If You Care About Healthy Soil and Clean Water, Here's What You Need to Know to Keep Your Garden and Landscape Free of Contaminants. Soil and water safety is an important topic for every gardener. That’s true whether you’re growing vegetables for your family or maintaining a backyard oasis of flowers. The long-term sustainability of a garden is based on understanding its building blocks: soil and water. For a garden to thrive, it must have healthy soil and clean water. It’s more complicated that you think. It goes way beyond “soil is dirty, and water runs clear.” And many gardeners don’t know what to look for. Soil and water contaminants can be sneaky critters, and this article will share what you need to know to keep your garden safe. Healthy Soil and Clean Water: What to Know About Soil Contaminants Unseen pollutants in soil pose serious risks to plants as well as people. Soil may look rich and fertile, but a closer inspection is needed to be sure … [Read more...] about Healthy Soil and Clean Water: What Every Backyard Gardener Should Know
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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 is 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. Plant Life Support for Indoor Plants Here’s a gift for anyone who has ever forgotten to water a houseplant. (That’s pretty much everyone who has a houseplant.) The Plant Life Support for potted plants looks like a small hospital saline bag. Simply add water to the 350ml “IV bag” and it will drip water into the soil for up to 7 days. This handy gift prevents houseplant guilt caused by bone-dry plants. … [Read more...] about Best Gardening Gifts for the Holidays
Yard Care Tools: How to Clean, Maintain, and Store Gardening Tools for Longevity
Yard Care Tools and Gardening Tools Need Cleaning and Maintenance for Optimum Performance and Longevity. After a long day of rigorous gardening, you might be tempted to ditch the tools in the shed and get cozy to rest your sore muscles. However, experienced gardeners and tool experts know that even a little damp soil can rust the blades. It’s important not just to chuck your tools in a corner after use, even if you’re tired. This article will discuss effective yet easy ways to take care of your garden tools, so overcomplicated maintenance procedures do not bog you down. Plus, we’ve included expert tips so your tools will remain in top condition even after years of helping you grow your beautiful garden. Everyday Cleanliness Is Key Keeping your tools clean is paramount to maintain their functionality and even prevent corrosion or rust, so you must give them a good rinse with a hose after every use. Then, scrub away any stubborn dirt or grime using a wire brush or … [Read more...] about Yard Care Tools: How to Clean, Maintain, and Store Gardening Tools for Longevity
How to Start a Victory Garden 2.0
Planting a Victory Garden 2.0 is a good way to preserve your sanity in a crazy world. Plus, you get vegetables! Victory Gardens were vegetable and fruit gardens that people planted in their yards during World War Two. Not only were Victory Gardens a great way to provide homegrown food, but these gardens were morale boosters during the war. In 2020, the Victory Garden idea was brought back to life when the COVID-19 outbreak forced millions of people worldwide to quarantine and stay at home. Instead of feeling helpless, thousands of people retuned to gardening by starting a Victory Garden 2.0. That's because growing plants and tending a garden provides stress relief, a healthy outdoor activity, and food security. Many people don’t realize that gardening has a history of being a coping tool during times of national crisis. During the first World War more than 100 years ago, the U.S. government encouraged Americans to plant vegetable gardens. (Back then, they were called Liberty … [Read more...] about How to Start a Victory Garden 2.0
Best New Gardening Books for Summer Reading
Summer is the season for gardening, and it’s also the time to read the best new gardening books. There’s something delightful about finding a comfortable spot outdoors and reading a great book. It’s one of the joys that makes summer special. This year we have a bountiful crop of great new gardening books for summer reading. So, pour a cold glass of lemonade, pull up a chair and get lost in the best new gardening books for summer reading. Editor's Note: Home Garden and Homestead is a proud member of the Amazon Associates Program. We earn a small commission (at no cost to you) when you click on a link and make a purchase. Thanks for supporting our website! The Urban Garden In cities and towns across America (and the world), urban gardeners grow plants of all kinds in whatever space they have available. The Urban Garden is a book for anyone who gardens in limited space. Authors Kathy Jentz and Teri Speight both have roots in the Washington, DC area, and their new book … [Read more...] about Best New Gardening Books for Summer Reading
