One of the things many people do when they move to a more rural location is start a garden. While there is much to know about gardens, it is best to start small. Take the time to continue to research as you go, and expand your plot. Depending on your climate and topography, your garden can produce an abundance of produce. Many consider buying a greenhouse and setting up a hydroponic system as well. To enrich the soil, you may want to consider composting as well. Composting is easy to do and will make a big difference in your garden. Even if you don’t intend to live off-the-grid completely, you will enjoy many benefits from gardening.
Gardens and Orchards
Whether you are interested in fruits, vegetables, herbs or an orchard, you can make it work. You and your family will eat healthier, spend more time outdoors, and literally enjoy the fruits of your labor. You will continue to learn new things and skills through trial and error. Having a steady food supply helps in self-sustainability and also provides a sense of comfort for those interested in prepping.
Flowers and other plants are beautiful too. Along with food production, beautiful scenery is an important part of rural living as well.
Make your garden look beautiful and the beauty of your garden is reflection of how a healthy garden is also tidy and polished.
This means that it is essential to ensure that your garden looks clean.
A polished garden also increases the value of your property.
In case your garden is not as clean as you would want it to look, here are 10 ways to make your garden look polished.
Define Garden border
The first step towards having a tidy garden is ensuring that the garden is separated from the rest of the back yard.
In order to do this, you don’t need complicated fencing.
You could just use flowers and smart placement of rocks to define the border of your garden.
A garden with a clearly defined border looks neat and polished.
Therefore, to have a beautiful looking garden, you should consider creating defined borders.
It is also important to note that you should have a clear vision of how the garden will look like.
Build Raised Garden Bed
Get the right Sunlight
You need to ensure that your garden is shining.
In order to have a beautiful garden, you should ensure that the sunlight is particularly emphasized on the features of the garden.
During the day, natural light should easily reach all parts of the garden.
You should also install lights to have a manicured look at night for your garden.
You should place the lighting at strategic places that will ensure that the highlight features are seen even at night.
Plant a variety of plants
A polished and neat garden is definitely the one that is full of life.
You should plant various types of plants with consideration of the color rule.
You should try to balance the colors of the plants especially the flowers that are in your garden for it to look beautiful.
Rake off fallen leaves
With plants on your garden, leaves and twigs will start falling all over the place. In order to maintain a neat looking garden, you should consider regular raking to remove the dry fallen leaves.
Furthermore, it is important to remove the leaves so as to control the spread of pests and diseases in the garden.
A clean and neat garden is that which has been raked to remove dead leaves and twigs.
Ensure to weed the garden
Weeds will always grow on any soil that has been maintained.
The weeds growing in your garden will make the garden look shrubby and untidy.
Furthermore, the weeds will take all the nutrients and compete with the crops and flowers grown there.
To deal with this problem, you need to undertake regular weeding.
You can regularly pull out weeds as they sprout from the ground.
In case the problem is persistent, then you can take further action of using chemicals such as roundup.
Deal with pests
As you deal with the weeds it is also important to deal with pests.
Pests are known to destroy vegetation and plant parts on any garden making it look bad.
Furthermore, pests also propagate the spread of diseases which makes the garden look more of a zombie land with dead plants.
You should use pesticides and other organic means to deal with pests in your garden if you want to have a polished garden.
Trim and prune the plants
You need to tend your lawn around the garden for it to look tidy.
There are several ways to tend to your lawn including trimming twigs and pruning where possible.
Finally, if you want to add that top-notch beautiful look to your garden, you should consider creating a walkway on the garden to allow movement without damaging the plants.
Ways to Make Your Garden Look Beautiful
Cleanliness is next to godliness, and a beautiful garden is a heavenly embassy on earth.
In short, keep your garden tidy and beautiful by using the above-mentioned tips.
This will ensure that you have a garden that is healthy and everyone admires its beauty.
Building a raised garden bed cheaply will give you more gardening opportunities and options. They are a great addition because they provide alternatives to in-ground gardening.
Garden beds can be any size and are ideal for areas with small spaces such as balconies or a rooftop. They also help gardeners grow in areas with poor soil.
Also, building a raised garden bed doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. It can be an inexpensive and somewhat simple process if you have or can borrow the tools.
Using reclaimed wood makes it inexpensive as well. You can even use cinder blocks to build a garden bed.
I wanted to share my husband’s experience building a DIY raised garden bed.
How to build a raised garden bed cheaply
Before you buy materials, it’s important to consider a few things.
Determining the location
If you have a backyard or some land, you will have more options than someone with a small space. Some things to consider are:
Level ground / flat surface
Sun direction
Water source
In the northern hemisphere, most gardeners suggest a south-facing garden. However, it’s important to consider your climate and what you will be growing.
In our situation, living in the desert in the southwestern United States, we situated ours so it won’t be in full summer sun.
You will also want to consider taller plants that may block sun from shorter/smaller ones.
Also consider how far away the water source will be. Will you have the ability to run a hose to a farther area on your property? Will you want to walk far with a watering can each time you water the garden?
In our situation, we located ours within 20 feet of our water cistern. We have a 2,600 gallon rainwater harvesting tank. Locating the raised garden bed near the water makes it convenient for us to use it.
In time, we will add a drip irrigation system to the garden bed, making it even more convenient.
How deep should a raised garden bed be?
At a minimum, your garden bed should be six inches deep.
Having 12″ of soil will be better to encourage healthy roots. Keep this in mind if you want to grow potatoes, carrots and other underground produce.
Before building, think about what you want to grow. Learn about those plants and the ideal depth for them.
The best height for a raised garden bed will depend on your access to good quality dirt and costs you may need to incur to fill the garden bed.
Tools for DIY raised garden bed
Think about what tools you have and what you might be able to borrow.
building raised garden bed
If you plan to build additional garden beds or work on other woodworking projects, you may want to buy your own saws. For the garden bed, he used a 12 inch sliding miter saw.
My husband looked on Craigslist for tools. He ended up buying several tools from one owner at an estate sale. Look online before you buy new tools. Also consider if you can go to someone’s garage to cut the wood, etc.
For this DIY raised garden bed, he used these tools:
Circular saw
Miter saw
Drill
Additional tools he used to build the garden bed were:
Wood screws and deck screws
Speed square
Eye protection, ear protection
Work gloves
Tape measure
Wood glue
Pencil
Staple gun to secure the liner
DIY raised garden bed plans
It’s important to know that with any DIY garden bed plans, you can make changes to fit your needs and the materials you have.
For example, my husband had leftover deck screws so he used them as well as the wood screws. He didn’t have nails but he could have used those instead of, or in addition to, the screws.
Remember, this is a flexible and forgiving project. It doesn’t have to be perfect!
Build Raised Garden Bed
How to build a raised garden bed cheaply
Look for materials you already have. You can build a raised garden bed from cinder blocks. You can build a raised garden bed with bricks.
My husband wanted to build a garden bed from wood with 2×6’s from another project.
In addition, he had a pile of reclaimed wood from our neighbor’s old porch he helped tear down.
If you can repurpose materials, that will make it inexpensive as well as eco-friendly.
As stated above, use whatever appropriate tools, nails, screws, and wood you already have to make a garden bed cheaply.
Using old wood to build a raised garden bed cheaply
If you are able to use pieces of wood from an old project, that’s great.
We had some leftover wood from other projects. In addition, my husband took some wood from our neighbor’s old porch they tore down.
He mostly used 2×6’s to build the garden bed.
Be sure to use untreated wood for the garden. If you do have painted or treated wood, be sure it’s facing out and not in contact with the soil.
If the pieces are treated on both sides, you can always sand it down with an orbital sander.
Determining the length and width of your garden bed
Put your 2×6 boards into two piles. Group them together by longest / tallest and shortest.
Garden bed length
Of the longer boards, take the shortest piece of wood and use it to determine the length of your raised garden bed.
Garden bed width
Of the shorter boards, do the same to determine the width.
Some additional things to consider when choosing the width:
Wide enough for two rows of planting
He wanted it at least 30″ in width to enable us to have two rows for planting.
Consider your back; bending and reaching
In addition, he didn’t want it to be too wide. He wanted us to be able to reach all the way inside the garden bed without having to bend over too far.
How high off the ground should the garden bed be?
He raised the garden bed 22″ from the ground.
Living the the southwestern part of the United States, we have lots of critters, including rattlesnakes, javelina, pack rats, etc. We wanted the height to deter as much wildlife as possible, though we are always careful.
In addition, he built a 2×6 ledge all the way around so it functions as a bench.
He thought we could sit on it, put tools on it, and sit on it in nature with a cup of tea.
Building Garden Bed
It will also work well when we harvest fruits and vegetables. We will be able to set them on the ledge.
What kind of wood should be used for raised beds?
For the sides, he used 2×6’s.
The big posts are 4×6 posts which were reclaimed and repurposed from the neighbor’s porch. He used wood screws as well as wood glue to attach the posts to give them extra support.
What type of wood you use to build the garden bed depends on a few things:
What you already have
Availability in your area
The cost
Climate where you live
The 2×6 wood pieces he had were pine and douglas fir. Our climate is dry, and rotting isn’t as much of an issue as it is in other climates.
Had he been able to access cedar or redwood planks, he would have loved them but they aren’t economical or readily available where we live.
wood for garden bed
So consider where you are and what type of wood is inexpensive and accessible.
Remember, you can build a garden bed cheaply.
Ask around if anyone has leftover wood.
Oftentimes, your neighbors may appreciate help tearing down fencing, a barn, etc. These would be good types of wood to build a garden bed with.
If you live in a damp climate, you may consider using cinder blocks for a garden bed. Then it just becomes a matter of stacking the blocks.
Using a garden bed liner
He lined the inside with a garden bed liner from the hardware store. He stapled it in the floor and sides.
Using a liner will help keep the soil moist. We live in the desert and while we will be using a drip irrigation system from our rainwater cistern, our summers get really hot.
Advantages to using a liner in your garden bed
Keep to control pests
Consider what you have growing in your area. A liner may help deter moles, pack rats, gophers, and other critters in your area.
Poor soil
We have poor quality, desert soil. There will be no benefit to using the soil beneath our raised bed.
Minimize weeds from growing
A garden liner acts as weed barrier cloth and will reduce the number of weeds that can grow.
Reduce soil loss
Helps retain moisture
What to put at the bottom of raised garden bed
It’s important to consider drainage; don’t just start filling the bottom with dirt.
Some considerations are where you live and what’s available easily and inexpensively.
filling raised garden bed with organic soil
You can line the bottom with rocks. This will help provide good drainage.
What do you fill a raised garden bed with?
Something practical and inexpensive my husband did was to use old branches from our property. He also cut down some dead branches from our mesquite and palo verde trees.
By using branches and pieces of decaying wood from your yard and/or from a wood pile, you can enrich the soil as well as be eco-friendly.
fill a raised garden bed with dead branches
He filled the bottom half of the garden bed with branches.& He remembered his grandparents doing this. As the wood decays, it releases nitrogen in the soil.
In addition, it takes up space so you don’t have to spend money on additional topsoil. It also aids with drainage.
After adding the branches, he filled it 3/4 of the way with clean fill dirt.
Next, he filled the remaining 1/4 of the garden bed with good quality garden topsoil made specifically for gardening but without additional fertilizers.
Are you starting from seed or with garden-ready starts
How much will you have to water
Do you want flowers or fruits and vegetables
Also consider if children will be helping you plant and garden. Getting some sunflower seeds and other easy-to-grow seeds and plants will make it more fun for them. (It’s also nice for the adults to have some gardening success!)
Be sure to check out your local library to see if they have a seed library.
We were able to get free seed packets from our library.
Building a raised garden bed
Small raised garden boxes next to compost pile
Putting the garden bed in the right spot
We mentioned this above but the garden bed location is essential.
Consider where the sun is.
Also, consider what might block the sun.
We purposely planned for the garden bed to be under the canopy of a mesquite tree. In the non-summer months, it will get direct sunlight.
This is ideal for our climate because the branches will keep it shaded in the summer months and will allow sun to stream through in the winter months.
Also, locating it in this spot, his thought was that while working in the garden, it will keep the direct sun off of us. It will be more enjoyable to work in it.
Advantages of a garden bed
Garden beds can be eco-friendly if you use reclaimed wood. Growing your own fruits and vegetables contribute to an environmentally friendly lifestyle.
In addition, if you are able to harvest rainwater, all the better.
Building raised garden bed
Inexpensive DIY raised garden bed
Raised garden beds provide alternatives to in-ground gardening. They can vary in size.
You can make garden beds from materials you have such as wood, bricks, or cinder blocks. This means you can build a raised garden bed cheaply.
Know that you will derive a lot of benefits from building a simple raised bed garden.
Not only are they functional and utilitarian, they can be decorative too. They can add beauty to your yard.
In addition, they are highly beneficial in areas in which the ground soil is naturally poor. A garden bed gives you options to bring in your own high quality soil. You can further enrich the soil with compost.
Raised garden beds also enable you to control the environment for the particular plants you are growing.
Once you build your first raised garden bed, it will be that much easier to build another one. With just a few simple steps, you can build your own garden bed.
Reduce Irrigation Water Usage – An irrigation system has the potential to bleed water if not carefully managed.
Why is this a problem?
Water is becoming more and more expensive as many areas become increasingly aware of its scarcity.
This is one of the best incentives for any property manager to optimize their irrigation system for lower water usage.
In addition, the environmental benefits of conscientious water usage are being more closely studied.
As a conscientious property manager, you want to put yourself ahead of the curve when it comes to environment-friendly water usage and money-saving irrigation tactics.
Reduce Irrigation Water Usage
Here are a few of the ways that a facility manager can reduce water used for irrigation on their property.
Sprinkler Controllers
The age of the old mechanical timers is gone.
Today, we have smart controllers that come with many advantages, the biggest of which is saving your irrigation system precious water.
This means not only that you’ll be doing the environment a favor but that your investment in a sprinkler controller will easily pay off in a year or two.
These controllers can be adjusted to run on different days, omit others, and water at times conducive to the different plants you have on your property.
Depending on the type of plants and soil that you have on your facility, you can change the parameters of your sprinkler controller to get the most out of the least amount of water possible.
Just remember that you have to do the leg work.
Sprinkler controllers are a huge asset but only if you do the proper research into your property’s plants, soil types, amount of sun exposure, elevation, and how all of this affects the amount of water you should be using and at what time of the day.
Plant Choice
Many facilities that prefer turf or fancy non-native plants are using an excess of water for irrigation that they really don’t need to be.
Many of the plant choices on your facility could be water sponges because they aren’t local to your region’s soil and climate.
By choosing to replace these planted areas with native plants, you could save yourself on the irrigation bill without doing anything to your sprinklers.
Property Management
Your own management is part of the deal when it comes to optimizing your property for water usage.
A sprinkler controller can only do you so much good if one of the heads is broken or not on the proper schedule.
Since you probably time the sprinklers to run after you go home, you may not know you’re losing water efficiency until your bill comes in.
This is why a savvy property manager will take a walk through the system once a week.
Turn it on and make sure everything is working properly and at the designated settings.
Good quality greenhouse equipment — an essential to gardening
Sprinkler Placement
If you manage a facility, you want the plant life to look lively to reflect the management practices of your property.
If you see a dry, brown patch in the turf, your instinct will probably be to increase the time the sprinklers are on or the amount of water they put out.
This is needlessly wasteful since a dry patch is rarely a result of too little water but more likely due to an ineffective distribution of the sprinkler system itself.
If the sprinkler heads aren’t placed evenly, there will be gaps in the turf that aren’t getting irrigated.
Mapping out your planted area to make sure that the sprinkler system is distributed evenly will ensure that no dry patches crop up within the system.
You may initially think that higher water pressure will increase your sprinkler’s efficiency, but pressure needs to be optimized rather than maximized.
If the pressure is too high, the water drops become thinner and susceptible to being intercepted by the wind.
Depending on the wind in your area, this could mean a good amount of the water you’re paying for being flown off-site by gusts of wind.
Reduce the water pressure to a reasonable level.
This will make your water “heavier” and more likely to fall onto your property where it belongs.
Drip Irrigation
You may not be getting the most efficient water usage out of your old-fashioned sprinkler or surface irrigation system.
Consider switching your facility over to a drip irrigation system, which has been designed to be even more efficient and water conservative.
A drip irrigation system distributes water slowly and directly into the soil with the goal of getting as much water to the roots of your plants while minimizing the amount of evaporation inherent in conventional sprinkler systems.
A network of tubes and valves works to give your property the most efficient water usage possible by attempting to eliminate the wind drift we talked about, evaporation from sun exposure, and excessive runoff.
Best Rainwater Harvesting System for Your Homestead
The Takeaway
Depending on the size of your property or facility, the irrigation system is probably a huge money sink for you.
When looking at your water bill, you may wonder if there’s anything you can do to optimize this system for efficient water usage.
The actions you can take come in two main categories: things you can do and things you can install.
In the first category, a conscientious manager will check their property every week to make sure the sprinklers are working, use the best practices for pressure regulation, and shift over to native plants with less extravagant water requirements.
In the second category, a sprinkler controller that does the work for you can be a huge benefit to a conventional irrigation system.
A new drip irrigation system could be even more effective at conserving water than your own efforts have been.
Regardless, the outcome of employing these practices will be more water conserved for your local environment and more money saved for you when it comes to your utility bill each month.
Thus, we’ve researched a few different practical methods on how to keep animals out of garden without fences.
While it may not be impossible to keep them out for good, you can definitely reduce the amount of damage they do.
How to Keep Animals Out of Garden Without Fences
Here are some of the ways you can keep animals out of garden without fences and keep your garden safe from animals:
Determine the Type of Critters
Depending on where you live, there will be different types of animals doing damage to your garden.
Identifying what type of critter can help you successfully manage what kind of methods are needed to prevent them from coming back.
Some common critters that tend to wander into gardens are deer, rabbits, and groundhogs.
Looking for tracks in the soil can help you identify what type of critter goes into your yard.
Deer: Deer tend to leave behind hoof marks and will leave nibble marks on shrubbery.
Rabbits: This animal tends to leave tiny footprints and snip away at small wooded plants.
Groundhog: If you notice burrows, damages to leaves on plants, or pellet droppings, then you may have a groundhog. They typically will make a home near your garden and are quite noticeable once you look for specific markings.
Bird: The last type of animal that you may find ruining your garden is birds. They tend to pick at any crop they can lay their hands on, even when it’s not done growing. Birds aren’t picky eaters, which is why it’s a bit more challenging to get rid of them.
Change the Types of Plants in Your Garden
One method that doesn’t suit everyone but is an alternative is to switch up the types of plants you’re growing.
Plants that are less enticing to animals are less likely to get eaten by them.
Although, when animals are desperate for food, they eat everything.
Plants with pungent smells, prickly textures, or fuzzy exteriors tend to bother animals.
Sprinkle Coffee Grounds Around Plants
If you’re looking for a more natural repellent, coffee grounds tend to ward off critters.
Sprinkle a small amount of coffee grounds around each plant, and it will keep away cats, bugs, and little critters.
The grounds won’t damage any of the plants and will compost over time.
Try Using Repellents
A modern solution is using plant repellents designed to keep animals away.
These are generally inexpensive and can keep specific types of critters from coming into your garden.
There are natural and artificial types of repellants, so you can switch it up if necessary.
Natural repellants include the following:
Castor oil
Garlic clippings
Predator urine
Hot pepper extract
Artificial repellants include:
Ultrasonic sounds
Chemical sprays
Noisemakers
Consider Trapping Techniques
Not everyone agrees with trapping techniques, but they can definitely be useful if other methods haven’t worked.
Not all traps are inhumane and can help deter animals from going near your garden.
It only takes being trapped once or twice before critters change their mind about wandering into your space.
Live traps include steel mesh and spring-loaded doors.
These traps trick wildlife into the materials and then trap them alive.
In some provinces, it can be illegal to use or relocate wildlife, so be sure to check state laws.
Hunting can also be a good alternative to keeping critters out of your garden.
However, we understand that not as many people prefer this method.
Plus, state laws may prohibit you from hunting certain types of animals.
So, we’d only suggest this to gardeners located in legal hunting areas.
Invest in a Guard Pet
Animals tend to be wary of other animals in the area.
Investing your money into a house pet can be an effective method at warding off any critters.
Small critters will easily be scared off by dogs or cats.
That said, you’ll need to avoid getting household pets if you’re facing predator critters like foxes or wolves.
Dogs generally work well for scaring off larger breeds of animals, but can sometimes cause a mess in your garden.
Training your pet to be a guard dog is recommended, or else, you’ll end up with dug up plants.
Cats, on the other hand, make less of a mess but tend to ward off smaller animals.
Their urine gives off a specific smell that can scare away voles, gophers, or rabbits.
The only downside is that they aren’t as effective as dogs and will less likely guard the area.
Use Wire Cloches
If you only have a select few plants that are being disturbed, then switching to wire cloches may be the solution.
These are small wired mesh covers that help protect against animals.
They are very effective at keeping smaller critters away from thriving crops, but they only cover a small area.
They work exceptionally well with rooted plants such as lettuce, broccoli, and small strawberry bushes.
The mesh design comes in numerous sizes, so you can easily find one that works well for your garden.
The only downside is that larger animals may be able to knock over or remove these meshes, as they are lightweight.
Place Alternative Food Sources
A significant reason for animals going after your garden is that they lack food in their natural environment.
When food sources get scarce, they will tend to eat anything they can get their hands on, including plants that they usually wouldn’t consider eating.
Identifying if they’re using your garden as a food source can help you take measures to prevent them from nibbling on crops.
Placing alternative food sources in other areas outside your garden may be able to deter them from eating them. Of course, you’ll have to research the animal’s favorite type of food; otherwise, they will still eat your crops.
Nuts and Seeds: For birds, we recommend placing bird feeders at the end of your property. Smaller critters will also climb up the trees and eat nuts and seeds from the bird feeder.
Food Pellets: For larger animals, we recommend placing herbivore plants or food pellets.
While this can be an excellent method for deterring critters from your garden, it can end up attracting more critters’ attention.
Making the food less readily available is your best option, as an abundance of a food source can cause more critters to rely on the food.
Counting how many critters wander onto your property can help you make a better estimation of how much food to place down.
Install Automatic Sprinklers
If you can’t get critters to stop wandering into your garden, then an excellent way to spook them is to use automatic sprinklers.
Many sprinkler systems are motion-triggered and can easily scare off skittish animals.
While this can be an effective method, wind, leaves, or any moving object can also trigger the sprinklers.
We highly recommend using the sprinkler system only if you have a few critters attacking your crops.
If you install motion-sensitive sprinklers while having a lot of critters, it may cause the plants to become overwatered.
Plus, this is only a practical method if you’re using it against smaller critters.
Larger animals may just ignore the sprinklers and use it as a water source.
If this method fails, you can always use the sprinkler system to water your garden.
Use Noise, Lights, or Motion Activated Traps
If all else fails, then it’s time to invest in unconventional methods.
Sharp noises or music can be an excellent alternative to scaring away critters.
While your neighbors may not appreciate it, you can turn up the volume on the radio or speakers.
Another suitable unconventional method is to invest in motion-activated lights.
Many animals tend to make their move either early in the morning or late at night.
If you can’t play noise or music at those times, then using lights can be useful.
What Garden Plants Need Lime works like magic on many plants by reducing the acidity of the soil, thereby increasing pH levels.
For those of you not familiar with the pH level, it describes how much acid or alkaline is in your soil.
If there’s too much acidity in the soil where you live, along with high levels of other toxic materials such as aluminum, garden plants will struggle to get the nutrients they require to thrive and survive.
With the pH, it’s possible to calculate how much lime is needed to reduce the acidity so your selection of plants will flourish.
Since not all plants require lime, we’ve put together this handy guide to give you an idea of what garden plants need lime and what doesn’t, as well as how to go about the liming process.
What Garden Plants Need Lime and What Doesn’t?
To ensure that you are not doing more harm to your plants than good, you must make sure they really require lime.
Plants That Need Lime
If you’ve decided to grow a vegetable patch, then the kind of plants that will benefit from lime include legumes such as peas and broad beans.
Other popular homegrown vegetables that benefit from lime include onions, garlic, parsnips, asparagus, and English spinach.
Fruit trees, including apple trees, are also far less likely to yield abundant fruits and reach their full potential if the soil is too acidic.
In terms of flowers, you might consider adding lime to decorative and ornamental style gardens populated with variants of gypsophila, delphiniums, and buddleia.
Shrubs that prefer acidic soils are American Holly, sweet bay magnolias, and mountain laurel.
Plants That Do Not Need Lime
You don’t want to discover the hard way that your crops and flower beds aren’t suitable for lime.
Unfortunately, there are several plants that will react badly to lime.
For instance, you should never add lime to sweet potatoes and regular potato crops.
Also, you should not consider adding lime if you are growing capsicums or tomatoes.
Many types of popular berries also prefer a more acidic soil environment to flourish, so they won’t react favorably if you add lime.
Among those, we’re singling out blueberry bushes, strawberries, and raspberries.
The same can also be said for grapes which again, thrive in more acidic conditions.
In terms of flowers that don’t react well to lime, there are plenty so you should most definitely err on the side of caution.
We’re talking about species such as magnolia, azalea, Japanese maples, daphne, and rhododendrons.
What if Your Plant Isn’t on the List?
There are many more than what we’ve mentioned and it’s impossible to provide an exhaustive list so do your research and ask at your local garden center, or you may do the following:
Soil pH Testing
We also always recommend that you first carry out a soil pH test to be confidently assured that lime is necessary.
Also, if you’re planting what are known as perennial plants, such as lawn grasses, shrubs, and trees, then we recommend you to check the level of acidity in your soil.
If it’s too high, then lime should be added.
In terms of the accepted levels to look out for, a pH level of 7.0 is considered neutral.
If your soil has a measurement above 7.0, it denotes it’s alkaline whereas under 7.0 is acid.
If you’re planning to make changes and adjustments to your garden, perhaps by designing a new area to integrate with existing established plants or adding a vegetable plot, always re-test your soil’s pH level.
That way, you will have a better chance of success when it comes to the healthy and abundant growth of any fruit and vegetable crops you plant.
Testing itself can be carried out at any time but if it’s carried out within three months of adding another organic matter such as fertilizer, it could skew your results and be misleading.
Identify the Plant’s Natural Habitat
Another way of determining the soil preference of the plants you’re planning to grow is to reference their natural habitat.
Plants from the Rocky Mountains for example and the high Sierras or other heavy granite-based terrains won’t tolerate lime at all.
On the other hand, plants from the western plains are far more lime-tolerant.
These days, a lime deficiency is considered to be one of the principal factors contributing to poor growth, particularly in easter gardens.
One of the challenges is that lime lovers divide flower families so again, please do your research if you want your garden to flourish.
The Lime Application Process
Now, if your plants require lime, here are the things that you should be familiar with:
Considerations
To go about the lime application process, here are the things to keep in mind:
When to Apply
It’s standard procedure for best gardening practices to add lime during the winter months, especially for your annual crops.
Lime should be added just prior to digging the soil so that the lime can bed down and take effect over the harsh winter months and not cause any damage to young, winter vegetables.
Effectivity
Do note that lime can take years to have any effect, especially if it’s just applied to the surface around already established plants and shrubs in your garden, so you should be regularly tilling and sowing the soil.
Frequency
It’s important to note that lime is not a fertilizer and shouldn’t be used as such.
Its principal purpose is to raise the pH level of your soil. That’s why it enables some plants to positively thrive and flourish whereas, for others, it makes them desperately unhappy!
We all want a garden full of happy plants at the end of the day, don’t we?
If you remove the acidity they crave from the soil surrounding them, they’ll struggle to survive.
They definitely won’t be delivering an abundance of beauty which is what you’re striving for.
It shouldn’t be necessary to add lime more frequently than every two years.
Liming Materials
In today’s guide to what garden plants need lime, we thought it would additionally be beneficial to take a look at how to lime and specifically what materials are required.
It’s normally added in the form of a limestone product commonly referred to as “garden lime”.
This contains an ingredient known as calcium carbonate and is recommended because it’s easy to spread and widely available to purchase.
Other options include calcified seaweed and ground chalk.
Ground magnesium limestone, known as “dolomite lime”, which is incredibly rich in both magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate can also be used.
It’s an excellent option if the soil where you live is lacking in magnesium and can provide a much-needed source of plant nutrition.
Hydrated lime, the kind that is typically sold for use by the building trade, is also acceptable to use.
This is a much finer powder. Its benefit is that it works quickly but on the flip side, it can irritate your eyes and cause damage to the skin if not handled correctly.
Method of Application
If you are applying more than 0.5kg per square meter (14 ¾ oz per square yard), we suggest that you dig half of the lime into the soil and sprinkle the rest on the surface after digging.
If you’re applying much less than that amount, the best action is to dig the entire amount in.
It is, however, possible to sprinkle lime on the surface around your plants and flowerbeds if digging isn’t a practical consideration.
Quantity
In terms of the recommended quantities to apply, that’s likely to be determined by the type of soil that you have.
Clay content in soil can resist changes in pH, referred to as buffering capacity.
That means more lime will be required to be effective.
We’ve made some recommendations below of the quantity of garden lime you’d require based on certain soil types and areas.
This is based on using a commonly available calcium carbonate product that you should be able to purchase in any local gardening center.
For the majority of most garden plants, the best all-round pH is considered to be pH6.5, which is what the below calculations should deliver.
Clay Soil
Original pH of Soil
Kilograms per sqm
Ounces per sqyd
6.0
0.6
17 ¾
5.5
1.0
29 ½
5.0
1.4
41 ¾
4.5
1.8
53
Loam Soil
Original pH of Soil
Kilograms per sqm
Ounces per sqyd
6.0
0.5
14 ¾
5.5
0.8
23 ½
5.0
1.2
35 ¼
4.5
1.5
44 ¼
Sandy Soil
Original pH of Soil
Kilograms per sqm
Ounces per sqyd
6.0
0.4
11 ¾
5.5
0.7
20 ½
5.0
1.0
29 ½
4.5
1.3
38 ¼
Cautions and Problems
Please be sure to take good care when handling builders’ lime in particular.
This type of hydrated lime can cause irritation to the skin and eyes so we recommend that you wear safety goggles and protective gloves when handling this substance.
That way, you can protect against any potential adverse reaction.
You may find that your plants suffer from a disease known as clubroot if your soil contains insufficient lime levels.
Other plant nutrient deficiencies can also be as a result of too much acid in your soil or even too alkaline conditions.
What Garden Plants Need Lime
Lime helps reduce the acidic levels in soil, allowing them to thrive better, but you must always check your soil’s pH level whenever you intend planting something new. That way, you can be sure that the environment is appropriate for the specific plants.
Just as the best results are obtained by lime-loving plants when special consideration is given to the soil conditions they’re in, the same is true for acid-loving plants.
It’s a good idea to keep all your acidic-loving plants together in one location so that it’s easier to administer lime without damaging any of your other plants and shrubs that prefer different conditions to thrive.
So wherever practical, try to keep them together in one bed or neighboring beds.
Review of the Best Garden Hose Splitters – Have you ever tried to water your plants only to find that the hose isn’t long enough to cover your whole garden?
This happens frequently, and most people wonder what to do about it or if there is a solution.
A hose splitter is an excellent product because it can help you connect your hoses to each other, making it easier to get to hard-to-reach places.
Since there are hundreds of choices on the market, it can be challenging to find the right product, so we reviewed 5 options to help you choose the best garden hose splitter.
Best Garden Hose Splitter Reviews
You will also find that we included a Garden hose splitter buyer’s guide and FAQs section to help you understand what splitters are and how to choose one.
Twinkle Star LLC is a top-rated seller on a popular third-party e-commerce website.
The company sells products for the kitchen, patio, garden, lawn, and home improvement departments.
It’s not as well known as some of the other brands, but this up-and-coming company has a variety of items designed to make life easier for a busy household.
The company has been in business since 2017.
This two-way splitter from Twinkle Star is a ¾-inch splitter designed for use with all standard faucets and hoses.
It’s made of brass, so it is highly durable and solid.
What’s more, you get three connectors and two valves, so you can hook up hoses to your outside or inside spigot.
The adjustable flow control has large plastic handles, which means it is easy to grip and turn on and off.
The splitter itself can handle water pressures of up to 80 PSI, making it strong enough to handle most home connections.
Twinkle Star Garden Hose Splitter Pros and Cons
We like how easy it is to install this hose splitter; all you have to do is hand-tighten the top connector to the spigot at the base.
You don’t need tools and, in fact, should not use them because they can damage the connector or strip it.
Though the product is made of brass, the metal seems a bit thin.
As such, we do worry that it could start leaking or break completely with time.
However, with normal use, we do not think it is an issue.
Eastrans is a newer company and has only been in operation for a few short years.
Nevertheless, it offers a variety of high-quality products for the home and garden.
You can find hose splitters, hose hangers, PVC tubing, and items for the swimming pool, as well.
Currently, it only sells its products on popular third-party e-commerce websites; it has no website or social media presence at this time.
Those who want an all-brass construction are going to like this Eastrans splitter.
It is completely made of brass, which ensures durability, and it can withstand high water pressure without rusting, breaking, or failing.
It’s quite easy to turn the grip handles on the outlets, and you aren’t going to need pliers or other tools; just use your hand to open or close the spout.
The ball valves are high-quality, as well, so you get a tight seal to prevent dripping and leaks.
What We Like and Don’t Like About the Eastrans Garden Hose Splitter
We like that this product is designed to be used on both indoor and outdoor appliances.
Plus, it has a ¾-inch connector, which means that it is compatible with standard hoses and spigots.
Though the all-brass construction is nice, we did find that it could lead to rust or corrosion with time.
Since water is going to flow through it, it might have been better to use durable plastic on the inside where water might go.
Still, it is a decent design and doesn’t seem to have many issues.
You can also find a three-way splitter, which is highly popular because you get one extra port for another hose.
Though the two- and three-way splitters are the most common, you can also find multi-channel options with four-way splitters.
Just remember that if you buy one of these, you are going to need excellent water pressure so that the third and fourth hoses have a steady water stream, as well.
Splitter Material
Most manufacturers use plastic with some metal parts.
Generally, modern plastic is quite sturdy and durable, and you also have the benefit of it not corroding like traditional metal.
There are also metal splitters, which can be better if you are going to use them as stationary objects without having to remove the hoses or unscrew the splitter.
Metal splitters do have one significant issue; attaching a hose to it is ultimately going to result in the hose leaking because the splitter is going to corrode with all that water running through it.
As such, brass is likely going to be the best choice for metal.
A word of caution here, though, is that if you do purchase a metal splitter of good quality, you should remove the hose from it after each use to help prevent rust formation.
Remember, a metal hose splitter is going to be more durable and last longer than plastic.
Price and Warranty
The price you pay is an important factor when looking for the best hose splitter.
It is a good idea to compare the prices between two or three top products, but you must ensure that you’re comparing them correctly.
For example, a plastic splitter is going to be less expensive and less reliable, while metal is going to be slightly more costly and more durable.
Of course, you have to consider your budget, but most splitters, even expensive ones, are only less than $30.
You should also consider the product’s warranty and whether or not it comes from the manufacturer itself or a reliable seller.
Most products come with a one-year warranty, but it is possible to find two- or three-year guarantees, as well.
Some manufacturers even offer a lifetime warranty, but that is mostly for products made of brass or other metals.
Often, the warranty for a hose splitter involves replacing the product or refunding your money.
Garden Hose Splitter FAQs
1. How does a hose splitter work?
A hose splitter works by attaching to your hose spigot.
This is often located somewhere on the house, where water can run through it.
It has an on and off valve, similar to that of your kitchen sink, which turns in one direction or the other.
Once it is connected to the house spigot, you can then connect the hoses to it.
To do this, you are going to take two hoses and connect them to the splitter; then, you just open the spigot.
You can control the water’s flow with the shutoff valves located on the splitter.
Usually, they are designed to be flip switches.
2. Can you hook up a washing machine to a garden hose?
Yes, you can hook your washing machine up to your garden hose.
You may need to do this if you don’t have a washer hookup inside the house, or you don’t have the proper hose for the washing machine.
Regardless, the steps are easy, and you aren’t likely to need many parts to do it.
Usually, the couplings used on your washing machine hose are the same as those on the garden hose.
This means that the threads needed to attach the hose to the washing machine are the same for both products.
The first step is to wrap some plumber’s tape around the male end threads of your garden hose.
Then, you are going to insert that end into the cold-water inlet connector of your washing machine.
You’re going to have to hold the hose in place while twisting the coupler connection clockwise around the hose.
Do this until it is tight, and then turn another quarter turn for safety to prevent leaking.
Now, you’re going to have to wrap plumber’s tape around the cold-water interior hookup threads of the washing machine or the threads of your exterior water spigot.
Take the female end of your garden hose, and tighten it to the washing machine’s water hookup.
Now, it’s time to wrap some more plumber’s tape around the male end threads of your hot water hose; insert this end into the hot water inlet connection of the washing machine.
Again, twist the coupler’s connection around the hot-water hose while holding the hose in place; make sure it is tight.
You’re also going to wrap some plumber’s tape around the hot water interior hookup threads of your washing machine to the exterior spigot for hot water.
Make sure to tighten the female connection of the hose to the water hookup for your washing machine.
Lastly, open the valve for the cold water and hot water hookups.
3. Can you connect two garden hoses?
Yes, you can connect two different garden hoses, and it isn’t difficult to do.
If both of your hoses have standard fittings already, all you have to do is screw one hose’s male connector to the female connection of the other.
However, it can become more difficult if one or both hoses don’t have the right connections.
When that happens, you need to cut one hose end straight off with a utility knife.
After that, force a barbed rod into your hose until it is flush with your connector.
Take a crimp and fit it around the end of your hose, joining both halves using the provided screws.
Tighten everything to ensure that the connection is leak-proof.
4. What is a female hose connector?
Generally, garden hoses use a male and female thread connection, which is called a hose union.
You can find fittings for 1/2-inch, 3/4-inch, and 5/8-inch hoses.
Usually, in the US, thread sizes are 3/4-inch GH for female ends of the garden hose.
There are two different options to connect here.
Fit the brass female ¾-inch threaded connectors to the hose, which have a bayonet or barbed section to push into the tube.
Of course, you can also screw in a ¾-inch plastic fitting to the tap so that the hose connector can be pushed onto the fitting.
5. Are all hose connectors the same?
Yes and no.
All of the hose connectors are the same size, but they are specified by the internal dimensions of the hose.
Therefore, typical fittings are either 5/8-inch (internal diameter) with an 11.5 thread pitch or ¾ inches in diameter with the same thread pitch.
They are not all the same because they can be made of different materials and may require the use of various fittings or couplings to get them to attach to the splitter.
Best Garden Hose Nozzles – When it comes to watering your garden, washing your car, or doing other outside chores that need water, you need a hose.
Then again, most jobs require a different spray pattern.
For example, washing the car may require you to use a spray pattern with some pressure behind it, while spraying delicate plants means using a fine mist.
To achieve this, you need the best garden hose nozzle possible.
Best Garden Hose Nozzle Reviews
We are going to talk about five products, all of which are designed to make using the hose easier.
INNAV8 LLC has proven its innovative style with its name.
While the company has only been around since 2016, it has taken the online world by storm.
It primarily sells INNAV8 and Pura Vida products.
Since it is such a new company, it only sells on third-party e-commerce websites, with Amazon being the top platform.
This company chooses to sell garden hoses and accessories at this time.
With the INNAV8 Garden Hose Nozzle, you are going to have 10 different spray patterns.
This means that you can use whichever one is best for your watering needs.
There is a high-pressure jet of water that can clean hard surfaces, and you’ve also got a soft shower option to wash your dog, water the garden, and much more.
This product looks a little different than others because it doesn’t have a lever to push; instead, there is a thumb control, which is very easy to use.
This is a no-squeeze version, which makes it ergonomic and doesn’t require a lot of pressure on the button.
You also get easy flow control to help you with your needs.
Simply adjust the dial at the front of the nozzle (where the water comes out) to get the right spray pattern.
The ergonomic handle features a soft rubber grip, so it’s comfortable to hold for long periods.
Plus, your hands won’t slip if they happen to get wet from the spray.
What We Like and Don’t Like About the INNAV8 Heavy Duty Garden Hose Nozzle
We were impressed with the precision thread connection with the rubber gasket included.
This makes it so much easier to connect your nozzle to the hose.
Also, you get a water-tight seal, so the nozzle isn’t going to leak.
There are no spare rubber gaskets or washers that come with the purchase, and the one included can fall out.
While this isn’t a huge concern, it does mean being extra careful when disconnecting the nozzle from the hose.
You may want to do so in good light and on a light-colored surface just in case.
Washing your vehicle or watering your garden can mean that you have to hold the garden hose for a long period.
Many other outside watering chores also take a long time, and for that reason, it’s important that you can easily hold the nozzle.
We also considered the ease of holding it for people without a strong grip.
Particularly, we looked at nozzles that “locked” into place.
This means that the water could continue flowing, even if the nozzle wasn’t being squeezed by a hand.
Of course, every nozzle had a different locking mechanism, so we made sure that our finalists locked into place.
Comfort was also another factor here.
If you’re holding the nozzle for an extended period, you need to be quite comfortable.
The locking mechanism also had to be easy to lock into place and switch between modes.
Functionality
When testing the nozzles, we also considered functionality for each.
In practice, most people purchase garden hose nozzles for various reasons.
There’s no single set of features that work best for each application.
With that said, we looked at specific functions for each nozzle.
The most important ones were locking mechanisms, spray patterns, and ease of use.
Plus, we looked at how far the nozzle could spray using the jet configuration.
Of course, we also have to determine how easy these functions were to use, and if they worked well together.
Longevity
In most cases, garden hose nozzles are generally inexpensive.
Therefore, most people believe they are going to have to replace them each year around spring or summer.
However, the cost of the product should not mean that you have to settle for something that breaks after moderate or light use.
This is a waste of money and time.
Price
Again, many of these nozzles we reviewed are inexpensive.
Price is a concern, but it shouldn’t be the only one.
Plus, you may think it’s a good idea to buy the most expensive one you can afford, but that might not be ideal either.
If you only go by price, you may not get the features you want, or it might be uncomfortable to use for long periods.
Take price into consideration, but don’t use it as the only factor to help you decide.
Garden Hose Nozzle FAQs
1. What is a hose sprayer?
A hose sprayer is an excellent tool to spray water from a garden hose.
In some cases, it can also be attached (in some cases) to liquid gardening products to spray directly from the bottle.
In a sense, the hose sprayer is used to siphon out water from the hose and spray it in the pattern of your choosing.
It makes it much easier to get an even spray or stream when using a hose sprayer rather than using the water directly from the garden hose.
You can find many styles available, such as the pistol grip, fireman, and turret versions.
Pistol Grip
The pistol grip is a nozzle that’s shaped similar to a gun, and it features a trigger or lever to turn on the water and control the rate of flow.
Often, it’s found on the front of your handle so that the fingers can depress it.
Generally, a pistol grip nozzle is made of plastic or aluminum; they have many moving parts, so quality is essential to prevent it from wearing out or breaking too soon.
Turret or Dial
You’ve also got the turret or dial version, which is a type of nozzle that is also often a pistol grip style, but they have one key difference.
You adjust the spray pattern by turning a dial, which is often found on the front of the sprayer.
Often, they’re made of plastic, but you can find some that are made of aluminum.
Still, it’s important to focus on quality to ensure that the product lasts a relatively long time.
Fireman
This version often features high pressure and a lot of water at once.
They’re perfect for washing vehicles but might not be best for tender seedlings and plants.
Generally, they are made of metal with a rubber coating to protect it from getting dropped.
With that said, you can expect that they are often more expensive.
2. How do you use a garden hose nozzle?
The way to use a garden hose nozzle varies, depending on the style.
With the pistol-grip version, you just point the nozzle in whichever direction you want to spray and then pull on the trigger.
It’s easy to turn off the water by releasing the nozzle’s trigger, and you can control the flow rate of the water based on how hard you depress the lever.
If you buy the turret or dial nozzle, the way to use it is similar to that of the pistol grip version.
You can still point and shoot the same way; the only difference is that you control the spray pattern using the dial on the front of the nozzle.
In this style, the flow rate can also be adjusted based on how hard the level is depressed.
Those who want a fireman nozzle are going to find that it works similarly to the others.
You can attach it directly to the garden hose, just like you do the others, but you hold the nozzle in one hand while turning the dial with the other hand.
Generally, there is no “Off” feature to this nozzle; water just continues to flow until you shut off the hose at the source.
3. How do I get the nozzle off my hose?
In most cases, it is best to remove the nozzle from the hose after each use.
In that way, there is less risk of it getting dropped or damaged.
Keep the nozzle in the house or a shed away from direct sunlight and the elements.
To remove the nozzle from the hose, hold the connector for the hose’s end and grip it tightly.
Generally, turning to the left is going to loosen the fitting (righty-tighty, lefty-loosey).
Make sure that you are loosening instead of tightening; else, you could damage the threads that attach the hose to the nozzle.
Often, this is all you have to do, and you probably aren’t going to need tools.
If, for some reason, the nozzle becomes stuck, you may need to use pliers and appropriate force to remove the nozzle.
Just remember that too much force could do damage.
If you can’t get it off otherwise, you may just have to remove it with whatever force possible and purchase a new one.
4. Can you leave the hose on with the nozzle?
Yes, it is possible to leave the hose on with the nozzle attached, but you are going to waste a lot of water by doing this.
Even if you put the nozzle in the “Off” position, the water can still leak out of the nozzle’s head.
It is a safety mechanism so that the hose does not have too much pressure to spring a leak.
Often, though, leaving the hose on is going to cause a leak.
The hose is stretchy and bendable, so it can swell to take on that extra pressure.
However, this is only possible for a short time before it becomes detached from the tap (base at the house), the nozzle breaks off, or the hose springs a leak.
Always remember to remove the nozzle from the hose and turn off the garden hose after each use.
5. How do I keep my hose nozzle from getting stuck?
Often, your hose nozzle is going to get stuck because of corrosion and calcium deposits.
While this is natural, there are ways to prevent it.
The first thing to do is always remember to remove the nozzle from the hose after using it.
You can then let it dry and then store it in the house or shed.
Consider using Vaseline or Automotive Grade Anti-Seize.
Just put a bit on the threads of the hose, and it can keep the nozzle from getting stuck.
For those who water their gardens, this option may add some toxins to the water.
If you worry about this issue, you can always put some Teflon tape to the inside of the hose nozzle to prevent it from getting stuck.
Our Best Garden Hose Nozzles Recommendation
When it comes to buying the best garden hose nozzles, we found that we were quite impressed with the INNAV8 Garden Hose Nozzle.
This product features an ergonomic handle and a button to start the water spray, and we also liked that it has 10 water patterns.
Tacklife manufactures products that help people live a secure and convenient lifestyle.
It offers a variety of items, including automotive, hand, and power tools, as well as home appliances.
You can find these products at select retailers, but the company sells most of its products through its website and from third-party e-commerce sites.
Those who want a hose reel that is mounted on the wall are going to like this product.
It is heavy-duty and looks almost like a large tape measure.
Plus, it is easy to use because you just rewind the hose by tugging to unlatch the drum.
The auto reel features a patented rewind system, which automatically takes over.
There is also a braking mechanism to ensure that the rewind is controlled without adding tangles or kinks to the hose.
This reel also has an automatic lock, so you don’t have to continue holding the hose taut.
You can easily unwind more of the hose by pulling it, making the mechanism unlock so that you can get the length that you need.
It comes with a 72-foot hose, which is quite long and is likely to be ideal for your gardening and watering needs.
What We Like and Don’t Like about the Tacklife Wall-Mounted Hose Reel
We are impressed with the 180-degree pivoting option of this reel.
Even when mounted on the wall, it can move so that you can reach all parts of your garden.
Plus, you can also remove it from the bracket (attached to the wall), allowing you to store the unit during winter or when you don’t need it.
The guide to help retract the hose could get broken over time.
While you can prevent this by retracting it slowly, this does take more time and a bit of effort.
Still, it’s not a deal-breaker, as you should be careful when retracting hoses to ensure that they don’t damage the home or ground by moving too quickly.
Power USA was founded in the early 2000s and has become a revolutionary brand since.
It sells its products at select retailers, but it also sells online on its website.
Still, most of the company’s sales come from third-party e-commerce sites.
The company focuses on garden products, including pressure washers and garden hose reels.
This retractable hose reel features a slow return system, so it doesn’t jump back to the base and cause damage.
You get a ½-inch hose, which is 100 feet long and can support 500 PSI.
This allows you to tackle many projects around the house.
It also has a heavy-duty twist collar and uses brass fittings.
Of course, there is a locking mechanism included, so you don’t have to have a lot of hose pulled out or keep it pulled tautly.
Power Retractable Garden Hose Reel Likes and Dislikes
We are quite impressed with the nozzle protector; it almost looks like a suction cup, and it goes over the hose nozzle.
Because it is made of rubber, the nozzle is protected from getting damaged or broken if it accidentally hits the concrete, ground, or side of the house.
There isn’t much to dislike about this product, but the mounting bar is made of plastic, and we thought it might be better if it had been made of metal.
Plus, the hose can wrinkle somewhat while going back into the reel.
100 feet of hose available
Can remove the reel from the mount for storage
Brass fittings
Smaller hose, less pressure
Reels in quickly, so you must manually slow it down
HOSELINK is a top brand in Australia that was founded in 1998.
Hose connectors often burst because they weren’t made like the brass threaded ones in the US, so HOSELINK chose to create a variation of the traditional design.
Since then, it has been selling its products primarily in Australia, but the company started branching out to other countries.
Now, it sells its products world-wide on third-party e-commerce sites, as well as its own website.
If you’re looking for a garden hose reel that’s retractable and comes with everything you need, this one from HOSELINK is ideal.
It features a flexible reel and hose that can transform your chores and prevent wasted water caused by dripping.
You get the best solution to watering your outdoor spaces because this hose reel is mounted on the wall.
Plus, it uses a spring-loaded hose, which is going to retract automatically when you tug on it a bit.
You are going to get hose fittings that are easy to connect without leaks.
Of course, the locking mechanism stops anywhere, so you only get the length of hose you need for the task.
What We Like and Don’t Like about the HOSELINK Retractable Hose Reel
We like how easy this reel is to install; you get all of the components to mount it to a post or wall, and you just put the whole reel on the bracket and attach it to the tap.
Though it’s a minor concern, we aren’t happy that the reel itself is white.
This is going to attract a lot of dirt and dust.
Still, it’s water-resistant, so you can spray it down with the hose before retracting it all the way.
You can use a single hose reel to clean the car, water the plants, and wash the dog; you just have to make sure that you can carry the hose to the place you’re going to use it.
Therefore, you want something that is portable.
Still, many people prefer to mount it on the wall of the house or garage and just pull the hose out as far as it can go.
Hose Length
The length of the hose must also be considered here.
You’re going to find that there are multiple lengths for various hose reels; make sure you choose one that meets your needs.
It might be a good idea to measure the farthest thing you may water and how far away it is from the water source.
Then, you can easily choose the best length for your hose.
While you could just buy another hose and attach it, your reel may not be big enough to accommodate it.
Therefore, it is best to choose the length of the hose within the reel you buy.
Materials
You may not think much about the materials used to make the hose reel, but they matter.
Durability and longevity depend on how the reel is manufactured.
For example, you can find reels made of die-cast aluminum, polyurethane, rubber, steel, wrought iron, or a mixture of these.
It’s essential that you choose a reel that is weather-resistant or waterproof, isn’t going to rust, doesn’t kink, and isn’t going to break easily.
Plus, you should make sure that the hose itself is included with the package so that you don’t have to buy anything extra.
Durability
You are spending money to have a tool that is going to help you with your gardening and other chores, so you want it to be durable and last a long time.
It might be helpful to consider the warranty; this ensures that you have something that is designed for longevity.
Plus, you can get familiar with the tool and use it often.
Then, you can choose to buy the same product again because it works and you know it is going to last.
Retractable Garden Hose Reel FAQs
1. How do you use a garden hose reel?
If you’ve just bought the reel, you need to put it together and install it wherever it is going to go.
Choosing a wall-mounted version means that it is going to be installed on the wall of your home or garage.
You can also find free-standing ones that can just sit in the corner and be moved as needed.
Make sure that the reel is located near the water supply.
The hose reel you bought should include the tools you need to install the hose onto the reel; this includes the clamp, washers, screws, a spring, and an Allen wrench.
Take your garden hose and feed it through the opening of the reel.
Make sure you have created a large enough loop so that you can attach the hose to the water source to prevent kinks.
Feed the kink-free spring into the hose end that you fed through the reel opening.
Now, you just attach the hose to the water source.
Keeping the loop large and free, start rolling the reel one full turn.
Now, take the hose clamp that came with the kit, place it on the hose that you’re reeling in, and pinch it.
Then, take the screw and insert it into the hose clamp hole and into the reel.
The tricky part is getting the washer and nut through to the other side; all you need to do now is roll the reel until the hose is all the way on it and set the locking mechanism so that it doesn’t unravel.
2. How do you roll a garden hose without a reel?
If you don’t currently have a hose reel, you can still roll the hose so that it doesn’t kink and is ready for use next time.
Hoses that are smaller can be wrapped around the arm.
Do this by holding one end of the hose in the right hand, keeping the hand up about shoulder level with the elbow bent.
With the left hand, wrap the hose down around the elbow and over the shoulder.
Hold that loop in place with the right hand.
Now, continue doing this until the hose is completely wrapped.
To keep it in place, you can zip-tie it, use a piece of string, or something else you have lying around the house.
You can also complete the same process using a ladder or any “frame” that you can wrap the hose around.
3. How does a retractable garden hose reel work?
If you are tired of unkinking the garden hose and recoiling it each time you want to use it, you can use a garden hose reel.
Once you have it mounted, hooked up, and the hose is reeled in, you are ready to begin.
Most reels feature a locking mechanism to prevent it from unraveling your hose before you need it.
Therefore, you should unlock the reel first; gently tug on the hose so that it starts unraveling from the base.
Then, turn on the water source to the appropriate flow rate.
Start walking away from the reel and to the location where you need water, making sure that the hose doesn’t snag in the grass or on debris.
Use the garden hose as you need it, and when you’re finished, walk back to the reel.
It is either going to have a crank, or you just turn the wheel part.
Turn slowly and make sure that the hose comes to you without snagging on anything.
Once the hose is back on the reel, lock it in place, and you are done.
4. Can expandable garden hoses be repaired?
Expandable garden hoses are an excellent addition to your home, but they can get damaged with time.
However, most water hose repair kits aren’t going to work to fix an expandable one because of its nature.
The inner tubing of the hose works like surgical tubes than normal hoses, so you need special items to fix it.
Your expandable hose has two parts: the covering and the tubing.
Since the tubing is soft and expandable, you need to be careful when cutting it.
If the repair has to be done in the connection area, you have to disassemble the end.
Unscrew the parts while holding the tubing to cut the cover.
The leak is going to be in the middle or at the end of the hose, and this determines how you repair it.
Repairing a Leak in the Middle
Once you find the leak, you’re going to need a pair of scissors or a knife and locking pliers.
Lock the pliers onto the hose, but not too tightly; make sure it is a few inches from the leak on either side.
The hose should be unexpanded at this point, so make sure that the pliers have a decent hold on the covering with the tubing inside.
Cut the hose close to the leak and pull back the covering to do an inspection of the tubing.
You’re looking for tiny holes or punctures, which are going to be quite small because the tubing is quite flexible.
To repair it, you’re going to need a ½-inch barbed coupling.
Make sure to lubricate the coupling with soapy water and cut a small piece of tube from the material removed.
This can slide over the inner tubing to protect it from the clamp.
Slide the piece over the tube and then slide the inner tubing over your barbed connector.
Now, slide the smaller piece over the connector.
Since the tubing is firmly over the coupling, you can pull the outer cover back over it, applying a wire clamp to secure the hose.
You are going to have to repeat these steps for the other side of the hose, next to the leak.
Repairing Leaks at the End of the Hose
Make sure you know where the leak is and have locking pliers, a sharp knife, and something to cut the metal crimped at the end of the hose.
Unscrew the hose fitting and collar, sliding it down the hose a bit.
Consider using some folded cardboard over the tubing below the leak, and then clamp the pliers onto the hose.
Cut the metal crimp from the hose fitting, and then cut the tubing a few inches from the leak.
Consider lubricating the hose fitting with some soapy water to help with installation.
Slide the tubing over the barbed end of the hose fitting.
If the hose has more hose pieces over the clamped part, put it on the tube before putting the tubing over the barbed fitting, and then slide over the extra bit.
Now, slide the cover over the tube and secure it with a wire clamp.
Our Recommendation on the Best Retractable Garden Hose Reels
While we liked all of the products we reviewed, we did find one that seemed to have few drawbacks and many perks.
The best retractable garden hose reels, for us, is the Power Retractable garden Hose Reel.
All in all, we were quite impressed with the overall design of this retractable hose reel and the fact that it has a built-in sprayer cover.
Another key element to knowing how often you should water your garden is to know the climate.
Each climate requires a different amount of water due to the weather.
Sunny and dry climates tend to require more water, while ones with frequent rain may only need a bit of water each week.
If you live in an area with lots of sunlight, then you may only need to water your soil once per week.
Any more than that and you may risk overwatering your plants.
When vegetables receive too much water, they will begin to have similar symptoms as when they are wilting.
On the other hand, places that receive less sunlight and tend to rain more will only require watering once every two weeks.
The key to climate-based watering is always to check the soil quality first.
Even if you’re living in a place with plenty of rainfall, it’s a good idea to check the soil’s moisture levels.
Type of Vegetable
Knowing the types of vegetables in your garden can help you understand how much water they need.
The frequency of watering will also change depending on what kind of vegetable you’re growing.
In general, there are a few different factors that you should keep in mind, such as:
Size
It should go without saying, but the size of the plant will influence how often you should water it.
More abundant vegetables will require more water than smaller ones.
Additionally, larger vegetables will need to be watered frequently.
Roots
Vegetables that have root systems will be more efficient at absorbing the surrounding water.
This will require the plants to be watered more frequently.
We always recommend checking the type of plant to ensure you’re giving it enough water.
Some plants even require daily watering.
Potted vs. Outdoor
You may not realize it, but potted plants need to be watered less than outdoors.
The main reason is that any plant placed in a pot without drainage at the bottom will continue to hold onto water.
Water that isn’t absorbed will just sit at the bottom of the container and can cause the plant to become overwatered if continuing to give more water than necessary.
That said, vegetable types play a huge role in how much water is needed.
A root vegetable may need more water during the first few sprouting months, while a fully grown berry bush may only need a bit of water here and there.
It all depends on what type of plant you have.
Doing your research on each vegetable can help ensure that you’re not over or underwatering.
Sunlight
The frequency of sunlight will profoundly impact the amount of water your garden needs.
If you live in a naturally bright climate, you may need to make adjustments to your vegetables.
Creating shade and blocking out some sunlight can help assist with soil quality.
Plants in your garden will start to dry out if they are exposed to too much sunlight.
An excellent method to test the sunlight exposure is to water your plants.
If, by the end of the day, the soil feels dry to the touch, then we recommend adjusting the frequency you water your vegetables.
Remember, sunlight changes depending on the time of year and weather.
While some days it may be very bright and humid, others may be cloudy and dry.
It highly depends on what region you’re living in.
Taking this into account can help save you from accidentally over or underwatering your plants.
Ways to Measure the Amount of Water Used
how often should i water my vegetable garden
Using a pipe probe can help you keep track of how much water you’re providing the plants.
Monitoring the amount of water can help prevent how much water the plant needs.
Some young vegetables may only absorb so much water per day.
Ensuring that they have enough water will help optimize their growing speeds.
Another method to measure water is to water the vegetables via an overhead sprinkler.
Take a bucket or small container and place a few around the garden.
Water your plants as usual and, by the end of the day, measure the remaining moisture.
Placing multiple containers helps give you a more accurate reading.
Plus you’ll want to measure the water by either gallons or inches.
When the containers reach one inch, that means one inch of water has been applied to the garden.
Whenever people hear about using diatomaceous earth, they’re always unsure what to do.
It’s a gardening secret that is often used as a last resort and is extremely useful.
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a smooth powder broken down from bone that helps keep bugs and small critters away from your garden.
As useful as it is, there are precautions when using it and an effective way of applying it.
As such, today, we’ll help you learn about a few features of DE and how it can assist with your garden crops.
We also have some tips on how to use diatomaceous earth in the garden.
What Is Diatomaceous Earth?
The best way we can describe what diatomaceous earth is by breaking down what it’s made out of.
Diatomaceous earth, otherwise known as DE, is a rock fossilized with skeletal remains of small single-celled aquatic organisms.
It’s known in the scientific world as the Kieselgur or Kieselguhr.
The organism that they use is called a diatom.
Diatoms secrete a natural substance, which makes up for 26% of the earth’s crust by weight.
It’s a naturally occurring substance that repels bugs and deters animals from eating it.
You can easily ground down this soft rock into a fine powder.
Silica, a naturally occurring substance, makes up the remnants of the rock diatoms.
It is a mixture of water, oxygen, and remains of fossils.
As a food additive, it can help prevent bugs from crawling into the boxes in factories or on the store shelf.
It’s not harmful to eat or digest for humans due to our unique digestive system.
However, smaller bugs and critters can’t break it down, and their insides will get microtears in them while eating it.
While it may seem harmless to the touch, the powder still has small bones that have sharp edges.
When we mean that it’s sharp, we’re not talking about shards of glass.
Instead, the finely ground powder contains small razor-like substances on the microscopic level—these work to tear away at the insides of bug’s exoskeleton and digestive tract.
How Does Diatomaceous Earth Chase Away Pests?
DE works by deterring small bugs and critters from eating crops.
The reason for this is that the DE silica skeletons are incredibly sharp on a microscopic level and, when ingested, can cause damage.
For bugs, it causes rips in their exoskeleton and dries the insect from the inside out.
Thus, working as a natural method as a bug repellant.
On the other hand, it may give larger critters a stomach ache or small tears.
This will easily deter them from coming back again.
While that may be an effective model for keeping them away from your garden, it may be considered animal cruelty.
As such, it is best to check your current standing laws in your state for what you can and can’t do with wildlife.
Additionally, the white residue left behind from DE can be sprinkled all over your yard, although you will need to begin wearing heavy-duty footwear to prevent any tears.
The residue left will automatically cause critters and bugs to go running in the opposite direction because they won’t be able to pinpoint how they got hurt.
DE is a powerful bug repellent that’s both effective and inexpensive.
It works better than leading bug repellents on the market due to its non-toxicity and works on a mechanical level.
On the contrary, other bug repellents rely on their formula to kill insects.
If you spray the formula regularly, bugs can build up a natural resistance to it.
For DE, you don’t have to worry about bugs building resistance to it.
DE works internally to get rid of the bug and doesn’t contain any poisons.
It will effectively kill the bug every time you use it.
How to Use Diatomaceous Earth in the Garden
It may seem straightforward on how to apply DE to your garden.
That said, we see plenty of gardeners make the same mistake, so we will do our best to walk you through the process of how to use diatomaceous earth in the garden step by step:
Take the container of DE and inspect it to ensure it’s sealed all around.
Shake the container roughly to mix the powder well.
Poke holes into the container that makes it look like a makeshift spice shaker.
Sprinkle the DE on top of the plants being eaten by pests and insects.
Only apply to areas of your garden that need it, not everything.
After these steps, you may need to reapply the DE to your garden.
Rainy weather, climate change, and wind may cause some of the DE powder to come off your plants.
Reapplying a small amount can help make sure you prevent critters and bugs from getting to your crops.
DE Using Tips
how to use diatomaceous earth in the garden
how to use diatomaceous earth in the garden
To obtain some DE, you’re going to have to go shopping and look for anything resembling DE food grade.
The food-grade powder is very finely ground and is easier to spread around your garden.
Plus, the small particles will be more accessible for small bugs to eat and digest.
If the particles are too big, they may just skip over the DE and head straight to eating your plant.
Once you’ve found this, it can be used effectively against garden pests.
Here’s a quick breakdown on a few things you should keep in mind while using DE:
1. Clear Out the Area
Once you get home, you have to clear out an area before you put the DE down.
Once the area is clean, begin sprinkling it around the plants you’re trying to prevent damages to.
2. Never Miss a Spot
While placing the DE down, you have to ensure that you don’t miss a spot.
Missing one spot could be big enough for critters to get still in.
3. Dust Leaves if Needed
If the pests are eating your garden, then you can dust a few leaves with DE mixed into them, which causes critters to avoid that area.
Do note, though, that you should avoid mixing DE in with plants, flowers, or leaves.
This can end up damaging your plants and do more harm than good.
4. Wear Protective Gear
Always make sure that you’re wearing safety eye goggles when dealing with DE.
DE can cause some severe damage if it gets into your eye.
If you have a dust mask, it is best to put that on so that you’re overly protected.
5. Use It During Dry Conditions
Only use DE in dry conditions.
If you live in an area that produces a lot of rainfall, then the DE will just get washed away and placed somewhere else.
With their spikiness in nature, this can cause a lot of harm to neighbors and surrounding animals.
6. Avoid Applying During Windy Days
Do not apply DE onto your crops when there is wind.
Even with eye protection, there’s a high risk of it getting into your hair or on your clothing.
This substance may not be fatal, but it can cause some severe damage if you touch your shirt or hair and then rub it into your eye.
Possible Health Effects
Many industries say that using DE is safe, but there are still some warnings that you need to be aware of.
Here’s a quick breakdown on when DE is unsafe:
Eye and Respiratory Irritation
Since DE has small shards, we recommend not breathing it in.
It may be tempting because of the soft like powder form that it comes in, but it’s an abrasive substance that can be detrimental to your health if you misuse it.
Some side effects include irritation of eyes, nose, lungs, and throat.
Can Be Poisonous When Consumed at High Amounts
DE is non-toxic when eaten, which means it won’t cause any poison like symptoms.
It’s used in some of our cereals to help prevent insects from infesting our food sources.
So, it’s safe for consumption but only for low levels.
Skin Irritation
DE may not cut your skin or give you small abrasions, but it will cause your skin to become irritated.
Always be fully clothed when applying the DE powder to your plants.
If you get some on your hands or arms, wash it with water right away.
To avoid this, consider wearing rubber clothes to help prevent it from getting onto your hands.
Drawbacks to Using DE
One of the major drawbacks of using DE is that it can injure bugs that pollinate flowers in your garden.
Bees are often the animals that come and spread their pollen from flower to flower.
They help distribute seeds and give your plants some much-needed nourishment.
The problem with using DE with bees is that the bee will land on your plant and attempt to fertilize using their legs.
Their legs will get tears in them, and eventually, the bee will die.
With bees already going extinct, it’s essential to understand when and where to use DE powder.
What to Do
To help avoid this problem, we’ve talked to a bee expert who recommended a few methods for applying DE powder:
Only apply a small amount of DE powder to the plants getting infected by insects, not your whole garden.
Only apply DE early in the morning or in the late afternoon to prevent bees from stepping in it, as they haven’t made their rounds yet.
Only use DE near the ground to help reduce the areas of DE where the bees are most likely to land.
Do not apply any DE powder onto plants that you believe bees will pollinate.
As you can see, there is less of a risk for humans than there are for animals.
You’ll be able to apply and use DE around your garden safely.
On that note, it should be applied sparingly, as it could cause problems for animals you’re not targeting.
Diatomaceous Earth is a very effective method
Diatomaceous Earth is a very effective method for removing bugs and small critters from your garden.
It should be used sparingly and only on selected plants that are having problems or being eaten by insects. Other types of repellents may work better if your garden has a full infestation.
Professional gardeners tend to recommend DE as a last resort.
It can be extremely effective at doing what it’s designed to do, but we don’t recommend using it every week.
Only use DE when you believe that a plant is struggling to stay alive due to bugs or small critters.
Also, just always wear protective gear when applying DE to your garden.
This includes full body protection to ensure that you’re not getting it on yourself.
If you have any pets or small animals, please keep them away from your garden and consider fencing it off.
This can prevent them from accidentally eating the DE off plants.
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