Did you know that 30th April – 6th May 2018 is National Gardening Week? Every year the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) holds this event to celebrate all things green and encourage Britain to get involved in this healthy, outdoor activity for all the family! With 2 weeks to go, we’ve got a few ideas that you can try out at home to participate in the week and perhaps even find ways to get younger members of the family to find fun and enjoyment in their gardens.
Make Your Own Insecticides
In order to maintain a healthy garden, you unfortunately have to prevent some insects getting to your precious plants and eating them! Instead of buying an insecticide from a store (which can often contain harmful chemicals), why not try making one at home? We’ve found this great article from Tree Hugger that gives you 8 different natural insecticide mixes that you can easily make at home using common ingredients from around the house. Luckily, we’ve got plenty of plastic bottles that are perfect for storing these homemade mixes, which come with the option to add a useful trigger spray for easy application.
Plant A Tree
Why not start big? One of the best things you can do for your garden and for the wider environment is to plant trees and bushes, which can support vast eco-systems for insects and smaller creatures such as hedgehogs, bees and beetles. Although with trees you won’t be able to see the benefits for a few years until it grows to a sufficient size, you can rest easy knowing the future generations will be able to reap the benefits of it!
Homemade Watering Cans For Kids
Fancy watering the plants but don’t have a watering can to hand? No fear, because you can make your own using just an empty plastic bottle, a marker pen and something to cut holes in the bottle with.
Take the plastic bottle and mark 25 dots in the centre of the bottle, in 5 rows of 5. Cover the dots with masking tape before punching the holes out of them using a sharp knife, nail or thumbtack. Then draw a rectangle on the other side of the bottle and cut this out. You can now fill up your ‘watering can’ using the large rectangular hole and the water will dispense evenly through your sprinkler holes on the other side. Simply hold the bottle horizontally to start watering, and then return it to the upright position to stop!
Grow Your Own Herbs
If you want to start to grow your own herbs but don’t have the space outside (if you live in a flat or house without a garden), you still have options. A glass jar on your windowsill is almost as good as using full size ceramic flowerpots, if you’re not growing en masse.
Take a clean, empty glass jar and add around 1-2 inches of pebbles or other rocky material to the base. Top up the rest of the jar with soil or potting mix, leaving space at the top for more to be added after you plant your seeds. Plant the seeds of your choice at the top of the jar then cover with more soil. Give them a quick water and place on a windowsill where sunlight can reach it. Sit back and wait for your herbs to grow!
