Online Reporter
Andrew Mangwarara
AS summer picks up momentum, it is time we explore practical ways to keep your gardening efforts thriving.
A garden requires passion, enthusiasm and daily attention to flourish.
Below are some simple yet effective tips to help you stay on course.
Avoid digging the soil unnecessarily. Zero tillage benefits soil microbes, which play vital roles such as releasing nutrients and suppressing pathogens.
It also helps prevent weed seed germination. When you dig, surface weeds come into contact with the soil and they sprout.
Add organic matter like mulch to the soil surface to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Alternatively, you can use professional-grade fabric to cover the soil for similar benefits.
Roses thrive on potassium. Plant them near banana plants to enhance their natural growth.
Believe it or not, human hair can deter rabbits and cats from your garden. Scatter it around your plants to keep unwanted visitors away.
Leftover milk can help vegetables resist fungal and viral infections.
Dilute it with water and spray it on your plants.
Place leftover toilet paper rolls around plant stems to guard against cutworms. They biodegrade over time, solving a waste problem, too.
If space is limited, grow vegetables like lettuce, okra, beetroot or strawberries as ornamental plants.
They will beautify your garden and serve your kitchen.
Plant low-growing vegetables around your main crops to reduce space for weeds to grow.
Mix salt with vinegar for a simple herbicide.
For brick surfaces where weeds thrive between cracks, boiling water is the cheapest and most effective solution.
Use shredded paper as mulch around your plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Bury small containers filled with beer. Slugs and snails are attracted to it and will drown, keeping your garden pest-free.
Harvest flower seeds at the end of the season and store them for next year to save money.
Also, allow urban tap water to sit for a while before watering plants to let chlorine evaporate.
Use citrus peels or garlic cloves to make insect-repelling sprays.
Steep them in hot water, let them cool and spray where aphids or other pests are a problem.
Crop rotation rejuvenates soil and helps eliminate diseases.
Companion planting — growing plants that repel pests — enhances garden health and productivity.
These tips are just a few among many.
With creativity and care, your garden can thrive throughout the summer season. Enjoy the journey!
If you would like to be featured in our green-up campaign, contact us on the number provided above. Feedback: [email protected] or [email protected]
Tinaye Agere