Easy Lawn And Garden Hacks That’ll Save You Time And Money
Need a watering can but don’t have one? No problem (as long as you aren’t also lactose intolerant). Take an old plastic milk jug, or any similar type of container, and poke holes in the lid. It’ll water just like a normal watering can. Just make sure you don’t mistake it for a normal milk carton or hold it upside down.
Cinnamon powder actually has anti-fungal properties. So spreading it on your seedlings will help prevent them from contracting any diseases. And as an added bonus, the cinnamon smells really nice.
If you’ve ever heard of the product Aqua Globe, you’re probably familiar with how they function. You put the water in the device then stick it in the soil. The plant will then only take water as its needed as its absorbed into the soil, preventing over and under-watering (as long as you refill the Aqua Globe when it’s empty). As it turns out, you don’t actually need to spend money on that. Filling an empty water, soda, or even win bottle can give you the same effect. And you’ll be saving money and the environment by recycling.
You could spend money on expensive weed-blocking cloth, or you could just take an old newspaper and spread over it over the area that’s prone to weeds — a top tip from Pol Bishop, a gardening and landscaping expert from London-based Fantastic Gardeners.
“Cover the newspapers with dirt, mulch and grass clippings to keep them in place,” Bishop says. “With time, the newspapers will smother the weeds beneath them.”
If you live in a rainy area, protecting your lawn from flooding will be a top priority. Bishop recommends doing a bit of digging to create a slightly sunken area.
“Fill this area with perennial plants,” he advises. “Rainwater will flow toward that part of the garden and nurture the plants planted there. It’s a win-win situation.”
Tired of grass sticking to your mower’s blades? Bishop swears by cooking spray: just apply it to your mower’s blades before use.
“This prevents clumps of grass from sticking to your blades,” he explains.
This hack from Derek Gaughan, owner of Pittsburgh’s Prince Gardening, will ensure your vegetable garden is beautifully ordered. All you need is a cupcake/muffin pan!
“When you’re ready to plant, simply press the bottom of the pan into the soil to make depressions,” Gaughan says.
To keep pests out of your garden, you’ll need insecticidal soap (horticultural spray). But if you don’t want harsh chemicals on your plants, you can go down the DIY route. Gaughan makes his own, completely natural product that works great against aphids and spider mites — two pests that can completely decimate a garden. He mixes 1 cup vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon pure, unscented dish soap. Mix 2 teaspoons of this soap mixture to every cup of water, add it to your spray bottle, and coat the leaves of your plants as necessary.
Lots of people believe that fallen tree leaves will insulate their lawns during winter, but this doesn’t work if they remain unshredded.
“Don’t let tree leaves smother your grass,” warns Phil Dwyer from the Scotts R&D team. Instead, ditch the rake. Mulch your leaves to dime-sized pieces with your lawnmower before applying one of your fall feedings to help the soil microbes break down the leaves.
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