Tag Page gardening

#gardening
Cheryl Holmes

the 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 #PestControl

the fall clean-up mistake that causes spring pest explosions
Cheryl Holmes

the 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 #LawnCare

the secret trick to revive a dying lawn 🌱
Cheryl Holmes

the trellis mistake most beginners make (and how i learned the hard way)

Two summers ago, a storm took down my entire cucumber trellis. I had built it from thin bamboo poles — it looked cute, Instagram-worthy… and totally useless against wind. A retired contractor at work laughed and said, “Build it like you’re building for a toddler — strong enough to survive climbing and chaos.” Here’s the version that’s worked flawlessly: Use EMT metal conduit (cheap, lightweight, never rots). Bend it with a $40 pipe bender into a stable arch. Anchor with rebar hammered into the ground. Netting goes on last, zip-tied tight. It survived two storms, 40 mph gusts, and a whole summer of cucumber overload. Now my neighbors ask me to build theirs too. Pretty Instagram trellises are cute… but sturdy ones give you actual vegetables. #Gardening #Trellis

the trellis mistake most beginners make (and how i learned the hard way)
Cheryl Holmes

How I Finally Got My Lawns to Survive August Heat

For years, my backyard would scorch every August. Grass would brown, sprinklers ran constantly, and I still had bare patches. Then I noticed my neighbor, Bob, walking around at 6 a.m., soaking the lawn before sunrise. He said, “Most folks water in the afternoon — that’s how they fry their grass.” I tried his early-morning schedule: 6 a.m., twice a week, deep soak instead of light sprinkling Raise mowing height by half an inch during peak heat Leave clippings on the lawn Two weeks in, my lawn went from crispy brown to deep green. The soil held water longer, roots grew deeper, and weeds had less room to compete. The secret wasn’t more water — it was smarter timing and understanding the grass’s needs. #Gardening #LawnCare

How I Finally Got My Lawns to Survive August Heat
Cheryl Holmes

The Mulch Mistake That Almost Killed My Vegetable Bed

Last spring, I piled three inches of mulch around my tomato and pepper plants, thinking I was doing everything right. Two weeks later, I noticed yellowing leaves and a strange mold smell. Panic hit — had I poisoned my own garden? An experienced neighbor named Frank, 65, came over and said, “You’ve got volcano mulch. Look at the base of those plants.” He showed me that the mulch was touching the stems directly. It trapped moisture, caused rot, and invited pests. His fix was simple: Pull mulch away from the base, leaving a 2–3 inch gap Thin the top layer to 1–2 inches Check weekly for signs of excess moisture Within a month, the plants bounced back. Leaves turned vibrant, stems firmed, and fruit set accelerated. Lesson learned: even simple things like mulch need a bit of finesse. Too much love can literally suffocate your plants. #Gardening #MulchingTips

The Mulch Mistake That Almost Killed My Vegetable Bed
Tag: gardening - Page 2 | LocalHood