I love to pull weeds. And I’m not afraid to admit it. Some of you will judge me. I can hear it already. “You love to pull weeds? You must be insane. That’s what Roundup is for.” Well, there’s no better way to remove weeds from a garden than to pull the weeds out, roots and all. I will save the discussion of using poisons in the yard where kids and pets play for another story. But even if you agree with my anti-poison bias, you still might think I’m crazy for enjoying the process of removing weeds. What Are You, Crazy? No. I am not crazy. Unless being an avid gardener makes me crazy. But I still think pulling weeds is awesome. What’s so awesome about going out into the yard and pulling weeds? Here’s my list of Top 5 Reasons Why I Love to Pull Weeds. Reason 1: I love to pull weeds because I love to dig in the dirt. There’s something wonderful about digging in the dirt. Just ask a scientist. Digging in the dirt stirs up the microbes in the soil. When you inhale … [Read more...] about Why I Love to Pull Weeds
Why Mineral Buildup in Household Pipes Can Reduce Water Pressure Over Time
There is nothing quite like a weak, pathetic shower spray to ruin your morning. Or, a dishwasher that sounds like it’s struggling for hours just to fill up. Or a really slow faucet. These aren't just little daily nuisances. They’re the first real warning signs that the pipes inside your walls are starting to look like clogged arteries. Over the years, calcium and magnesium hitch a ride in your water. Eventually these minerals set up camp, slowly narrowing the path inside your copper or PEX pipes. As a result, your once-strong water pressure is a thing of the past. Regular pipe flushing and maintenance is the most effective way to remove these calcium deposits and restore the high-pressure flow modern appliances and luxury fixtures require to function properly. Understanding the Mechanics of Scale Accumulation Think of hard water as the villain in your plumbing, dragging along heavy loads of dissolved magnesium and calcium. When hard water sits in your pipes or heater, the … [Read more...] about Why Mineral Buildup in Household Pipes Can Reduce Water Pressure Over Time
Best Gardening Gifts for the Holidays
Here's the Home Garden and Homestead list of the Best Gardening Gifts for the Holidays The holiday season may be the most wonderful time of the year, but the holidays bring their own stresses. What gifts do you buy for everyone on your holiday shopping list? Don't worry, We've got you covered--at least for the gardeners on your gift list. Here are our choices for the best gardening gifts for the holidays for all of the "green thumb gardeners" on your list! Editor's Note: Click on the photos in this story to buy any of these best gardening gifts for the holidays. Changshou Kumquat Tree Produces Edible Fruit Changshou Kumquat is a rare and hard-to-find plant that produces large juicy fruit. Fragrant white flowers bloom from May to September, and the fruit ripens year-round. Changshou’s pear-shaped fruit is larger than other kumquat tree varieties. Each delicious fruit usually has five or six segments inside the sweet, thin skin. Kumquats are among the hardiest … [Read more...] about Best Gardening Gifts for the Holidays
Are glass or acrylic panels the best choice for a greenhouse?
Glass has been the most popular choice for glazing greenhouses for many years. But modern acrylic glazing for greenhouses improves energy efficiency, light, and durability. Perhaps it’s time to choose acrylic panels for your next backyard or homestead greenhouse. How Acrylic Panels Support Modern Sustainable Greenhouse Gardening Gardening is shifting towards more sustainable methods that reduce waste and energy use while still giving plants the best conditions. Materials play a major part in this change, and acrylic panels are proving to be an eco-friendly option. Acrylic greenhouse panels are practical, durable, and recyclable, making them ideal for gardeners who want to reduce their environmental footprint. Read on to discover the ways acrylic panels support modern sustainable gardening and why they’re becoming a popular choice. Providing Lightweight Durability with Acrylic Panels Acrylic panels support sustainable gardening by offering strength without the … [Read more...] about Are glass or acrylic panels the best choice for a greenhouse?
How to Grow Bell Peppers: Tips from a Master Gardener
Want to Learn How to Grow Bell Peppers? Here is Everything You Need to Know to Grow this Tasty Vegetable! Bell peppers are one of the most satisfying warm-season vegetables to grow in the home garden. I’ve been an active gardener for many years, and I love to recommend growing bell peppers to new and experienced gardeners. Bell peppers are right up there with tomatoes and zucchini when it comes to easy-to-grow veggies that produce lots of delicious homegrown produce. You might want to harvest shiny green bells for a fajita night. Or perhaps you want to wait for those same peppers to ripen into reds, oranges, or yellows for a sweet snack. Few crops are as colorful—or as versatile as sweet peppers. Here's everything you need to know to grow your own bumper crop of bell peppers. How to Grow Bell Peppers: Seed vs. Starter Plants Starting from Seed: If you like the challenge and control of growing your plants from the very beginning, starting bell peppers from seed is a … [Read more...] about How to Grow Bell Peppers: Tips from a Master Gardener
