Savvy Gardening

Aphids on tomato plants? 5 Effective natural solutions

Finding aphids on any plants—and especially aphids on tomato plants—is a sure way to make a gardener groan. It’s almost a wonder we can harvest any tomatoes at all considering all the challenges that come with growing them. Too hot and they lose their blossoms, too damp and they get fungal infections, and of course, we have to deal with the insects with sights on the plants and fruits. This includes aphids. Aphids on tomato plants don’t mean the end of your harvest, however. These insects are actually less detrimental to your tomato yield than their scary-looking clusters may give on. In this article, you’ll read all about aphids and how they feed, how to prevent an aphid infestation, and what to do when aphids do arrive. And you’ll get expert tips for growing aphid-resistant tomato plants.

How a soil knife can replace multiple garden tools

Written by Tara Nolan

Besides my trusty bucket, the tool I take with me into the garden pretty much every single time I’m outside puttering is my soil knife. I don’t really think there is any other gardening tool that is quite as versatile. In my garden, it often replaces my trowel, taking over the duties of this common gardening tool because it offers even more functionality. In this article I’ll share how a soil knife helps me in my garden.

How to make a DIY self-watering planter

Written by Jessica Walliser

For gardeners who want extremely low maintenance, a self-watering planter is the best way to grow. These containers provide water to plants from a reservoir beneath the soil, ensuring plants always have the perfect amount of moisture, and maintaining them requires nothing more than an occasional refill of their reservoir. But commercial brands of self-watering containers are expensive. That’s where making your own DIY self-watering planter comes into play. In this article, I share step-by-step plans for the DIY self-watering planter I’ve been making and using for years. It’s a game changer for container gardening!
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Plants for bees: Four seasons of choices for a pollinator garden

Written by Tara Nolan

Decreasing amounts of natural habitat, greater exposure to pesticides, and a dearth of nectar and pollen sources have put a dent in our pollinator population numbers. By establishing a thoughtful mix of annual and perennial plants for bees in our gardens, we can make sure that honeybees, moths, bumblebees, and other valuable pollinators have access to the nectar and pollen they need nearly every month of the year. I love seeing the bees at work in my gardens, from the first ones I spot on my winter aconite in late February or early March, to the last ones foraging for pollen in late fall.
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When to plant canna bulbs in gardens and containers

Written by Jessica Walliser

If you’re planning to plant canna lilies in your garden beds or containers, you first need to know when to plant canna bulbs. These beauties will bloom regularly throughout the summer with the right care, which begins at planting time. Unless you live in a tropical location, you’ll have to dig up each bulb—technically a rhizome—at the end of the growing season and replant them in the spring. Because canna rhizomes spread, you’ll be able to divide them before replanting and have even more bulbs to plant or to share. In this article, I’ll cover information about canna lilies in general, where and when to plant canna bulbs, how to plant them, and a little bit about general canna lily care.
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The best potting soil for vegetables

Written by Jessica Walliser

Whether you plan to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, or cabbage in containers, it’s important to choose the best potting soil for vegetables prior to planting. As a former organic market farmer, I’ve grown just about every veggie under the sun in pots over the years, and I can assure you that using the right potting soil for vegetables makes a huge difference in plant health and yields. In this article, you’ll learn what to look for in packaged potting mixes, how to improve them, and I’ll even share my own recipe for a great DIY potting soil for vegetables.
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