If you plan to establish a #flower or #vegetable #garden this spring, first make sure your tools are in good working condition. Sharpen pruners, clean rakes and tillers, and inspect planters and garden infrastructure for damage. If you need any tools, seeds, planters, pots or decorative items, check the #thrift stores supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org first. They are a great source of lightly used #gardening equipment and supplies, and buying #secondhand can #save money over buying new at a big-box store or garden center. #SpringtimeGardening #DosAndDonts
Tag: spring cleaning
The Don’ts of Springtime Gardening
There are many don’ts of #springtime #gardening, says Better Homes & Gardens — mistakes that gardeners can easily make that could damage plants or make them less productive. First, don’t work soggy soil; you might compact it and make it less viable. Schedule plantings to avoid late-season frosts, and harden seedlings by exposing them to varying temperatures for up to two weeks ahead of planting. Don’t use fresh manure, since its high nitrogen levels can burn plants, and don’t overcrowd plantings. Finally, don’t mulch too soon or too much, since it can lend to moisture buildup and rot. #SpringtimeGardening #DosAndDonts
Get Your Garden Ready for Planting
The first step in #spring #gardening is to clean any debris out of the beds. Remove fallen leaves, branches and other detritus to help ensure that they will be pest and blight-free. Next, you’ll want to test your garden soil to find out what nutrients or organic materials it lacks or has a surplus of. Based on the test results, you can amend the soil to provide optimal growing conditions for your #plants. “A good general practice is to topdress the soil with an inch or two of compost, humus and/or manure in early spring,” Proven Winners says, as well as an extended-release plant food product. #SpringtimeGardening #DosAndDonts
No Fooling: April Is the Best Month to Declutter
Pranksters throughout the world like to kick off April with a deception that makes a “fool” out of gullible believers. From schoolchildren slapping paper fish on their friends’ backs to news reports that the Eiffel Tower is being dismantled, pranks big and small have tricked and amused many a person over the years.
But all fooling aside, April just might be the best month of the year to #declutter and #organize.
April is a month of rebirth. Flowers start to bloom and the weather gets more pleasant. And yet, it’s still too early in the year to be chockablock with social occasions, deadlines and all of the other things that tend to crowd a schedule. It’s the perfect time to spend a few hours or days sorting through your #stuff.
A great place to start is in your #clothes closets. You’ll be swapping out heavy coats and sweaters for breezier garments soon, if you haven’t already; why not make April the month you take a complete inventory of your #clothing? #Store whatever you want to keep, and #donate anything that just isn’t being worn to ClothingDonations.org.
#Spring #cleaning will unearth even more #household items that you no longer want or need, and April gives you the chance to throw open the windows and make a fresh start. As you #declutter, #clean and #organize, decide if you want to stage a #garage or #yard sale at some point in the near future, says Simplify 101; early-season sales tend to be a big draw.
#Clutter itself can make #fools of otherwise rational people. “#Clutter is a master of deception, tricking us into believing that it enhances productivity, comfort and creativity when it does the opposite,” says Miss Organized. “By unveiling the illusion of clutter and taking proactive steps to #declutter our lives, we can cultivate a sense of clarity, purpose and serenity.”
Don’t be the butt of your own joke or waste another minute of your April. Start #decluttering, #cleaning and #organizing now, and you’ll get the last laugh.
Hack These Household Items to Deep-Clean
Sometimes, the best #cleaners and #cleaning tools are hiding in plain sight. For example, toothpaste can eliminate children’s marker and crayon stains on wood surfaces and walls, Treehugger says; it can also polish bathroom fixtures, shine silverware and jewelry, and clean piano keys. Lemon and salt is effective on butcher block countertops and cutting boards, as well as dirty grates on the outdoor grill. You can also use your dishwasher to wash tools, plastic toys, switch covers and certain clothing items. Keep dishes separate, of course, depending on what you’re attempting to #sanitize. #CleaningHacks