Here is an assortment of perfect gifts for gardeners and homeowners on your holiday shopping list. Let's face it. The colder months of the holiday season do not lend themselves to gardening in most climates. But that doesn't mean gardening is completely out of mind. Avid gardeners and homeowners who must keep their yards neat and tidy appreciate garden-related gifts during "the most wonderful time of the year." It is actually quite easy to find great gifts for gardeners and homeowners. These folks always need something to satisfy their green thumbs, finish a DIY project, or add one more personal touch to the property. That's why the editors of Home, Garden and Homestead have put together their annual list of the best gifts for gardeners this holiday season. Heck, you might even want to give some of these gifts to yourself. Gifts for Gardeners: Tools The Ultimate Weeding Tools The CobraHead Weeder gets its name from the shape of the tempered steel blade, which … [Read more...] about Gifts for Gardeners this Holiday Season
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Grow Your Best Garden Ever
Would you like to grow your best garden ever? Well, great gardens don’t just happen. They certainly do not magically appear in your yard. So, the sooner you plan and start your best garden ever, the sooner it will begin to manifest in your yard. A great garden is typically the result of careful planning. Most extraordinary gardens are created over a period of years using the garden plan. Add a few happy accidents that happen along the way, and you have the recipe for a special horticultural wonder that will be the envy of the neighborhood. Don’t Be Afraid of Small Failures Talk to experienced gardeners and garden experts, and most will freely admit to buying plants that did not survive in their gardens. Karen Park Jennings, the former president of Park Seed, once told me, “I’ve learned a lot by killing plants.” That’s part of being a gardener. Some gardeners will even admit that some of their favorite plants arrived as volunteers in their garden. One of the healthiest … [Read more...] about Grow Your Best Garden Ever
Eco-Friendly Cat: 10 Ways to Reduce Your Cat’s Environmental Pawprint
Do you have an eco-friendly cat? Have you ever considered how your cat impacts the environment? Many of us humans do our best to reduce, re-use, and recycle in order to help the planet and combat climate change. But pet parents often find it hard to extend their green lifestyle to their kitties. Buying cat products can be a big part of the annual cost of caring for a cat. The good news: it takes just a few minutes to choose an eco-friendly option for each aspect of your feline’s life. Here are 10 easy steps to an eco-friendly cat. Follow these simple tips to reduce your cat’s carbon footprint (or should I say, pawprint). We have included links to the recommended products on Amazon. Home Garden and Homestead is an Amazon affiliate, and we receive a small commission. Thanks for supporting this website! 1. Buy eco-friendly cat toys Look for toys made from natural or recycled materials and/or those that can be composted or recycled after use. These felted wool … [Read more...] about Eco-Friendly Cat: 10 Ways to Reduce Your Cat’s Environmental Pawprint
Grow More Vegetables in a Square Foot Garden
A square foot garden is a relatively new spin on a traditional vegetable garden. A vegetable garden, also called a kitchen garden, is where delicious herbs and vegetables are grown by a family for the family’s daily meals. Typically, the garden is grown in the backyard (sometimes just outside the kitchen door), and it is designed to be both attractive and efficient. To learn expert tips about how a square foot garden can increase vegetable harvests, I talked to the recognized expert. Steve Bartholomew, Director of the Square Foot Gardening Foundation, was kind enough to share his knowledge about how to create the most efficient and productive vegetable garden. Best-selling garden book The book Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew (Steve’s father) is the most popular gardening book ever published in North America. Introduced in 1981, the original book and later revised editions have sold 2.5 million copies. The book literally launched a gardening movement that … [Read more...] about Grow More Vegetables in a Square Foot Garden
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.
