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These simple yet often overlooked horticulture wind make gardening easier , safe , and more efficient . From draw weeds at the right-hand time to outsmarting invasives , these pragmatic tips can keep open you time and movement .
Also see7 Cheap ( But Smart ) Tips to make Your Dream Gardenfor ways to raise what you desire on a modest budget .

Simple Garden Tips
These round-eyed garden tips wo n’t metamorphose your life-time , but they can make your time in the garden a little easier — and sometimes safer .
Take a feel and have me have it off if you have any to add .
They ’re all little things that make life in the garden a little more enjoyable .

1Keep extra sunscreen by your garden gloves.
keep open sunscreen near your glove is a unspoilt reminder to utilise it before gardening and to reapply it as the day belong by .
Bonus if you keep abig , protective hathandy too .
2Wear a mask and gloves while handling potting mix.
Potting intermixture can release o.k. particle and spores that may be harmful when inhaled . I cognize some gardeners do not like wearing gloves but at least protect your lungs with a masquerade .
TheseN95 masksare a undecomposed choice .
3Write your plant tags before you plant.
It ’s much prosperous to fix plant tags or markers while your hands are clean and dry rather than clamber at planting time . Plus , they ’ll look prissy .
I acquire a long prison term ago that “ I ’ll remember what I planted ” is garden folklore . For this reason , it ’s very nice to haveplanting notesready andtags ( like these ones)prepared in advance .
Related : Empress of Dirt Printable Garden Planner & Notes

4Use Google Lens to identify plants.
While there are legion flora ID apps , Google Lens(free ) often does a good job identify plants . Use it on your phone in the garden or flick photos to place later on .
For best success , do n’t just photograph bud and flowers but also the basic size and structure of the works including stem and leaves . Those details are often cardinal for place different plant life species .
5Pull weeds after it rains.
Not only is itmuch easier to displume weeds after it rainsbut you ’re more likely to take away the full root . And if you do n’t , well , you ’ll be pulling that same weed again in no prison term at all .
Related : How to check weed Without Herbicides ( Sustainable Garden Tips )
6Understand how each invasive species spreads to effectively remove it.
It can be very difficult to removeinvasive plants . The best secret I live is to beat them at their own plot . First , describe the species , then regain out how it spreads . Once you know its method acting , you could advantageously understand how to stop over it .
For example , if the plant spread out by seed , the first pedigree of defense is to remove any flowers before they wrick to seed .
If a flora spreads by smuggler , you likely have a pile of careful digging in your future .

And do check with your local conservation authority for their good tips .
7Chop and drop for instant mulch.
rather of bagging up garden cutting or carting them to a yard waste pile , chop them up and lead them on the filth a.k.a . “ chop and drop . ” Instant , free mulch ! The clippings help keep wet , suppress weeds , and give back nutrients to the soil as they break down .
My only exception is anything trespassing I do n’t want to spread . Otherwise , it ’s such a time saver to just let thing decompose in place .
8Add water to potting mix before you plant.
Drypotting mixis hydrophobic and fluffy . Add water first , letting it subside down , to get the bulk flop before adding your plant .
funny if it ’s ok to reuse pot mix?Generally , yes , but read this first .
9Use sticky tape to hand-pick pests.
When remove pests like cuke beetles as their devouring your harvest , wrapper someduct tapearound your fingerbreadth with the sticky side out and use that to catch them . It foreclose them from fall to the ground and coming back for retaliation .
Related:24 Practical Garden Hacks for Thrifty Gardeners
10Keep soap, a nail brush, and a towel by your outdoor faucet.
Is it not one of life ’s with child enigma that even gloved hands get dirty in the garden ?
I used to think this tip was cockamamy , but washing open air really does help prevent garden dirt from engender into the house . Now I make it a substance abuse to hang up my gloves ( upside down to dry ) and scrub my hands before proceed inside . incentive if you add a little mirror . And cheer for no more begrimed manus marking on door handgrip !
~Melissathe Empress of Dirt ♛
