Gardening tips 2023 — Keep the pesky weeds out of your garden with a cheap hack

Dec 06, 2023

WEEDS can be eliminated for good with a cheap and easy hack.

A savvy gardener who goes by social media username, @simpystyledinspo, shared the technique.

All she did was mix one gallon of white vinegar and one cup of salt.

The gardener, whose name is Nancy, added that you could also throw in dish soap, but it's not necessary.

You can either pour the mixture or generously spray it onto the weeds to get rid of them.

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Squirrels eat natural foods, and they don't recognize the difference between food that falls from trees and food planted in a garden by homeowners, according to Master Class.

Squirrels dig up planted bulbs in the spring and fall, not only for the food but also to provide hiding places for other foods they’ve acquired.

Master Class wrote that if your plants are consistently lacking harvests, it's likely that a squirrel got to them before you had a chance to harvest them.

Tomatoes, cucumbers, berries, lettuces, and other fruits and vegetables are examples of this.

There's still time to use repellents if you see nibbling on any leaves or the crops themselves.

Squirrels are food-obsessed and will eat practically everything in a garden, Master Class reports.

Squirrels are known for their fondness for acorns, but they aren't fussy eaters.

They will eat vegetables from your vegetable garden, flowers, flower bulbs, and any birdseed you may distribute around your lawn, yard, or garden.

Squirrels may be attracted to your home by even mundane items like rubbish.

De-weeding after a spell of rain could save you a lot of time and hassle and lead to a healthier garden, according to One Good Thing.

You’ll have a much easier time removing weeds when the ground is wet because damp soil is more flexible and should allow you to rip out the root of a weed intact.

Yes, there is an extra mess but it's much easier than trying to dislodge weeds when the ground is rock-hard.

It also minimizes ripping the body from the stem, getting a clean sweep instead.

Corn gluten, which you can get on Amazon, is a winning formula for eliminating weeds, according to Midwest Grows Green.

However, there's a narrow window of opportunity to use the powder because if you apply it too soon, you’ll allow dormant weed seeds to dodge the corn gluten's preventative effects.

If it's applied to established weeds, they’ll just build resilience to its pre-emergency herbicidal effects.

The key is to apply the corn gluten when it attacks a weed just before germination or sprouting.

According to the experts, the secret to a weed-free garden and lawn is lime, and no, it's not the kind you eat.

Lime used in gardens is made from crushed-up limestone, rock, or dolomite, and when applied to soil, it raises the pH level, making the soil less acidic.

Lime also contains magnesium and calcium, which are vital for a healthy garden.

It's actually the lack of calcium in soil that provides the condition for weeds to thrive in.

If you are unsure of how to care for your plants, hop on the phone or go online and get in touch with your local garden center.

Nursery employees will have an up-to-the-minute understanding of your area's conditions and any plant care tips that are unique to your climate and soil.

Calling them with a question or stopping in is totally fine – they want your plants to thrive, too.

Gardening has become an increasingly common hobby.

During the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, an interest in gardening was reported by many media outlets, according to The Ecological Society of America (ESA)

The exact reason for the spikes has not been determined, but the ESA reported that the spikes are being investigated further.

Experts say some of the most problematic flowers for hay fever sufferers are:

Chris Bonnett from Gardening Express recommends the following plants for those who suffer from allergies:

While no one wants a skunk in their yard, these creatures can do you a favor.

Skunks don't spray unless provoked. When left alone, they’ll eat beetles, mice, rats, crickets, and grubs.

You can leave opossums alone, too, while you’re at it. They kill off the same small pests skunks do and also slurp down slugs, snails, and venomous snakes.

If there's a dead animal in your yard, an opossum is likely to find it and consume it, saving you the trouble.

Plus, they eat overripe fruits, which can really improve your garden.

Moles are considered a pest by many gardeners, but they can be great for the health of your soil.

Experts explain that mole tunnels mix and aerate your soil, providing your plants with better living conditions.

To avoid a mole infestation, experts suggest avoiding over-watering your plants — a wet environment brings worms to the surface of your yard, thus attracting moles.

A number of misunderstood "pests" are actually good news for your garden, according to garden experts who spoke with Family Handyman.

"When we don't understand them, it only leads to hasty and ill-conceived attempts to resolve a perceived problem," John Griffin, senior director of Urban Wildlife Programs with The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) told the outlet.

And many gardeners end up using methods to get rid of pests that are "inhumane and ineffective," he added.

"Not all of them are bad," agreed Mary Phillips, head of Garden for Wildlife. "They’re just misunderstood."

Garden compost can take anything from six months to two years to attain maturity, according to the Royal Horticultural Society.

If you think yours is ready, make sure it has the correct look, feel, and fragrance.

It should be dark brown in color, crumbly like earth, warm to the touch, and smell like damp woodland.

It's important to keep an eye on your pile and turn it as needed after it starts to take shape.

This introduces air into the mix, which is necessary for composting to take place.

Depending on the size of your pile and the materials in it, a turn with a spade once or twice a week should be enough.

In warmer weather, don't forget to add water when the heap becomes dry.

While it may appear that you may throw anything into your compost bin, there are several items that should be avoided.

Meat and dairy products, which attract pests, as well as any high-processed meals, fall into this category.

The list of items you can put in, on the other hand, is extensive.

Fruit and vegetable peelings, offcuts, coffee grounds, tea leaves, grass clippings, dried leaves, manure, herbs, and hair are all acceptable ingredients.

It's critical to have the correct materials mixed in the bin.

Soft green elements, such as grass clippings, weeds, or vegetable kitchen waste, should account for 25 to 50 percent of the total, with woody brown materials, such as wood chippings, accounting for the balance.

It's also a good idea not to allow any one element, particularly grass clippings, to dominate the heap.

Place the bottomless container in a shaded area of your garden once you’ve settled on it.

It may be placed on any surface, but if it's going to be on hard ground, be sure to add a spadeful of dirt to the bin first.

Then lay a few inches of whatever logs or branches you can find on top of that to help aerate the pile.

While it may appear difficult, home composting is actually rather simple – even for those with the tiniest kitchens and gardens.

It may also be done at any time of year, however, the best period to make compost is from late summer to early winter.

Composting is an eco-friendly method of disposing of kitchen and yard waste.

It entails the natural conversion of organic waste such as leaves and vegetable scraps into fertilizer.

Because it is high in nutrients, it may be utilized as a soil improver.

Like most things, gardening comes with seasonal trends.

Various experts predict some of the trends that’ll be flooding your Pinterest boards and social media channels once summer kicks in.

They’ve warned people to steer clear of trends that, while popular, will make your garden look tacky and prevent your plants from flourishing over the summer.

They suggest avoiding the following trends,

Fill the uneven patches using a hard-bristled brush to create a level surface, and water them well to encourage new grass to grow.

Finally, sow some fresh grass seeds on any areas that are bare and need re-covering.

Make sure to distribute more on scarce patches or on lumps that have born torn up.

Always lay grass seeds on a mild, spring day and make sure to water them well once the seeds have been sown.

Make sure to water the areas well to encourage new grass to grow to create a seamless finish.

For larger lumps and bumps, you’ll need a few extra tools.

Start by mowing the lawn and then use a rake to uplift thatch (clumps of dead grass) and other organic matter.

Once you’ve removed uneven patches, top-dress them with sand and soil using a 40:60 ratio.

Flattening out bumpy ground can be done at any time of the year, but the gardening experts at The Daily Express reported it is best to get started in spring.

Start with smaller bumps (less than one inch) and simply use your foot to press them firmly down.

If you have holes made by animals, fill them with topsoil, compressing the earth with your foot to create a solid surface.

You could create another slow-release watering system by hanging a plastic bottle over your plants.

Simply take a bottle, pierce tiny holes in the bottom half and then enclose the bottle in a sock – other fabric should work just as fine.

You can then hang this above your plant by securing it to a stick that rests inside of your plant pot – but make sure it's done so securely.

Just like with the "magic" burying method, the plants will have a steady flow of water.