Growing your own vegetables is a delightful way to get back to nature and enhance your table, but vegetable gardening mistakes can damage the experience. Luckily, these mistakes are easy to avoid if you plan ahead and do some basic research.
Not Starting Slow
Trying to grow everything all at once is a recipe for frustration. Especially if this is your first attempt, be realistic about how much time and effort you’ll be able to devote to your garden and choose vegetables that won’t require more than you have to give. Baby lettuce is a great first step, especially if your containers are on the smaller side. Other beginner-friendly options include peas, radishes, and Swiss chard.
Not Considering Your Weather
Your area’s climate partly determines the types of vegetables that will flourish in your garden. Vegetables such as sweet potatoes, peppers, and zucchini tend to grow best in hot weather, while spinach, carrots, and beets prefer chillier conditions. You’ll also need to find your area’s frost-free date, which determines when you should plant different vegetables. The maps on the back of seed packets are a good start, but you’ll need to investigate local weather patterns as well.Another of the more common vegetable gardening mistakes is choosing plants that require more or less sunlight than your garden receives. Take note of how many hours of light your space gets each day and whether it’s primarily morning or afternoon sun; then, choose plants suited to your conditions.
Not Considering Your Space
How much space do you have for a garden, and what does that space consist of? Plenty of vegetables thrive in containers, so don’t despair if your space is mostly paved. Do, however, research different varieties to make sure your choices won’t outgrow their homes. For in-ground beds, take exact measurements and plan ahead to ensure none of your plants will crowd out their neighbors. Remember to look beyond the soil surface; tomato plants can grow to amazing heights even in containers, and mint will quickly take over a bed and potentially your entire yard if you don’t set physical barriers deep into the ground.
Not Having the Proper Equipment
While most home gardens don’t require tons of equipment, some tools are essential for avoiding vegetable gardening mistakes. A garden hose or watering can tops the list; even in rainy climates, you can’t always depend on the weather to keep your plants healthy. You’ll also need good soil; plan to refresh it at least once a year. A spade or digging fork, comfortable gloves, and garden shears are simple but necessary items. Some vegetables also require specialized equipment, such as tomato cages or bean trellises.
Not Having a Plan for Pests
You’re not the only one eager to snack on your homegrown bounty; a whole array of pests from aphids to slugs to voles can damage your vegetables. Learn which pests you’re most likely to encounter in your area and look for the safest and most eco-friendly means of preventing them. Be especially careful with commercial pesticides as many of them can harm beneficial insects that naturally prey on the unwanted bugs eating your plants.
Not Having a Plan for Weeds
Like pests, weeds are an inevitable reality that can lead to vegetable gardening mistakes. Keep a sharp eye on your beds and pull weeds immediately; experiment with different tools and techniques to see what works best for you. If you decide to use herbicide, make certain the product you choose is safe for edible plants.Growing your own vegetables is a fun and delicious hobby, and a little preparation goes a long way. Be sure to explore Red's Home & Garden for advice, inspiration, and all of your gardening needs.
Summertime is a great season for houseplants and people. Both can enjoy warmer days and more hours of sunlight. Just as you do things to protect yourself from the heat and sun, your plants need that type of care too. Here are six summer plant care tips to keep your house plants alive during summer.
1. Make Watering Adjustments
Water is important for the survival of your plants. Like you, they also need more of it during the summer months. So, water your plants weekly and try to do it early in the morning or in the evening when it’s cooler. And if you know that a heat wave is coming, water them well so they won’t dry out. Also, don’t water too fast and make sure they absorb it all.Since water evaporates faster in hot weather, check your soil often. If it feels dry an inch or two down into the dirt, your plant needs water. If you notice dirt pulling away from the sides of the pot, that's a sign too. You can place rocks or mulch on top of the soil to help keep the moisture in.
2. Prevent Exposure To Direct Sunlight
Although bright sunny days are beautiful, too much sun can be harmful to your plants. Direct sunlight, especially midday, can burn their leaves and dry them out. To avoid this, angle window blinds away from your plants. You can use a sheer curtain to cover windows and provide some shade for them. Moving plants away from windowsills and more towards the inner part of the room also helps.
3. Maintain a Stable Environment
For indoor plants to survive, they need a stable environment. Extreme temperature changes are never good for them. Most houseplants originate from tropical areas and thrive in humidity. Be mindful of this while running your air conditioner, especially since they tend to dry the air out. You can combat this and provide the humidity your plants need by placing them near each other, misting them, turning on a humidifier, or placing pebble trays under their pots.
4. Look for Signs of Stress
It’s important to check your houseplants often for early signs of stress. This can show up when leaves wilt or fall off. They may also turn pale, and sunburned leaves will start turning yellow or brown. All these issues could be the result of too much heat, not enough water, or a bug infestation. By noticing these things early, you can correct the problem and protect your plants.
5. Fertilize, Prune, and Repot Carefully
Part of caring for your plants includes fertilizing, pruning, and repotting. But another one of the summer plant care tips is knowing when to do this. You should never fertilize, prune or repot a plant during extreme temperatures since your plant may be experiencing stress from the heat. All these activities can add to that stress, so it’s better to wait until it's cooler and your plant has recovered.
6. Dust Your Leaves Often
As air pollutants increase in the summertime, so does the dust on your leaves. This can decrease the amount of light your plants can absorb and convert to food. Be sure to wipe your plants off every few weeks with a damp rag or wet paper towel.
Take Care of Your Plants
Your houseplants are living things and depend on you. Use these summer plant care tips to give them the care and protection they need.Are you looking for plant supplies or new plants to add to your home? At Red's Home & Garden we can help you find what you need. Come by and visit or call us at (336) 973-5521 and we will help you.
Sometimes, decorating the interior of your home may seem like an afterthought. After a long day at work, cooking, and doing chores, rest and relaxation may be at the front of your mind; changing the walls and fixtures around you, less so.However, it is important to remember that the decor in your home has an enormous influence on your well-being. From wall colors to lights to object placement and more, home decor benefits play a major role in how you feel from day to day.Sometimes, this means a change can offer a major boost to your well-being. To learn more about how and why, read on.
Let the Light In
It's intuitive, but bears repeating: There is no substitute for natural light. A home that allows in more sunlight will feel more open, healthier, and airier. Sunlight has positive effects on our body, improving health and well-being, as well as levels of Vitamin D. Receiving proper amounts of regular light also helps to keep our bodily rhythms regular.Do what you can to open up space in your house to let light in. Try to move furniture or other objects that are blocking windows — and make sure windows are clean and are fully allowing light to pass through. If you have curtains or blinds, ensure they are opened regularly to let light in.If you have the time and budget, adding extra windows or skylights to your home can also help.
Consider Color
Color, in addition to sunlight, plays a major role in our bodies' perceptions of the world around us. Take a good look around your home, noticing the color of paints and wallpaper. Is there a way to change these to brighten your home?Naturally, brighter colors can help rooms feel airier and more open than darker colors. Color can even affect our bodies' sense of temperature; certain colors (like red) can help us to feel warmer. Other colors can have a role in boosting productivity.
Add Houseplants
A great way to add freshness to your home is through houseplants. The presence of living plants can have a palpable effect in the rooms in which they sit. Houseplants can freshen the surrounding air, filtering it and making it cleaner to breathe. They can also add a touch of "naturalness" to rooms that helps you feel more at ease. In some cases, plant fragrances can help brighten and freshen rooms as well.
Be Mindful About Electronic Devices
Numerous studies demonstrate the ways that electronics, screens, and electromagnetic fields can affect the spaces around us. Blue light — which emanates from digital screens — can affect mental processes, particularly sleep. Consider removing televisions or other electronics from your bedroom to ensure you sleep well.Also be mindful of other devices that give off electromagnetic radiation, like computers and cell phones. There is some evidence that these can affect bodily functioning as well; keeping them confined in specific parts of the home — like your office, for instance — can help limit their effects on your well-being.
Reorganize the Furniture
Sometimes, simply shifting around the placement of objects in the home can give spaces an entirely new feel. If your home is feeling stagnant or less fresh than you would like, try moving around furniture or putting up new wall art or objects. The change itself may inspire new feelings of creativity or productivity in you.
Get What You Need for the Home & Garden
If you are looking for a change or something new, Red's Home & Garden has all you need for the best in home decor. For more information, visit Red's Home & Garden online, or call (366) 973-5521.
During the cold, dry months of winter, you've probably noticed that your houseplants struggle. Thanks to low-light conditions and a lack of humidity, it can be a challenge to keep your leafy friends looking their best. However, the following indoor plant tips can ensure that your plants look green and healthy throughout the winter season.
Increase Humidity
When the temperatures drop, you turn your home's heater on, which is good for keeping you warm and toasty but bad for the health of your plants. Your heating system dries out the air in your home, and most houseplants are tropical and prefer humidity. If you notice droopy or limp leaves, you need to find a way to increase the humidity in your home or at least in the vicinity of your plants.There are a couple of ways you can do this. You can run the heat less often and utilize a humidifier, or you can place your plants' pots on a tray of pebbles covered in a shallow layer of water. As the water evaporates, it creates humidity that your plants will love.
Avoid Repotting
During the winter, your plants are working hard just to survive, so they become stressed and stop growing. This is normal and not a cause for concern, but you should avoid repotting your plants until the spring. Repotting in the winter adds even more stress and can be too much for even the hardiest of houseplants to handle. If you find a new pot at the store that you just have to have, either slide the plant, existing pot and all, into the new one or simply wait until conditions are better to repot.
Wait To Fertilize
In a similar vein, houseplants do not need fertilizer during the winter, since they are not pushing any new growth. Most plants that are kept in homes are native to other parts of the world and have adapted to conditions in which they do not have access to nutrients during a portion of the year. It can be tempting to want to feed your plants in the winter, especially if they start looking a little sad. However, be sure to hold off until spring when they're ready to take off again.
Check for Drafts
If you have plants on a windowsill or shelves near a window or door, be sure to check for drafts. The cold air can damage the plants and cause them to lose leaves or even die altogether. Remember that glass gets very cold in the winter as well, so make sure that no leaves are touching a window.
Cut Back on Watering
Overwatering your plants is just as bad, if not worse, than not watering enough. Excess water can lead to root rot and a mushy, dead houseplant. During the winter, your plants do not need nearly as much water as they did during the rest of the year. A good rule of thumb is to water your plant thoroughly and then wait until the top inch or so of soil is completely dry.
Find the Light
Because the days are shorter and your plants will have less light during the winter, you may need to move things around to give them as much light as possible. If you normally have them near a north-facing window, move them to a south or west-facing window so that they can soak up the sunlight and stay happy.These indoor plant tips should be enough to keep your collection of houseplants happy all winter long, whether you have one plant or 50. You'll be glad that you have something green to look at when it's cold and gray outside, so take good care of them! If you need a new plant, check out the selection at Red's Home & Garden.
