7 Reasons to Keep Copper Sulfate Handy in Your HomeOf the many substances found in nature, few are as versatile as Copper Sulfate. An inorganic compound derived from the combination of Copper and Sulfur, Copper Sulfate takes the form of a bright blue salt. Due to its vivid color, it also goes by the names Cupric Sulfate, Copper Sulfite, chalcanthite, blue vitriol, and bluestone. Color isn't the only outstanding characteristic of Copper Sulfate, however. Affordable and extremely useful to everyone from farmers to science teachers, the bene...
How to Grow Plants in the City With Urban GardeningThe hustle and bustle of city life is a unique experience to witness. You have the honking of horns during rush hour, the multitudes of pedestrians crossing the street and never-ending skyscrapers. But while these sights and sounds are in ample supply, living space on the other hand, is lacking. The world’s current global population stands at a whopping 7.2 billion people, so the absence of space is no surprise — especially considering that most individuals are increasingly abandoning rural a...
How to Heal and Protect Your Plants From SunscaldPlants thrive on sunlight, but the wrong kind of sunlight can have a negative effect on your vines, garden plants, and newly planted trees. Many plants are susceptible to a condition called sunscald, which can damage or even kill your young garden or trees. Read more to learn about this condition and how to prevent it. What is Sunscald? Sunscald is comparable to a sunburn on your skin. Younger trees, those newly planted, and species of trees with thin bark are the most susceptible. Once suns...
How to Prune Your Plants for Higher YieldsProper pruning is an integral part of routine plant maintenance. The practice plays a critical role in enhancing your plants' aesthetic appeal and restoring good health when they get sick. You can also selectively remove broken limbs, dead growth, and undesired growth that depletes energy from the plant to achieve higher yields. Any time is a good time to prune your plants, but you need to do it well to enjoy the associated benefits. Below are a few things to know: What is Pruning? Pruni...
How Timing Your Fertilizer Application Can Make All the Difference in Your PlantsChances are good you know that adding a water-soluble, eco-friendly fertilizer is a key factor in soil health, but did you that the timing of your fertilizer application will have a big impact on plant development and resiliency as well? When is the Best Time to Apply Fertilizer to a Plant? If you were to only apply high-quality, water-soluble fertilizer to your plants once, the optimal time is during the peak growing cycle - that's when plants are either flowering, leafing out (for deci...
How to Easily Determine Your Soil TypeA lush summer lawn is the American Dream – bright green grass, vivid flowers, and shady trees. Having curb appeal that makes you the envy of the neighborhood is easier than you think, and it all comes down to understanding the characteristics of your soil and any soil erosion you may have. What Are the Different Types of Soil? There are four main types of soil that homeowners in the U.S. have: Sand - made up of small mineral particles, warms fast and drains easily, but may cause your plants...
Save Money in the Garden With These 10 TipsIf money grew on trees, then everyone would garden. But since it doesn’t, the rest of us need to find ways to make our favorite hobby a lot more budget-friendly. The following ten tips may help your dollar stretch in the garden by encouraging resourcefulness and strategic planting. Read on to green your thumb and hopefully, your wallet. 1. Make Your Own Compost An easy way to supplement your plants that is also cost effective is by making your own compost. Don’t let this process scare you. A...
What Are the Effects of Iron on Plant Growth?What is Iron? Iron, the 26th element in the periodic table, is one of 16 vital elements that are necessary for plants to grow and be healthy. While most people may think of iron as the tough, rust-prone material in their cast iron skillets, actually iron comes in various forms. Plants can make use of some of them, but in many types of soil, plants need a little help to be able to get the iron they need. What is the Function of Iron in Plants? Where plants are concerned, iron is a micronutrie...
How to Really Boost Your Garden With Epsom SaltThe next time your garden needs a little TLC, you may want to check your beauty cabinet. That's because Magnesium Sulfate (aka Epsom salt) is a personal care product with a one-two punch! Magnesium is a mineral known to help the body perform over 300 critical functions and while many use Epsom salt during bath time to relieve muscle pain, others maximize the healing benefits of magnesium by applying the salt crystals to their plants. Curious as to how Epsom salt can amp up your food plant...
Should You Worry That Your Soil is Contaminated?What Does it Mean if Your Soil is Contaminated? If your soil is contaminated, there's a chance that the toxic materials can be absorbed into the plants you're growing. These chemicals are detrimental to soil health and could damage, or even kill, the plants you're growing. If you're growing fruit or vegetables, it might be best not to eat them and dispose of your plants if the chemical content of your soil is too high. This is because contaminated soil is most harmful when i...
What Should You Plant in a Container Garden?You might think that a decent sized yard is the only way to start growing your own food, but you’d be shocked at how little space you actually need. At the very least, a few coffee cans and a basic understanding of Container Gardening will have you well on your way to delicious homegrown food in no time! The key is to select plants that thrive in limited space, but which ones are these? And how can you ensure you’re container gardening the right way? Read on to find out. What is Container Gar...
Should You Add Fertilizer to Your Compost Pile?"What are you using for compost?" "That compost pile is coming along nicely." "I never start planting without a compost pile." Whether you've been planting for years or you're tilling rows for the first time, composting and fertilizing never fail to come up in conversations about the ins and outs of gardening. But what exactly is composting? Is the talk of fertilizer simply hype? If you've ever wondered about compost or fertilizer and what they can do for y...
Why Edible Landscaping is the Modern Day Food RevolutionIt’s one thing to have a garden and it’s another to have one you can actually eat. Take a walk through a typical suburban neighborhood and you’ll likely find a number of lush, green lawns blanketing front yards bordered by roses, daisies and the like. While this type of landscaping is the norm, among other gardening practices, there stands one that offers as many economic and health benefits as it does aesthetic appeal: edible landscaping. What is Edible Landscaping? Edible landscaping (or f...
5 Simple Ways to Be Healthier in 2020For many, the New Year offers a chance to reflect on one's habits and hit the reset button. Bettering one's health is one of the most common resolutions to make, whether it's losing weight, exercising more or eating a wholesome diet. While you may set off on your 2020 health journey with good intentions, it’s easy to get caught up with fad diets and quick fixes to improve your health. The thing is, there is not a one step approach to becoming a healthier version of yourself and t...
How to Prep Your Soil for SpringSoil is made up of five components: minerals, gases, water, organic material, and living organisms. As temperatures decrease during winter months, some of these living organisms, including tiny soil microbes, go into hibernation, decreasing the fecundity of the soil. Fortunately, there are ways you can cultivate healthier soil this winter for better results in the spring! But first, we'll need to explain a few things about the ecosystem inside your soil. Why is Soil Health Important? Hea...
The Best Plants for a Fall GardenWith summer winding down, it's the perfect time to start harvesting plants for the fall. This list covers the top five plants that you should consider growing, this fall season. These plants are perfect for a beginner gardener, requiring minimal skills. 1. Brussels Sprouts Brussels sprouts are inherently the perfect fall plant! In warmer climates, brussels sprouts can start growing in the fall and survive through the winter to be ready in the spring. The brussels sprout is a vigorous pla...
7 Reasons to Keep Copper Sulfate Handy in Your Home
Of the many substances found in nature, few are as versatile as Copper Sulfate. An inorganic compound derived from the combination of Copper and Sulfur, Copper Sulfate takes the form of a bright blue salt. Due to its vivid color, it also goes by the names Cupric Sulfate, Copper Sulfite, chalcanthite, blue vitriol, and bluestone. Color isn't the only outstanding characteristic of Copper Sulfate, however. Affordable and extremely useful to everyone from farmers to science teachers, the bene...
How to Grow Plants in the City With Urban Gardening
The hustle and bustle of city life is a unique experience to witness. You have the honking of horns during rush hour, the multitudes of pedestrians crossing the street and never-ending skyscrapers. But while these sights and sounds are in ample supply, living space on the other hand, is lacking. The world’s current global population stands at a whopping 7.2 billion people, so the absence of space is no surprise — especially considering that most individuals are increasingly abandoning rural a...
How to Heal and Protect Your Plants From Sunscald
Plants thrive on sunlight, but the wrong kind of sunlight can have a negative effect on your vines, garden plants, and newly planted trees. Many plants are susceptible to a condition called sunscald, which can damage or even kill your young garden or trees. Read more to learn about this condition and how to prevent it. What is Sunscald? Sunscald is comparable to a sunburn on your skin. Younger trees, those newly planted, and species of trees with thin bark are the most susceptible. Once suns...
How to Prune Your Plants for Higher Yields
Proper pruning is an integral part of routine plant maintenance. The practice plays a critical role in enhancing your plants' aesthetic appeal and restoring good health when they get sick. You can also selectively remove broken limbs, dead growth, and undesired growth that depletes energy from the plant to achieve higher yields. Any time is a good time to prune your plants, but you need to do it well to enjoy the associated benefits. Below are a few things to know: What is Pruning? Pruni...
How Timing Your Fertilizer Application Can Make All the Difference in Your Plants
Chances are good you know that adding a water-soluble, eco-friendly fertilizer is a key factor in soil health, but did you that the timing of your fertilizer application will have a big impact on plant development and resiliency as well? When is the Best Time to Apply Fertilizer to a Plant? If you were to only apply high-quality, water-soluble fertilizer to your plants once, the optimal time is during the peak growing cycle - that's when plants are either flowering, leafing out (for deci...
How to Easily Determine Your Soil Type
A lush summer lawn is the American Dream – bright green grass, vivid flowers, and shady trees. Having curb appeal that makes you the envy of the neighborhood is easier than you think, and it all comes down to understanding the characteristics of your soil and any soil erosion you may have. What Are the Different Types of Soil? There are four main types of soil that homeowners in the U.S. have: Sand - made up of small mineral particles, warms fast and drains easily, but may cause your plants...
Save Money in the Garden With These 10 Tips
If money grew on trees, then everyone would garden. But since it doesn’t, the rest of us need to find ways to make our favorite hobby a lot more budget-friendly. The following ten tips may help your dollar stretch in the garden by encouraging resourcefulness and strategic planting. Read on to green your thumb and hopefully, your wallet. 1. Make Your Own Compost An easy way to supplement your plants that is also cost effective is by making your own compost. Don’t let this process scare you. A...
What Are the Effects of Iron on Plant Growth?
What is Iron? Iron, the 26th element in the periodic table, is one of 16 vital elements that are necessary for plants to grow and be healthy. While most people may think of iron as the tough, rust-prone material in their cast iron skillets, actually iron comes in various forms. Plants can make use of some of them, but in many types of soil, plants need a little help to be able to get the iron they need. What is the Function of Iron in Plants? Where plants are concerned, iron is a micronutrie...
How to Really Boost Your Garden With Epsom Salt
The next time your garden needs a little TLC, you may want to check your beauty cabinet. That's because Magnesium Sulfate (aka Epsom salt) is a personal care product with a one-two punch! Magnesium is a mineral known to help the body perform over 300 critical functions and while many use Epsom salt during bath time to relieve muscle pain, others maximize the healing benefits of magnesium by applying the salt crystals to their plants. Curious as to how Epsom salt can amp up your food plant...
Should You Worry That Your Soil is Contaminated?
What Does it Mean if Your Soil is Contaminated? If your soil is contaminated, there's a chance that the toxic materials can be absorbed into the plants you're growing. These chemicals are detrimental to soil health and could damage, or even kill, the plants you're growing. If you're growing fruit or vegetables, it might be best not to eat them and dispose of your plants if the chemical content of your soil is too high. This is because contaminated soil is most harmful when i...
What Should You Plant in a Container Garden?
You might think that a decent sized yard is the only way to start growing your own food, but you’d be shocked at how little space you actually need. At the very least, a few coffee cans and a basic understanding of Container Gardening will have you well on your way to delicious homegrown food in no time! The key is to select plants that thrive in limited space, but which ones are these? And how can you ensure you’re container gardening the right way? Read on to find out. What is Container Gar...
Should You Add Fertilizer to Your Compost Pile?
"What are you using for compost?" "That compost pile is coming along nicely." "I never start planting without a compost pile." Whether you've been planting for years or you're tilling rows for the first time, composting and fertilizing never fail to come up in conversations about the ins and outs of gardening. But what exactly is composting? Is the talk of fertilizer simply hype? If you've ever wondered about compost or fertilizer and what they can do for y...
Why Edible Landscaping is the Modern Day Food Revolution
It’s one thing to have a garden and it’s another to have one you can actually eat. Take a walk through a typical suburban neighborhood and you’ll likely find a number of lush, green lawns blanketing front yards bordered by roses, daisies and the like. While this type of landscaping is the norm, among other gardening practices, there stands one that offers as many economic and health benefits as it does aesthetic appeal: edible landscaping. What is Edible Landscaping? Edible landscaping (or f...
5 Simple Ways to Be Healthier in 2020
For many, the New Year offers a chance to reflect on one's habits and hit the reset button. Bettering one's health is one of the most common resolutions to make, whether it's losing weight, exercising more or eating a wholesome diet. While you may set off on your 2020 health journey with good intentions, it’s easy to get caught up with fad diets and quick fixes to improve your health. The thing is, there is not a one step approach to becoming a healthier version of yourself and t...
How to Prep Your Soil for Spring
Soil is made up of five components: minerals, gases, water, organic material, and living organisms. As temperatures decrease during winter months, some of these living organisms, including tiny soil microbes, go into hibernation, decreasing the fecundity of the soil. Fortunately, there are ways you can cultivate healthier soil this winter for better results in the spring! But first, we'll need to explain a few things about the ecosystem inside your soil. Why is Soil Health Important? Hea...
The Best Plants for a Fall Garden
With summer winding down, it's the perfect time to start harvesting plants for the fall. This list covers the top five plants that you should consider growing, this fall season. These plants are perfect for a beginner gardener, requiring minimal skills. 1. Brussels Sprouts Brussels sprouts are inherently the perfect fall plant! In warmer climates, brussels sprouts can start growing in the fall and survive through the winter to be ready in the spring. The brussels sprout is a vigorous pla...
