Do you dream of the perfect little garden filled with every kind of bloom and
plant imaginable? A cutting garden where you can always enjoys vases of fresh
daisies and roses and peonies?
Yea, me too.
The problem is that I did not inherit my mother’s green thumb. My thumb isn’t
totally non-green…its just more of a very pale mint green color.
But, no worries… I’ve always been taught that when you can’t do… you turn to
someone who can do. That is why I am so happy and thrilled that Kelly from
My Soulful Home has agreed to be my monthly Gardening Contributor. I know
Kelly will be a great asset to The Everyday Home and share all her gardening
knowledge with us. So, please give her a warm welcome….
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Hi Everyone, I am Kelly from My Soulful Home. To say I am thrilled to be the new
Gardening Contributor at The Everyday Home is an understatement.
I am elated, ‘over the moon’ and ‘totally jazzed up’ about collaborating with Barb
& meeting YOU! It is a bloggy dream come true.
Speaking of dreams, I am here to help you have the garden of your dreams. Whether that
be one the size of a country meadow or a single container on your patio.
We’ll approach the garden literally & figuratively from the beginning. Starting with the
letter “A” & the topic ~ Amending Your Soil. Each month, I will cover a garden related
topic that starts with the next letter in the alphabet. It would be fun if you made
suggestions for topics to cover. Just give me a shout out here or at my blog and I will
try to work in your ideas.
Let’s get started…
A ~ Amending Your Soil.
Ok, let’s be honest, nobody really likes this part of gardening. (except maybe, me).
Everybody wants to go to the nursery, buy a trunk load of beauties & plant them.
But those plants won’t stay beautiful for long if your soil is poor. My friends, the dirty
truth is ~ not all soil is created equal. But if your soil is lacking you can fix (amend) it.
How can you tell if you have soil that is up to snuff? Just look at it & feel it. The soil should
be a combination of: clay (to retain water); sand (to drain water) and organic materials
(nutrients). The dirt should appear a rich brown color & clump up just a bit in your
palm. No matter what the condition of your soil – every garden will benefit from amending
with compost. Ok, come a little closer now, I want to share with you my three secret
composting materials.
Closer now,…”banana peels, egg shells & coffee grinds”.
Cut up the peel, rinse & crush the shells and scoop together the grinds. Work all three into
the soil under & around your plants. Toss the secret trio into a container before you mix
in the planting soil. Each will act as a slow release fertilizer, pest deterrent & soil
amendment.
The banana peel adds phosphorus & potassium to the soil. Both are essential for a
healthy plant. Potassium being responsible for the formation of new flower buds.
The egg shells add valuable nutrients such as calcium. Tis the season for tomatoes and
they need a lot of calcium for growth & to prevent blossom end rot. That sounds nasty,
right? Also, sprinkle shells around your plants to guard against snails & slugs.
The coffee grinds provide nitrogen & tannic acids to the soil. Acid loving plants such
as azaleas, blueberries, butterfly weed, camellias, ferns, gardenias, lupines &
rhododendrons especially love coffee grinds.
I swear by these amendments and you will too. Give them a try!
Hope you enjoyed this first installment of “Your Garden A ~ Z”. I will be back next
month with another post for you. In the meantime, come on over & visit me at
My Soulful Home, follow me on Pinterest and/or give ‘My Soulful Home‘ a thumbs
up on Facebook. A big thank you to you for reading along and to Barb for having me!
Have a wonderful weekend!
** Kelly **
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Thanks Kelly! That was awesome! Egg shells and coffee grinds?
Who knew? Now we do!
I can’t wait to see what the Letter “B” brings.
Did everyone have a wonderful and safe July 4th celebration? I know the rain
washed away some of your plans… but hopefully you’ll have a sunny and beautiful
weekend to make up for it. Speaking of gardening, that’s where you’ll find me.
I have a date with some weeds.
See you on Monday, my friends!
xxoo, Barb
***(ps – I realize some of these posts as still a little wonky – please be patient
with me as I get used to this new blogging program
I am using. )
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patti says
love the soil ideas, just put out my eggshells today. looking forward to what B brings! thanks Kelly!
View Commentkelly says
Great…and add the other “two” secrets too!
View CommentRomney says
What great info to have and you make it sound so easy that I plan to do it.
View CommentLooking forward to next month
Romney
kelly says
It is so easy and you will be happy with the results!
View CommentThanks for your comment,
Kelly
Nana Diana says
A girl after my own heart-a gardener that amends her soil. Looking forward to lots of posts from Kelly! xo Diana
View Commentkelly says
We are kindred spirits Diana!
View CommentThank you,
Kelly
KATHYSUE says
Hi Kelly,
View CommentGreat info and I totally agree!! Love your natural way of amending your soul with breakfast foods!! No waste and it helps our garden grow. Looking forward to more helpful tips!
Kathysue
kelly says
Thanks KathySue!
View CommentKelly
GERI CLIFFORD says
Love it Kelly! My new “Gardening Life” in Georgia clay is quite a challenge-not sure I have the patience and fortitude that you do as far as amending this topography, but maybe, at seventy, I dig, squish it in and ask God to please make it grow. So Far, so good, my perennial garden is attracting lots of butterflies and humming birds (and a small fawn this morning). Maybe your letter B could give some tips as how to draw butterflies!!! They are truly “God’s CONFETTI!”
View Commentsonny says
that was so informative.. thanks Kelly. I’ll be watching for your next tip an I have so many questions:)
Barb- love this new feature~!
View Commentkelly says
Thanks so much! I am so excited to be here at The Everyday Home! If you have a question before my next post send it to me at my blog http://www.mysoulfulhome.com. I will do my best to answer it.
View CommentKelly
Cynthia says
Kelly, what great ideas and so simple! Most likely everyone has these items around!
Cynthia
View Commentkelly says
Yes Cynthia…and if you are not a coffee drinker most Starbuck’s or coffee house will give you a bag of grinds for free!
View CommentThanks,
Kelly
Thistle says
Kelly,
My heart smiled when I saw you here! What great ideas and so much inspiration!
Have an awesome and blessed day!
View Commentkarianne
kelly says
Thank you Karianne!!
View Commentxo
Danalynn says
Kelly,
Can you tell me about how long it takes for the Banana peels to decompose? What size do you cut them down into? One inch pieces or less? I loved your A post and look forward to reading B-Z.
Thanks for the post!
View CommentDanalynn
kelly says
Well Danalynn it depends on your climate. Here in California it can take about 2 months for the peel to decompose to the point that you do not recognize it as such. Where are you located? I cut the peel to one to two inch pieces. Thank you for your comment & question. Look forward to seeing you here at The Everyday Home real soon!
View CommentKelly
Danalynn says
Good to know, I am in the Southern California area. I will start using the banana peels and see how it goes.
Thanks for your response,
Danalynn
View Commentkelly says
My pleasure…
View CommentKelly Cartwright @ Vacation house Aruba says
Hi Kelly,
View CommentI learned a lot from your post. I’m into gardening recently and need a lot of ideas on how to make my plants grow beautifully. Thanks
kelly says
I hope you keep coming back & don’t be shy about asking questions here or at http://www.mysoulfulhome.com
View Comment‘See’ you soon!
Kelly
Maggie says
Love the pics! Have you ever grown a pet TickleMe Plant. What a blast growing this from seeds and watching how the leaves fold and the branches fall down when you Tickle It
View Commenthttp://www.ticklemeplant.com
Maggie says
I really do love my pet TickleMe Plant
View Comment