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03.05.2024 - 14:14 / thespruce.com / Cori Sears
In the age of the internet and social media, gardening “hacks” that promise to benefit your plants and save you time and money are plentiful. However, according to gardening pros, these hacks aren’t always all they are cracked up to be.
We asked three experts to weigh in on the top gardening “hacks” to avoid, and their answers may surprise you. From ineffective to downright harmful, here are the top four gardening hacks to skip this year.
One of the most widespread and misinformed gardening “hacks” on the internet today is that you can increase drainage in the bottom of your plant pots and containers using a layer of rocks or pebbles. In actuality, using rocks below the soil can cause more harm than good, especially if you're using a pot without drainage holes.
“The theory is that a layer of rocks at the bottom of your plant will increase drainage," says Justin Hancock, a horticulturist at Costa Farms. «But the rocks don’t help drainage—and they can actually decrease drainage if the layer is too thick.»
Instead, Hancock advises filling the pots and containers to the top with your chosen potting medium. In addition, you should always use a pot that has drainage holes (especially for outdoor plants) and utilize additives like perlite, pumice, and sand to increase soil drainage if desired.
If your favorite ceramic planter doesn't have drainage holes, don't fret. You can quickly and easily add drainage holes to any pot or container with this simple DIY.
Using landscape fabric to inhibit weeds in flower beds is common practice, but Mary Phillips, head of native plant habitat strategy and certifications at the National Wildlife Federation advises against it.
“Made from synthetic materials, landscape fabric isn’t a
The Best Flowering Vines and Climbers to Grow in Garden & Containers can add vertical interest, frame doorways, or even create privacy screens. And the best part? They’re really easy to take care of.
Twenty-five years ago when my wife Kathy and I started searching for a new home for our growing family, she focused on all the qualities one looks for in a new house. I, of course, looked at what every gardener considers imperative—the lot. Thanks to Kathy, we ended up with a wonderful new place. And much to my delight, the property had one particularly important feature—good soil. The other nice bonus was that the backyard bordered a small city park, with lots of open space for the kids to play, so my garden design did not have to include an area for kicking a soccer ball. Plant-wise, however, there wasn’t much other than invasive shrubs and trees. So after removing all the nasty invasives, I had a clean slate to work with.
Starting a new garden from scratch can be daunting, but it’s also a fantastic opportunity to create exactly what you want. The vision I had for my new garden (two decades ago) was based on the many small English gardens that I was lucky enough to visit—not the gardens with impeccably maintained lawns and neatly clipped hedges, but those that had plants spilling out of every nook and cranny. Since its inception, the landscape has been slowly undergoing a transformation over the past decade, from a traditional shade garden to a more naturalistic one that embraces an ecology-first mindset. This evolution, however, hasn’t sacrificed the original intention of my dream garden—that it be a visually appealing space with plenty of activity.
Cucumbers are among the most popular crops for home gardeners. They’re easy to grow and just a handful of vines can provide enough cucumbers for fresh eating from mid-summer through late fall. But proper cucumber plant spacing can mean the difference between healthy, productive plants and disease ridden, low yielding ones. Let’s take a look at how far apart to plant cucumbers based on your growing technique and the method you use to plant them. Why properly spacing cucumber plants matters Before we dive into the details on proper plant spacing for cucumbers, let’s take a
Bridgerton is coming to Chelsea this month, as Netflix makes its debut at the flower show, with a garden themed around its popular TV show. First time Chelsea designer Holly Johnston has created a garden based on the personal journey of the show’s main character, Penelope Featherington. The Bridgerton Garden is part of the Sanctuary Gardens area at the show.
ICYMI, sustainability is in this year, and unsustainable gardening practices are out. Not only are sustainable gardening practices more eco-friendly, but they are also more affordable and result in a low-maintenance and ecologically balanced landscape.
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are among the most popular herbs for home gardeners to grow. They are easy to plant and care for, and since they are a hardy perennial, they return to the garden year after year. The fragrant and flavorful leaves of the chive plant are delicious to people, but the deer and rabbits leave them alone. To add yet another benefit, chive flowers are a favorite nectar source for many of the pollinators who also help pollinate other edible crops. Learning how to harvest chives for use in the kitchen is key to enjoying this easy-to-grow herb. Let’s take a look at several different ways to harvest chives for both fresh use and for preservation. The best time to harvest chives Before we get to the information on how to harvest chives, it’s important to understand
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