Dormant Oil Sprays Dormant Oil spray, a type of Horticultural oil, is applied after leaf drop in Autumn and again before the buds break in spring. They are used to kill pests and their eggs that have over wintered on and in the trees and woody plants and are effective against small, soft bodied pests … Read more
All Natural Mosquito Deterrents Natures mosquito repellents are effective at repelling mosquitoes and preventing bites as well as curtailing the spread of diseases which mosquitoes carry. No mosquito repellant is 100% effective, either natural or synthetic ones. Different types of mosquitoes react to varying stimuli in different ways. Most mosquitoes are active at dawn or … Read more
What Is Allopathy? Allelopathy is a natural phenomenon where one plant produces biochemicals that exert an influence over other plants. These biochemicals are known as allelochemicals and can have both beneficial or detrimental effects on neighboring plants, animals, insects, and organisms. Allelopathy can inhibit germination and or growth of other plant species. They serve as … Read more
The disadvantage of hoses and sprinklers is that a tremendous amount of water is wasted, owing not only to evaporation, but the irregular disbursement of water to where it is not really needed. Advantages of Drip Irrigation Drip irrigation systems apply water directly where it is needed by the plants. Drip irrigation uses 30 to … Read more
Preservation of otherwise perishable food runs paralell to Human evolution and the advance of civilization. Societies that failed to preserve food from times of plenty for times of famine perished. Those that were able to maintain a continuos year round food supply flourished. In Modern times the focus on sustainablity is intensifying, not just for … Read more
As per a recent study [1] vinegar can actually enhance drought tolerance in plants. Researchers at the Japanese RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science published a study that reports a biological pathway in some plants that is activated durring drought by using vinegar. By exploring this ‘pathway’, researchers were able to induce higher drought tolerance … Read more
Tiny tyrants of the garden realm, voracious predators of multiple garden pests. Lacewings are a terror to aphids, mites, mealy bugs, leaf-hoppers, Thrips , moth and butterfly eggs, and caterpillars.Adults feed on nectar, pollen, and aphid honeydew, but the larvae are the active predators. Adult lacewings need nectar or honeydew as food before egg laying ,they also feed … Read more
Hard compacted soil is nearly impossible to garden in. It impedes the progress of plant roots striving to grow and hampers the flow of water, oxygen and nutrients to where it is needed. In very small gardens it’s practical to simply turn the soil with a spade. In some bigger gardens, unless you want to … Read more
Looking for an easy way to keep your plants watered? Hydrogel water crystals may be just what you need! These little crystals can absorb up to 200 times their weight in water, which means they can help keep your plants hydrated for up to two weeks. But how do they affect soil health? We explore these topics and more in this guide.
If you’re a gardener, you know the importance of keeping pests under control. But did you know that there are some beneficial insects that you can use to help with this? One such insect is the praying mantis. Praying mantises are predatory and eat a variety of pests, making them a great choice for gardeners looking to get rid of harmful bugs. In this guide, we’ll discuss how to use praying mantises in your garden and some of the benefits they provide. So read on to learn more!