Do the plans for your backyard landscape include a garden? We love it when a design involves edible greenery, as there’s no better way to get fresh, tasty produce than to grow it yourself. Have you ever done the garden vs. store taste test? Try it with tomatoes…there’s no contest! And let’s face it—farm-to-table fare tastes the best when it comes from the fruits of your own labor.
As we head into the gardening season, here are a few tips and tricks from the pros to tend to your own little “farm”:
- There are so many beautiful annuals, but it can be such a hassle to replant them every year. Instead, “plant” empty plastic pots (poke drainage holes in the bottom first) and just drop your new seasonals right on in!
- Grind up eggshells into a powder and sprinkle in the garden. The calcium in the shells will give your plants a boost.
- Magnesium and sulfate-rich epsom salts are wonderful for maintaining a lush, healthy garden. Add some in the soil when first planting your garden, or for potted plants, dissolve into the water in your watering can.
- Strategically plant plastic forks—tines up—around your plants to keep pets and critters from trampling your garden.
- Speaking of critters, leftover coffee grounds will repel those unwanted guests while at the same time enriching your soil.
- Stop invasive plants from taking over your yard by planting them inside a large plastic pot or bucket. Just be sure to cut the bottom off first to let the roots do their thing.
- When you cook vegetables, save the leftover water and sprinkle it over your plants as fertilizer. The water contains tons of nutrients your garden will thrive on.
- Looking for a simple, non-toxic weed killer? Combine 1 gallon white vinegar, 1 cup table salt, and 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap, and voila!
- Store your gardening tools in an unused flower pot filled with sand. It’ll help keep them from rusting!
- Give yourself a leg up by selecting easy-to-grow plants for the Indiana climate, as well as for your particular soil structure and lighting conditions.
Need some help or advice? We’re always happy to chat with you to help determine which plants will work best for your home!