Tag: Month July Week 1

Naturally Get Rid of Mosquitoes (+ An Easy DIY Mosquito Trap) – Garden Therapy
[ad_1]
One minute you’re enjoying the great outdoors, the next minute you’ve got that irritating buzz in your year and a growing itchy welt. Mosquitoes are annoying pests that affect just about everyone, no matter where you live. Here’s how to keep them away and make a DIY mosquito trap when you’ve just had enough.

Nobody likes a party crasher. Especially one that wants to suck your blood.

A nice evening outside can veryyy quickly get ruined by an onslot of mosquitoes. One moment, you’re enjoying some well-deserved downtime on a lovely summer eve, and the next, you’re running for cover inside.

While mosquitoes may be tiny, they sure know how to ruin the evening. Or time spent in the garden. Or a camping trip. You get the point!

As someone who mosquitoes absolutely love (lucky me), I’ve gotten the system down pat for how to prevent them, keep them away from my skin, and even have a DIY mosquito trap that I utilize when all else fails.

Here’s how to keep those mosquitoes away from your party!

Citronella is famous for being a scent that mosquitoes hate.

7 Ways to Naturally Get Rid of Mosquitoes

Before I get to the DIY mosquito trap, there are many other simple hacks you can use to not only get them to leave you alone but also prevent them from popping up in the first place.

Remove Standing Water

Let’s prevent mosquitoes from bothering you in the first place! Mosquitoes will breed in standing water, and they don’t like to travel far for food. Water that is stagnant for just four days can become a breeding ground.

They can lay eggs in the stagnant water or even a container waiting to be filled up. Once the larvae pupate, you’ll have a hungry mosquito population on your hands.

Birdbaths, ponds, and even a little pocket of rainwater can be the culprit. Remove any standing water, and turn anything that might collect water upside down.

If you have a pond, I suggest adding fish to help eat the larvae or adding a bubbler to prevent mosquito breeding.

Cover your rain barrel to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.

Mosquito Repellent Landscaping

Did you know that what you plant can make a difference when it comes to mosquitoes? Many plants will give off an unpleasant aroma to mosquitoes.

That being said, these plants will typically only release the scents when the leaves are touched and rubbed. Just planting them in your garden won’t help, but every little bit counts right?

Plant these in an entertaining area, making them part of your landscape. Whenever you pass by, touch and rub the leaves to release their oils.

Here are some plants mosquitoes dislike the smell of:

These plants can be beautiful and useful!

Keep Your Area Clean

As I mentioned, mosquitoes will lay eggs in containers and any standing water they can find. Make sure to keep your area tidy to prevent mosquitoes from finding a neat little hideaway to lay eggs in.

Neglected pots, shrubs, and debris can all be a perfect habitat.

If you’re too tired to clean one day, do so the next! But don’t wait too long.

Light Up Citronella Candles

You’ll find citronella candles all over my deck. I even take them camping! They’re super simple to make out of old candle wax, citronella oil, and recycled containers like soup cans.

Citronella is a bit of an acquired scent, even for humans, so making them yourself allows you to add in some additional scents to make it more appealing for our noses while keeping mosquitoes away naturally.

Check out this post to see how I made my own recycled citronella candles.

I make mine in recycled tin cans but also terracotta pots for a more polished look.

Start a Breeze

If I’m outside lounging and the mosquitoes are feasting on me, I like to bring a fan outside. This is especially helpful if you’re entertaining outside. Creating a warm breeze will not only keep everyone cool, but it will blow away united guests like mosquitoes out of the area.

Naturally Protect Your Skin

The last thing you will see me do is cover my skin in commercial bug spray with DEET. I mentioned above that there are many plants and scents that mosquitoes don’t like. Well, you can make your own bug spray using essential oils, which are concentrated versions of these plants.

The plus side? It smells really lovely to us! See how I make my own bug spray here.

This homemade bug spray takes one minute to make.

Welcome the Spiders

It’s time to get over your arachnophobia. While you may not like them, I guarantee that mosquitoes dislike garden spiders more than you. Try your best to leave the spider webs up in the garden and non-intrusive areas, as they will catch the mosquitoes for you.

Every insect is doing their part for the local ecosystem, spiders and mosquitoes included.

How to Make a DIY Mosquito Trap

After you’ve done all these preventative measures to get rid of mosquitoes and keep them away, here’s a simple homemade mosquito trap you can make to keep them away.

Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide (it’s how they find us to bite!). This DIY mosquito trap creates carbon dioxide thanks to the fermentation of the sugar and yeast. As the mosquitoes fly in, they get trapped and die when they fall into the syrup.

Materials
- 1 cup hot water
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 gram yeast
- 2 litre soda bottle
- Box cutter
- Duct tape
Let your yeast water cool before making your trap.

Make It!

Cut the soda bottle in half. Dissolve the brown sugar (yes, it must be brown sugar or some kind of raw, unrefined sugar) in the hot water and then allow it to cool.

Pour the sugar water into the bottom half of the bottle and then add in the yeast (no need to stir). Invert the top of the bottle so that the mouth sits inside the bottom of the bottle (above the syrup).

Tape the two bottle halves together and set it in an area where the mosquitoes breed and feed. Change the syrup every two weeks or whenever it stops bubbling.

This plastic was thin enough to use standard kitchen scissors with.

FAQ About Mosquito Traps

What kind of yeast for mosquito trap?

Use any dry yeast. I use the traditional instant packets.

Do vinegar and baking soda attract mosquitoes?

The reaction between baking soda and vinegar releases CO2, which is the same effect as the sugar and yeast combination. In my experience, the sugar and yeast combination works better, but you can also try this method.

Do mosquito dunks work? (and who should use them?)

Yes! Mosquito dunks (also known as larvicide) utilize naturally occurring bacteria that release a toxin that kills mosquito and fungus gnat larvae. It’s used for standing water that you can’t get rid of, such as rain barrels or pool covers. It works for about 30 days and is supposed to not be toxic to people, pets, and other insects, such as bees.

More Pest Management Hacks
[ad_2]

Stephanie Rose

Source link
July 15, 2024
Lavender + Marshmallow Root Homemade Conditioner for Dry Hair – Garden Therapy
[ad_1]
This sweet-sounding concoction is not a confection; it’s an herbal recipe for soft and shiny hair! Lavender works to strengthen and marshmallow root coats hair while soothing scalp dryness and inflammation. It has a gentle and pleasant aroma that will make this homemade conditioner your new favourite hair care recipe.

Not to brag or anything, but I get a lot of compliments on my hair. I’ve always had long, brown, wavy hair, and it’s gone through a journey, that’s for sure.

I used to rely on commercial shampoo and conditioner. From sulphates to parabens, many people are finding the ingredients used in commercial products to do more harm than good.

When I switched to using my own recipes, I immediately noticed how much healthier my hair was. So now, when people compliment my hair, I say thanks and give them this recipe!

Here’s how you can make your own conditioner and harness the powerful properties of marshmallow root and lavender for your hair.

My collection of homemade conditioner and lotions! I really do rely on them every day.

Before You Begin: Homemade Conditioner and Lotions

Homemade conditioner is easier to make than you might think. When I first started making my own herbal skin and hair care, I was a bit intimidated by making lotions and conditioner. It all seemed to be a bit too complex and I feared that I wouldn’t get the technique quite right.

After taking some beginner, then advanced classes, I realized that it’s not only a pretty simple process once you get the hang of it, but that you can make really high quality products for wayyyyy less money than something similar would cost to buy.

If you are a soap maker, then you know that soap making is expensive. And if you are not a soap maker, you have certainly seen the price tag on a bar of artisanal soap. Quality ingredients come with a price tag, and the labour (and love) involved in making soap is quite involved as well.

But lotions, well, that’s a whole different story. A lotion is mostly water. The little bit of oil, emulsifying wax, and other ingredients you use are so small that they barely add up. And yet the final lotion or conditioner is so rich and luxurious, you would think that so much more went into the recipe than it did.

Buying the initial ingredients might be pricey, but they will last you a while and create many batches of high-quality conditioner.

Conditioner is mostly water; once you have the initial ingredients, it doesn’t cost much to make yourself.

Lavender + Marshmallow Root Homemade Conditioner Recipe

I’m sometimes surprised to hear that not everyone uses conditioner. I would be lost in a rat’s nest of tangles and frizzy hair without it! Hair conditioner has that wonderful nourishing ability to coat each strand of hair so that it can easily be detangled while reducing split ends and nourishing dry hair.

Marshmallow root is a mucilaginous herb that is often used on its own as a natural hair conditioner. In this recipe, I have used prepared marshmallow root tea to replace part of the water in the conditioner.

This recipe is great for dry hair that needs moisture treatment. Use the conditioner for a few weeks, then switch to another recipe (like this rosemary one) when the hair is repaired.

If this is your first time making lotion or conditioner, please first read THIS POST on How to Make Lotion to read about the ingredients, the three phases, and see the step-by-step photos of how it is done.

Marshmallow root forms a protective layer on skin and hair when used.

Equipment

Ingredients

See the recipe card below for complete measurements.

Jump to Recipe

Aqueous Phase Ingredients

Oil Phase Ingredients

Cool Phase Ingredients

Don’t like the smell of lavender? Try a different essential oil instead, such as peppermint or rosemary.

Make it!

The day before, prepare the marshmallow infusion by filling a 250ml / 1 cup mason jar with cut and sifted marshmallow root and filling the rest with lukewarm water. Add a lid and steep overnight. In the morning, strain out the root and use the liquid for lotion.
1. Sterilize all of your equipment and workspace with alcohol.
2. Use a kitchen scale to weigh the oil ingredients in a heatproof container and weigh the water ingredients in another heatproof container.
3. Create a double boiler and heat both the oil ingredients and the water ingredients to 160 degrees F.
4. Keep both the water ingredients and oil ingredients at 160 degrees F for 20 minutes.
5. In a mixing bowl, add the oil ingredients first and then pour in the water ingredients.
6. Use an electric mixer to whip the ingredients in a large bowl.
7. Once the ingredients have reached 80 degrees, you can add the cool phase ingredients.
8. Continue mixing your conditioner until it’s thick and fluffy.
9. Add the conditioner into a sterilized container with a pump. I used this one from Ikea!
Make sure to sterilize the container with alcohol before pouring your conditioner in.

FAQ About Making Homemade Conditioner

How much marshmallow root do I use for this recipe?

I don’t measure the amount of marshmallow root by weight. Instead, I simply use enough to fill a 250 ml Mason jar. For more on how I measure herbs for my recipes, check out this post.

Is this a leave-in conditioner?

No, use this conditioner after washing your hair. Leave it in for 2-3 minutes before rinsing out.

Where can I find these ingredients?

I’ve linked all of the ingredients to Amazon, and they should redirect to your country whenever possible. If you’re still having trouble sourcing these ingredients, you should be able to find them at some refillery stores or at a soap-making supply store in your area. Call and ask!

Try These Lotions, Creams, and Conditioners
Lavender and Marshmallow Root Homemade Conditioner

This herbal recipe is ideal for dry hair, creating soft, shiny, and stronger hair.

Aqueous Phase Ingredients

Make your marshmallow root infusion the day before. Fill a 250 ml Mason jar and all lukewarm water until it reaches the top. Add a lid and let it steep overnight. In the morning, strain out the root and use the liquid for the lotion.

Use alcohol to sterilize your equipment and workspace.

Use a kitchen scale to weigh out all your ingredients. Place oil ingredients in a heatproof container and water ingredients in another heatproof container.

Use a double boiler and heat both your oil and water ingredients to 160 degrees F, keeping both separate.

Keep them at 160 degrees F for 20 minutes.

Add the oil ingredients to a mixing bowl, followed by the water ingredients.

Use an electric mixer and whip the ingredients.

When the ingredients are 80 degrees F, add in the cool phase ingredients.

Whip until it’s thick and fluffy.

Add the conditioner into a sterilized container. Use conditioner within six months.

For more detailed information on the lotion/conditioner making process, please visit this post: https://gardentherapy.ca/natural-lotion-recipe/
[ad_2]

Stephanie Rose

Source link
July 12, 2024
Aphids on the Loose! How to Get Rid of Aphids Naturally – Garden Therapy
[ad_1]
Tiny but ferocious, aphids in the garden can suck precious juices from some of our favourite plants. The good news is they make great food for some good bugs and can easily be controlled! Get rid of aphids from your garden by trying some of these natural methods.

Some pests are more uncommon than others, and when it comes to aphids, they’re just about everywhere!

For the most part, these little buggers aren’t much of a problem, and I usually let mother nature take care of it. But in some cases, aphids take over a plant, and I can see it beginning to do some damage.

I often see aphids in my garden, and I know just how to deal with them. Follow along for all my aphid tips and tricks!

Aphids multiply quickly, as females can produce up to 12 young a day.

Get to Know the Aphid

Before heading into battle, you need to know your enemy! Here’s some back story on how to identify your aphids.

Aphid Appearance

Small little guys, aphids are 4-8 mm in length. They have pear-like bodies that are soft and easily squished. They come in green, black, red, or white.

You may also see a woolly aphid. Though their bodies are green or blue, they appear fuzzy due to a waxy coating on their body. Their appearance almost resembles a tiny fluff of cotton.

Aphids can be either winged or wingless, depending on the type of aphid and the point of their lifecycle.

Aphid Lifecycle

In one year, the aphid goes through many phases of life. Beginning in the spring, a crew of all-females hatch from eggs sitting during the winter. An aphid will live anywhere from 1 to 6 weeks.

All spring and summer aphids produce asexually, meaning they are clones of their mother. This generation is born to live rather than produce eggs. Some will grow wings and leave their host area.

By the time fall rolls around, there will be some male aphids and they will mate. The females lay the eggs for the winter, and then the cycle repeats.

Females can produce up to 12 young a day, resulting in around 80 eggs in their lifetime.

Where do Aphids Come From?

Since they love new growth, aphids are one of the first pests to appear in the season. They live on or nearby plants they like to eat. Coniferous and deciduous trees are some of their favourites.

Aphids may also sneak their way into the garden via nursery plants. Whenever you purchase a new plant, thoroughly inspect it for any unwanted travellers before purchasing.

Aphids primarily feed on new growth.

Identifying Aphid Damage

Chances are you’ve had some aphid trouble in your garden. They love to munch on organic vegetables, sometimes ruining a harvest you’ve spent a summer growing. While I’m a bug lover, I don’t like it when aphids destroy my vegetables. I try to grow more food than I need just so wildlife can enjoy some too. But even I must draw the line sometimes!

Aphids feed on plant sap, especially drawn to any new plant growth though they will feed anywhere. They produce a sticky substance called honeydew as they eat, which can attract other insects, such as ants. Honeydew can also cause fungal growth in a plant.

They arguably cause the most damage to home gardens than any other insect. Feeding in large groups, a severe infestation can quickly cause lots of damage. An infested plant may have stunted growth, a low yield, and can even die.

A damaged plant may have spots, yellow colouring, curling leaves, and may wilt. Galls can also form on the stems and branches of the plant. To spot aphids, look under leaves, on new branch tips, and any new growth. You may also spot their shed skin under the plants, appearing like white flakes.

Root Aphids

Sugarbeet root aphids are a cousin to the common ones found in the garden. However, they stay at or just above the soil line.

This type of aphid can quickly get out of control. They form galls on the plants and are especially drawn to narrowleaf cottonwood trees.

Aphids on Roses

You may have spotted some buggers on your roses. Typically, these are rose or potato aphids. To get them off your roses, try to wash them off with water every day for a few days.

Aphids also like nitrogen, so only use slow-release fertilizer on the rose bush. This way, they won’t have a sudden rush of nitrogen for the pests to feed on.

Aphids on Tomatoes

Potato or green peach aphids can be found on tomato plants. Surprisingly, tomatoes can handle a fair number of pests. But like any plant, a large infestation may affect how many tomatoes the plant produces and can also cause stunting.

Aphids on Milkweed

Because milkweed is the only host plant that monarch caterpillars eat, you want to keep aphids away from the plant. They can take away all the good nutrients, affecting the food source of the caterpillar.

Never use pesticides on milkweed to get rid of aphids. This could seriously harm the caterpillars and therefore, the monarch population.

Most often, the oleander aphid eats milkweed. They are a bright yellow aphid with black legs.

Avoid using pesticides on aphids, as this can affect other beneficial insects in your garden.

How to Get Rid of Aphids Naturally

You may be looking to kill aphids, but I strongly urge against reaching for the harsh pesticides right away. I never kill pests as I believe that every insect belongs for a reason, even the pesky aphids! As a major food source for all kinds of insects, eliminating them can negatively affect the ecosystem of a garden.

That being said, I do like to keep them away from my favourite plants and use all of the methods below to control aphids in my garden.

Can you spot the aphids? The ladybug is on the hunt for its dinner.

Invite Predators

While aphids may not be friendly, there are so many beneficial insects you want to have in your garden. The best way to keep aphids at bay is by inviting their arch-nemesis into the garden…ladybugs! Ladybugs, one of my favourite beneficial bugs, are the most well-known aphid predators.

A gorgeous red with adorable polka dots, you can enjoy their beauty and watch as they munch away on aphids. In fact, a single ladybug can eat up to 5,000 aphids in its lifetime. Now we’re talking! They also enjoy eating mealybugs, mites, scale, and more annoying pests.

Many garden centres will also sell ladybugs, so you can buy some to directly place in the part of your garden undergoing an aphid infestation.

A few other bugs eat aphids. Green lacewing larvae like to chomp on them while they grow into an adult. Hoverfly females also lay eggs in patches of aphids so that their larvae can hatch and eat them. Minute pirate bugs are also known to attack and eat infestations of aphids.

Where there are ladybugs, there are aphids. Keep the ladybugs around!

Pest Repellent Spray

As an organic gardener, I stay away from all kinds of pesticides. While they can be useful at keeping away pests, they also kill all the good guys too. And we certainly don’t want that!

I have plenty of vegetables and plants I would rather not have certain bugs munching on. I make my own pest repellent spray to keep them away from the plants I care the most about. Using ingredients from my garden that pests naturally hate, the spray is simple to make and costs pennies. In fact, many of the commercial products also use some of the same plants in their ingredient list (and a few additives I don’t like).

This natural spray keeps things as close to nature as possible, keeping pests away without disrupting the ecosystem of my garden. For the full recipe and list of herbs to include, read my blog about making natural pest control spray.

Companion Planting

Companion planting has all sorts of amazing benefits, one of them helping to ward off insects. Chemical-free and completely natural, the best part about companion planting is the reason to buy more plants!

Strategically interplant herbs and vegetables that aphids don’t like next to your plants you want to keep them away from. This means tucking a few of the plants listed below between your vegetables and flowers.

Try growing some of these plants for aphid control:
- Alliums (chives and onion)s. They also ward off spider mites and carrot fly. Ladybugs also enjoy them!
- Catnip. Beware, cats do love it, so you may have some feline visitors.
- Cilantro. Another ladybug favourite and aphid deterrent.
- Dill. Ladybugs love this one, too.
- Garlic. A deterrent for all sorts of pests, keep away aphids, spider mites, ants, snails, Japanese beetles, and more.
- Mint. Like many on this list, you can not only enjoy the mint in your vegetable garden but use it to deter pests.
One aphid can quickly become multiple, so keep an eye out!

Attract Aphids

I know what you’re thinking: I’m trying to get rid of aphids. Why on earth would I try and attract them to my garden?

Hear me out! You can strategically attract small infestations of aphids on hardier plants to bring all sorts of good predators to the garden. If I allow them to live in one corner of my garden on some of my established trees, some ladybugs may stop and pay a visit, protecting the whole garden.

Ladybugs lay their eggs in aphid-heavy areas so that when their young hatch, they have a food source. No aphids mean no ladybugs.

Nasturtiums are a trap plant for aphids. They will attract them, encourage ladybugs to stop and pay a visit, and keep them away from my vegetables. In addition to nasturtiums, I also grow Shasta daisies for black aphids and lupines for green aphids.

I purposefully include trap plants to attract aphids and keep them away from my other plants, such as my vegetables.

FAQ About Aphid Control

How harmful are aphids?

It depends on how many aphids there are and at what stage your plant is in. A young plant won’t be able to handle many aphids, and the aphids will affect new growth on the plant, sucking out the sap from it.

An older plant can likely handle more aphids, and I don’t worry if I spot a few. Most established plants can handle aphids just fine. But when there is a full-on infestation, that’s when I step in with these pest control methods.

What causes an infestation of aphids?

An infestation begins when a winged aphid has flown to a plant and deemed it a suitable host for their young. They’ll lay their eggs, and since aphids quickly multiply, you can have quite a swarm in no time.

Aphids are particularly attracted to new growth and are a problem most often in late spring and early summer. To avoid this, consider planting trap plants such as nasturtium, calendula, Shasta daisies, and lupines to attract aphids and keep them away from your other nearby plants.

Does Dawn dish soap kill aphids?

Making soapy water is a common method for getting rid of aphids. It works well on all soft-bodied pests, such as whiteflies and mites, likely because it washes off the protective coating on their body.

My natural pest control spray does contain dish soap, which helps it stick to the aphid’s body.

If I have a severe infestation on a plant I care deeply about, I will go in by hand with a wet, soapy cloth to wipe down the aphids from the stems and leaves.

Which of these aphid control methods will you be trying? Let me know in the comments down below!

More Posts About Pests:
[ad_2]

Stephanie Rose

Source link
July 11, 2024
Burn Herbs In Your Campfire to Repel Mosquitoes Naturally

[ad_1]

Whether you are camping or enjoying a little backyard entertaining around a fire pit, you can easily repel mosquitoes by tossing in a few herb branches. Burning herbs is a natural and safe way to keep mosquitoes from making you their next meal. Read on to find out which fresh plants and herbs repel mosquitoes and how to use them.

Spending time outside is one of my favourite things to do. I can garden practically all day and not be the least bit bothered by insects. Then, the evening comes, and the mosquitoes come out. UGH! My least favourite insect of them all!

Without any mosquito intervention, I become the meal du jour, and my lovely day turns into an evening of waving hands and smacking myself in an erratic and awkward dance to prevent the inevitable itchy welts that are sure to follow.

As I have learned more about plants over the years, one of the things I have discovered is methods for using plants to naturally repel mosquitoes.

This allows me to appreciate the natural benefits of plants while also avoiding the use of potentially damaging chemicals in commercial bug sprays.

Over time, I developed my natural bug spray which is made with essential oils and has worked wonders when it’s mosquito season.

Another method that I use to deter mosquitoes is burning branches of herbs over the fire pit (or campfire). And I’m going to tell you how you can too!

Most herbs will work with this trick, some better than others.

History of Burning Herbs

Indigenous Peoples, healers, herbalists, religious leaders, and the spiritually devoted from all over the world have burned herbs as a part of their religious and cultural traditions for centuries.

Indigenous Peoples sustainably harvest sacred plants native to the land with appreciating and reverence. Drying and bundling them, and burning them in a cleansing practice called smudging. Smudge sticks are used for ceremonial and purification purposes.

These practices are steeped with tradition and deep spiritual meaning. With all that has been taken from Indigenous Peoples, non-native folks need to avoid culturally appropriating these rituals.

Burning herbs has a long and important history for many cultures and religions.

How to Burn Herbs With Appreciation For Other Cultures

In modern herbalism, so much of what we use today is based on the practices of many cultures. There is a deep appreciation for the history of using (and burning) herbs and allowing herbal studies to include both the past and the present.

Burning herbs over a fire for their herbal properties is a respectfully different practice than the use of smudge sticks for ceremonial or religious purposes. Smoke cleansing is the act of burning herbs without the cultural or spiritual, and is an enjoyable way to experience the beneficial herbal properties.

When I burn herbs over a fire to repel mosquitoes, I do so with appreciation and gratitude for both the ancient knowledge of herbs as well as the use of herbal plants (not sacred plants) to safely and effectively keep bugs at bay.

We can use and appreciate the ancient knowledge of herbs passed down.

Which Plants Repel Mosquitoes?

To put it mildly, I hate getting mosquito bites. My immune system reacts very strongly to their saliva, which means I end up with large, itchy, welt bites that bother me for days. I used to use large amounts of bug spray to save myself from mosquito bites, but the spray bothered me, too.

Fortunately, there are natural ways to successfully deter those pesky bugs!

Mosquitoes hate strong-smelling herbs like:

We can use these herbs in several ways to help deliver the one-two punch that will keep pesky bugs away so we can enjoy evenings outside.

A tool for your mosquito-repelling tool belt is to toss a few branches of herbs (fresh or dried) into the fire. Thankfully, what smells heavenly to you will send bugs packing. Let’s dive a little deeper into each herb to find out why.

You can use fresh or dried herbs for this trick.

Lavender

Lavender has a well-known and widely used pleasant scent that, fortunately, people love and mosquitoes hate. Burning lavender is highly effective at repelling flying insects.

Fun fact: you can also rub the plant directly on your skin to release its oils as another way to tackle pest control.

Lavender is best harvested just before the buds open.

Mint

Members of the mint family (peppermint, etc) all have a strong, pleasant smell that flying insects hate. Mint is also extremely prolific, so it’s easy to have a big bundle at the ready when you grow it in containers in your garden.

Pineapple mint.

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is part of the mint family that has pleasant white flowers and a mild lemony fragrance. It works well to keep mosquitoes away.

However, lemon balm’s potential downside is that it grows fast and can quickly take over your garden. To keep it from running wild, it’s best to plant lemon balm in a container or other contained space.

This can be a great way to keep your lemon balm in control.

Sage

Burning sage emits pleasant aromatherapy that makes an evening outside even better. The other benefit is that the same smell deters mosquitoes and other flying pests.

Culinary sage is a perennial, so you can harvest from it every year for this trick.

Citronella

One very well-known and common ingredient in mosquito-repelling candles is citronella. Its strong smell does a great job of masking the very aspects that attract mosquitoes to us. Fortunately for us, citronella is easy to grow.

There are also citronella-scented plants, such as this geranium.

How to Burn Herbs in a Campfire

Burning these herbs is as easy as tossing them right into the fire. Place the herb bundle to the side rather than directly in the center of the fire so it doesn’t burn down too fast.

The smoke will carry the scent, so as long as they’re burning, the mosquitoes should leave you alone. Depending on the size of your fire, you can use a little or large bundle of herbs. Keep a few bundles handy to continually toss into the fire as needed.

Use fresh or dried herbs. Fresh herbs often have a stronger scent than dried.

Of course, just the smoke from the fire helps keep bugs away. But, by adding in some herbs that keep mosquitoes and biting insects away, they help to mask your smell. So, if you’re like me and seem to attract biting insects away from other people, the addition of herbs to your fire could likely be that extra step you need to REALLY keep the bugs away.

I often use dried herbs, as I dry them throughout the season and have them on hand.

How to Repel Mosquitoes Without a Fire

You can still create bug-repelling smoke even if you don’t have a firepit. Making your own citronella candles is easy and inexpensive if you use recycled materials. See how to make these Citronella Candles or these Terracotta Pot Citronella Candles to have throughout your garden.

I hate the smell of citronella in the store-bought candles and find these much more enjoyable.

For an extra line of defence, don’t forget to spritz on this all-natural bug repellent that really works (and I would know because even though I don’t love mosquitoes, they LOVE me)!

This bug spray only takes a few minutes to make.

I’ve also been dabbling and planting a few mosquito-repelling container gardens to have around the areas I tend to frequently be in and I have to say, they have been helping tremendously.

Between burning herb bundles and using these other DIY methods, you can finally (and safely) say “buzz off!” to pesky mosquitoes and get back to enjoying your evening outside.

Try These Other Pest-Repelling Tips

[ad_2]

Stephanie Rose

Source link

July 9, 2024
Sun Safety for Gardeners: How to Stay Safe in the Sun – Garden Therapy
[ad_1]
From avoiding the sun to bug bites, our skincare routine requires a little more effort in the summer to keep our skin happy and healthy. Sun safety is often one of the more overlooked health aspects, but it is super important for people like gardeners who spend lots of their peak sun time outside. Here’s how to stay safe in the sun without cutting back on your gardening time.

As a fair-skinned, freckly gal, I have all the risk factors for skin cancer, including skin cancer, in my immediate family. Sun safety is no joke for me, so I have done quite a bit of research on what works best for my skin and me.

I love to be outside gardening and soaking up vitamin D, but I am always conscious about sun exposure. Yes, I can’t deny that feeling the sun’s rays directly on my skin fills me with joy and literal warmth, but these moments must be quick and measured.

If sun safety has never been much on your mind as a gardener, let this summer be the time to change that. It’s something we all should be talking about more and practicing year-round.

Here’s what I wish all gardeners would know about sun safety.

If you do get a sunburn, aloe vera is one of my favourite ways to treat it and provide relief.

Effects of UV on the Skin

Once we got past rubbing baby oil on our skin into the era of the Coppertone Girl, parents everywhere have been asking their kids, “Are you wearing sunscreen?”

We are all very familiar with the SPF labels on bottles and know that the higher the number, the more sun protection. However, most sunscreens are only protecting against UVB rays and not UVA rays. So, what exactly is the difference between the two?

UVB rays damage the outer layers of the skin, causing sunburns, while UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin, causing aging. Both are causes of skin cancer. Ideally, you want protection from both. While you may be outside and avoiding a sunburn, long sun exposure will put you at risk of UVA rays.

Some commercial sunscreens protect against both and are labelled as broad-spectrum sunscreens, but they still only provide minimal protection against UVA rays. Mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide is often broad-spectrum, sitting atop the skin rather than into the skin.

I have naturally freckly skin with just a few minutes of daily sun exposure.

How to Protect Skin From the Sun Naturally

Many moons ago, I wrote a blog about sunscreen and didn’t end up publishing it because the truth is that I don’t rely much on sunscreen. While it does protect the top layer of skin, it doesn’t do much for the skin underneath. This means there can still be underlying damage.

In fact, a sunburn is a good indicator that you’ve been in the sun for too long and need to step out.

A while back, I had low Vitamin D levels, so I ended up taking a supplement. But after a few months of it disagreeing with my stomach and not making me feel much better, I opted for safe sun exposure instead.

My doctor recommended that I head outside and expose my skin to the sun without sunscreen in the cool weather months and at the cool times of the day.

It really doesn’t get all that warm here in Vancouver so that meant that for June, July, and August, I avoided the sun between 10 am to 3 pm, but that 15-20 minutes of exposure in the morning or evening was just fine.

Before I say more, I should note that I don’t take skin safety lightly, and I don’t think you should either. It’s essential that you also consult with health care professionals about what is best for you and your family.

And just so it’s 100% clear, I do use sunscreen when I can’t avoid sun exposure. But I try to follow the following suggestions first.

Our plants sure do love the sunshine, though!

How to Stay Safe in the Sun

In addition to wearing sunscreen when I’m outside for a long time, there are many ways I keep my skin protected while in the garden.
- Check the UV index. The same way you might check the weather, look at the UV index for the day. Anything 3 or higher is when you need to be extra careful.
- Avoid the highest peaks of the day. Typically, 10-3 is when the sun is at its strongest. Avoid gardening during these times. The UV index will confirm the best times of day to go outside. The safest time to be in the sun is early morning and late afternoon.
- Wear protective clothing. Put on a wide-brimmed hat that will cover your face, ears, scalp, and neck. Wear long sleeves (in a light colour to stay cool) to cover your arms, and don’t forget to protect your eyes with UV-protected sunglasses.
- Invest in UPF clothing. If you find yourself outside for a very long time, I would recommend buying some clothing that is labelled to have a UV protection factor (UPF)
- Work in the shade. Whenever possible, find protection in shady spots. Umbrellas can help with this!
- Wear sunscreen. If exposed to a long period of time, put on some broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
- Keep hydrated. Always drink lots of water when it’s hot out to avoid dehydration and heat stroke.
You’ll always find me outside in my hat and long sleeves.

Take Inspiration From Around the World

Many of our current sun safety practices stem from different cultural practices that have long been in place.

In ancient China, silk parasols were very popular amongst the higher classes to stay protected from the sun. I still see many people practicing this today. In Southeast Asia, people wore and still wear conical leaf hats.

The indigenous people of the Arctic were the first to have “sunglasses” made of leather, bone, or wood to shelter their eyes from snow blindness. Further south, indigenous people used sunflower oil and pine needles as natural sun barriers.

The Mediterranean and most of Latin America participate in siestas, a mid-day nap or rest when the sun is at its peak. During this time, people retreat inside to shelter themselves from the sun.

In my post about SAD, I mentioned that today’s society forces us to live by a certain timeline rather than follow the sun. We’re told that midday is one of our most productive hours, so we need to be out and about getting stuff done. But what if we used this time to be in the shade and rest instead?

Get under that umbrella!

FAQs About Sun Safety

How long does SPF 50 sunscreen last?

The SPF number refers to how well a sunscreen protects against UVB rays (not UVA rays). It tells us how long the UV rays would take to redden our skin compared to if we weren’t wearing sunscreen.

With SPF 50, UV rays would take 50 times longer to burn your skin than if you weren’t wearing any sunscreen. Compared to SPF 30, SPF 50 is about 2% more effective.

How many minutes in the sun is safe?

Between 15-20 minutes of exposure in the morning or evening sun is just fine without protection.

What is the most harmful time to be in the sun?

The peak sun hours are between 10 AM to 3 PM. Check your UV index for peak times, as you would the weather. Anything 3 or higher should require all sun protection measures. The safest time to be in the sun is early morning and late afternoon through to the evening.

In the end, we want to avoid the sun at its peak time when the UV rays are the strongest, wear a hat, enjoy the shade whenever possible, and take steps to wear skin protection. Together, you’re keeping your skin happy and healthy!

More Natural Sun Care Tips
[ad_2]

Stephanie Rose

Source link
April 22, 2024
7 Ways to Reduce Water Usage While Gardening – Garden Therapy
[ad_1]
Have water, will thrive. We must do our part in limiting our water usage when it comes to our backyard plantings. Try these seven ways to reduce water usage through a diverse effort of water catchment systems and clever planting.

In our current environmental crisis, we’re all trying to do a little bit more. From encouraging biodiversity to helping support local wildlife, these are all small switches that hold the power to create big change.

Reducing your city water usage is another step to practicing sustainable, regenerative gardening.

For over 25 years, I’ve lived in Vancouver, British Columbia, known for its gray skies and relentless rainy days. During this time, I’ve witnessed a drastic change in water preserves, with caches not large enough to fulfill the city’s needs through the summer months.

Coupled with the raging wildfires that plague each summer season, doing our part to limit city water usage is more crucial than ever.

Today, I’m sharing 7 ways to reduce water usage with storage hacks that work for any yard or garden of any size.

Hand watering is more mindful than most irrigation systems.

Principles of Efficient Water Use

Before we get started, I thought it might be useful to review the basics of what we’re trying to achieve. I outline these ideas in my book, The Regenerative Garden, as the foundation for efficient water use.
- Step 1: Capture and store rainwater for garden irrigation.
- Step 2: Recycle this water as many times as possible.
- Step 3: Know your local water budget and stay within it. Never use more than your rainfall.
Even places with known rainfall should collect and store rainfall for future use.

7 Ways to Reduce Your City Water Usage

To reduce your city water usage, you’ll need to diversify your efforts. A combination of catching, storing, recycling, and smart planting can help you reduce your city water usage in a major way.

These are a few strategies to get you started.

1. Get Rid of Thirsty Lawns

Lawns use a truly outrageous amount of water. While they have become the norm in most communities, there are plenty of lawn alternatives that use far less water.

If you don’t need your lawn, replace it with a low-maintenance ground covers like micro clover or a native, drought-tolerant grass species. Many seed companies have an eco-lawn alternative that you can try out.

I’m in the midst of revamping the lawn at my new house with a new alternative lawn mix. Check it out below.

2. Plant Native and Drought-Tolerant Plants

Xeriscape principles, or conserving water through landscaping, go beyond the lawn.

The plants you choose to include in your garden can majorly affect your city water usage.

Choose plants that are native to your area, as they can survive on natural rainfall with little to no supplemental watering. Choosing drought-tolerant plants will also help you through the summer months when rainfall lessens.

Sedum and lavender are both great drought-tolerant plants.

3. Capture and Store Rainwater

One of the basic principles of sustainable water use is capturing and storing rainfall for the drier months.

Rain barrels with overflow pipes directly to your garden are an efficient way to capture rainfall. Barrels can be made from plastic, metal, or wood drums—all food-safe materials.

An average rain barrel can hold 50 gallons of rainwater, enough to water 80 square feet of garden.

You can set up drip irrigation directly from your rain barrel for easy watering with low consumption.

4. Redirect Drain spouts

Have plants that love extra water? You can redirect your drain spouts to feed directly into your garden, giving your plants the extra water they crave without digging into the city’s water supply.

Do note that not all roof runoff is recommended for our gardens, depending on the material of the roof. Roofs made from non-porous metal are ideal, while untreated wood shingle roofs are also acceptable.

Avoid roof runoff from asphalt, rubber, and galvanized zinc roofs.

Solid, non-porous roofs work best for water collection.

5. Build a Rain Garden

Designing a rain garden sounds complicated, but it’s surprisingly low-maintenance and simple in concept. These gardens are designed to filter and release stormwater runoff, keeping water to the soil and creeks.

Rain gardens use moisture-loving plants that act as biofilters to purify the water, along with drought-tolerant plants with deep roots.

These gardens range from simplistic to elaborate, redirecting natural water sources through drain spouts, gravel troughs, and an overflow area packed with rocks.

6. Use an Olla Water Catchment System

Self-watering planters are an efficient way to save on city water usage while also saving you time.

Ollas are one of my favourite self-watering systems; they’ve been used for thousands of years to provide slow irrigation and deep root watering.

This ancient watering practice teaches plants to reach down and find this water source, limiting the need for supplemental watering.

You can even attach your ollas to a rain barrel, drawing water when needed.

You can set up a rainwater catchment or greywater recycling system directly toward the ollas.

7. Build a Wicking Bed

Want to take self-watering to the next level? A wicking bed is essentially a giant self-watering container. It may resemble a classic raised bed, but there’s much more below the surface.

These beds have a water reservoir under the soil, dramatically reducing the need for supplemental watering.

The reservoir is made with an impermeable barrier to hold water, gravel to store the water, and drainage pipes for water flow; it can be filled manually, by rainfall, or through overflow spouts.

Through the hottest summer months, your wicking bed will only need a weekly top-up, with less manual care through the rest of the year.

Use recycled materials to build your wicking bed.

FAQ About Reducing City Water Usage

Have more questions about reducing your city water usage? These are the questions I get the most. If I don’t answer your question here, please leave it for me in the comments below.

How can I reduce my city water usage in a small yard?

It’s easy to have grand plans for water conservation when you have acres of space to work with. But when you’re dealing with a small city yard, you may feel more limited.

The good news is that all of these water-reduction strategies are designed to work in any space, with scale options for any yard.

A single rain barrel with redirected drain spouts is small-space-friendly, and can make a major difference in your water usage.

Planting lawn alternatives and native or drought-tolerant plants is another useful solution, possible in any size garden.

What are the best drought-tolerant plants for my garden?

I recommend choosing plants that are native to your area; they use the least amount of water because they are equipped to survive in your specific region.

With this said, there are plenty of drought-tolerant plants that would make good additions to your garden. Some of my favourites include agave, aster, columbine, delphinium, echinacea, lavender, phlox, sedum, statice, sunflower, yarrow, and zinnias. Find the full list in this post.

More Helpful Tips on Water Usage
[ad_2]

Stephanie Rose

Source link
March 6, 2024