These 12 Miracles Can Occur If You Use Vinegar in Your Garden

 You all know how toxic chemicals are and your garden doesn’t benefit much from them. Even though the market has lots of these chemical-based products, they are not safe for your garden, and for the environment. Why don’t you try a natural solution instead?

Vinegar is an amazing option that works just as well as chemicals, but instead of destroying our environment, it actually helps and it is completely safe to use.

White distilled vinegar has numerous uses in the garden. Keep reading and find out these amazing vinegar uses:

Top 12 uses of white vinegar in the garden:

1.Deter cats and pests

Dogs, cats, rodents, moles, and rabbits hate vinegar. So if your neighbor’s cat has a habit of coming into your garden, spray white vinegar around that area and you won’t see her again anywhere near your home. You can also soak old clothes in vinegar and hang it on stakes around your garden. After it rains, add more vinegar.

2. Your clay pots will never be dirty again

Many people use clay pots because they keep the soil moist. Clay pots are also great because they protect the roots during the long summer days, as well as making the garden more beautiful. However, they tend to absorb minerals, calcium, and salt from the water and fertilizers and they don’t really look beautiful when this happens. Using white vinegar can help and make your pots look just as new. Here’s what to do:

• Scrub the crusty residues from the pots
• Dip the pots in 20-25 percent vinegar solution which would be a cup of 5% vinegar to 3-4 cups of water. Leave them in the solution for half an hour
• If you can still notice some residues, wipe them off using undiluted vinegar

3. Repel ants

Many gardeners say vinegar is the best organic insecticide. So, spray on affected areas and you won’t see ants ever again. Spray again after 2-3 days, and ants will be gone.

4. Remove weeds

Spray pure white vinegar on your walls or walkways to get rid of weeds. Your garden will look neat and amazing.

5. Enjoy cut flowers longer than usual

To enjoy in your flowers longer than usual, add two tbsp of vinegar and 1 tbsp of sugar in a vase. Put the flowers in this solution and change it every couple of days. The solution works as food for the flowers.

6. Get rid of weeds

White vinegar is one of the most efficient “anti-weed” products.

• Add a cup of salt, a tablespoon of lemon juice, and two tablespoons of dish soap in a gallon of 5% white vinegar
• Stir well, and transfer the liquid into a sprayer
• Spray the weed in your garden

7. Get rid of garden insects

Make a combination of 3 parts of water, 1 part of vinegar, and 1 tsp of dishwashing agent, and put it into a sprayer bottle. Shake it, and spray your garden with it.

8. Get rid of fruit flies

The following solution will help you protect your fruits:

• Combine half a cup of apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of molasses, a cup of water, and a quarter cup of sugar
• Transfer the liquid into a container of your choice, and hang it on your fruit tree
• Fruit flies will “attack” the liquid, and get trapped in
• This solution works for household flies, too

9. Refresh acid loving plants

Rhododendrons, gardenias or azaleas will be happy if you use white vinegar. Add 1 cup of vinegar to a gallon of water, and water these plants. You will be amazed of their growth.

10. Remove rust from garden tools

Use undiluted vinegar on your tools. Spray them with the vinegar or just dip them in it for a few minutes. All you have to do next is rinse them well with water.

11. Fight fungus

If you notice your plants don’t grow well or there are some dark spots on their leaves, they probably have fungus or mold. Use white vinegar to get rid of this. Add 2 tbsp of vinegar to a brewed chamomile tea. Put it in a sprayer and spray your plants. You will see them become more vivid in no time.

For roses, add three tbsp of cider vinegar to four liters of water. Spray them with this and get rid of the fungus.

12. Kill slugs and snails

White vinegar will keep slugs and snails away from your garden which is why its gardeners’ favorite “anti-snail” product.

source: www.gardeningsoul.com

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Amazing Listerine Garden Uses That Work

 Not only to protect your teeth, you can also use mouthwash to protect your garden. Find out 7 amazing Listerine Uses in the Garden!

Are mouthwashes like Listerine harmful to plants?

So far, there is no evidence or reports that suggest that mouthwash can be toxic to plants. On the contrary, there are mouthwash uses that are beneficial for the plants.
For example, orchids, you can use Listerine on orchids suffering from bacterial infections and crown rot. Spray the undiluted mouthwash directly on the infected part.
Also, spraying Listerine (follow the recipe in point number one) on roses affected by black spots helps to control this fungal disease.

1. Get Rid of Powdery Mildews and Other Fungal Infections

Mouthwash has strong anti-fungal properties. It can be used to get rid of powdery mildew and other fungal infections from your garden. For this, mix 75% of water and 25% of mouthwash to make a working solution and spray it on the infected parts.

2. Prevent Cats From Peeing

Most cats have this irritating habit of peeing on the furniture, in corners, or near the plants. You can use mouthwash to stop the problem of inappropriate urination. All you need to do is to mix water and mouthwash in equal proportion (Or apply the mouthwash undiluted) and spray it at cat peeing sites. The smell may not be that subtle for a human nose, but it is too intense for the cats, and therefore they avoid the sprayed spots.
*You can apply the same trick for dogs.

3. For Aphid Control

If you’re looking for a harmful-chemical free way to control aphids, mouthwash can be an effective ingredient. Just add water and mouthwash in equal proportion and spray it on the plants suffering from aphid infestation. You can also add a similar amount of mild liquid dish soap to make this recipe even stronger.

4. Mouthwash Fertilizer

One of the quirkiest Listerine uses, you can make a homemade lawn fertilizer using other ingredients. Make a combination of mouthwash, Epsom salt, liquid dish soap, and ammonia, 1 cup each and a can of beer, apply it using a 20 gallon hose-end sprayer. Use it once every 3 weeks!

Another Listerine fertilizer recipe has the following ingredients, 1 cup each–Mouthwash, Epsom salt, Ammonia, and mild liquid dish soap. Mix all of them well and transfer the fertilizer into a 20 gallon hose-end sprayer. Apply this to your trees, shrubs and foliage plants like hostas, ferns, etc.

5. Listerine Mixture for Mosquitoes

Use Listerine to get rid of mosquitoes, when you’re enjoying time outdoors. Mist the surrounding area and air around you, especially where mosquitoes are buzzing the most. Lightly mist it on your exposed skin as well.

This is not as effective as commercial mosquito repellants and DEET, but it is safer and works because Listerine contains eucalyptol, a derivative of eucalyptus oil, in low amount. *Eucalyptol is used as a key ingredient in Eucalyptus-based mosquito repellants.

6. Get Rid of Foul Odors

Get rid of foul odors in your garden using mouthwash. Make a solution of mouthwash and water in equal proportion and apply it at the affected site. This solution will kill the acting bacteria and other microorganisms that function the rotting process and fill the place with freshening smell.

7. Listerine to Disinfect Garden Tools

This is the last hack in our mouthwash uses garden. You can use Listerine to disinfect garden tools. Simply, soak them for one minute, or spray full strength Listerine on your smaller garden tools to disinfect them to prevent disease.

source: https://balconygardenweb.com

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How to Grow Bushy Basil to Harvest All Summer Long

Basil is a fragrant, tasty, warm-weather annual herb that may be found in nearly every summer garden. Basil's flexibility makes it an essential herb, whether you're seeking to fuel your pesto addiction, enjoy a caprese salad with your home-grown tomatoes, or just want to amp up your renowned pasta sauce.

While fragrant basil (Ocimum basilicum) is reasonably simple to grow, the plants can quickly become tall, lanky, and sparse. Everyone desires huge, bushy plants with high harvests. The good news is that if properly maintained for, basil will provide you with an unending harvest all summer long.

What is Basil?

Basil plants are a common herb native to southern Asia and the South Pacific islands. This member of the mint family is easy to cultivate. Basil herb plant, considered a delicate annual, provides fragrant leaves that are frequently used in Italian and Mediterranean cuisines. Basil seeds are a common Thai ingredient as well.

Basil grows incredibly rapidly since it is an annual. In fact, it can take as little as 3 to 4 weeks from seed to harvest. This quick-growing herb is a good choice for inexperienced gardeners.

Starting Basil

Basil is a simple plant to cultivate from seed, or you can buy starting seedlings at your local garden shop. Pick up a couple different kinds! Classic Italian or Genovese basil, Opal (purple) basil, Lemon basil, and even Cinnamon are some of our faves! Check out this wonderful mixed-variety bundle of certified organic basil seeds, or these 12 locations to get premium organic, heirloom, or non-GMO seeds.

Basil, like other garden vegetable seeds, prefers to be started from seed. Using a light fluffy seedling start mix, keeping the soil equally wet (particularly before sprouting), providing heat to help in germination, and providing sufficient light as soon as the sprouts develop are all examples.

1. Keep Them Warm

Basil plants dislike frigid temperatures and are sensitive to temperature fluctuations (those of us in Maine who can't get basil to do much of anything know what this means!). To minimize frost damage, avoid placing basil seedlings in the ground too soon. If you grow basil in containers, move them inside (your garage would suffice) if you expect a chilly night.

2. Ensure Proper Drainage

Basil requires well-draining soil to thrive. Make use of a planter with a lot of drainage holes. If the bottom of your favorite planter lacks holes, drill some if feasible. Drainage is also improved by lining the bottom of the pot with a couple inches of gravel.

3. Keep Soil Moist

While basil prefers well-drained soil, it also like to be kept wet. It might be difficult to maintain regular moisture without waterlogging them. Overwatering can produce mildew and rot on the stems, limiting the development of your basil. Once a week, thoroughly water your plants. Basil grown in pots has to be watered more frequently since the soil dries up faster than ground soil.

4. Water the Soil Not The Leaves

Water the plant from the bottom up, avoiding showering the leaves and stems. It is recommended to soak slowly and thoroughly. Drip watering systems are also effective. Mulching around plants also aids in the retention and conservation of water while keeping weeds at bay.

5. Let The Sun Shine In

Basil plants require a lot of sunlight. Place your plants in a bright, sunny location where they will receive six to eight hours of direct sunlight every day, away from chilly breezes. If you're growing plants inside, set them on a sunny windowsill with plenty of light.

6. Fertilize Properly

Basil, like other plants, benefits from nutritional supplementation. Feed your basil plants every four to six weeks for indoor plants and every 2-3 weeks for outdoor plants using a good organic fertilizer. A well-balanced fertilizer with equal parts nitrogen, potassium, and phosphate will assist in increasing leaf output.

7. Harvest Early and Often

Harvesting and trimming basil are practically the same thing. Pruning tips are provided below, and what you pruned can be used in your harvest.

Begin collecting your basil early in the season and continue to harvest every week or two throughout the season. If you observe flower buds beginning to emerge on your mature plant, it's time to prune. If not, the plant will use its energy to producing seeds rather of producing more of its delectable leaves. Furthermore, blooming alters the flavor of the basil. If you are late to the game and blossoms have begun to form, simply pinch off the flower heads, which are delicious as well.

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8 Good Luck Plants To Place Indoor

Plants are well-known for adding a fresh and appealing aspect to your yard, but according to certain traditions, they may also bring luck and optimism into your house. So, in today's post, we'd like to present ten good luck plants for indoors.

They are really simple to cultivate indoors and do not want a lot of attention. Most of them adapt well to various environments, and some even thrive in your absence.

Whether you don't feel like you're having the luckiest time of your life, it's time to explore planting some of these 8 good luck plants and seeing if they work for you!

Lucky Bamboo

Lucky bamboo is one of the finest plants for attracting positive energy, money, and good fortune into your life. It has a certain number of stalks, and it is said that the more stocks in the arrangement, the higher the benefits. It is also regarded as a Valentine's Day gift for a male.

Money Plant

Money plants are frequently advised for keeping inside the home since they offer good luck and generate positive energy in daily life. It cleans the dirty air in your home and improves the flow of oxygen. Some believe it relieves tension and fosters a peaceful and happy environment in the household.

Jade Plant

The leaves of the jade plant are certain to bring good fortune. Place it near the entrance to your home or business to attract prosperity and success. It is also a wonderful present for a businessman, therefore if your spouse is a businessman, this is an excellent Valentine's Day gift.

Orchids

Orchids in your home provide happiness and increase your sense of contentment. Orchids bring affection into your life and strengthen your bonds with those you care about. Purple orchids are said to bring good fortune. They are also said to bring love and fertility into the home.

Basil

Basil is a culinary herb as well as a good luck plant. A basil plant is thought to bring you love, money, luck, and pleasure.

Snake Plant

Did you know that this lucky plant has been scientifically proved to absorb harmful chemicals in the air? Snake plant is an excellent indoor houseplant that emits a pleasant scent and enhances the appearance of your living area. This plant not only brings you luck, but it also has health advantages.

Peace Lily

Peace lily's beautiful white blossoms can enhance the charm of any environment. This plant represents calm, purity, and balances the energy of the home.

Citrus

These citrus trees, which are said to provide wealth and pleasant feelings, also look nice while bringing luck to your house.

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4 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Dark Spots

Let's start with four natural treatments for lightening or fading dark spots on the skin.

1. Lime Juice

The acidity of lemon juice serves as a whitening agent, reducing discolouration on your face. Apply the juice to your liver spots twice a day with a cotton ball or Q-tip. It is best to start with a tiny section of your face to evaluate how your skin reacts to the lemon juice. If you have sensitive skin, dilute the juice with a little water.

2. Gel Aloe Vera

Aloe vera gel contains antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, and E, which assist to eliminate brown spots and level out skin tone. Vitamin A hastens the natural shedding process of your skin, while vitamin C enhances your complexion and vitamin E renews the epidermis. Because the plant has been used to treat sunburns for hundreds of years, aloe works especially effectively if you have dark patches produced by sun exposure.

Although you may purchase 100% aloe vera gel from a health food shop, utilizing gel directly from the plant is preferred. To achieve this, cut one aloe vera leaf in half and divide it in two. Carve out the jelly-like flesh and apply it on your skin immediately.

3. Buttermilk or Yogurt

Lactic acid, which lightens and exfoliates the skin, is abundant in both yogurt and buttermilk. Apply one of these dairy products directly to your skin as a mask and let on for 20 minutes before rinsing.

4. Toner with Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar, which is high in antioxidants and minerals, is a popular home remedy for a variety of illnesses. Because alpha hydroxy acid removes dead skin cells, many with scars and discoloration swear by this easy treatment.

In a mixing bowl, combine equal parts apple cider vinegar and water. Because it is pH balanced, you may use it as a toner on your entire face. If you don't like the fragrance, leave the solution to sit for 20 minutes before rinsing.

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