How to prepare your garden beds for spring
Spring is the season when the soil warms and is the best time to grow your favourite vegetable and flower plants. Preparing the garden soil beforehand can help you to create a successful garden. If the soil in the backyard is not ideal for growing vegetables and flowers you can still grow them in raised garden beds. Here is how to prepare garden beds for spring. How to prepare garden beds for spring 1. Clean your garden tools Sharpen your garden tools and sanitize them well so that you can use them for your plants. When tools are not sanitized properly, diseases spread easily from one plant to another. 2.…
6 Benefits of Raised Garden Beds
Raised garden beds are created by raising the soil above ground level and enclosing it with materials like wood, rocks etc. Growing plants in raised garden beds has many benefits. They can be filled with soil that is suitable for plants and vegetables. Raised garden beds can be built in any shape and size. They are effective especially when the ground soil is too compact and not suitable for plant growth. Benefits of raised garden beds: 1. Raised beds help to control soil erosion Heavy rains can cause soil erosion by washing away the precious topsoil that enriches plant growth. When enclosed raised beds are built, there is less chance…
How to grow insulin plant at home
Insulin plant (scientific name Chamaecostus cuspidatus) is a herbaceous plant that belongs to the Costaceae family. This plant grows 2 to 5 feet tall. Its flowers come in colours like yellow and orange. Flowers bloom during the spring and summer seasons. Here is how to grow insulin plant at home. Growing Conditions: You can buy a plant from the local nursery. If you are growing this plant in pots then plant it in a container that at least 16 inches deep and wide. The insulin Plant grows well when it gets partial shade and sunlight. It must get at least 3 to 4 hours of sunlight every day for good…
Reasons why plant leaves are turning yellow
A plant’s leaves may turn yellow due to a condition called chlorosis where the leaves are unable to make enough chlorophyll to produce a natural green colour. In general, the leaves turn yellow and fall off when the plant gets old. But when a young plant’s leaves start to turn yellow then there may be a problem. Once your plant’s leaves turn yellow they do not turn back to green. Instead they fall off. Reasons why your plant leaves are turning yellow and how you can fix them: 1. Watering When your plants do not get enough water, it starts to turn yellow. Make sure to water the plant well…
How to compost chicken manure
Chicken manure is rich in nutrients that can benefit the plants in your garden. It’s high in nitrogen and directly applying it to plants can burn their roots. It has to be properly aged before it can be used in the garden. Aged manure is manure that is simply set aside for a period of 4 to 5 months. Besides nitrogen other nutrients chicken manure consists of are potassium, phosphorous and calcium. Fresh chicken manure contains harmful pathogens that can affect the plants. Time and high temperatures can kill these harmful pathogens. Fresh chicken manure can be turned into aged manure in two ways before it can be used for…
7 Best organic fertilizers for flowers
Certain flower plants grow best in average soil conditions whereas others need fertile soil to grow well.The main nutrients flowering plants require are nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous. Phosphorus is one of the main nutrients that plants require for producing flowers. You can add either solid or liquid fertilisers to your plants. Solid fertilisers are slow-release fertilisers, but when temperatures get warmer nutrients are absorbed by the plants faster. Liquid fertilisers help plants to absorb nutrients faster. You can make your fertiliser from kitchen waste or other materials. Making your fertiliser means you will save more money and you will recycle biodegradable waste. Here are some of the best organic fertilizers…
Reasons why your rosemary is dying.
Why your Rosemary is dying 1.Watering Both overwatering and underwatering can harm your rosemary plant. Make sure to check the soil’s moisture levels before watering. If the plant is overwatered then you will notice browning of the tips of the leaves. Overwatering harms the roots leading to root rot. This turns the branches brown. Avoid watering your plant for a few days. If the plant is under watered then the branches become twiggy and they dry up. You can prune the dried-up branches and give your plant some liquid fertilizer to encourage foliage growth. 2. Soil conditions Rosemary requires well-drained moderately fertile soil to grow well. It can tolerate all…
How to grow chives in a container
Chives is a perennial herb that is native to Asia and Europe. Growing chives in your garden can help to repel certain insects and attract pollinators. The leaves of chives can be used for cooking purposes. The commonly grown chives are namely Common chives and Garlic chives. Common chives can grow up to 15 inches tall and they are cold hardy plants. Garlic chives can grow up to 20 inches tall and these chives are not cold-hardy when compared to common chives. Chives are a great companion plant and can be grown next to corn, tomato and peas. Here’s how to grow chives in a container. Growing Conditions Chives need…
13 Best annual summer flowers to grow
Annual flowers grow, produce flowers and die within a season. On the other hand, perennials can live for 2 years. By growing annuals in your garden, you can grow different varieties of flowers each year. Annual flowers bloom and produce more flowers when compared to biennials and perennials. Growing them in the borders of your garden adds beauty. Growing them near your vegetables can help to attract beneficial insects that take care of pests that feast upon your veggies. Here are some annual summer flowers to grow. Summer Flowers to grow in your garden 1.Marigold Marigolds are a great start for beginner gardeners and these flowers are drought-tolerant growing well…
9 vegetables to grow during the summer season.
Most vegetables grow best during the summer season. Some veggies like radish, beetroot, carrot and spinach are cool weather crops. But other veggies grow and give yields during the warm season. All vegetables grow best when they get 6 to 8 hours of sunlight every day. Regular watering is required to keep the soil moist. Also, most vegetable plants require fertilizer rich in nitrogen during the growing stage. During the yielding stage, they need fertilizers rich in potassium and phosphorous. Best vegetables to grow in summer season: 1. Tomatoes Homegrown tomatoes are more delicious when compared to tomatoes brought from stores. Tomatoes need well-draining fertile sandy loam soil to grow.…
