Gardening tips 2023 — Cheap yet effective trick to freshen up your lawn – it’ll barely need maintenance after

Light levels explained

Each light level is determined based on the hours of sun or shade the area receives.

Below are the number of sunlight hours each light level receives, according to :

• Full sun – six to eight or more hours of direct sunlight
• Partial sun – three to six hours of direct sunlight
• Partial shade – three hours of direct sunlight
• Light shade – bright sun filtered through leaves
• Full shade – less than three hours of direct sunlight
• Deep shade – no sunlight

Light levels revealed

When growing a garden, it is important to keep in mind the light requirements for each plant.

The gardening website,  laid out the common terms for light levels:

• Full sun
• Partial sun
• Partial shade
• Light shade
• Full shade
• Deep shade

Best places in the US to grow tropical fruit

Fruits like mangoes and pineapples grow best in warm climates with considerable rainfall.

Hawaii and Florida are the best locations in the US for these fruits.

While some midwestern states are warm enough, they do not receive enough rain to grow tropical plants, according to 

Best places in the US to grow vegetables

The top five states for vegetable production are California, Idaho, Washington, Wisconsin, and Florida,  also reported.

According to USDA Economic Research Service, California produces 60 percent of US fresh vegetables.

Idaho and Wisconsin produce the most potatoes, the outlet reported.

Best places in the US to grow fruits

If you are looking to grow fruits such as oranges, apples, lemons, avocados, peaches, and grapes, California is the best state to do so.

The state ranks highest in the production of many fruits,  reported.

Florida is ranked second for orange production, and New York is second for apples and grapes.

Vinegar can remove driveway moss

The rough surface of tarmac, typically used in driveways, gathers and retains water more than other materials – making it the ideal breeding spot for moss.

Luckily, a simple solution of distilled vinegar and water can kill moss.

Gardening experts recommend filling a spray bottle with the mixture and spraying daily until the moss dies.

Pots can be too big or small

The experts at  shared life-saving tips for any plants that just can’t seem to make it in the long run and revealed that one of the key factors is the size of the pot your plant is in.

“If the pot is too small, your plant’s roots will be constricted, and less soil means less nutrients for it to absorb,” the experts explained.

On the other hand, if your plants die off despite having “plenty of room,” you may accidentally be drowning or starving your plant.

“A pot that’s too big can result in soil that’s too moist, and can make it difficult for the soil to be firmly packed around the roots,” the pros added.

How to use garden lime to kill weeds

To combat pesky weeds, the experts at  advised to: “Spread lime using a spreader if your soil doesn’t have a calcium to magnesium ratio of 7 to 1.”

The best way to figure out if your garden could benefit from lime is to have a soil test done by state Cooperative Extension offices, according to 

Simply follow their soil-sample collection directions and you’ll receive all kinds of information back about the conditions of your garden, including its calcium and magnesium levels.

Rule of three

The gardening rule of three is important to remember if aesthetics are important to you.

An irregular cluster of plants will look fuller and more natural than a straight line.

When you’re planting, make sure to place the seeds in groups of three instead of in a line for a more aesthetic garden.

Quick trick to dry herbs

If you want to dry fresh herbs, try placing them in your car over a sheet of newspaper.

After arranging the herbs in a single layer, roll up the windows and close the doors for them to dry faster.

Not only will you have fresh dried herbs to liven up your homemade meals, but your car will smell great.

How steaming vegetables can help your garden

The water used to boil and steam vegetables can be beneficial for your potted plants.

Instead of dumping the water down the drain, use the leftover water for potted patio plants.

The vegetable residue will help them grow.

Skunks also serve an important purpose

While no one wants a skunk in their yard, these creatures can do you a favor.

Skunks don’t spray unless provoked. When left alone, they’ll eat beetles, mice, rats, crickets, and grubs.

You can leave opossums alone, too, while you’re at it. They kill off the same small pests skunks do and also slurp down slugs, snails, and venomous snakes.

If there’s a dead animal in your yard, an opossum is likely to find it and consume it, saving you the trouble.

Plus, they eat overripe fruits, which can really improve your garden.

Watering your tomatoes correctly

Tomatoes can be tough to grow in dry climates, and watering them with an overhead sprinkler isn’t the best option for their leaves.

A simple solution is to find a garbage can drill some holes in it and grab a couple of shovels full of compost, according to 

Keeping critters out of your garden: Scented Soap

Gardeners have used scented soaps like Irish Spring to keep pests like raccoons from clawing and gnawing at trees.

The fragrance of the home product is bergamot and citrus, with a flowery undertone.

While there is no scientific evidence, experts at PestPointers think it is a good tool for keeping deers out of your garden.

You should cut your bar of soap in half to prevent raccoons from scavenging in trees.

And bind it three feet away from the trunk with twine or rope.

Alternatively, the soap can be placed in a bag and hung on a branch.

Keeping critters out of your garden: Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is widely used in fiery sauces and may be added to dishes to add taste, but they’re also an effective pest exterminator, according to experts.

The spice is disliked by critters such as raccoons and squirrels.

If they try to eat pepper-covered leaves, they’re likely to get a shock.

DIY drip feeder

Many plants and vegetables have a tendency to grow better if moisture is delivered at their roots so creating a homemade drip feeder may benefit your garden.

Gardeners should puncture some holes into the bottle an old plastic soda bottle, and then plant it next to whatever you may be growing. 

Using a bottle helps enable a slow release of water near the roots and also helps prevent fungus and also reduces problems with leaves, according to .

Harmful squirrel repellents

Not all squirrel deterrents are safe for squirrels or non-toxic.

Peanut butter may appear to be a nice idea, but in big quantities, it is poisonous to squirrels,  says.

Squirrel traps are very risky, and employing them, especially live traps, has a number of drawbacks.

Squirrels are often agitated, and if they are imprisoned with no way out, they can cause much more damage to your property.

While trap-and-release traps are available, they frequently pose a significant risk of damage.

Identifying squirrel damage: Soil or mulch disruption

Squirrels enjoy digging up the dirt and mulch in garden beds and pots, so if you notice this in your garden, you may have a squirrel problem.

 recommends that you protect the roots and use one of the various natural squirrel repellents.

Identifying squirrel damage: Missing bird food

Squirrels are scavengers of rodents and they look at every prospective food source, including bird feeder seeds,  reported.

Sunflower seeds, which are commonly found in bird feed, are a favorite of squirrels.

Squirrels will not only eat what falls to the ground but also climb up and eat from the real bird feeder.

Identifying squirrel damage: Bulb damage

Squirrels eat natural foods, and they don’t recognize the difference between food that falls from trees and food planted in a garden by homeowners, according to .

Squirrels dig up planted bulbs in the spring and fall, not only for food but also to provide hiding places for other foods they’ve acquired.

Identifying squirrel damage: Absent crops

 wrote that if your plants are consistently lacking harvests, it’s likely that a squirrel got to them before you had a chance to harvest them.

Tomatoes, cucumbers, berries, lettuces, and other fruits and vegetables are examples of this.

There’s still time to use repellents if you see nibbling on any leaves or the crops themselves.

Why are squirrels attracted to gardens?

Squirrels are food-obsessed and will eat practically everything in a garden,  reports.

Squirrels are known for their fondness for acorns, but they aren’t fussy eaters.

They will eat vegetables from your vegetable garden, flowers, flower bulbs, and any birdseed you may distribute around your lawn, yard, or garden.

Squirrels may be attracted to your home by even mundane items like rubbish.

This breakfast dish can help your plants thrive

A gardening expert has revealed an easy trick green-fingered homeowners can do with eggshells.

Instead of tossing the shells in the trash, they can be used outdoors to provide plants with extra nutrients and keep pesky pests away.

They can be crushed and spread around the base of plants to nourish the soil with calcium.

Eggshells are almost entirely made up of calcium carbonate, which plants – like people – need to keep healthy.

Garden snakes also have a part to play

Garden snakes, as their title suggests, are an integral part of your outdoor ecosystem.

As long as they’re not overtaking your yard, you shouldn’t deprive your plants of their influence.

Garden snakes will eat mice who nibble on your plants.

The majority of them are also harmless to humans.

Skunks serve an important purpose

While no one wants a skunk in their yard, these creatures can do you a favor.

Skunks don’t spray unless provoked. When left alone, they’ll eat beetles, mice, rats, crickets, and grubs.

You can leave opossums alone, too, while you’re at it. They kill off the same small pests skunks do and also slurp down slugs, snails, and venomous snakes.

If there’s a dead animal in your yard, an opossum is likely to find it and consume it, saving you the trouble.

Plus, they eat overripe fruits, which can really improve your garden.