Gardening tips 2022 — Expert reveals how to save your lawn with a kitchen ingredient that costs just $1 – how it works
IF you are struggling to get greener grass, there is one cheap kitchen item that can save the day, according to one expert.
Instead of spending between $300-$500 on weeding and fertilizers, you can spend just a few dollars at most for white table sugar.
Jordan Page, the "Fun Cheap or Free Queen," how she uses sugar to keep her lawn green and healthy.
In addition to keeping grass green, sugar helps feed the beneficial microbes, insects, and worms within the grass. Fertilizers would usually kill these.
Page recommended using an old juice container with a wide mouth to shake out the sugar, and then water your lawn after.
The expert advised that you can't use "too much" sugar, but for every one thousand feet of lawn, you will want to use a five lb bag.
She recommended applying the sugar several times during the first year of doing it to make up for years of damage.
Read our Gardening Tips live blog for the latest news and updates...
The secret to fresh flowers
The key ingredient for fresh flowers, according to horticulture experts, is something you probably already have on hand: household bleach.
Although it may appear to be the worst thing you could possibly put to your flowers, experts claim that it is the secret to vivid, long-lasting blooms.
However, it's vital not to use too much bleach in your flowers; about a quarter teaspoon per liter of water is recommended.
For an even greater result, some green-fingered experts recommend adding a spoonful of sugar to the bleach.
The clever trick works because the bleach prevents unpleasant bacteria from proliferating in your vase. These germs clog the stems of the flowers, preventing them from absorbing enough water, but the bleach kills them, resulting in fresh blooms.
Water is critical, especially during summer
When the heat is at its peak in the middle and late summer, watering is essential.
recommends you set up a rain gauge to see how much rain you're getting from the thunderstorms: one to two inches each week is ideal.
It's time to perform some deep watering yourself if you're not receiving enough rain.
Laundry detergent can kill moss
You can also use remove moss by sprinkling laundry detergent powder over the moss.
Gardening experts advise that it's best to do this on a day where it will rain as this will kill the moss.
However, you can make your own solution by mixing together the detergent and water and pouring it over the moss.
Once the moss has turned brown (an indicator it is dead) you can sweep it away with a hard-bristled brush.
Vinegar can remove driveway moss
The rough surface of tarmac, typically used in driveways, gathers and retains water more than other materials - making it the ideal breeding spot for moss.
Luckily, a simple solution of distilled vinegar and water can kill moss.
Gardening experts recommend filling a spray bottle with the mixture and spraying daily until the moss dies.
360° garden view
A gardener shared an incredible 360° view of the garden he was working in.
Best places in the US to garden year-round
States including California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, and other southern areas are known to support year-round gardening.
This is because these climates do not experience cold winters.
described that in these areas, the first crop is usually planted in January, and the second in late August.
The outlet added that warm-season crops can be grown from April to early winter.
Best places in the US to grow tropical fruit
Fruits like mangoes and pineapples grow best in warm climates with considerable rainfall.
Hawaii and Florida are the best locations in the US for these fruits.
While some midwestern states are warm enough, they do not receive enough rain to grow tropical plants, according to
Best places in the US to grow vegetables
The top five states for vegetable production are California, Idaho, Washington, Wisconsin, and Florida, also reported.
According to USDA Economic Research Service, California produces 60 percent of US fresh vegetables.
Idaho and Wisconsin produce the most potatoes, the outlet reported.
Best places in the US to grow fruits
If you are looking to grow fruits such as oranges, apples, lemons, avocados, peaches, and grapes, California is the best state to do so.
The state ranks highest in the production of many fruits, reported.
Florida is ranked second for orange production, and New York is second for apple and grapes.
Can a garden grow in the shade?
While it is difficult to grow a garden in the shade, it is not impossible.
It's crucial to do some study on the plants you want to put in your garden and how well they'll do in shaded areas.
Outdoor vegetables that can grow in shade
If you're looking to grow vegetables in the shade, here are some recommendations:
- Swiss chard
- Brassicas
- Salad leaves
- Beetroot
- Kohlrabi
- Radishes
- Carrots
- Leeks
- Kale
- Broad beans
Outdoor plants that can grow without sun
Here are some plants that can grow well in the shade:
- Wood spurge, Iris foetidissima
- Wood spurge, Euphorbia amygdaloides
- Snowdrops, Galanthus nivalis
- Winter aconite, Eranthis hyemalis
- Bellflower, Campanula lactiflora
- Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea
- Granny’s bonnet, Aquilegia
- Bleeding heart, Lamprocapnos spectabilis
- Lungwort, Pulmonaria
- Siberian bugloss, Brunnera macrophylla
What to do if garden doesn't get sun
Preparing the soil for your garden plants is one of the most important things you can do for them since they thrive in well-drained, rich soil.
Purchase low-light soil mixtures from gardening stores and supplement them with compost and slow-release fertilizer.
Plants that thrive in mild or partial shade should also be considered.
There are methods you may do to increase the amount of light in your garden.
Mirrors, for example, can be used to reflect light and heat from the sun.
Alternatively, paint a wall white to allow light to reflect and disperse in many directions.
Will my garden thrive if it doesn’t receive sun?
It's just as vital to know where to put your plants as it is to know what varieties to cultivate in the first place.
What can be easily cultivated will be significantly influenced by external temps, however, the final location of your chosen vegetables will determine how well they thrive.
Some plants like bright, sunny settings, while others prefer to be in the shade.
Most plants require at least six to eight hours of light every day, but others require as much as 10 or up to 14 hours of light to grow.
Some shade-loving plants may survive with only 3 to 4 hours of sunlight.
Pink flowers
Beautiful pink flowers have been captured by a gardener on Twitter.
Does a snake plant need sunlight?
Snake plants are native to Africa, Madagascar, and southern Asia, where they thrive in hot, arid regions.
This implies they want direct sunshine and to be kept warm, but for the best results, make sure the sunlight is indirect.
Water once a month at most, and check if the top layer of soil is moist to see if your plant needs watering.
You can irrigate the soil once it is entirely dry.
Overwatering your plant, or treating it like a cactus, is the quickest way to destroy it.
How long to propagate a snake plant?
Propagating your snake plant might take up to a month, depending on the method you select.
The plant must build new roots using soil and waterways, which takes a lot of energy and time.
Because the plant already has roots, the rhizome approach takes less time.
Water your snake plant once it is rooted and put in soil, then allow it to dry fully before watering it again.
Propagating snake plants: from rhizomes
Rhizomes, which are horizontal stems beneath the soil, give snake plants their form.
By splitting along these lines and leaving at least three rhizomes and a strong healthy leaf in each portion, you may make new plants.
Before you cut, make sure all of the portions have healthy roots; if they don't, your plant isn't ready to be divided.
Each segment should be planted in a new pot with succulent soil to continue to grow.
Propagating snake plants: in soil
Cut your selected leaf using clean, sharp scissors or shears, just as you would with the water approach.
Allow the leaf to dry for a few days until it is calloused, which usually takes three to four days.
This avoids the plant from being harmed by microorganisms in the soil.
To stimulate root development, dunk the bottom edge with rooting powder.
Wait approximately a month after planting the leaf in some well-draining soil.
Your snake plant cutting will develop roots after four weeks, and after another month, it will start to generate new growths.
Propagating snake plants: in water
This is one of the most straightforward methods to propagate your snake plant.
Using clean, sharp shears or scissors, cut a healthy leaf from your main plant.
Lower down provides you with more leaves and a better chance of success, so use the soil as a guide for where to cut.
Place the leaf in a container that is tall enough to hold it erect.
Fill to approximately a fourth of the way up the leaf, then replace the water every several days.
Cottage garden views
A Twitter gardener shared a snapshot of her vibrant garden, filled with colorful flowers.
DIY pesticide: plastic forks
As BBQ season approaches, the experts also advise using one everyday kitchen item to improve pest control in your garden.
They said: "If you've spotted stray cats, rabbits or mice in your yard, stick a few forks in the ground around their favorite hangout."
“The sharp tines will deter most small animals, and keep young plants out of harm's way.”
This comes as The Sun revealed the opinion of experts at who warned of the danger of using harsh chemicals.
DIY pesticide: insecticidal soap
Gardening experts at suggest the use of insecticidal soap as a “non-toxic solution” for spraying plants that are being bothered by bugs.
They advise to mix 1-2 drops of lemon essential oil, 1 tablespoon of pure liquid soap, like castile soap, per 1 quart of water, and to put it in a spray bottle.
However, avoid using dishwashing liquid, as the additives can harm plants, and be ineffective on insects.
They said: “Keep the bottle handy, and use it whenever you need to protect your garden from creepy-crawlers.”
Wood to keep slugs out
Finally, Angel said to use a piece of wood to keep the slugs out of your garden.
"They'll crawl under it for shade," she said.
"Then you can gather them up and get rid of them."
Crushed egg shells to keep slugs out
Another method Angel shared to help keep slugs away is to sprinkle crushed egg shells or diatomaceous earth around the bottom of your plants.
The expert explained that when slugs crawl across the broken shells, it will cut them up and cause them to die.