Begin With the Basics
People often call the holidays a "Most Wonderful Part of a Year." I do not agree. Spring is my all time favorite. I can go out in my garden, dirty my hands, and spend time taking care of my flowers, shrubs and vegetables. This spring, I’m enhancing my traditions of the season by studying how honeybees help in growing my garden. Whether you're ready to go full out or just tiptoeing into your garden for the very first time, make an eco-friendly choice as you start getting your lawn ready for warmer temperatures.
The best idea is to begin with the basics. Knowing precisely what your soil requires and just as important what it does not need is essential. Most county agricultural extension offices provide soil testing kits free of charge. Scoop up a soil sample into a box, get it to the county, and get a complete analysis outlining precisely the nutrients your lawn requires. Many lawns don't actually require the amount of fertilizer you think. Also there are inexpensive soil testing kits available at home improvement centers.
A simple way to save your money while gaining spring and summer resources is by using several rain barrels I like these rain barrels I've added outside my home. Some are containers converted to a rain barrel using a kit from a home improvement store. Others were ready-to-use versions that I acquired and immediately put to use. It takes only a matter of a few minutes to install, then you have acquired a free water
supply of to nourish your lawns and garden into the warmer months.
Once you've gotten your soil in top shape, concentrate on non-toxic methods to hold the weeds back. Before you grab a huge weed killer cocktail, try a less expensive and safer solution like old newspapers. Simply lay the papers out using thick sections of four to six sheets and spray using water to position in place. Newspapers will not let the sunshine get through to the weed seeds waiting to germinate. Also, they encourage earthworm to eventually break the paper down, turning your existing soil into improved soil during the process. Think about covering the paper using leaves, mulch, or even grass clippings.
And talking of allowing Mother Nature take care of the heavy work for you, those bees I’m looking into this season will not be the only things taking care of the heavy lifting. The bees are also going to help pollinate the plants. Some of my favorite bugs that are beneficial have their very own jobs to accomplish. Ladybugs will consume pests like aphids, well known for devouring ornamental plants and shrubs. Praying mantis devour pesky mosquitoes and flies. You can actually purchase these bugs on the web or at numerous smaller garden centers.
Therefore before you put your gardening gloves on and go to work, consider the ways a a small number of eco-friendly answers can assist you in safely raising your dream garden and without shattering your budget.
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