If you have ever thought about growing a mini wildflower garden, you are not alone. Natural-looking flower gardens are more popular than ever. In fact, wildflower gardens (also called meadow gardens) are trending all over social media. Mike Lizotte is the author of Mini Meadows: Grow a Little Patch of Colorful Flowers Anywhere Around Your Yard. He is also the owner of American Meadows, a top source for wildflower seeds including regional seed mixes that make it easy to grow a mini wildflower garden no matter where you live. We asked Mike to give us some tips on growing a wildflower garden—or as he now famously calls them, a meadow garden. Here’s what he had to say. Can anyone grow a meadow garden? Yes, they certainly can. My definition of a ‘meadow’ certainly includes large, sprawling spaces. (If you have a large plot of land, count yourself fortunate!) But a 50-square-foot-patch of lawn or a planter box in a high-rise can also be a great place for a mini wildflower … [Read more...] about Grow a Mini Wildflower Garden
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Top 10 Tips for Keeping Bees
You are now keeping bees. You have just installed your first package of honey bees in your hive. Yes, you are now a beekeeper! But you are still feeling anxious. You are a bit unsure if this experiment will really work. You are not sure if you have the necessary beekeeping supplies. And you are not even sure what you’ll need to know to become a “real” beekeeper. Most ‘newbees’ (ha!) feel the same tension. Managing honeybees requires a new skill set. That’s why I am going to share the tips that I wish I had known 20 years ago, when I first started keeping bees. I call these my Top 10 Tips and Tricks for Keeping Bees and Becoming a Better Beekeeper. Keeping Bees Tip #1: Join a Beekeeping Club My first tip on keeping bees is basically, “Don’t do it alone.” Join a local beekeeping club or group. Take advantage of the chance to listen to monthly national speakers and watch live, in-person hive demonstrations. The chance to connect with other more experienced beekeepers is … [Read more...] about Top 10 Tips for Keeping Bees
Eco-Friendly Dog Tips
Do you have an eco-friendly dog? The human members of your household are probably doing their part to reduce, re-use, and recycle. But what about your dog? Is your faithful canine friend doing his or her best to create a green planet and combat climate change? If you have never given any thought to how your pet pooch is impacting the Earth, now is a great time to start. Dog products are a big part of the cost of being a pet owner. Fortunately, it takes just a few minutes to choose an eco-friendly dog option for each aspect of your canine’s life. Eco-friendly dog products include environmentally friendly dog toys, eco-friendly dog poop bags, dog beds and more. Here are some great products and ideas that will help reduce your dogs’ carbon pawprints on Planet Earth. We've included links to the products mentioned below. As an Amazon Associate, Home Garden and Homestead earns a commission from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com. Thanks for your support! Eco-friendly dog … [Read more...] about Eco-Friendly Dog Tips
Use BTI to Kill Mosquitoes. It’s Chemical-free.
There is no reason to use harsh chemicals to control mosquitoes when you can use BTI to kill mosquitoes. That's because BTI is a naturally occurring bacterium that kills mosquitoes before they can become flying, biting, disease-spreading adults. Everyone hates mosquitoes. Mosquito bites are itchy and painful. Plus, mosquitoes spread some of the world’s deadliest diseases such as Zika virus, West Nile virus, malaria, chikungunya and dengue fever. Wherever there’s moisture there will be mosquitoes—even in times of drought. Reduce your chances of getting bitten by mosquito pests by being “mosquito smart.” Start by understanding why mosquitoes bite people.Then, learn to reduce mosquito breeding sites and follow the mosquito-control strategies that are most effective in keeping mosquito populations down. Why Do Mosquitoes Bite? A female mosquito will bite humans, mammals and birds in search of a blood meal so she can produce eggs. She can extract up to four times her … [Read more...] about Use BTI to Kill Mosquitoes. It’s Chemical-free.
Kill Fungus Gnats Naturally with BTI
Looking for a way to kill fungus gnats naturally? Sooner or later you will have to deal with fungus gnats infesting your houseplants. Fungus gnats are the tiny flying pests that can swarm like an annoying black cloud whenever an infested houseplant or outdoor potted plant is moved. Fungus gnats (Bradysia species) are small, mosquito-like insects that commonly infest the soil or growing medium of potted plants. When outdoor plants are brought indoors for the colder months, fungus gnats in the potting mix are brought indoors. That's when they can quickly infest the soil of other houseplants. Fungus gnats thrive in moist potting soil, where they lay their eggs. After the eggs hatch, fungus gnat larvae live in the top two to three inches of the potting soil. Fungus gnat larvae can cause plant damage by eating plant roots. After about two or three weeks, the fungus gnat larvae pupate in the potting soil. Then they become the tiny black adult gnats that fly erratically when a potted … [Read more...] about Kill Fungus Gnats Naturally with BTI
