8 Tips on Maintaining the Perfect Lawn

8-Tips-on-Maintaining-the-Perfect-Lawn.Your lawn is important, as it adds curb appeal to your house. Maintaining your yard will undoubtedly improve the value of your property, which means you are guaranteed to see that annual increase in your home equity and be able to sell it at a higher price if and when necessary. Maintaining a lawn isn’t always easy, and there is no manual to what the ideal dimensions are. Achieving the perfect lawn means you have to put in the work. So how do you maintain a lawn of perfection?

Watering Your Lawn

This is an obvious tip but very important. Water your lawn for about two hours every day. If you’re too busy to do this every day, you can also water your lawn for a longer time every other day. You should take note of the weather as well. If we have long periods of rain, you don’t need to water your lawn as much! However, this is only true for some types of grasses. Others need a lot of water to grow properly. Deep watering is also important for the health of your lawn’s roots. Deep watering forces the root system to grow deep into the ground to find water, making it stronger.

landscaping-ideas
Source: Houzz

Fertilize Your Lawn

The best time to fertilize your lawn is during the growing season, which usually lasts from April to October. But this depends on where you live and how fast your grass grows. If you live in an area where grass grows slowly, fertilizing only once per year should be enough. If you live in an area where grass grows fast, then twice or three times per year would be better. You can even use organic fertilizer instead of chemical fertilizer if that suits your needs best. But the best thing is to consult lawn care services to get the best advice on the best fertilizer for your lawn.

Lush-Green-Lawns
Source: Houzz

Make a Plan

It’s important to set realistic expectations for your lawn and plan how you want to achieve those expectations. You can find best professionals by searching on internet and you can just type lawn care near me to get the information of professionals near you. They can recommend what types of grass will grow well in your region and might suggest specific species that are resistant to common pests or diseases.

Remove Weeds

Weeds are an inevitable part of lawn maintenance, but if you get to them early enough, they can be easily removed with nothing more than a trowel or shovel. The best time to remove weeds is before they go to seed, either late summer or early fall. This will keep them from spreading, saving you time and making your lawn look better when spring rolls around.

Mow Your Lawn Regularly

Mowing your lawn regularly keeps the grass healthy and reduces weeds, but it’s important not to cut your grass too short. Doing so can damage the grass and prevent future growth. Cutting your grass about an inch high is ideal for keeping it healthy. How often you should mow depends on how quickly your grass grows, but every 5-7 days is ideal in the spring and summer.

Source: Photo Houzz

Rake Leaves When they Fall

Leaves can rob your lawn of water, light, and air if they’re not cleared away regularly. Dealing with leaves as they fall keeps them from matting down on your lawn. Plus, raking leaves as they fall is faster than waiting until autumn’s end and having a massive pile of leaves to deal with at once.

The Right Tools

You should never try to maintain your lawn without the right tools. If you don’t have a mower or other equipment, it will be harder for you to keep up with your grass. There are many options for finding the right tools, so look into them and see which ones fit your budget and needs.

Get Your Soil Tested

Soil testing is an important step in maintaining a healthy lawn. Once you know what nutrients your soil is lacking, you can amend it by adding fertilizer or compost. Soil testing will also show how acidic your soil is, which can help determine the right grass seed for your yard. Different types of grass prefer different pH levels, so a test can tell you if you need to adjust the acidity or alkalinity of your soil before you plant. It can also tell you if you have any nutrient deficiencies that need addressing with fertilizers or other additives.

Bottom Line

Maintaining a lawn is an essential activity for households with a yard. Having a lush, healthy lawn can add an element of beauty and comfort to your property. The easiest way to ensure the health and attractiveness of your lawn is to contact lawn care services for regular lawn maintenance.
[…]
Low Maintenance Yet Beautiful Gardens

Trends You May Have Missed About Tomato Fertilizers 

Trends-You-May-Have-Missed-About-Tomato-FertilizersWhen it comes to fertilizing your tomatoes, many people have little or no idea how to best go about this. You may be using a granular fertilizer that you spread over the soil or spraying a foliage-specific spray. Regardless of the method, it is crucial to follow the instructions on the fertilizer’s label. However, many people end up over or under-fertilizing their plants. Here are some of the tomato fertilizer guides and tips you may have missed about tomato fertilizers.

Liquid fertilizers are safe.

Fertilizers are available in two primary forms: slow-release and quick-release. Slow-release fertilizers break down slowly and last throughout the growing season, while quick-release fertilizers dissolve in water and travel through the soil. Water-soluble fertilizers are ideal for tomato plants because they provide a quick shot of nutrients without sacrificing the granular form’s ease of storage. These fertilizers should be applied every two weeks. In addition, liquid fertilizers feed your tomato plant right away. You have to apply it every two weeks to avoid burnt or stunted growth. This product is safe for all plants, and it won’t burn them when used correctly. It also doesn’t react with other plants unless mixed with water, so that you can use it with any watering can.

Aspirin helps fight diseases.

Aspirin and tomato fertilizer work together to promote healthy, productive plants. Aspirin can help ward off fungal diseases and boost yields. You can sprinkle it onto the soil around the plant or soak it in a glass of water before sowing it. Aspirin also boosts tomato taste and vitamin C content. Regardless of whether you choose to use aspirin, there are a few advantages to using the two together.

Aspirin can improve the growth of plants that are stressed. However, there is little evidence to support its use in not stressed plants. It may prevent plant diseases, but you must be sure to follow application rates and directions. Aspirin can also improve the drought tolerance of plants. In fact, aspirin is beneficial for plants in the nightshade family. So, why not give it a try? And don’t forget to follow the instructions on the bottle.

Epsom salts as a soil amendment.

One way to use Epsom salts in your tomato fertilizer is to use them as a soil amendment. Tomatoes are often prone to nutritional deficiencies because they leach out of the soil when watered. A balanced dose of Epsom salts in the soil will make a big difference for your tomato plants. But be sure to use it responsibly. In the wrong quantity, the effects can be detrimental to the health of your plants.

While magnesium and sulfur are not common deficiencies in American garden soils, tomatoes need both high levels of minerals. They are crucial to plant health. So, by adding Epsom salt to your tomato fertilizer, you will give your plants an added boost in terms of the micronutrient content they absorb.

Pruning is essential for indeterminate tomato varieties.

Some indeterminate tomato plants need no pruning, and some do not. You can pinch off suckers from the base of the main stems, which prevents them from growing further. The leaves below the fruit are also essential for the ripening process. Deciduous tomato plants, however, don’t require any pruning at all. As their leaves never touch the ground, they can grow to about 10 feet or more.

However, to prune indeterminate varieties, you can cut off the lower leaves that touch the ground. This will help prevent disease. Pruning is also important for the overall health of the plant. Leaving the lower leaves in place can lead to less fruit than if you prune the plant regularly. Regardless of the type of tomato, a sturdy cage will prevent your plants from falling over or getting damaged during pruning.

Choosing the right fertilizer and proper watering is vital.

You can find a variety of fertilizers for tomatoes in most large garden centers. You can choose from all-purpose, organic, or a mixture of both. Organic fertilizers are derived from plant-based materials and break down to replenish the soil. The disadvantage of organic fertilizers is that it’s difficult to determine their exact balance. On the other hand, synthetic fertilizers have been scientifically formulated to provide just the right amount of nutrients for tomato plants. These fertilizers are easy to apply and are effective at providing the right nutrients to your tomato plants.

Also, tomatoes need ample water in order to grow well. They need about an inch of water a week. But be careful to avoid overwatering your plants because excess water may cause root rot. Apply tomato fertilizer every few weeks once the plant starts to produce fruit. You can also mix in worm castings or bone meal to the bottom of the hole before planting. You must avoid overwatering the plants as this can damage the roots and cause the plants to suffer from blossom end rot.
[…]
Successful Indoor Outdoor Gardening Guide for Absolute Beginners
Growing Plants in Containers with Kids

Growing Plants in Containers with Kids

Growing Plants With Kids
Can Be A Rewarding Experience

Teaching-Kids-About-How-to-grow-plants-in-containers
Ok so I was thinking after my article about container gardening  that I would mention its not limited to moms and dads for bigger gardens, but get the kids can get involved. Growing-Vegetables-in-ContainersSo you want to grow a garden with your kids, but you don’t have a yard to do it in. That means you will need to grow things in containers, not a bad idea, makes it even easier to take care of, there will be “NO WEEDS”.  But what grows well in containers that’s simple and something kids will enjoy?

Simply put, pretty much any vegetable or herb will grow well in a container as long as there’s enough room. But let’s narrow this down to kid friendly. Here are the ten best plants that you can grow in containers with your children. Here are some great ideas to get your started.
Shop for your Home& Garden at NatureHills.comGrowing-plants-vegetables-in-containers-when-no-other-area-available.

9 Great Plants To Use When Growing in Containers
* Tomatoes – This is probably the most popular choice for growing in containers. Tomatoes are easy to grow; they can even be done from a hanging container and grow upside down. Using good soil and the right amount of water is what’s needed to make tomatoes grow well in containers.

* Potatoes – You can grow a large amount of potatoes in containers like compost bags or a large tub or buckets. If you would like to see more on how you can use a bucket to plant potato’s, I found an example over at Instructables Growing Potatoes In Buckets

* Cucumbers – These are easy to grow in containers, but they need the right conditions. They grow best in warm temperatures so don’t plant until early summer for best results.

* Carrots – These are so simple to grow and do really well in containers. So they’re a really great starter vegetable to grow with children.

* Blueberries – These grow well in containers, but only with the right conditions. They ripen best in heat so they’re best saved for the summer. They require rain water too, so grow them outdoors unless you are able to collect the rain water in something. They won’t do well with tap water.

* Parsley – This is great in a window box. It takes a while to germinate though and requires heat. Also, be sure to use a rich soil.

* Basil – Put it in the window box with parsley, but be warned: this does not do well at all with cold. So make sure there is not going to be any frost. Basil has a few weeks’ germination time, though, so it grows quicker than parsley.

* Radish – This is probably the easiest vegetable to grow in a container and will really get the kids excited. So this is the perfect choice.

* Lettuce – This is actually a great choice for growing in containers. Water in the morning and make sure it is kept in the shade and you’ll have a quick and easy plant in a container in no time.

* Flowers – It doesn’t have to be vegetables alone that you plant in containers. Potted plants such as geraniums, petunias, mums, and sunflowers are great in a pot and something kids will love to help cultivate.
The-Rewards-of-gardening-with-kidsPlanting anything with kids can be a whole lot of fun and very educational. Getting kids to eat more vegetables, then planting some sort of garden will be a huge help in that. Letting them get their hands dirty and eating the food they grow is a huge incentive for even the pickiest of eaters.

As you can see, lots of plants are not fond of the cold weather of winter, and it’s such a shame if your kids can’t experience gardening tasks just because of that. So how about moving under the roof and grow some indoors? That way, all the difficult conditions before can be adjusted as you please since an indoor plant is easier to protect from pests, you can control the amount of water and nutrients your plants consume and even the light can be monitored through the convenient LED Grow Lights.’

So don’t think just because you don’t have a lot of room you can’t create some sort of garden. Hanging tomatoes and window boxes and small containers on your kitchen counter with herbs and including some containers on your porch of radishes and potatoes and you’re off to a great start gardening with the kids and getting them to try more fruits and vegetables.

But if growing outdoors wont work for you, learn how you can “Enjoy growing vegetables indoors all year long with the Miracle-Gro AeroGarden

What have you grown in containers before? Do you think your kids would enjoy gardening?

If you enjoyed this article you might want to check these in my Garden Series:
Successful Indoor Outdoor Gardening Guide for Absolute Beginners

In addition you could also teach your kids about Re-Growing Vegetables using vegetable scraps from your kitchen. Such as Lettuce, Celery, Lemon Grass, Fennel, Basil, Cilantro, Bean Sprouts or re-growing root crops such as potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Ginger, Onions, Green Onions, the list goes on and you can read all about those and how it is done on And if you need a guide check out Vegetables That You Can Regrow Again And Again From Scraps and one more 30 Insanely Clever Gardening Tricks

How To Build DIY Raised Garden Boxes and Beds

My post was shared on Grammy’s Grid
Shared On:
Tuesdays With a Twist
The Creative Collection Party
It’s That DIY Party!
DIY – Do it Yourself Linky Party
Happiness Is Homemade Link Party
Inspire Me Mondayy
Simple Saturdays
Really Crafty Party
Home Sweet Home 316
Flaunt It Friday
Sweet Inspirations Linky Party
One More Time Events
Saturday Fest Linky Party
Snicker Doodle Party
Inspiration Monday Party
This is How We Roll Linky Party
Share Your Style Link Party

This post may contain affiliate links and I might receive compensation if you make a purchase after clicking on links

Successful Indoor Outdoor Gardening Guide for Absolute Beginners

Learn how to grow plants indoors with tips and guidelines. Growing one tomato plant outdoors would produce up to 10 pounds fresh tomatoes, but in small pots you can grow herbs for cooking, there is nothing better than fresh. 

 So, your last experience with indoor gardening concluded after trying to grow basil on the windowsill of your kitchen, which ended tragically for your plant? Herbs-that-will-grow-indoors-basil-rosemary-thyme-parsley-oregano Don’t feel frustrated, you can learn how to look after plants at home pretty easily if you follow several important guidelines and with some basic knowledge about indoor gardening.

Why bother starting an indoor garden in the first place?

 Everyone-Can-Be-a-Successful-Indoor-GardenerThere are so many reasons for adding plants to your home décor. First and foremost, home plants will add beauty to your home and are actually pretty easy to grow and look after. They also keep the air indoors fresh, they give off oxygen at night, so this is a plus.

Also, you can grow your own clean and luscious and fresh herbs which you will take pride upon and can add to your meals. Trust, me you will feel great every time you add a few of those green basil leaves to your homemade pasta. This will also help you save money for buying herbs from the store too.

Speaking of which, remember last time you bought tomatoes and the price tag on them? By planting a single tomato plant in your home garden you can grow about 10 pounds of fruit per season. Imagine the savings you will be making if you plant more veggies at home.

What are the basic guidelines to follow in order to successfully start up your own indoor garden?

Here are the basic rules to follow if you want to successfully plant and grow your own herbs and plants indoors.

Choose suitable containers

 The-right-size-container-for-the-type-of-plant-will-result-in-the-succcess-of-plant-growth
Remember that the size of the pot or another container you choose will affect the growth and size of your plant later on. Avoid using tiny pots for planting herbs and edible plants. The tight space will constrict the growth of the roots and thus will hinder the development of your plant.

As a rule of the thumb, choose a container which is at least 6 inches wide and 6 inches deep. In case you want to use your windowsill, you can choose a deeper but narrower container which fits the space you have allotted for your plants. Note about plain terracotta pots are porus and plant will need more watering, but a painted pot would be a better choice. You can even plant several different plants in a larger or longer container to add to the variety and save space.

Always make sure that the container of your choice has at least one drainage hole on the bottom. This will allow for the water to flow freely through the soil instead of getting stuck inside the pot, drenching the soil and possibly damaging and even killing the roots, in other words, drowning the roots.

In case you don’t have a good spot in your house you can consider grow tents for your plants.

Rejuvenate soil in your indoor-outdoor containers for plantsReplacing-the-soil-in-flower-pots-before-new-plant

In order to keep your indoor garden blooming and producing food year after year, remember to repot your plant every year. The reason is that most soil mixes are peat-based, and they tend to decompose and compress over time. This can cause problems with the proper drainage of the water, as well as the build-up of salts which can lead to less space for the plant to grow, slowing down of the growth, stress and even death of your home plants.

You can add some perlite to peat based bagged soils in order to improve the aeration necessary for the proper growth of the plants.

Also, remember to flush out the soil at least once a month. You can do that under the faucet or outdoors. By flushing the soil in the pot with water you will wash away any salts which have built up from the tap water deposits and the fertilizers. Note about water: If you live in a hard water area you might consider using a cheap bottle spring water, I’ve found the plants do better for me.

It is a good idea to insert wicks in the drainage holes of your pots which will help wick away any excess water and reduce the risk of the roots rotting. This can be something as simple as yarn.

If you are determined to do your best for your home garden, you may want to mix your own potting soil or rejuvenate old potting soil. You can use perlite, coconut coir, composted bark, pumice, peat, vermiculite or other additives like a time release amendment to improve the soil at home. Rejuvenating soil in pots will almost guarantee good results for your newly potted plants.  All amendments can be found at your garden center, if you need help just ask.

Ensure that your indoor garden gets sufficient light

Mimic-the-suns-rays-with-plant-lights.
Light is essential for the growth of plants, and edible plants, in particular, love a lot of light. So, choose a spot where your plants will get at least 12 hours of direct light if you want them to grow strong and healthy.

For places with limited light, you can choose some easy to grow plants which are not so pretentious about the lighting such as basil, mint, scallions or arugula. They will grow in limited lighting conditions pretty well.

If necessary, you can use grow lights to mimic the sun or another type of artificial lighting to ensure the light needed by your plants at home.

Water the indoor garden in moderation 

The most common mistake which novice home gardeners make is over-watering their plants.  More does not mean better when it comes to watering plants. In order to avoid making this rookie mistake get into the habit of checking how dry the soil in the pot is. Insert your finger in it at about an inch and a half and if the soil is soggy and drenched then abstain from watering the plant and if necessary try to drain out the excess water. In case the soil is dry, it is time to water the plants. After watering your garden, the soil should feel nice and damp.

On the other hand, pouring too little water in the pots and containers can also hinder the growth of your garden plants. Make sure you add enough water so that it starts seeping out of the drainage holes. Shallow watering can lead to shallow root development which results in the growth of smaller and weaker plants. If you have a deep sink or pot you can submerse your plant once a week, be sure to drain before placing back in its favorite spot.

There is no strict schedule or rule for watering the plants. Check the soil and also keep the season and weather conditions in mind as well. In the summer, when the sun is bright and hot, your plants will need more water, as it will evaporate much quicker than in the colder days and seasons.

The best time to water the plants in the summer season is before sunrise, or at least before noon when the sun is high. This will help prevent the water from evaporating too quickly and leaving the soil dry.

Choose the right plants for your indoor garden

Chosing-the-right-container-for-new-plantsBest Plants to grow at home
Some of the best edible plants to grow at home are also the healthiest and tastiest ones and less expensive than purchasing those small packages of herbs. You can grow  garlic greens, scallions, microgreens, mushrooms, salad greens, tomatoes, chives, cilantro, ginger, and all kinds of aromatic herbs such as mint, basil or rosemary. 

Not only will you be saving money and producing the healthy and organic food you want to feed your family, but with a home garden you will find a hobby which grows pretty quickly on you, so pretty soon you will be enjoying watching your plants grow and picking the fruits of your labor to use in your cooking.

So, good luck with your indoor gardening, and remember that apart from light, water and nutrients, plants need a lot of love too, so give them your love and they will pay you back with fresh delicious fruits and veggies. And if you have a question I would be glad to help. 

This post may contain affiliates links and I might receive compensation if you make a purchase after clicking on a link.
Related:
Low Maintenance Yet Beautiful Gardens
What Makes a Good Garden?

HTML Snippets Powered By : XYZScripts.com