Joesgarden

Today we are back and I am showing you one of my favourite DIY zero waste project to do this spring in the garden. All you need is a few old tin cans, a few screws and some trellis. Spring is fast approaching which has got me thinking about my favourite ways to help people who may only have a small space or garden to grow food. Without doubt the best way to grow food and plants in a small space is to use vertical gardening techniques. Now there are so many ways you can garden vertically, but some of the equipment you can buy is just so expensive! So instead why not try to use what you have around the house such as tins. Now I would like to make a few important points. The bigger the tin the better, as small containers will dry out fast throughout the day, and where possible use lined tins. If you look closely the tins I am using have a white liner on the inside, which is commonly used with tins that store something in water. These are really slow to rust and I’ve had some in my garden for nearly three years with no sign of rust at all. The paint I’m using is @protekwoodstain, as it is animal, plant and eco friendly making it safe to use around your crops. It also adds a layer of protection and also helps to stop any glare, and prevents the tins from getting too hot in the summer sun. These planters are best when planted with really small plants such as chives, pansy and alpine strawberries, and just make sure to keep harvesting to keep your plants small. Thank you for watching, and I love you all, Joe 😊🌱💚 #verticalgardening #verticalgarden #gardentips #zerowaste #containergarden

Today we are back and I am showing you one of my favourite ways to keep my house and garden plants watered while I am away on holiday for a few days. Where possible it is best to ask family and friends to look after your plants while you are away, but sometimes that is not possible. So here is my next best solution to help give your plants a slow release drink, which can buy you some time until you get back home. It is important to remember this will only work on you plants for around 2-5 days depending on a few factors such as the flow, weather and the size of your bottle, but it is far better than nothing at all. This method of watering, which is commonly known as drip irrigation, is used around the world in most farms, plant nurseries and garden centres as it is a super targeted way of getting water exactly where you need it, helping not only to water each specific plant, but also to reduce water waste. When I go away I like to set the flow to its slowest possible setting to prevent the water running out too fast, but please make sure if you are using this method for containers, check they have drainage holes in the bottom to prevent the pots from becoming water logged, which can kill your plants just was fast as no water can. I hope you are having a lovely week, and I love you all, Joe 😊🌱💚 #watering #gardentips #zerowaste #gardening #planttips

Today we are back and I am showing you one of my favourite ways to use up all that extra left over cardboard from deliveries. I’m sure most of you like me, from time to time order something which arrives in a cardboard box. Well instead of throwing them away, they are actually very useful around the garden. There are two more main ways to use cardboard around the garden which I haven’t shown here, but I will quickly mention them. Cardboard is a vital ingredient in compost, so I like to keep a load next to my compost areas, so when a bit of green waste goes in I can top it up with cardboard. It also acts as a brilliant weed membrane for no dig beds too. However this is my favourite way to use it up and it’s also one which saves me a lot of money each year. Cardboard can be turned into pots which are ideal for seeds and seedlings as they are free, but can also be transplanted whole once the seedling is big enough. This helps avoid root disturbance and makes your life a little bit easier too. These little pots are surprisingly sturdy, but please make sure you are not overwatering, as not only is that bad for your plant, the cardboard pot will break down if saturated. Give them a go and let me know how you get on, Thank you for watching, and I love you all, Joe 😊🌱🙏 #zerowaste #gardening #Sustainability #gardentips #ecotips #gardeningtips

Today we are back and I am showing you one of my favourite little garden tips to help control those unwanted weeds in your garden. Now I would quickly like to add I’m a really big advocate of leaving parts of your garden a little overgrown for your local wildlife, but this spray is really useful in parts of the garden such as patios and pathways where weeds can be a pain. Please only use this spray on days when the wind is not too strong as it can blow onto and into places you do not want it, and please avoid using it near water or soil. This spray works really well, and as a result will also kill the plants you want to keep alive if it accidentally ends up on them. I highly recommend using it on a sunny day as it dehydrates the plant quicker and better, giving you the best results. In terms of measurements for this spray I use for every 1 litre of distilled vinegar, 2 teaspoons of salt and about half a teaspoon of dish soap. This isn’t an exact science so don’t worry if it’s not exact, tweaking the measurements may possibly even work better 😊🌱 I also use vinegar which is no stronger than 5%, but if yours is stronger just dilute it with water until it’s about 5% in strength. If you are a little worried about using chemicals, then you can use boiling water from your kettle, but this is not quite as effective. Thank you so much for watching, I love you all, Joe 😊🌱 #gardening #gardentips #zerowaste #planttips #Sustainability #ecotips