Cheryl Holmes+Followthe “don’t buy soil” trick every home gardener should know Garden centers charge ridiculous prices for bagged soil. A single raised bed can cost $80–120 just to fill. Here’s a trick I learned from an older veteran gardener: use logs and branches as the base layer. This method (hugelkultur-style) works great: Place old firewood, branches, or even untreated scrap lumber on the bottom of the bed. Add leaves, grass clippings, and kitchen compost on top. Finish with 4–6 inches of actual garden soil. Why this works: Wood slowly decomposes, releasing nutrients for YEARS. The bed stays moist longer — wood acts like a sponge. You need far less soil, cutting your cost by half. I filled two 4x8 beds for under $40 each using this method. Plants grew taller than any previous season. Plus, it’s the perfect use for those random branches your yard keeps producing. #Gardening #BudgetHacks00Share
Cheryl Holmes+Followthe raised bed winter prep that saves spring headaches Fall is the best time to prep your raised beds, but most people wait until spring and face weeds, pests, and compacted soil. Here’s my winter prep routine: Remove spent plants but leave roots if healthy — worms will break them down. Add 2 inches of compost to replenish nutrients. Cover with shredded leaves or straw to prevent erosion and provide insulation. Place a lightweight mesh over beds if you have deer or rabbits nearby. By spring, beds are loose, nutrient-rich, and pest pressure is lower because beneficial insects overwinter safely. It only takes 30–40 minutes per bed, but it saves hours of spring work and ensures a healthy early harvest. #Gardening #WinterPrep00Share
Cheryl Holmes+Followthe fall clean-up mistake that causes spring pest explosions Most Americans clean their yard in fall by raking everything to “make it look tidy.” But here’s the truth: over-cleaning your garden creates the perfect environment for pests next spring. Why? Because beneficial insects overwinter in leaves, stems, and debris. Ladybugs, lacewings, predatory wasps — all the good guys. If you remove everything, the only insects left next year are the bad ones. Here’s the professional gardener version of fall clean-up: Leave a 2–3 inch layer of shredded leaves in beds Leave hollow stems on perennials until March Rake paths, but not the actual garden beds Pile leaves under shrubs to protect roots Only remove diseased material — nothing else Then in early spring (late March/April), cut everything back. The difference? My aphid population dropped by 80%. My roses looked cleaner. My veggies had fewer early pests. Fall clean-up shouldn’t be “make it spotless.” It should be “set up next year’s ecosystem.” #Gardening #PestControl10Share
Cheryl Holmes+Followthe secret weapon: vinegar spray 🍃 Forget fancy pest sprays. My grandmother swore by vinegar — and now I do too. Mix one part white vinegar, three parts water, and a dash of lemon juice. Spray it on weeds or around garden edges. The acidity burns out unwanted weeds fast and keeps ants and spiders away. Just avoid direct hits on your veggies — vinegar is strong. It’s not glamorous, but it’s a “clean kill.” I save money, avoid chemicals, and my garden still looks perfect. Old-school methods sometimes outsmart new ones. #Gardening #WeedControl372Share
Cheryl Holmes+Followthe secret trick to revive a dying lawn 🌱 Last summer, my lawn was a disaster—brown patches everywhere, crabgrass taking over, and my sprinklers barely made a difference. I was ready to give up. Then a retired landscaper neighbor whispered what he called “the lazy man’s revival trick.” Instead of watering constantly, he said: aerate the soil first. I rented a simple aerator, poked holes all over the lawn, and added a thin layer of composted soil on top. Then, water deeply but only once a week. Within three weeks, new green shoots appeared in every bare spot. The crabgrass slowed down because the grass roots got stronger. The “evil method”? Using aeration aggressively, almost like punching the soil to shock it awake. Sometimes the unconventional approach works better than endless routine. #Gardening #LawnCare10Share
David Hernandez+FollowSomeone Wired Two Car Batteries To A Trash Can By A Tree 🤔It's two car batteries, all wired up and connected to a garbage can. I have no idea what is going on here. For what it's worth, I'm almost positive this tree has Dutch elm disease. Perhaps that is somehow related. I'm just so curious if this is some kind of testing contraption. They've just been sitting there ever since the second battery was wired up. #WeirdFinds #Gardening #Home #WhatIsThis #TreeCare #HelpNeeded 394522Share
Justin Guerra+FollowMy neighbor's palm tree gets the most extreme haircut every year Every summer or early fall, Santa Ana winds strip all those fronds right off the tree, and they can really cause damage. They can hit cars, fall on people walking by. It's generally a liability if they're not taken care of. #PalmTrees #SantaAnaWinds #GardeningProblems #HomeownerLife #SeasonalMaintenance #Gardening 160Share
