use rubber bands to secure the lid onto the can

Wait for the rain to come!

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From Dirt To Soil

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4903250755_4dc18573ed_zWhen planting for our garden, most of us just use pre-purchased potting soil to make sure our plants have enough nutrients to grow. However, this is honestly a waste of money- especially since you have your own yard full of (free) dirt. Check out this post by Jessica at 104 Homestead for how to turn your ordinary dirt into rich soil:

-Create as much compost as you can, then layer it with animal manure in a lasagna style.

-Start with a layer of newspaper or cardboard, wet it down, and add a thin layer of compost or manure. Then, add a 6-8 inch thick layer of straw or chopped dry leaves, and top with a final thick layer of compost or manure. The next step in repairing damaged soil is to make sure all the lovely nutrients you added don’t get washed away by erosion. Use mulch in between your plants so the soil stays put.

Photo Credit: Eelke 

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Shredded Paper = Composting Gold

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2440475312_a1f621b4b2_zI tend to get a lot of junk mail; probably because I sign up for so many free sample sites. Most of it goes straight into the trash. Important documents that include personal information go into a separate pile and either get shredded or burned. However, there is a way to turn wasteful junk mail into something that benefits the environment and helps your garden! Check out this post by Joe Lamp’l at Growing A Greener World for tips:

As long as there is junk mail, schoolwork, bills or anything else printed, there will always be and endless source of compostable material from inside the house. And while we’re having some good clean family fun reducing unwanted paper to confetti, I am creating a wonderful carbon-rich addition for the compost pile and ultimately the best soil amendment in the world!

Although the extra compost you’ll make is the direct benefit, keeping all that paper out of the landfill is a simple and significant way to do something good for our planet too

Photo Credit: Mike Haw 

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Before Winter Is Here…

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Now is the time to prepare your garden for cold weather before it gets here. It’s time to harvest your Fall veggies if you haven’t already, plant any winter plants (they do exist!) and winterize your lawn to keep it looking fabulous. For a list of tasks to get done in your yard this Fall, check out this post by Mr. Stoney at Our Stoney Acres:

-Tear out all dead or dying plants

-Get rid of any diseased plant material

-Do any tilling or turning of beds now

-Add compost

-Drain hoses and water systems

-Bring in decorations and pots

Photo Credit: Nick Lansley 

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The Grass Will Always Be Greener In Your Lawn If You Follow These Tips

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Everyone wants a vibrant, healthy, green lawn. And if you’re trying to sell your home, you’ll want to take extra care to ensure that your grass is in tip top shape. Brown, dried out, or tall grass will often keep buyers from even reaching your front door. If your grass could use a makeover, look no further than this post by Jaci Moore at Homemade by Jaci for tips:

-Naturally prevent weeds by laying down corn gluten meal in the Spring.

-Re-seed your lawn for new, healthy grass (plus, it cuts off weed growth)

-Add clover to your yard- it will add nitrogen to the soil, and vibrant green color.

Photo Credit: F_A 

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Winterizing Your Garden

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Where I live, the winters are fairly mild. We hardly get any snow, and the temperature usually doesn’t get below 20 degrees. Still, I don’t like for my yard to look like a frozen wasteland. There are plenty of ways to maintain a healthy and gorgeous yard in winter, as well as ways to keep your plants alive. Read this post by Jessi Wohlwend at Practically Functional for ways to winterize your yard in time for the colder months:

-Keep watering and mowing your lawn

-Fill in patches, control weeds, use fertilizer

-Prune, mulch, and transplant your perennials

-Clean up your annuals

-Keep on composting

Photo Credit: Tatrattery 

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Too Soon To Prune?

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Pruning trees is necessary for their health. It helps them grow larger and faster, while also preventing the branches from getting too heavy. Usually, if a tree branch falls and it’s not because of a storm, it’s because it hasn’t been pruned properly. Fallen tree branches are extremely dangerous- and can cost you a lot if they fall on your home or car. So, to help both you and your trees, here’s a guide on pruning, from Kathy Woodard at The Garden Glove. It tells you when and how to prune your trees:

– Most trees will come out healthier on the other end if you wait until after the coldest part of winter has passed, but before vigorous growth starts in early spring.

-For large trees, leave the job to a tree trimming service

-Here’s what to cut on small trees: rubbing/crossing branches, dead or broken branches, water sprouts, and anything awkward or unattractive.

Photo Credit: Rosewoman 

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Hydrogen Peroxide In The Garden

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I’ve used hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant for minor cuts and scrapes, and as part of a DIY teeth-whitening solution. That’s why I was more than a little surprised by this article by Joe Macho at Hubpages that says it’s also great for gardens. Like, seriously, what? You’d think it’d immediately kill any living thing trying to grow. But, apparently, most plants eat that stuff up! Check out some of the many uses of hydrogen peroxide in the garden:

-Organic pesticide: feeding a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution to the infected plants will rid them of soil dwelling pests like root worms

-Soil aeration and root rot treatment: it will break down rapidly in the soil, boosting oxygen levels and expelling any anaerobic conditions.

-Water treatment: it will remove chlorine, and chemical pesticides

Photo Credit: Adinaplus 

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