Maybe your garden just needs more weeds!

Author

Lisa
May 03, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Good morning,

Ever wake up to find your leafy greens looking a little worse for wear? If so, you might be dealing with caterpillars! These munching machines can devour your veggies in no time. The good news is, there are natural ways to fight back, like using neem oil to deter them.

CHERRY PICKED - JUST FOR YOU

Humans aren’t the only ones who like to munch on tomatoes - deer love them too! If deer have easy access to your tomato plants, you’re going to want to try one of these effective deterrents before it’s too late.

CAN YOU DIG IT?

Most people consider weeds a nuisance in their lawn and garden, but what if you could use the nutrients in those weeds to supercharge your plants? Well, it turns out you can!

BITE-SIZED GARDEN TALES

Maya skipped out her back door, a giddy anticipation bubbling in her chest. May 3rd had finally arrived, the official "planting day" she'd circled on the calendar months ago.

Armed with her seed packets, trowel, and a heart brimming with enthusiasm, she surveyed her small backyard plot. Last year, her first attempt at vegetable gardening, had been a mixed bag. Lush tomato plants battled against scrawny peppers, and her valiant effort at zucchini resulted in a single, lonely fruit.

Today, determined to learn from past missteps, Maya meticulously followed the planting instructions on each packet. Each carefully placed seed, nestled in the warm earth, felt like a tiny promise.

Weeks turned into months, and Maya's garden flourished. Straight rows of vibrant green emerged, punctuated by the cheerful blooms of sunflowers.

This year, she'd taken her neighbor's advice and planted companion flowers, creating a colorful ecosystem that attracted helpful pollinators. Every morning, she'd visit her garden, marveling at its growth.

Tiny green tomatoes swelled on the vines, and a symphony of buzzing bees filled the air. The joy of nurturing life, from a seed to a thriving plant, filled Maya with a sense of accomplishment.

Then came the storm. A sudden downpour lashed against the defenseless vegetables, flattening tender seedlings and snapping delicate stems. Tears welled in Maya's eyes as she surveyed the damage.

Disappointment threatened to overwhelm her, but then she remembered the resilience of nature. Plants, she realized, were like us – they faced challenges, weather hardship, and sometimes even succumbed to them. But with care and patience, they could recover, grow stronger, and even be more productive for having weathered the storm.

IN A NUTSHELL

Maya's garden journey reminds us that growth takes time and comes with its fair share of challenges. Like nature, we must be patient, learn from setbacks, and trust in our ability to overcome them.

DIGGING DEEPER

Hopefully, you haven’t had the unpleasant experience of finding a snake hiding beneath a rock or behind a plant while working in your garden. If you haven’t, consider yourself lucky! Either way, planting one or more of these plants can help deter them naturally, giving you one less thing to worry about while gardening.

DAILY DOSE OF DIRT

Make the most of your garden space by planting fast-maturing crops like lettuce and radishes between slower-growing vegetables like tomatoes and peppers.

NEVER STOP GROWING

Want even more gardening tips to transform your thumb from brown to green? Browse all past newsletters to unearth some hidden gems you might have missed the first time around. Completely free and available 24/7!

UNTIL NEXT BLOOM…

As always, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to read this newsletter! Question or comments - just reply.

Happy planting!