Turning your garden from a barren patch of land into a sprawling oasis can seem like it will cost more than you can afford. However, there are plenty of ways to make gardening more affordable without compromising on your vision for an outdoor space where you can confidently entertain guests. If your garden is bigger, you may have to tackle small areas at a time, but smaller yards can be transformed much more quickly. Regardless of the size of your garden, this list of tips will help you to transform your garden on a budget by pushing you down the right path and kickstarting your outdoor transformation.

Invest In Hardy Plants

Plants that require a lot of care and are prone to wilting when weather conditions aren’t ideal will cost you a lot of money in the long run, especially if you don’t have much of a green thumb. Buying the true needlepoint holly, evergreen shrubs and crab apple trees will help you to keep your garden looking lush and vibrant year-round, as these plants are known for being particularly resilient. Of course, the types of plants that will thrive in your garden will depend on the kind of climate you live in and the soil you have available. Chat to someone at your local garden center if you feel unsure.

Put In Some Elbow Grease

One of the biggest costs of renovating your garden is labor. If you’re willing to put in a bit of work yourself, you can save a lot more than if you’d hired someone to do the work for you. It’s easy enough to handle tasks such as weeding, mowing the lawn, and giving fences a lick of paint, so if you have the time, it’s definitely worth thinking about. Alternatively, ask a handy family member or friend to come and show you the ropes before you get stuck in yourself.

Embrace Upcycling

Buying new garden furniture, pots and fences can cost a lot of money. If you already have some chairs and a table that are looking weary, consider upcycling them. There are lots of ways you can make old things look new again and will certainly help you to transform your garden on a budget. For example, you could learn how to sew new cushions for a swing seat or use paper mâché to give plant pots a new lease of life. If you don’t have anything for your garden, pick up some cheap pieces in second-hand stores and see what you can do with them.

Borrow Tools

Gardening tools can be expensive and if you know you’re never going to use them again, buying them might not be worth the money. Ask your neighbors and friends if they have some tools they’d be willing to lend you for a few days, most people will be more than happy to help out. For bigger tools like drills and power washers, you may want to ask around local hardware shops to find out whether they have any for hire. Alternatively, your garden renovations could inspire a love for DIY, so buying tools could be seen as an investment in future projects that will save you money.

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Do you normally throw away your leftover coffee grounds after you’ve made a delicious cup of coffee? If so, you should consider reusing them.

You may not be aware, but coffee grounds can actually be used to benefit your skin in several ways. They can also help your garden to flourish.

Exfoliating

If you’re a coffee-lover, there are various different types of coffee that you can explore. Simply look through a list of coffee box subscriptions to find the right option for you. You can then sample some of the best and most unique coffee from around the world on a regular basis.

But you shouldn’t waste the leftover coffee grounds after you’ve drunk the delicious beverage. Instead, you can beneficially use the leftover grounds on your body and in your garden.

Let’s begin by looking at how you can use coffee grounds to beautify your body.

One of the best uses is for exfoliation. Coffee grounds are great for scrubbing away dead skin cells. And because caffeic acid is an antioxidant, coffee grounds could boost your collagen levels and reduce your cells aging prematurely.

Furthermore, the caffeic acid in coffee has antimicrobial properties, which can potentially protect your skin against germs.

To make an exfoliating scrub with coffee grounds, mix a quarter cup of fresh coffee grounds with a quarter cup of brown sugar and a little lemon juice. Then simply scrub the mixture into your skin every few days. Leave it on your skin for a few minutes before rinsing.

Treating Acne

Because coffee grounds contain antioxidants and chlorogenic acids, they can be an effective solution for fighting acne.

By scrubbing your face with coffee grounds, you can unclog pores and clear away dead skin cells. And the chlorogenic acids could reduce inflammation and protect your skin against some forms of bacteria.

Protecting Your Skin Against The Sun

The antioxidants in coffee can also help to protect your skin against the dangerous ultraviolet rays of the sun that can cause aging of the skin and other skin problems.

Although more research is needed, a 2015 study published by the National Library of Medicine found that the participants who applied coffee grounds to their skin had fewer age spots on their faces caused by UV rays. The participants were all women between the ages of thirty and sixty.

Reducing Puffy Eyes

Coffee grounds could help you if you have puffy eyes. That’s because caffeine stimulates blood flow and dilates blood vessels. Applying coffee grounds around your eyes could help your skin to tighten naturally and reduce the buildup of fluid under your eyes.

Try it yourself. Dab coffee grounds that contain a little liquid from the coffee you made around your eyes. The skin around your eyes could soon become less inflamed.

Fertilizing Your Garden

OK, now let’s take a look at how you can put your leftover coffee grounds to good use in your garden.

First off, coffee grounds can make an excellent fertilizer. That’s because they contain several minerals that help plants grow, namely nitrogen, iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and chromium.

The coffee grounds could even absorb heavy metals that contaminate the soil. Furthermore, coffee grounds will help to attract worms, which are great for any garden.

Fertilizing your garden with coffee grounds is easy. Simply sprinkle your leftover grounds on the soil surrounding your plants.

Using Coffee Grounds In Your Compost

You can also put coffee grounds in your compost. They make excellent ingredients for compost due to the fact that coffee grounds contain nitrogen and other minerals that can help your garden grow.

Use coffee grounds in combination with brown compost material like dry leaves. Coffee grounds are called green compost material.

Other types of green compost materials include grass clippings and food scraps. You should use compost that has a four-to-one ratio of brown compost material to green compost material.

Feeding Worms

As mentioned above, coffee grounds can attract worms. So, if you use a worm bin in your garden, add coffee grounds to your bin every week.

Worms simply love coffee grounds! But don’t overdo it. One cup per week is the ideal amount. If you use more than that, the acidity of the coffee grounds could bother the worms.

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Have you heard of the ever-growing trend of organic gardening? Namely, people worldwide are starting to avoid using synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. They’re embracing a holistic approach to gardening where they’re using more sustainable fertilizer, homemade compost and avoiding the use of plastic in the process. If you’re considering organic gardening, your home can serve as a solid starting point. A backyard with enough space to plant a few vegetable sorts and some fruit will be enough to start with. Here are some tips on how you can start an organic garden in your home.

Find A Suitable Location

A garden where you’ll be growing food should be isolated from the street racket and pollution from the cars. Therefore, your backyard will be perfect. Look for a corner of the garden that will be a nice starting point and eventually allow you to spread out once you get a hang of gardening. Preferably the spot you choose will allow for plenty of sunlight and rain.6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day is necessary for the plants to grow well, so plan for the site accordingly. The garden should also be out of kids’ sight and reach so that they don’t wish to run around and pick crops that are not ripe yet.

Organic Garden Soil And Mulch For The Base

Healthy soil is the prerequisite for a healthy organic garden. Compost, manure and peat moss are some of the best types of organic matter you can use to enrich the soil. The decayed microorganisms from earlier plants will offer future plants all the nutritious elements they need. To make the garden as organic as possible, make your own compost or use bagged compost from garden centres. With mulch, you’ll prevent the weeds from overgrowing your garden area. The weeds won’t get as much sunlight or germinate in the garden. Newspaper, weed-free straws and cocoa hulls will be perfect to use as mulch.

Enclose The Garden And Protect From Pets

The next matter to take care of is protecting your garden from unwanted visitors. If you have pets who like to run around the backyard, they’ll inevitably want to roam through your organic garden. To prevent them from making huge damage to the plants, build a fence around them. Consider using chain wire fencing to create a barrier for pets. You can even consider enclosing another part of the backyard with wired fencing to create a designated pet area with all of your four-legged friend’s toys and entertainment.

Water Regularly

Knowing how much water your plants need and how often to water them is of the essence when taking care of your organic garden. One of the best ways to know whether your plants need watering is to stick a finger in the soil, and if it’s moist, it doesn’t require water yet. Only water it when you feel it’s dry. Instead of watering the top of the plants, focus on the soil around the base of the plants. That way the soil can absorb the water that will later reach the roots. You might want to consider drip irrigation for your organic garden.

Feed The Plants

Aside from enough water, the plants will need food as well. Look for plant nutrition options and give your garden the necessary boost. That will help them produce richer harvests and make your peppers and tomatoes extra juicy. Go to your local garden centre and look for prepacked organic fertilizer. Alternatively, if you know someone who has an animal farm, ask for manure made by chickens, sheep, horses or rabbits. As long as it’s well-rotted, it will help your plants yield juicer crops. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, when you use organic, the soil will level up in quality every time you use them.

Starting an organic garden will be the best hobby for you and your family. The food that you grow in the garden will be pesticide-free, and you’ll know that you’re eating only healthy fruits and vegetables. Aside from offering your family the best quality food, you’ll also have a new hobby to enjoy and potentially grow your garden and turn it into a profitable pastime. Just make sure you’re watering the plants regularly, feed them with natural fertilizers, protect them from pets, and you’ll have a garden to enjoy for a long time.

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We’ve seen a lot of lockdown trends come and go in the last year: sourdough starters, whipped coffee, and Tiger King, to name a few.

Thankfully, more health-focused trends, like how to start a vegetable garden, are sticking around.

According to one survey, 26% of Americans flexed their green thumb in response to the pandemic.

And interest isn’t expected to disappear once people are out of their homes, either.

“There’s something very magical about having your own garden,” says Liza Moiseeva, gardening expert and co-founder of Brightly. “Instead of going to the grocery store to pick up your favorite veggies, you have a supply right outside your door.”

If you’ve been bit by the gardening bug, follow these steps to learn how to start a vegetable garden.

1. Work With What You’ve Got

Many people think a vegetable garden needs to be a traditional in-ground garden bed in order to count.

But the truth is, a vegetable garden can be as simple as a few pots and containers on your balcony or patio, or even a combination of in-ground and potted plants.

So don’t get discouraged if your “green” space is limited to a window sill.

“Any vegetable can be grown in a home garden provided the garden site has enough light, space, and good soil,” says Julie Weisenhorn, M.Ag., associate extension professor of horticulture at the University of Minnesota.

2. Befriend Gardeners

Gardening newbies should take advantage of the free or low-cost resources in their area.

Weisenhorn suggests starting with your county’s extension master gardener website.

Many websites answer frequently asked questions, list classes taught by volunteer gardeners, and offer space to ask your own questions.

Your local garden center is another great spot to get the lowdown on home gardens. Staff members are usually avid gardeners themselves.

3. Test Your Soil

If you’re digging up your yard to build a garden, test the soil before buying your seeds or plants so you know what you’re working with.

A soil test will tell you how acidic or alkaline your soil is, as well as which nutrients might be missing.

Remember the pH scale that runs from 1 to 14?

If your soil is under 7 it’s considered acidic (also called sour), whereas above 7 is alkaline (sweet). Anything between 6.2 and 7.2 is considered nearly neutral.

This information can help you decide which plants to grow “and what amendments and fertilizer should be added to benefit your new garden plants,” Weisenhorn says.

Most prefer nearly neutral soil, but some prefer more acidic.

Some colleges, universities, and local cooperative extension offices have soil testing labs that will analyze your sample for a fee.

You can also test on your own with an at-home kit from your local home and garden store.

4. Opt for Low-Maintenance Plants

When deciding what to grow in your home garden, go for easier options your first time around.

Herbs are a great place to start.

“Most herbs grow well in full sun, tolerate dry soil, and don’t need much fertilizer,” Weisenhorn says. “Buy herb plants from a local greenhouse and plant them in containers on your deck or patio, or interplant them with flowers.”

Consider basil, rosemary, sage, cilantro, lavender, dill, chives, and fennel.

Edible flowers like pansies, anise hyssop, and daylilies are a good option for any size garden.

Meanwhile, leafy greens like kale and Swiss chard can tolerate a little shade, and many are “cut-n-come” varieties, “meaning you can cut some leaves and the plant will continue to produce,” Weisenhorn says.

If you have space, consider warm season veggies like peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and melons. These need large containers or a trellis.

Once you’re more comfortable with gardening, Moiseeva suggests trying your luck with trickier veggies like cauliflower, broccoli, celery, carrots, and onion.

5. Start With Plants Instead of Seeds

Once you’ve decided what to grow, it’s time to visit your local greenhouse. They can be a helpful resource as you learn how to start a vegetable garden.

You have two options: Start your vegetables from seeds, or buy plant “starts” or seedlings.

Weisenhorn suggests buying plants if you’re working with minimal real estate, and/or don’t have time to baby the seeds.

“Starting seeds takes longer,” she says. Most seeds have to spend six to eight weeks sprouting indoors in a tray before going in the ground, Weisenhorn adds.

But if space isn’t an issue and you don’t mind the challenge of starting seeds, feel free to give it a try!

Get advice from the staff at your local garden center.

6. Get the Right Tools

While you’re stocking up on plants, be sure to collect any tools and equipment you’ll need to build and care for your vegetable garden.

That includes soil and/or fertilizer.

According to Weisenhorn, the tools any gardener needs include:

• Washable gardening gloves
• A trowel
• A hand pruner
• A watering can and/or garden hose and nozzle

Other tools you may need will depend on what you’re planting.

Get stakes or poles for climbing plants like beans, cucumbers, and squash; pots or containers for small plants; and sturdy cages for tomatoes.

“If you have a big outdoor garden, you’ll probably also need a hoe in order to cultivate the soil and get rid of any weeds that pop up,” Moiseeva says.

You’ll also need a shovel if you’re digging up your yard and/or hefting a lot of soil.

7. Plant Away!

Once you have your plants, soil, tools, and know-how, it’s time for the fun part: Planting your home garden.

Fill up your pots and containers, dig your garden bed, and set up your trellis or stakes.

Be sure to set up your plants where they can get the right amount of light and shade (check the plant labels for details).

As your plants grow, remember to water and fertilize them as needed.

Keep in mind that certain plants — like tomatoes — need specific fertilizers, Weisenhorn says. Read the label and follow the directions for use.

Oh, and don’t forget to enjoy your spoils!

Want more expert nutrition tips and advice? Head over to BODNutrition.com to learn how Beachbody nutrition programs and products can help you lead a healthier lifestyle.

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Starting a vegetable garden sounds like a fine idea, right? Who doesn’t enjoy the taste of veggies fresh from the garden and, of course, they are always so beautiful to look at too. However, there are a few things to consider before you simply throw seeds out into the backyard. Here are a few tips to keep in mind before getting into your garden groove.

Determine What You Want To Plant

Some vegetable plants are more labor-intensive than others and some need to be planted at different times of the year than others, especially if you live in an area that receives snowfall. Do your homework and make sure that you are ready to care for the plants you are going to plant in your new vegetable garden.

Search For The Light

You’ll need to observe a few cycles of the sun throughout the day in your yard. Plants require specific exposure to sunlight. Some plants need plenty of sunlight, some do better when there is more shade. For instance, tomatoes require a lot of sunlight so you’ll need an open yard with plenty of exposure to the sun if you want to grow them.

Prepping The Yard

To prepare the area of the yard where you want to grow, you’ll need to remove the sod from the top. If you are starting late in the year, you’ll want to simply cut the sod away with a shovel. In the future, however, you’ll want to smother the grass with newspaper (a layer of about 5-sheets) and lay compost upon that. This will provide what you need to begin your vegetable garden.

Paying For Supplies

To take care of the vegetable garden, you will need to purchase various supplies, all of which depend on what you are actually growing. To save yourself from having to reach into your savings account, you might want to take out a small personal loan from a private lender. Don’t worry, searching has no impact on your credit. This will ensure that you have what you need without putting yourself in any sort of financial distress.

Work The Soil

To properly work the soil, you will need a few tools. The most important of these is a shovel and a till. Tilling cultivates the soil so that it is easier to add in extra nutrients. Be careful not to till too much, though, as it can damage worms and other microorganisms which live within the soil.

Get Planting

After the soil is taken care of, it is time to plant the vegetable plants you have chosen. The best thing about planting your own vegetables is that you know exactly what care they received. You will not have to worry about what pesticides or other chemicals were used in the growing process. Remember to water them at their recommended times. A lack of water can definitely kill off the plants that you have worked so hard to keep growing through the summer months. If you do not know the recommended watering times, your local gardening center will be able to tell you.

*collaborative post

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An outdoor area for your cat is a great idea, although it should be a safe and welcoming space. A feline that feels safe in your garden is unlikely to hop over the fence and set off on exploratory adventures. However, you might get a few unexpected visitors of your own should the neighborhood kitties take a fancy to your cat friendly garden.

Kitties that enjoy time outside in a secure environment are fitter, more relaxed, and less bored. They are also less likely to get irritated with other felines in the home and become more independent. Here is how you create a cat friendly garden:

Shelter And Water

Most cats prefer eating indoors, so there is no need to put any food down outside. All it does is attract other cats to your garden, something that your feline might find very threatening. However, keeping a fresh water supply outside is an entirely different matter.

Cats are well-known not to drink enough water to remain hydrated, preferring to consume water as part of their food diet. Therefore, cat owners should check the percentage of water in a feline food brand before choosing it. High water levels and nutrient balance are necessary when buying a good cat food brand supplemented by a nutritious cat multivitamin.

This lack of direct water consumption notwithstanding, ensure that your kitty does have somewhere to enjoy a drink of fresh water outside. While using tap water is fine, consider collecting rainwater for your cat.

A bowl under a gutter downpipe should let a feline slake their thirst. Alternatively, leave a bowl out in the rain to collect water. Check that the cat has outdoor water, especially during a dry spell when rainwater sources are not available. To avoid having multiple cats squabbling over one water bowl, place more than one in the garden.

Provide your cat with some shelter from the sun and rain in the garden setting. Cats love hiding under shrubs and lying in the sand when it is very hot cools them down. Your kitty might prefer a wooden box to spend some nap time in. A quick look online will reveal a plethora purpose-built cat houses that might be the best option for your feline.

Outdoor Kitty Litter

Cats are creatures of habit and tend to complete their potty routine in a fixed area. For those feline lovers who would prefer not to have a cat litter box in their home, ensuring the cat has a space to use outside is essential.

Unlike dogs, cats do not respond well to obedience training and are more likely to rely on instinct than their canine counterparts. Therefore, identifying an outdoor latrine area for your kitty might not come down to what suits you. When planning a cat-friendly garden, remember that your feline will select this area.

However, all is not lost, as you can set up an area in the garden where you would like your cat to do its business and make it as attractive to them as possible. Start by ensuring that the designated area will provide your feline with some privacy as toilet time makes cats feel vulnerable. Plant a few shrubs around an area containing sand, loose soil, or woodchips. A picky kitty might be fussy about the surface, so some experimentation might become necessary. Start with loose soil and substitute it for other materials if your cat does not take to it.

Once your feline settles on its preferred latrine location, keep it clean by picking up poop frequently and disposing of it. If you do not, your cat will find a new potty area. This could go on until you have very little garden left at all.

Safety And Entertainment

Cats are hunters by nature and love stalking prey, such as birds and mice. When they catch these creatures, kitties are well-known for bringing them indoors and presenting them as ‘gifts’ for their owners. If you would prefer that the garden does not become a killing field, focus your cat’s hunting endeavors on outdoor toys.

Cats need a place to scratch as it keeps their claws clean and sharp. Most feline owners would prefer that their kitties did not do this on their furniture, and an outdoor area could save everyone some frustration. Many cat houses have built-in scratch areas for their feline occupants’ convenience.

As a safe space, a cat friendly garden should not contain plants like lilies, tulip bulbs, rhododendrons, oleander, and castor beans as they are harmful to felines. Since cats feel that a garden and everything in it belongs to them, they are likely to bite or eat some of its plants. Getting their teeth into the wrong plant could make your kitty ill. Instead of taking this risk, consider cat grass, catmint, catnip, honeysuckle, and valerian. Not only are they safe, but they can leave your kitty feeling super-relaxed after eating them.

*collaborative post

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