Simple Garden
Mid-Summer Patio and Garden Perk-Up Ideas
During the summer, we spend so much time outdoors enjoying our gardens and patios! Time to perk things up mid-summer! Here are just a few ideas on perking up the garden and patio for this summer!
A Lively Border For The Patio
So many gardeners use river rocks or gravel as a border for the patio or to fill the gap between pavers. Why not add a little pop of color? These colorful glass pebbles are easy to find at dollar stores and craft stores – use one color to coordinate your outdoor color scheme, or use multi-colored for a vibrant effect.
Change Up That Wooden Deck
Have a wooden deck that is in need of an upgrade? Consider painting your deck with an unexpected design, like this patio featured on HomeDepot.com. To check out more pictures of this beautiful deck, Click Here.
For tips on painting a wooden deck, you can find information provided by the experts from “For Dummies” people at Dummies.com.
Finish off your look with updated cushions and pillows for your outdoor furniture – mid-summer is the perfect time to find some new favorites on sale! Check WorldMarket or PierOne for some great outdoor pillow sales.
Add Mood Lighting Through Gardening
With this REALLY simple project, planters become mood lighting for the deck or patio. Plant favorite flowers along the outside edge of your pot, leaving space for hurricane glass and candle. A beautiful way to bring the garden onto your deck!
Get Glowing!
Add some nighttime visual interest to your garden with Glow-in-The-Dark spray paint. Choose to paint a pot, stepping stones, or anything your want to highlight in the garden. (Not for use on plants or animals!) Works best on products that have a white base.
What’s Wrong With My Tomato Plants?
Love growing tomato plants, but frustrated by how quickly they can suddenly turn bad and wilt, brown up or even die? Learn to recognize some of the common problems with tomatoes before they “go south”. Below is selected information from the Colorado State University Extension Office. For their complete list of Common Tomato Plant problems, Click Here.
Quick Facts:
- Tomatoes are an easy and popular vegetable to grow.
- Tomato problems may be caused by nutrient deficiencies, diseases, fungi or insects.
- Assess the symptoms, then make the appropriate treatment.
- Good cultural practices can reduce or eliminate many problems.
In general, for healthy tomatoes:
- Improve garden soil by adding organic material such as compost.
- Use disease-resistant varieties.
- Eliminate competition from weeds.
- Keep the plant growing vigorously with proper water and nutrients.
- Keep the garden clean of plant debris.
- Rotate crops.
- Space plants for maximum air circulation.
- Monitor for pests.
Failure to follow one or more of these steps can lead to pest problems. To manage pests, identify the source of the problem by assessing the symptoms.
Common Tomato Problems
Photo Credit: http://www.ext.colostate.edu[/caption%5DPhosphorus deficiencies occur early in the growing season when soil is still cool. Phosphorus is abundant in our soils but may be unavailable to the plant when the soil is too cold. Don’t plant tomatoes too early in the season. Use plastic mulch to warm the soil. Once soil temperatures rise, the problem usually corrects itself.
Photo Credit: http://www.ext.colostate.edu[/caption%5D
Tomato or tobacco hornworms are large, green or gray-green caterpillars with white to tan v-shaped or dashed markings on their sides. A green to reddish horn protrudes from the hind end. They are voracious feeders, stripping leaves from stems and even eating unripe fruit. Pick them off by hand. The caterpillars are susceptible to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), as well as to many common vegetable insecticides.
Photo Credit: http://www.ext.colostate.edu[/caption%5D
Early blight (Alternaria leaf spot) is caused by the fungus Alternaria solani. Symptoms become prevalent during the hotter months. This disease produces brown to black, target-like spots on older leaves. If severe, the fungus also attacks stems and fruit. Affected leaves may turn yellow, then drop, leaving the fruit exposed to sunburn. Sanitation is the best control. Remove all diseased plant tissue on the ground, as the fungus overwinters on leaf debris. Do not plant tomatoes in the same place next year. Space plants farther apart to improve air circulation. Avoid overhead irrigation. If the infestation is heavy, sulfur dust may help protect new leaves from infection.
For the complete list of Common Tomato Plant problems, Click Here.
Spring Fever! What’s Bugging You?
Click Here to find the Terminix AllClear Sidekick Bug Repeller.
Spring Fever! Simple Weed Control For The Garden
Spring Fever? Simple Garden Ideas on Pinterest Is The Cure!
Simple Solutions Diva has got Spring Fever, and she’s been indulging it with her Simple Garden Ideas Pinterest Board! Click on the photo below to explore wonderful garden ideas, flowers, plants and more!