Eco Friendly Gardening Tips

10 YOU CAN HELP |SAVE THE PLANET WHILE CARING FOR YOUR GARDEN This Earth Day, everyone should remember the three "Rs": REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE. Each of us can do more for our big blue planet. Together we can make a big impact. It's time to join forces and use our everyday small actions as the engines of positive environmental changes. Collecting Rainwater as a Drought Solution Having a rain barrel will protect your garden from flooding, keep your plants happy and thriving, and bring down your water bill, without you feeling guilty about adding to the drought dilemma. Install a screen on top of the barrel to keep pests and dirt out. It's a Bug's Life Some insects are helpful in gardening matters. For instance, ladybugs and lacewing flies like two things: bright flowers such as sunflowers and marigold; and eating aphids that destroy other plants. If you want to invite some friendly bugs over to lend a helping hand (or mandible), start planting some colorful blooms today. "Irish Spring" for the Shower & Garden "Irish Spring" bars of soap may be the cure for unwanted furry friends who visit your sprouting perennials. Just grate a bar of the soap and sprinkle around your plants. They are cheaper and smell better than most deterrents sold at garden centers. Cornmeal.Not Just for Baking Sprinkle corn meal gluten to stop weed seeds from germinating and growing into plants. Corn gluten meal will keep any seed from germinating; don't use it in the veggie garden. A pinch of salt at the base of a weed will also kill weeds naturally. Petroleum Jelly as Pest Control Slugs and snails can wreak havoc on green, growing things. Spreading some petroleum jelly on the edge of pots and planters can discourage them from making a salad bar out of your garden. Plastic Bottles or Milk Jugs Can Protect Plants Seedlings are fragile in the early stages and need protection from harsh elements (such as late frosts). Simply cut off the empty base and place the top over your seedling patches to serve as shields. Remove them once the threat of frost or hail passes so they can get full sunlight and water. Sustainable and Long-Term Mulching Rubber mulch has become a sustainable way to recycle unwanted rubber tires! Mulching protects plants from pests and weeds, provides moisture and nourishment, and cuts down the time and energy needed for upkeep and maintenance. Epsom Salts for Sore Muscles and More Use them as fertilizer to produce greener plants, more flowers, and higher yields. Epsom Salts also amend any lack of magnesium in the soil. Walking on Eggshells Can Be a Good Thing Chicken eggshells are about 96% calcium carbonate. They are a great way to add calcium to your compost (fantastic for peppers or tomatoes). Also, sprinkle lightly crushed eggshells around the plants: their sharp edges deter the pests (such Don't Toss Out Used Coffee Grounds Dig or till them to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. They make good soil amendments, as they provide phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and copper and release nitrogen into the soil as they degrade. Help for Your Hydrangeas Sprinkle coffee grounds and tea bags for mulch around the base of hydrangeas plants. The grounds change the PH of the soil and make pink hydrangeas blue. as slugs or snails) APRIL 22 EARTH DAY Contact: Toll free: (888) 492-7529 RubberMulch.com Email: [email protected] Pioneers of Rubber Mulch y f in 8. EASY WAYS