Category Archives: Gardening

What Is Regenerative Gardening And How Does It Work 

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biodiverse regenerative garden

Last year, I decided to try my hand at regenerative gardening. I had read about the benefits of this type of gardening and was curious to see if it would make a difference in my garden. Regenerative gardening is a type of sustainable gardening that focuses on rebuilding soils and restoring ecosystems. It involves using techniques such as composting, mulching, and cover crops to improve the health of the soil. I was surprised at how quickly I saw results. My plants were healthier and more productive, and I noticed an increase in biodiversity in my garden. I also found that I didn’t need to use as many pesticides or herbicides. Overall, I was very pleased with the results of regenerative gardening and would recommend it to anyone interested in sustainable gardening.

Why Should You Consider Using Regenerative Gardening In Your Own Garden

There are many benefits to using regenerative gardening methods in your own garden.

  • First, these methods can help to reduce your reliance on external inputs such as fertilizer and irrigation water.
  • Second, they can help to improve the health of your soil, leading to healthier plants.
  • Third, regenerative gardening practices can help to create a more diverse and resilient ecosystem in your garden, making it better able to withstand environmental stresses.

How To Get Started With Regenerative Gardening

Making your garden more sustainable doesn’t have to be difficult. There are a number of easy things you can do to reduce your impact on the environment.

Access The Soil

The first step is to assess your soil. This will give you an idea of what amendments you may need to add to improve drainage, aeration, and nutrient levels.

Consider Your Climate

It’s also important to consider the climate in your area and choose plants that are well-suited to the conditions.

Use Compost

Next, you’ll want to start using compost in your garden. Compost is rich in nutrients and helps to improve the structure of the soil. You can make your own compost by collecting kitchen scraps and leaves, or you can purchase it from a garden center.

Compost from Food Scraps

Mulch Your Garden Beds

Consider mulching your garden beds. Mulch helps to protect the soil from erosion and helps to retain moisture. It also provides a valuable food source for insects and other creatures that help to break down organic matter.

Try Companion Planting

Companion planting is a method of growing plants next to each other that benefits both species. For example, beans provide nitrogen to help feed other plants, while pest-repelling plants can help protect vulnerable crops.

Tips For Making Your Garden More Sustainable

When it comes to gardens, sustainability is important. A sustainable garden is one that uses resources in an efficient way and doesn’t damage the environment. There are a number of ways you can make your garden more sustainable. Here are some tips:

Use Native Plants

Native plants are those that naturally occur in your area. They’re adapted to the local climate and don’t require a lot of water or other resources to thrive. Using native plants in your garden can help reduce your impact on the environment.

Use Organic Methods

Another way to make your garden more sustainable is to use organic methods. This means avoiding the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Instead, opt for natural alternatives like compost or mulch. Not only are organic methods better for the environment, but they can also be better for your plants.

Reduce Your Lawn Size

Lawns are notoriously wasteful when it comes to water and other resources. If you want to make your garden more sustainable, consider reducing the size of your lawn or even eliminating it entirely. You can replace it with drought-tolerant plants or create a more natural landscape with native vegetation.

Collect Rainwater

Rainwater is an excellent source of water for your garden. Instead of letting it run off, collect it in a rain barrel or other container and use it to water your plants. This will save you money on your water bill and help reduce strain on local water supplies.

Collecting Water in a Rain Barrel

By following these tips, you can make your garden more sustainable and help protect the environment.

The practice of regenerative gardening has been gaining popularity in recent years as more and more gardeners become interested in sustainable gardening practices. Regenerative gardening is based on the principles of regeneration, which is the process of renewing and revitalizing something. In the context of gardening, this means creating a garden that is self-sustaining and capable of regenerating itself.

Gardening Gone Wild

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Bird overlooking Wildflowers

What is Rewilding?

Rewilding is a technique that people adopt to restore their garden or lawn to being as close as possible to the way nature would have it. Rewilding entails tending your garden in such a way that it can support both animal and insect life. It may include relinquishing much of the customary gardening management and refraining from harming the soil. This rewilding of your garden can be seen as a way to re-introducing the ecology of an area.

The techniques of rewilding can be used in any garden or lawn, and there are many benefits from rewilding them such as: re-establishing natural ecosystems; providing sustainable landscapes capable of adapting to climate change; supporting native biodiversity; reducing run-off and soil erosion; increasing carbon storage and filtering pollutants out of water.

Rewilding may include re-fertilizing depleted soils, managing for effects such as pest control and erosion reduction, and reforesting areas where trees have been removed.

Rewilding a garden may also improve the aesthetics of your space while also allowing you to feel more connected to the natural world.

A Natural Ecosystem

Rewilding your garden should be seen as re-introducing the ecology of where your garden is situated. You can rewild by planting native flowers and vegetables that are not only attractive to animals but also beneficial for them to eat. By doing this, you will be providing food sources for animals, such as birds and bees, while protecting your plants at the same time.

Wild Flowers

Native plants provide shelter for winged creatures, like butterflies and moths, who fly around fertilizing other flowers along with their host plant; this activity provides nectar for honeybees, which benefits both bee and man alike. Wildflowers and organic vegetables provide food for many different types of birds and insects.

Rewilding The Soil

It is important to rewild your soil in order to rewild your garden. You will want to add organic compost, such as rotted leaves and grass clippings, or animal manure, into the soil. These will add valuable nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium which plants need in order to survive.

Rewilding gardens re-introduces healthy bacteria back into the soil while protecting it from future damage like erosion or runoff (like what happens when you water a garden with fertilizer). It values biodiversity and natural processes. While rewilding gardens re-introduces a healthy community, rewilding the soil re-introduces a healthy ecosystem.

No More Chemicals

In order to rewild one’s garden, you must abandon use of pesticides or chemicals that would eventually poison the soil after extended use. Any fertilizer falls into this category. This is due to the fact that, although insecticides kill pests, they may also kill beneficial insects. It is important to replace these chemicals with other options in order for rewilding to work successfully.

Kitten in Rewilded Garden

Chemical-free gardens are safer for pets

You will also want to avoid using any weed killers and instead let the weeds grow alongside your plants as they would naturally. Many weeds, such as dandelions, are actually beneficial, assisting to protect the soil from erosion while also aiding in the retention of water in the earth.

Natural Control of Pests

While it was historically typical to think of insects in a garden as the kind of nuisance you wanted to get rid of as quickly as possible, research has shown that insects are frequently more useful to plants than they are harmful.

Even so-called pests may be useful to a garden’s natural equilibrium. Some  pests can be kept under control by rewilding without the need for pesticides. Other insects or animals may take advantage of the pest’s presence as a food source. Nature, when left to its own resources, has a tendency to restore it’s own equilibrium.

Another strategy for ensuring success when rewilding a garden is to include insect habitats. As an added benefit of creating an environment for helpful insects, they will automatically take care of the insects that might otherwise destroy your plants. Fallen logs, branches, or a wood stack may be used to provide shelters for these insects, many of which can be beneficial to your garden.

Reintegrating Wildlife

By rewilding your garden, you are re-establishing a healthy community by reintegrating animals back into their environment where they belong. This will allow them to find shelter and food sources, while also giving them a way to better adapt to climate change. Rewilding reintegrates these animals into the area as a part of a healthy ecosystem.

Squirrel Wildlife

In addition to this rewilding benefit, reintegrating wildlife could be useful environmentally since it may help minimize problems caused by invasive species that damage ecosystems by competing with native flora and fauna for resources. In other words, animals that naturally used to occupy an area might prove helpful in rewilding your garden by simply re-establishing the communities that once were there.

The Birds and the Bees

Allowing bumblebees to re-hatch and re-establish the bee population in your garden could be essential to rewilding, as bees are responsible for dispersing seeds and nectar, which helps maintain a healthy diversity of plants. Without these little creatures doing their part, many plant species would die off because they may not have been able to reproduce.

A Bee on a Dandelion

Rewilding also entails keeping an eye out for the food requirements of any birds that could come to visit or create a nest in your garden.

A bird bath filled with fresh water is a great way to attract birds.

Bird in Bird Bath

Bird feeders, which you can fill with bird seed, may be used to care for your feathered friends, but you can also utilize food that you consume yourself to feed them. These include goods such as apples or raisins, among other things. You may use the seeds from pumpkins or squash. Keep in mind, if the food has been produced organically, birds are likely to consume it. Aside from that, the birds will also consume hazardous insects, which may cause damage to a garden.

As rewilding takes place, it starts to re-enact the environmental changes that would have occurred if humans were not around. You may even notice bees or butterflies coming up from areas where they have not been seen in many years because rewilding has helped to bring back their habitat.

Rewilding Takes Time

Rewilding is generally not something that can be done overnight. One has to have the commitment necessary in order to rewild their garden. Rewilding requires hard work and patience because it will take time for plants and animals to fully re-establish themselves into your soil.

The Rewilded Garden

Rewilding your garden includes removing all chemicals, naturalizing plants so they do not require chemicals or fertilizer, creating an environment for insects, wildlife, and birds, and re-introducing native plants. Rewilding re-introduces important genes into the ecosystem, re-introduces natural control processes, re-introduces habitat for animals, re-introduces food sources for animals, and re-enacts the changes that would have occurred if humans were not around.

This rewilding of your garden can come with many benefits that go beyond what you initially expect; rewilding offers an opportunity for people to connect more with nature, reducing stress levels and increasing overall happiness levels, along with many others which are hard to predict.

Rewilding your garden does require some up front effort but gives back so much more than expected in the long run!

Rewilding the Garden

Image source and for more on rewilding, visit GardeningEtc.com

What is Water Gardening?

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Water gardening is the cultivation of water plants in a garden environment. It can also be referred to as aquatic gardening or fish pond gardening. Regardless of what it is called, these water gardens are very popular among gardeners and homeowners. They offer a serene snapshot of nature that can help to beautify a yard or add life to an otherwise bland landscape.

Aquatic Water Garden

An aquatic garden has several design options that will depend on the owner’s wants and needs. Some people prefer natural-looking water gardens, while others like the more artistic looks of a Japanese-styled water garden or an Italian-inspired design. Whether it is for relaxation or recreation, there is something for everyone when it comes to building the perfect water garden.

Water gardens are usually placed near a house or patio where they can be enjoyed and admired on a daily basis by the homeowner. This is not a common garden type, but it offers its own charm and beauty to those who take the time to build one.

Aquatic Plants in Garden Ponds

The main feature of a water garden pond is the plants and adding them can be accomplished by several methods: you can either plant them yourself, have an aquatic nursery plant them for you, or buy “potted” aquatic plants that are ready to put into the water. If you’re going to plant your own, most aquatic plants don’t need soil and will grow fine in the water itself.

Trees are also a good idea if you want shade for fish or just simply want trees in or around your pond. Trees may be either partially or completely underneath the water, although this requires more maintenance since when you have a majority of the tree under water, you’re going to want to clean it frequently since debris and leaves will build up and can cause an oxygen shortage.

If you don’t like the idea of trees in your pond, there’s also aquatic plants that grow on top of the water or don’t necessarily need soil, such as atlantica and lotus flowers. Each type of aquatic plant also has its own maintenance procedure if you want them to grow and multiply, so be sure to do some research before purchasing any plants for your water garden.

The most common variety of plants used in these sorts of gardens are various types of flowers. Water lilies are perhaps the number one choice.

Aquascape.com gives us a list of 10 popular water gardening plants, along with an image of each plant:

  • Creeping Jenny Pond Plants
  • Pickerel Pond Plants
  • Horsetail Pond Plants
  • Taro Pond Plants
  • Cardinal Flower
  • Water Lettuce
  • Mosaic Plant
  • Blue Iris

Of course, there are many other plants suitable for a water garden, but these are some of the more popular ones.

Creating a Water Garden Pond

Pond construction is largely dependent upon the type of pond you’re creating. If you want to create a small garden pond in your front yard or a bigger one, such as what some people prefer for their backyard, it’s all about building up an area where water can sit and be contained.

The materials that are used for constructing this area are designed to be strong enough to both hold water and keep it from escaping, as well as to provide a stable space for aquatic plants. Materials like acrylic, pea stone or coral rock can all serve this purpose.

Where to Put Your Water Garden

Where you put your water garden will also contribute to the look of it, as well as how easy it is to care for. These gardens are best-kept in areas with lots of direct sunlight and room for aquatic plants to grow. Water should be able to freely flow through the pond, but there should be enough depth so that fish (if you are adding them) can swim through.

Ideally, a water garden should be placed in such a way that the main part of it doesn’t get buried by leaves or other debris carried over by wind and rain, so if it’s near a patio or the house, it can reduce maintenance needs greatly.

A Patio Water Garden

If you prefer something on a smaller scale, consider a patio water garden. Adding aquatic plants to your patio or deck can make for great living areas as well as adding aesthetic value. To make a patio water garden, start with a waterproof container. A couple of options would be to purchase a plastic tub meant specifically for water gardens or lining an ordinary whiskey barrel with plastic.

You can grow several water plants in a tub of water on your deck, and you can even add fish or a fountain for decoration. Even in 20 to 30 gallons of water, miniature water lilies, lotuses, and many other aquatic plants thrive. For the best growing conditions, place your container in a location that receives at least five to six hours of direct sunlight each day. If you live in a hot climate, container gardens do better with afternoon shade.

Adding Fish to Your Water Garden

If you plan on including fish in your garden pond, then some specialized knowledge is necessary so that the ecosystem you create is balanced and the fish can live in harmony with each other. Fish such as koi are an example of what you could have in your garden pond, but it’s important to not get too many fish if you’re new to this – you don’t want to end up with a dead fish disaster!

The main thing is just to provide oxygen and food, as well as ensure that there are places to hide and swim in both shallow water and deeper water.

The fish species that would be ideal to have in a garden pond are one of the several popular Koi, such as goldfish or koi. The general rule is you can’t keep more than two or three fish per surface foot of water, so this is something to keep in mind if you want to have fish.

One thing that should also be kept in mind is not all koi can adapt to a backyard pond, so it’s best to do some research before going out and buying any fish. What you take into account when choosing your fish for the pond are:

  • Shape of body – Deep-bodied fish are more likely to not jump out of your pond, while long and skinny fish can jump out easily.
  • Size – It’s easier to care for the fish if they’re small enough to be able to eat food from the bottom of the pond and won’t cause damage. Koi should be at least two inches before introducing them to your pond.
  • Pond temperature – Fish can survive in ponds that range from 40-95 degrees Fahrenheit, but it’s better if the correct temperature is maintained. Temperatures between 60-70 degrees are ideal for koi and goldfish.
  • Intended effect – Aquatic plants often do better with small fish as opposed to large fish, but it all depends on the species.
  • Considerations – It’s best to have a space of at least four feet for your fish, as well as a place where they can hide and escape predators. Also consider whether you want to use your pond more for fishing or aquatic plants, since koi won’t eat floating plants in the pond, but goldfish or other fish may.

Koi Fish Swimming in Water Garden

Implementing a garden pond doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive; just use common sense and there won’t be any problems.

Watering Seeds From The Bottom

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This is a great idea for starting seeds as the moisture comes from the bottom, thus eliminating the fungus that kills many seedlings when you water from the top. Easy to make, just cut the top off a two liter bottle, and add water to the lower part. Cut a hole in the lid, and insert a plastic straw. Fill the top portion with potting soil and add your seeds.

Watering Bottle

Here’s another way to use a plastic bottle for watering.

Coleus and Flower Border

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I really like this idea of creating a colorful flower border along the hedges.

Colorful Flower Border

Like in this picture, I would start with tall, vibrant coleus at the back, with its striking leaves in shades of purple, red, and green. In front of the coleus, I’d plant a row of slightly shorter flowers, like zinnias, in a mix of bright yellows, oranges, and pinks. Moving forward, I’d add a layer of shorter cosmos, with their delicate, daisy-like blooms in shades of white, pink, and magenta. Finally, along the front edge of the border, I’d include a row of low-growing marigolds, with their cheerful, golden-yellow flowers.

This progressively shorter design would create a stunning visual effect, drawing the eye from the tall, eye-catching coleus at the back to the charming, compact marigolds at the front. The vibrant mix of colors and varied heights would add depth, texture, and interest to the flower border, making it a true showstopper.

Organize Your Garden Shed

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I woke up one beautiful spring morning and glanced out the window at my garden shed as I sipped my first cup of coffee. I realized it had become a cluttered mess over the winter. My gardening tools were scattered everywhere, and I could barely find what I needed when I wanted to start my spring planting.

Wood Pallet Organizer

I decided to create an organized and efficient space where I could easily access my tools and supplies, and make my gardening more enjoyable and stress-free. Plus, with a tidy shed, I’d have more time to focus on creating the beautiful garden of my dreams.

I looked online for some inspiration, and that’s when I found this article on thegardeningglove.com. It has lots of great ideas for ways to organize a garden shed, along with helpful tips and creative storage solutions.

The Garden Glove Shed Ideas

So I sorted through my tools, donated things I no longer need, and invested in some inexpensive storage solutions like pegboards and a couple of wooden pallets. I even added a few personal touches, like some cheerful wall art. I especially like using the wood pallets to organize. I hung two of them in my shed.

My once chaotic shed is now a well-organized and inviting space that made me excited to start my spring gardening projects. The time and effort I put into organizing my shed has definitely paid off in the long run, making my gardening more efficient and enjoyable.

Winterthur’s Enchanted Forest, Delaware

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The Enchanted Woods of Delaware is an magical place, it is like being in a fairy-tale garden.

Mushroom House

If you like fairy gardens, you’ll love this place. It looks exactly as if it was made by fairies. It includes a three-acre tree farm with several places to play, including a fairy-themed cottage, an acorn tea room, and a giant bird nest.

The Bird's Nest

The Bird’s Nest

Enchanted Woods promotes imaginative play and creativity among children and their families.

Maypole

 

Images: WinterThur.org

Using Fireplace Ashes In The Garden

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Using fireplace ashes in the garden is one way to recycle a natural resource and get some perks at the same time. Mixed into potting soil or spread on the surface of beds, ash supplies four important nutrients for plants: potassium, nitrogen, phosphorous and calcium. Ash benefits don’t end there though; it also adds grit and helps balance the pH level.

Fireplace Ash

Potassium is important for overall plant health, especially during growth spurts. Nitrogen encourages lush foliage and deep roots. Phosphorous promotes fruit production and flower bud development. Calcium helps with cell strength and transmission of nutrients through the circulatory system. Ash also increases soil alkalinity to help balance acidic soil conditions.

Bucket of Wood Ashes

Image Source: Gardener’s Path

There are many more uses for fireplace ashes than I ever knew.

  1. Compost bin – only a little amongst the organic matter.
  2. A light layer around plants can keep slugs away.
  3. A tablespoon of ash to 1000 gallons of water for a pond will keep algae down.
  4. As a fertilizer.
  5. Cleaning silver.

Butterfly Garden

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Butterflies are beautiful, flitting around among all the other lovely flowers you’ve planted, so it makes sense to want to attract them. Some people just like butterflies, and that’s reason enough to plant a butterfly garden.

Butterfly

Butterfly gardens are also popular because it’s fun to watch butterflies, and kids love them. And who doesn’t enjoy the sight of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly?

So if you’re setting out to create a butterfly garden, you’ll want some nectar plants that will keep your adult butterflies fed and happy. A butterfly garden can also provide larval food plants for butterflies when they hatch from their eggs.

Butterflies are attracted to plants that have certain colors, such as red or purple flowers, or large leaves with nectar inside of them. Some things people can do in order attract butterflies in their garden is by having a solitary flower bed so you can get a good view of them fluttering their wings when they land on the flowers, planting some trees and shrubs for butterflies to have shelter, having an artificial structure with water, and by planting certain types of flowers. Artificial structures such as birdbaths and ponds also provide valuable water sources for thirsty butterflies while also attracting them with its up-close views while feeding.

Butterflies

Planting plants that are attractive to butterflies is the easiest way to attract them. Some of these plants include: Bee Balm, Basil, Bergamot, Butterfly Bush (Buddleia), Catmint, Cosmos, Gloriosa Daisy (Gloriosa superba), Marigolds (Tagetes spp.), Nasturtiums, Red-Hot Poker, Rosemary, Salvia, Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum), Stonecrop (Sedum).