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Kirsten

3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails

July 10, 2016 by Kirsten

3 easy & cheap Ways to Get Rid of Snails, safe for pets and wildlife! www.westerngardens.com

Hello, thanks for stopping by!
3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails www.westerngardens.com

Have you ever had issues with snails or slugs eating your garden?  I sure have!  They’ve devoured some of my favorite plants, which motivated me to find some safe, natural ways to get rid of them!
3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails www.westerngardens.com
This is a pot I was prepping to plant in early Spring.  I especially love the bright colors, they look so happy!
3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails www.westerngardens.com
But this is what was left of my purple decorative kale after a gang of snails enjoyed it for a week or two. I actually found 5 or 6 snails sleeping contently in my pot. I was not happy with them!  If you need to protect your plants too, try one of these cheap and easy methods!  Beer Traps, Egg Shells and Sluggo all have benefits, so keep reading to see which one is right for you!

3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails

 1. Beer Traps

3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails www.westerngardens.com
I developed this particular trap to make it easy to get rid of the snails after they drown in beer.
3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails www.westerngardens.com

Beer Trap Supplies:

  • 2 disposable plastic cups
  • an old pencil
  • a can of beer
3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails www.westerngardens.com
In the evening, dig a hole outside in your vegetable or flower garden, near your plants. Place the cup inside the hole. Make it level with the ground so the snails don’t have to climb far.
3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails www.westerngardens.com
Using scissors, carefully poke 4 drainage holes in the bottom of the remaining cup.  Poke two more holes near the top, just under the lip, for the pencil to go through. This will ensure a gap between the cups so you can easily remove the top one to dispose of the snails the next morning.
3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails www.westerngardens.com
Place the cup with the holes and pencil inside the cup buried in the ground. Pour the whole can of beer inside the cup, leaving about an inch of headspace. This forces the snails to climb down into the cup, where they will drown in the beer.
3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails www.westerngardens.com
We put a few of our snails near the cup, and they were immediately drawn to the beer!
3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails www.westerngardens.com
He started in on his own.
3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails www.westerngardens.com
And down he went for a drink.
3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails www.westerngardens.com
We caught 5 snails the first night!  To empty the dead snails, just pull the inner cup out and the beer will drain out the holes.  Dispose of the snails and gently push the pencil cup back into the inner cup, and the beer will fill back into that inner cup.
This method is easy, it uses only a few items, and I saw results literally overnight. The beer will last up to a week, but after being in the heat all day, I prefer to change it every other night.

Don’t Want to Buy Beer?

The yeast is what lures the snails to the cup to take a drink.  If you don’t want to buy beer because you don’t drink or you just want to save some money, you can make your own yeast mixture with a few pantry staples!

DIY Yeast Snail Bait

  • 1 Tbsp of flour
  • 1 tsp of sugar
  • 1 tsp of yeast
  • 2 cups of water

Click HERE for printable Beer Trap instructions!

2. Egg Shells

3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails www.westerngardens.com
If you eat a lot of eggs, this is a free way to deter snails from your plants—and I stress the word deter, as this will not kill them. Simply save the shells from your eggs and allow them to dry out for a day or two. Then, using the bottom of a cup, crush the egg shells into small, sharp pieces.  Sprinkle the egg shells all the way around your plants, making a border. Make a fairly wide berth around the plant, or the snails will not be deterred.
3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails www.westerngardens.com
Snails hate the sharp pieces and will turn around and look for another place to eat…but they will not die, which is honestly what I want…to get rid of them entirely!  If it rains or if you water, you will probably need to sprinkle more egg shells around your plants again, otherwise they will be feeding on your plants the moment they get the chance!  This isn’t all bad though…egg shells are great for the garden because they add a lot of nutrients to the soil.

3. Sluggo

3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails www.westerngardens.com
Sluggo is a great option when it comes to purchasing a natural snail-killing bait. It is completely safe to use around wild animals and pets as it has iron phosphate—a natural mineral found in the soil.  The snails eat the bait, lose their appetites, head to their hiding place and die within a few days.  And it still works if it rains or if you water your garden!  Sprinkle it around your plants about every two weeks.  I purchased mine as a recommendation from one of the associates at Western Gardens and I love it!

Which One is Best?

There are other methods that claim to get rid of (or deter) snails.  After trying just these 3 methods though, I have to say I loved seeing the dead snails in the beer.  It’s so satisfying to see a difference that quickly. However, the Sluggo is the easiest method of the 3.  Sprinkle the tiny pellets every two weeks and walk away.  This gives me more time to enjoy other things!  Like weeding.  😉  Both of these methods will rid you of snails, and hopefully prevent them from laying eggs before they die.
Have you had success in deterring/killing snails or slugs?  I would love to hear what has or hasn’t worked for you!
See the Happy!
           Kirstensig
Pages: Page 1 Page 2

Filed Under: Gardening, How To, Tips & How To's Tagged With: control, deter, DIY, get rid of, natural, repel, safe, slugs, snails

5 Reasons You Need Drip Irrigation

July 5, 2016 by Kirsten

HELLO FRIENDS, WELCOME!

5 Reasons you need Drip Irrigation www.westerngardens.com

Drip Irrigation www.westerngardens.com

If you’re anything like me, you find gardening so rewarding—the planting, nurturing, and harvesting is such an amazing process. Eating something you grew, sharing it with friends and neighbors…it’s such an awesome feeling! And then it happens.  You get you get your water bill in the mail and all those awesome feelings are gone! Ugh!

The first year we purchased our home, we had an amazing garden! I loved being able to see the progress and use the different vegetables in our family meals. We had an awesome crop of watermelons, which require quite a bit of water, and by the second month we had a water bill of over $200! I began comparing the purchasing of 6 or 7 watermelons from the store to my $200  water bill and I was second guessing my desire for a garden the next year!

If you are not using drip irrigation in your garden, then this is the time to start!  I’ve got five reasons you need to invest in drip irrigation, and once you have it installed, you will see the benefits from day ONE, I promise!

5 Reasons you need Drip Irrigation www.westerngardens.com

5 Reasons You Need Drip Irrigation

1. Water Efficiency

Drip irrigation will deliver water directly to the root zone of a plant. The water will seep slowly into the soil one drop at a time. You will see that almost no water is lost from evaporation or through water running off into other directions, rather than the plant you are actually trying to nourish. Some studies show that using a drip irrigation system can save anywhere from 30%-70% water compared to other methods of watering, like sprinklers. Being able to conserve water in Utah is a must, almost every year we hear about the drought we’re living through!

5 Reasons you need Drip Irrigation www.westerngardens.com

2. Reduce Costs

No one wants to have a water bill of $200—it’s just way too much to pay each month! Because yards, gardens, and drip irrigation systems are all so different, it’s hard to calculate how much a person will save on their own water bill. The studies say that, on average, a person will use about 50% less water, and depending on different features and how efficiently the drip system is planned and set up, it can save up to 70%. Once you have your drip irrigation installed, compare your bill to the year before.  You could save anywhere from 50%-70% on that part of your bill!!

5 Reasons you need Drip Irrigation www.westerngardens.com

3. Save Time

Life is so fast-paced, and we all wish we could have more time.  Well, having a drip irrigation system can do that for you! Drip systems can eliminate the need to drag around hoses and sprinklers, set timers, and make sure you remember to rotate and then shut them off when the rotation is all done (I am definitely guilty of forgetting to shut them off!).  If you opt for a system that uses a timer, you will only need to take a few seconds to turn the system on, and that system will shut off automatically for you when it is all done. Even if you don’t want to invest in a timer, you will really only need to turn it on once and remember to shut it off anywhere from 5-10 minutes later. So much easier than rotating sprinklers!

5 Reasons you need Drip Irrigation www.westerngardens.com

4. Healthier Plants = An Increase in Crops

Who doesn’t want to get the most they can out of their garden? Wouldn’t you love a steady flow of harvest throughout the summer and into early fall? Drip irrigation can help with that too! Plants watered with a drip system will grow more quickly, and are more productive. This is because they have all the water they need and the plant growth isn’t slowed by water stress (I know I am not the only one who forgets to water at the same time everyday!). Another thing that drip systems can help avoid are fungal diseases, which often develop under moist conditions and occur when plants get too much water.

5 Reasons you need Drip Irrigation www.westerngardens.com

5. Reduce Growth of Weeds

Who wouldn’t love to have fewer weeds to pull?  I know I would!  Drip systems help with that too!  Because drip irrigation delivers water directly to the plants you want to grow, less water is wasted on weeds. The soil between the plants will remain drier, which discourages weeds from sprouting.  I am all about that!

5 Reasons you need Drip Irrigation www.westerngardens.com

Are you ready to invest a bit of money and time into your garden?  There are starter kits sold for gardens anywhere from really small to very large.  Just make sure you purchase one that you can add to later, if you might need to.  You wont regret it!  You will love all the benefits of drip irrigation, and so will your pocketbook!

See the Happy!

Kirstensig

For more questions about drip irrigation, stop by any of our locations and talk to a Garden Solutions Expert!

Filed Under: Gardening Tagged With: conservation, drip irrigation, drip system, Gardening, increase in crops, save money, save time, water, water efficiency, watering system

9 Plants you need for your Salsa Garden

May 14, 2016 by Kirsten

Welcome, I’m so glad you’re here!

Love Salsa? Plant a salsa garden and make it fresh! 9 Veggies you need in your Salsa Garden! www.westerngardens.com

DSC_0200

Do you love fresh pico de gallo, chili verde salsa or red salsa with tortilla chips?  Then a Salsa Garden is perfect for you! We love enjoying any of these with our favorite Mexican dishes, and what’s better than being able to make it from fresh veggies from your own garden?!  The taste of homegrown tomatoes vs. store-bought is huge…homegrown tomatoes are so much more delicious and flavorful—and it’s exciting to be able to say “I grew that!”

DSC_0226

If you have never grown a garden in your yard, I suggest getting your soil tested. The cost is about $10 and can be done at USU in Logan, Utah. You can just mail in a sample and they can tell you the P and K levels, pH, salt, and lime content, which can help you find out what your soil might need before you spend money on your plants and take the time to plant and water them. Knowing these levels can help you avoid things like bottom rot and make sure you get the most out of your plants.

Avoid planting your veggies until the overnight temps are at least 50° or above. This is typically around May 15th in Utah.  Watch your local forecast…our Utah weather is famous for being temperamental!

Ready to get started with the 9 veggies?  Click NEXT to see what to plant!

Western Garden Centers | Salt Lake City | Sandy | West Valley UTAH

Pages: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3

Filed Under: Gardening, Tomatoes, Utah Gardening, Vegetables, Veggie Gardening Tagged With: Salsa, salsa garden, tomatillos, tomatoes, vegetables

10 Flowers for Beautiful Hanging Baskets

May 11, 2016 by Kirsten

Welcome, I’m so glad you’re here!

Do you ever see gorgeous hanging baskets that are filled to the brim with blooms cascading down over the sides, and wonder what kind of flowers they are?   And how you can get your hands on some to beautify your own yard?!

Hanging baskets can add so much to a sunny wall, or brighten up shady areas with flowers that flourish in the shade. I also love giving hanging baskets as a gift for those who are getting up in age or have bad knees, because there is no kneeling down in the dirt required, and choosing the appropriate flower can bring the receiver blooms from the summer months, on up to the fall!

If you have ever wondered what the best flowers for hanging baskets are, I’ve got you covered!

10 plants for beautiful hanging baskets- https://westerngardens.com/

One of the most important things you need to consider is if the space you want to decorate has full sun, or if it is in the shade most of the day. If you plant sun-loving flowers in the shade, they won’t thrive.  The same is true if you plant shade lovers in the sun.

You can have each hanging basket dedicated to one type of flower, or you can mix different flowers in each basket giving different colors and textures. Just be sure to put Shade Lovers together and Sun Lovers together!  Also make sure you get the trailing variety of flower for your hanging baskets.

Filed Under: Annuals, Container Gardening, Flowers, Gardening, Outdoors, Perennials, Tips & How To's, Utah Gardening Tagged With: flowers, Gardening, Mother's Day, tips, Western Gardens

Plants That Repel Mosquitoes

May 1, 2016 by Kirsten

5 Plants that Repel Mosquitoes - www.westerngardens.com

Hello and Welcome!

Do mosquitoes drive you crazy?  Do you love spending time outside until you become a feast for these pesky creatures?  Keep reading for our list of plants that repel mosquitoes…a simple solution that doesn’t involve chemical-laden sprays!

Mosquitoes are a real problem, not just because they’re annoying and no one likes the itchy bumps they leave behind, but because they carry disease.  Zika is the newest threat here in the U.S. and it’s particularly alarming for women who are pregnant or who want to become pregnant, as it causes birth defects.

The first step to reducing mosquitoes is to make sure you don’t have standing water around your home, as they need water to reproduce.  This includes rain gutters, outside toys, wagons, dog bowls, etc. Even a bottle cap of water can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

The next thing to do is add some mosquito-repelling plants to your landscape and containers.  It’s important to note that the mere presence of these plants doesn’t necessarily repel mosquitoes.  {There are a lot of claims that they do, but there is no scientific backing to support this idea!}

So now what?  To harness the power of these plants, you must actually break the leaves on the plants and rub the oil on your skin in order to truly repel the mosquitoes.

If essential oils are your thing, try THIS recipe for a kid-friendly spray.  You can also try making your own essential oils!  But whether or not you make your own oils, add these plants to your yard to keep your family safe from the summer mosquitos!

Plants that Repel Mosquitoes

5 Plants that Repel Mosquitos - www.westerngardens.com

1—Lavender ⇧ 

Lavender is a beautiful plant with a lovely fragrance. It’s known to bring on calmness and relaxation, and can even help you get to sleep. Lavender oil has also been known to stop the itchiness of bug bites and sunburns. Spraying lavender on your body masks your natural scent and will help keep you free of mosquito bites! You can make your own lavender oil by removing the flowers and allowing them to dry, then boiling them in fractionated coconut oil.

5 Plants that Repel Mosquitos - www.westerngardens.com

2—Lemon Balm ⇧

Many people enjoy lemon tea from lemon balm leaves and say they have found relief for indigestion, better sleep, and reduced anxiety. You can easily crush the leaves in your hands and rub them over your skin as a natural mosquito repellent.

5 Plants that Repel Mosquitos - www.westerngardens.com

3—Peppermint ⇧ 

Not only is peppermint used in tea and in baking, but it is a fantastic repellent for mosquitoes. It’s easy to gently crush some leaves in your hands and rub over your skin or exposed areas where mosquitoes can bite you. Not only can peppermint repel mosquitoes, it can help relieve the itch, as it has a cooling/tingling feeling when applied to the skin.

5 Plants that Repel Mosquitos - www.westerngardens.com

4—Rosemary ⇧

Rosemary is a great herb to have in your garden as the scent helps repel mice and deer. You can make delicious savory dishes and have the added benefit that using just a few leaves a day gives you all the vitamin A you need. Rosemary can be boiled in fractionated coconut oil and then be sprayed on your body as a natural mosquito repellent.

5 Plants that Repel Mosquitos - www.westerngardens.com

5—Sage ⇧

Sage isn’t just for cooking anymore!  This herb is a little different from the others on our list…you can actually burn some dried sage bundles to help keep the mosquitoes away.  We recommend using it in combination with some of the other essential oils mentioned above for total mosquito repelling success!

When you apply natural mosquito repellents on your skin for the first time, make sure you place a small amount on the back of your hand and rub it in. Wait one to two hours to see if the repellent causes irritation.  If you have no irritation, you can spray or rub the repellant over the exposed areas to keep the mosquitoes away.

Have you found another natural way to keep the mosquitoes at bay?  Tell us in a comment below!

See the Happy!

Kirstensig

Filed Under: Container Gardening, Gardening, Herbs, Outdoors, Tips & How To's Tagged With: chemical free, DIY, essential oils, lavender, lemon balm, mosquito, mosquitoes, natural, non toxic, peppermint, plants, repel, repellent, rosemary, sage

DIY Hanging Basket Frame – A Mother’s Day Gift

April 28, 2016 by Kirsten

Looking for the perfect gift for the gardening mom? Check out this simple and beautiful DIY Hanging Basket Frame - A Mother's Day Gift www.westerngardens.com

Welcome!  I’m so happy you’re here!
DIY Hanging Basket Frame - A Mother's Day Gift www.westerngardens.com

Are you looking for a beautiful, unique gift for your favorite gardening mom?  With Mother’s Day just around the corner, I’ve come up with a gift idea for all the moms out there who have a hard time gardening because they can no longer kneel down for long periods of time.  Whether it’s because of knee problems or advancing age, this DIY Hanging Basket Frame is perfect for any sitting gardening enthusiast!

This frame is about 3 feet tall, can accommodate 3 hanging baskets, and has 2 “shelves” for boxes on each side. I love this frame because all the planting can be done at a table, and once its set up, watering can easily be done with a watering can. It has been a fun addition to our own yard, and one I wish we had for our patio all those years we were renting apartments!

I drew up my idea, and my husband made it a reality. He was in fabrication/welding for several years and told me this would not only be visually appealing, but also strong enough to handle a lot of weight…and I think we accomplished both of those things! The other awesome thing about it is that we were able to make it for less than $15!

DIY Hanging Basket Frame – A Mother’s Day Gift

Supplies for your Hanging Basket Frame:

  • Miter Saw (you need to be able to make 22.5° angled cuts)
  • Power Drill with #2 Phillips bit and ⅛ inch drill bit (for pilot holes)
  • 2 – 8 ft pieces of wood 2.5 x 1.5 inches
  • 1 – 8 ft piece of wood 1.5 x 1.5 inches
  • 1 – 8 ft piece of wood 1.5 x .5 inches
  • 3  J-Screws (4 inch)
  • 3 nuts (¼ of an inch)
  • 24 – 2 inch wood screws
  • Sand paper
  • Exterior Stain (I used Olympic Maximum)
  • Paint brush

You will begin by measuring and marking each cut.

DIY hanging basket frame www.westerngardens.com

Measure and mark the 1.5 x 1.5 piece at 58 inches. **If you would like to add another 10 inches, you would be able to hang two additional hanging baskets, one on each side.  This is up to you.

Measure and mark the  2.5 x 1.5 at 38 inches  (x4)

Measure and mark the 2.5 x 1.5 at 19 ¾ inches (x2)

Measure and mark the 1.5 x .5 at 9 inches (x4)

Once you have measured them all go ahead and cut each piece.

DIY Hanging Basket Frame - A Mother's Day Gift www.westerngardens.com

Pull the 38 inchers aside. You will cut each end with a 22.5° angle, opposite direction on each end – this will help the two A-frames to sit right on the ground.

Now take the two 19 ¾ inchers and cut each end at a 22.5° angle – same direction on each end.

DIY Hanging Basket Frame - A Mother's Day Gift www.westerngardens.com

These 4 pieces will make your two “A” frames.

DIY Hanging Basket Frame - A Mother's Day Gift www.westerngardens.com Lay the two 38 inchers on the ground with the 19 ¾ incher in the middle to form the “A.” Using your drill, you will drill a pilot hole in the direction shown here.

DIY Hanging Basket Frame - A Mother's Day Gift www.westerngardens.com

With the #2 Philips bit, insert the screw. Make another pilot hole about ¾ of an inch apart from the other screw, as shown in the picture above. Repeat this step on all 4 sides of the frame. Now you should have the two “A” pieces done.

DIY Hanging Basket Frame - A Mother's Day Gift www.westerngardens.com

For this step you will need someone to help hold the two “A” frames up. Lay the 58 incher on top of the two frames and measure 5 inches from the end. This is where it will lay. **If you decided to add the 10 inches, measure 10 inches from the end.

DIY Hanging Basket Frame - A Mother's Day Gift www.westerngardens.com

Now take the 9 inchers and drill a pilot hole, then screw it in. You will add another screw about ¾ of an inch just above that. Do the same on the other side.

DIY Hanging Basket Frame - A Mother's Day Gift www.westerngardens.com

Before you drill the pilot hole from the 9 incher into the 58 incher, use a level and make sure it is level and sitting evenly. Repeat it on the back side of the frame now.

DIY Hanging Basket Frame - A Mother's Day Gift www.westerngardens.com

Now drill the pilot from the 9 incher into the 58 incher, then screw them together.

DIY Hanging Basket Frame - A Mother's Day Gift www.westerngardens.com

It should look like this.
DIY Hanging Basket Frame - A Mother's Day Gift www.westerngardens.com DIY Hanging Basket Frame - A Mother's Day Gift www.westerngardens.com

Now, to secure the 58 incher, you will drill two pilot holes in opposite directions as pictured above, on each side.

DIY Hanging Basket Frame - A Mother's Day Gift www.westerngardens.com

It should look like this.

DIY Hanging Basket Frame - A Mother's Day Gift www.westerngardens.com

I did a quick sand job so it would be smooth and easy to stain.

DIY Hanging Basket Frame - A Mother's Day Gift www.westerngardens.com

I used Olympic Maximum Sealant and Stain in one. We used it for our deck and it has held up really well.

Hanging Basket Frame www.westerngardens.com

After allowing it to dry over night, we then drilled the 3 pilot holes 12 inches apart for the hanging baskets.
DIY hanging basket frame www.westerngardens.com

Here is what  the “J” screws look like. They come with only one nut so you have to buy 3 extra nuts to have one nut on the bottom of the the “J” and another on the top, so it will be secure. Screw those in and you are ready to hang your baskets!

DIY Hanging Basket Frame - A Mother's Day Gift www.westerngardens.com

I had a blast going to Western Gardens to purchase all my flowers. The staff there are awesome and helped me make my vision become a reality!  If you think Mom will want to choose her own flowers for her Hanging Baskets, a gift certificate to Western Gardens is the perfect idea so she can add her own special touch to this gorgeous display.

I have had lots of compliments on how much this adds to our yard, and my husband has had people ask him to make them one too! It really is an easy project that I think anyone would love to receive as a gift for Mother’s Day! How will you celebrate the women in your life this year?

See the Happy!

Kirstensig

 

Filed Under: Annuals, Container Gardening, Crafts, Gardening, How To, Utah Gardening Tagged With: DIY, frame, gift, hanging baskets, Mother's Day, tutorial

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