One of the best perks of summer is the fresh, local produce. It’s even better if it’s coming from your own backyard. If you’re a gardener, you can relate to how much time, effort and nurturing goes into growing a healthy garden.
Right about this time of summer, your hard work pays off as you pick your homegrown veggies to whip up some tasty salads and salsas. The last thing you want is to find that someone else has already gotten a bite of your hard work! So, here are 3 garden hacks to ensure that doesn’t happen.
1. Ward Off Pests
They may offer a bit more protein, but most of us don’t prefer bugs in our salads. To ward off all sorts of unwanted pests, plant marigolds around the perimeter of your yard or garden. You should also plant marigolds among your fruits and veggies to repel nematodes that would otherwise nibble on the roots.
If you don’t like the pungent smell of marigolds, rosemary, sage and lavender are other pest-repellent plant options for chemical-free pest control.
2. Protect Your Plants from Critters
You’re not investing your time and energy into your garden to feed Thumper and his friends. To protect your plants from little critters, you can make shields for your plants with empty milk jugs. Remove the cap from the milk jug and cut the bottom of the container completely off. Place the container over your growing plants and push the jug into the soil so it stays put. You can easily water the plant through the open top of the milk jug.
3. Deter the Deer
If your garden’s guest is a deer, you can make this organic spray to ward them off. In a gallon jug, mix together 1 cup of milk, 1 raw egg, 1 tablespoon of organic dish soap and then fill up the rest of the jug with water. You can also add in some hot peppers, so the deer will definitely get dinner elsewhere.
Set the gallon of spray outside during the day to spread the aroma and then spray it on your plants in the evening. It’s harmless to the garden, but the smell of the spray may be a bit unappealing to you (as it is to the deer, too).
