Gardening tips 2023 — Cheap yet effective trick to freshen up your lawn

GARDENERS can easily transform their space so it's low maintenance and fully usable.

A DIY TikTok user who goes by headturnerproperties shared their technique, which involved completely gutting the garden.

They then added decking, painted the fences blue, and added stones at the bottom of the garden.

The Tiktoker created a garden that is "such a nice space to spend the summer."

The garden was previously filled with weeds and overgrown bushes, but it is now clear and barely needs looking after.

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Different colors of grass have different meanings, and it's pretty obvious that green grass is the best sign of a healthy lawn.

Not only a good sign on traffic lights, green means all systems go in the garden too — as it means you’re doing a great job.

Gardening expert Sean Lade said: "The darker the green, the healthier your lawn is."

"You shouldn't expect your grass to be a dark green 24/7, but this is a sign that your lawn is very happy and healthy."

One very simple product can help amateur gardeners create a low-maintenance garden and works to keep plants and flowers healthy and thriving.

When it comes to the different products available for gardeners to consider, some are more efficient and time-effective than others.

If you’re looking for an effective way to keep up with your garden or lawn while also saving time on maintenance, consider mulch.

Mulch is a top-layer covering used to protect soil.

Experts say the best mulch is biodegradable and made of natural materials, because they’ll decompose and enhance the soil underneath.

Fill the uneven patches using a hard-bristled brush to create a level surface, and water them well to encourage new grass to grow.

Finally, sow some fresh grass seeds on any areas that are bare and need re-covering.

Make sure to distribute more on scarce patches or on lumps that have born torn up.

Always lay grass seeds on a mild, spring day and make sure to water them well once the seeds have been sown.

Make sure to water the areas well to encourage new grass to grow to create a seamless finish.

For larger lumps and bumps, you’ll need a few extra tools.

Start by mowing the lawn and then use a rake to uplift thatch (clumps of dead grass) and other organic matter.

Once you’ve removed uneven patches, top-dress them with sand and soil using a 40:60 ratio.

Flattening out bumpy ground can be done at any time of the year, but the gardening experts at The Daily Express reported it is best to get started in spring.

Start with smaller bumps (less than one inch) and simply use your foot to press them firmly down.

If you have holes made by animals, fill them with topsoil, compressing the earth with your foot to create a solid surface.

Experts say some of the most problematic flowers for hay fever sufferers are:

Chris Bonnett from Gardening Express recommends the following plants for those who suffer from allergies:

"Straw in the garden is best used like a mulch," horticulture expert Eric De Boer told Homes and Gardens.

The material acts "as a barrier to protect from weed germination and to also help shield the soil from the sun to increase the soil's water retention."

Other plant experts told the outlet that using straw in the garden has countless benefits that preserve the longevity of your plants.

"‘Straw is a natural weed suppressor. It will help keep weeds from growing in the garden while also conserving moisture," said Brody Hall, a certified horticulturist and land manager from The Indoor Nursery.

According to horticulturists and plant professionals, all-natural straw is one of the most effective tools to bring into your garden.

You don't need to buy a whole bale – you can typically buy smaller bundles at your local farm store for upwards of $2.

Some hardware stores even sell pre-portioned bags made for gardens, which can cost closer to $15 but can be found on the shelves or online.

The experts at Old World Garden Farms suggested growing basil next to tomatoes and pepper plants.

Since basil is a deterrent against tomato hornworms, aphids, and beetles, planting it next to other plants will help protect them too.

The green-thumbed pros suggest planting it "close proximity to tomato and pepper plants," since it protects them naturally.

"In fact, as an added benefit, basil supposedly even improves the flavor of tomatoes when grown nearby."

They also suggested growing onions and garlic near cabbage.

"Both onions and garlic are known as an excellent repellent for cabbage moths, worms and loopers, and help keep cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower pest free."

Experts at Old World Garden Farms gave one handy tip to avoid using harsh chemicals to remove pests.

Companion planting could be the key to ridding nasty pests from your crops.

"Companion planting has been our number one, go-to method for stopping pests naturally in the garden for the last 5+ years. And has it ever worked wonders!" the experts said.

All you have to do is plant certain plants next to each other to reap the benefits.

"There are some wonderful beneficial relationships when certain plants grow near one another.

A considerable number of gardening mistakes can be attributed to bad information, according to Chloe Brooks, home gardening expert at Triple Oaks Nursery and Herb Garden in Franklinville, New Jersey.

That doesn't mean strictly incorrect knowledge – usually, gardeners will take the information they find online and apply it to their circumstances without accounting for their specific climate.

And with weather conditions varying from year to year, it's risky to take any single regional guide as gospel truth.

If you are unsure of how to care for your plants, hop on the phone or online and get in touch with your local garden center, rather than resorting to the internet.

Nursery employees will have an up-to-the-minute understanding of your area's conditions, and any plant care tips that are unique to your climate and soil.

Calling them with a question or stopping in is totally fine – they want your plants to thrive, too.

Whether you’re protecting your plants from pests or looking to make an incredible terrarium, Dollar Tree's plastic cloche domes will get the job done.

In outdoor gardens, cloches are used to cover plants while offering protection from things like harsh weather, and pests.

They can also be used to create a warmer climate that will nurture germinating seeds and young plants in colder weather.

Finally, Angel said to use a piece of wood to keep the slugs out of your garden.

"They’ll crawl under it for shade," she said.

"Then you can gather them up and get rid of them."

Another method Angel shared to help keep slugs away is to sprinkle crushed egg shells or diatomaceous earth around the bottom of your plants.

The expert explained that when slugs crawl across the broken shells, it will cut them up and cause them to die.

Gardening expert Angel posted a video revealing three easy ways to keep slugs out of your yard, and her first suggestion was to try making a beer trap.

According to Gardening Know How, "slugs are attracted to the yeasty odors found in beer."

Simply cut a few holes in the top of a container and fill it with two to three inches of beer.

"The slugs will use these holes to access the trap."

Then they said to bury the container slightly above the soil and place the lid on top.

"They can't resist it and they’ll drown," she said.

States including California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, and other southern areas are known to support year-round gardening.

This is because these climates do not experience cold winters.

Hunker described that in these areas, the first crop is usually planted in January, and the second in late August.

The outlet added that warm-season crops can be grown from April to early winter.

Fruits like mangoes and pineapples grow best in warm climates with considerable rainfall.

Hawaii and Florida are the best locations in the US for these fruits.

While some midwestern states are warm enough, they do not receive enough rain to grow tropical plants, according to Hunker.

The top five states for vegetable production are California, Idaho, Washington, Wisconsin, and Florida, Hunker also reported.

According to USDA Economic Research Service, California produces 60 percent of US fresh vegetables.

Idaho and Wisconsin produce the most potatoes, the outlet reported.

If you are looking to grow fruits such as oranges, apples, lemons, avocados, peaches, and grapes, California is the best state to do so.

The state ranks highest in the production of many fruits, Hunker reported.

Florida is ranked second for orange production, and New York is second for apple and grapes.

If you struggle to germinate seeds or cuttings, Family Handyman recommends you try making a greenhouse out of soda bottles.

Remove the labels and cut the bottoms off 2-liter drink bottles.

Once the seeds have germinated and the cuttings have taken root, remove the greenhouses.

80 percent of the world's plants are pollinated by bees and a third of food is produced thanks to their work.

Pollinating plants, trees, and flowers, providing honey, and helping create food for humans are just some of the crucial reasons bees are important.

Himalayan Balsam is from the Himalayas and was brought to the UK in 1839.

It grows up to two-three metres tall and has pink flowers in summer and early autumn.

But in spite of its beautiful colours, this invasive plant could spread 800 seeds metres away or even through rivers, potentially killing off other plants and reducing biodiversity by stealing all lights, nutrients, or water.

Bradley from Stokemont commented on the plant: "It does not have physical danger to humans but its significant ecological impact on nature and associated laws are not favoured by buyers."

"So it is recommended to keep this plant controlled or eradicated, and make sure it does not spread to your neighbors’ home as it can be illegal."

Large trees like Poplar, Willow and Oak can be dangerous if grown close to your property.

Their root systems, shallow and fast-growing, can spread out to 40 meters and take up 1,000 liters of water and nutrients from the soil.

Bradley from Stokemont added: "They could live around 50 years and are harder to remove when their roots grow thicker and bigger as time progresses."

"Their age, soil type, location, depth all matter when deciding whether your tree is a problem."

"If grown too close to your property, they could lead to further risks of cracks in foundations, subsidence and other structural defects, potentially costing you £5,000-£25,000 to repair."