One of the best supplements for your garden’s health is compost. While we may consider them to be trash, they provide a healthy snack for plants offering a one-two punch of nitrogen and calcium. The duo of used coffee grounds and eggshells are also helpful as mulch, an asset that liquid or powdered commercial fertilizer can’t offer. Rinse your eggshells …
The Basics for Building a Flower Bed
With a few basic steps, you can have more color, fragrance, and texture added to your landscape. First things first, where will it go? Along a deck or porch, underneath a tree, or around a garden feature. Then, how much sunlight will it get? Many popular bedding plants like annual flowers require full sun, which means a minimum of 6 …
Landscaping Ideas to Maximize Curb Appeal
Make your front yard more welcoming while improving the value of your home. First, consider the design and architecture of your home when you’re creating gardens around it. For example, a cottage style landscape compliments a country or farmhouse look while a spare, minimalist garden would set off a more modern building. Next, proportions should come into play in your …
Poisonous Plants in the Home
Houseplants add color, beauty, and life to our homes, but some plants should be grown with a little extra caution. Some plants are more toxic than others. Poisonous houseplants can cause skin irritations, stomach upsets, and burning of the mouth and throat. Use care when growing and displaying these common poisonous plants in your home. Many spring bulbs, including hyacinths and …
Vietnam to Lower Tariffs on Dairy Products
A recent announcement from the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) comes as good news for American dairy producers. Vietnam has signed a decree that will unilaterally lower tariffs on a number of key dairy products and ingredients, including skim milk powder, whole milk powder, cheese, and protein isolate. The decree is set to go into effect on July 10, and …
First CFAP Payments Issued by USDA
The first payments for farmers and ranchers have been issued through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that CFAP payments totaling more than $545 million have been approved by the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). A total of $16 billion in financial assistance is being made available through CFAP, which was one of …
You Should Keep a Garden Journal
Jotting down notes about the weather and keeping track of when your flowers bloom will help you enjoy your landscape more. When you start recording these botanical events, you’ll notice natural patterns from year to year. This info can help you choose plants and figure out when to time gardening chores, such as when to jump on those spring weeds. …
A Secret Weapon for Fighting Off Unwanted Pests in Your Garden
When it comes to your garden, you’ll likely also have to contend with hungry bugs that want to nibble your prized flowers or move into your lettuce patch. But now there’s a secret weapon to help deal with those uninvited critters, thanks to The Big Bug Hunt. This citizen science project aims to give you a heads-up when certain pests …
Plants You Can Grow to Feed Ducks
Ducks are versatile eaters that will happily munch on all kinds of food. Some basic options include bird seed, chicken feed, poultry grit, cracked corn, bugs, fruits & vegetables, grains, and supplements. But if you’re interested in being more self-sustaining on your homestead, you can grow your own duck feed. Such as duckweed, it survives throughout the winter. It will …
Common Diseases that Can Dampen Your Summer Tomato Crops
The tomato plant disease known as late blight occurs during periods of cool, rainy weather that may come at the end of a growing season. It looks almost like frost damage on leaves, causing irregular green-black splotches. Fruits may have large, irregular-shaped brown blotches that quickly become rotten. This tomato plant disease fungus also affects potatoes and can be transferred …