Garden Care

  • Cover Crops 101: Boost Your Garden's Health and Productivity

    In the realm of sustainable gardening, "Cover Crops" stand out as a cornerstone practice, offering myriad benefits to both the soil and the subsequent plants it nourishes. These green guardians of the garden are not harvested but are grown primarily to benefit the soil ecosystem.

    This article delves into the essence of cover crops, their benefits, the types of cover crop seeds available, optimal planting times, and the best cover crop choices for your garden.

    What are Cover Crops?

    Cover crops, often referred to as "green manure", are plants grown to cover the soil rather than for the purpose of being eaten. They play a pivotal role in protecting and enhancing soil health through their growth cycle, offering a natural, efficient means to manage soil fertility, prevent erosion, and suppress weeds.

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  • Ladybugs: The Complete Guide

    What Is A Ladybug?

    Ladybugs are often called ladybirds, ladybeetles, or ladybird beetles. These are small insects from the Coccinellidae family. They're quite famous for their striking appearance, which typically includes a bright red or orange shell with black spots.

    However, it's interesting to note that their color can vary, including shades of yellow, black, and sometimes pink.

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  • Drip Irrigation: Everything You Need To Know

    Your garden is beautiful and bountiful, however, it can be too much to manage and water on a daily basis. As your garden grows it becomes more important to find an easy way to water your plants.

    Drip irrigation systems are a popular way to water plants in outdoor gardens, greenhouses, and even indoor hydroponic gardens. Here at Hydrobuilder we highly recommended this method to water plant and vegetable gardens. 

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  • Is Wildfire Smoke Bad For Plants? Everything You Need To Know

    Are you, your family, and your indoor plants or garden protected from all of the pollution created by wildfire smoke?

    Don't wait to find out that you are not prepared for wildfire season. It seems now more than ever the fire season never ends. In 2023 we are seeing massive wildfires in Canada affecting most of the eastern United States. This is causing many people, animals, and plants to suffer. Luckily there are steps you can take to help protect yourself and your plants.

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  • Why and How Mushrooms Grow In Gardens?

    If you’re wondering “why are mushrooms growing in my yard”, you’ve come to the right place.

    We have all seen them. These little fungi are everywhere! Some of the mushrooms in your garden are edible, while some are highly toxic. Some cultures believe mushrooms have magical properties because some grow in “fairy circles.” 

    Fairy circles are actually an outline of the mycelium underneath the soil! It grows in a circular pattern, and mushrooms pop up on the edges. 

    Despite how common they are, most gardeners don’t understand what they are. You may ask “where do mushrooms come from”, and whether or not they are harmful.

    If you’re wondering  why are mushrooms growing in my yard? Are they harmful or helpful? Is there a way to get rid of them? Should you get rid of them?

    You have tons of questions, we have all the answers. Read on to learn everything you need to learn about mushrooms growing in your garden!

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  • Root Bound Plant Prevention, Symptoms, and Treatment

    If are dealing with a root bound plant, you need to act quickly. It is important to get those roots untangled and your plant repotted.

    All too often, plants that are purchased in containers at garden centers look fine when you buy them. But when you get them home you discover an issue. The roots are all bound in the pot and packed tightly into the container. 

    While you might think that a large root mass is ideal, this is only true if the roots can breathe!

    The reality is that root-bound plants’ symptoms can be extreme and threaten the health of your plant. Sometimes plants that are left root bound for too long will even wilt and die.

    Therefore, it’s important to understand how to re-pot a root-bound plant. You need to do this so that you can keep your plant healthy and growing well. And today, that’s what we’re going to cover.

    First, we’ll teach you how to identify a plant with root circles (another term for root binding). Then, we’ll explain what can happen if you don’t do anything to remedy the situation. Finally, we will discuss how we recommend you go about repotting the plant.

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  • How To Use Dolomite Lime For Plants

    Are you curious about how to use dolomite for plants? By the end of this article, you’ll feel confident using this unique compound in the garden to balance out your soil.

    It’s important to understand the exact needs of your plants. Although some plants, such as blueberries and azaleas, like acidic soil, most prefer for things to be more on the neutral side. That’s where dolomite lime for plants is so useful. 

    This common garden amendment is a limestone compound that contains both magnesium and calcium at ratios of 18 to 23% each. These elements not only can provide much-needed minerals to your soil but can also help raise the pH to make the soil more alkaline.

    So when is dolomite for plants necessary - and how do you apply it? We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about using dolomite lime for plants. 

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  • Best RO System For Growing Plants Of 2024

    Clean water is essential in hydroponics which is why the best RO system for growing plants is such an important topic for you to explore.

    This is even true if you grow in soil - impurities in your tap water can be detrimental to your crop, whether you grow at home as a hobbyist or in a commercial warehouse professionally.

    Don’t let something as simple as water quality affect your harvest - invest in the best reverse osmosis system for hydroponics and protect your plants.

    As the experts in all things hydroponics, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to cover an option for every grower out there - our list will feature filters as small as 75 GPD all the way up to systems rated at 19,000 GPD & above!

    By the end of this article, you’ll be well equipped to pick and size your water filter. You'll never have to worry about chlorine or sediments messing up your grow or not knowing what the actual PPM of your water is!

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  • The Complete Guide To Organic Garden Pest Control

    If you’re preparing for your first crop in an organic garden, pest control is going to be tougher than you may be used to because you won’t be able to rely on some of the products and tactics you’re used to in traditional growing.

    Gardening is tricky enough - but being more limited in resources when dealing with pests or fungi? This makes things even more difficult. 

    Although sometimes pesticides & fungicides are the only options, organic gardening is becoming more and more popular as people become more conscious about what they put in their bodies. 

    If you’re looking for tips on how to control pests organically, you may have heard of classic remedies like diatomaceous earth and neem oil concentrate.

    But do these organic veggie garden pest control options really work - and if so, how? Today, we’re going to cover everything you need to know - including what truly defines whether a garden is organic or not.

    Then, we’ll teach you some of the most effective organic garden pest prevention and control tips out there. By the end of this article, you’ll feel confident handling any bug or fungus that dares enter your garden! 

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  • How To Winterize A Garden - Step By Step Guide

    Learning how to winterize a garden, whether you're growing veggies, flowers, or fruits, will protect your plants between seasons.

    This is an essential end-of-season task each fall, so you can pick up right back where you started as spring rolls around.

    If you do this right, you're setting yourself up for a more successful following season than had you just let your plants fend for themselves when the cold starts coming.

    When you’re learning how to winterize your garden, preparation and good planning are key.

    It may help to have a checklist of “to-do’s” on hand so that you don’t find yourself falling behind as the snow begins to fly. 

    Whether you’re interested in learning how to winterize a vegetable garden or you’d like to learn more about winterizing raised garden beds, this article will tell you everything you need to know. 

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