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Going Native One Plant at a Time in My Backyard

July 9, 2021 By Heather Blackmore 14 Comments

Hi there!

I'm Heather and I love to grow stuff. LOTS of stuff. Most importantly, a healthy family. I'm a stay-at-home mom with a passion for playing in the dirt. Read More…

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It’s a wrap! The LED string lights from @feitele

It’s a wrap! The LED string lights from @feitelectriclighting are the icing on the cake. I went with copper poles because, to me, copper and garden go hand-in-hand. That aged verdigris patina copper develops over time is 👌 but I love this stage too! And for those of you wondering why I didn’t sweat the copper caps, the fit was super snug. Check out the blog later this week for more on the lighting and how to choose the right copper poles for the job. They’re not all the same! #veggarden #raisedbedgarden #vegogarden #sustainability #festoonlights #festoonlighting #lightitup #nightgarden #raisedbedgardening #makeitpretty #gardening #raisedbeds #foodgarden #gardenglowup #stringlights #backyardgardener #potager #inmygarden #chicagogarden #growyourown #gardendiy #gardenproject #copper #hereshegrows

As is so true in gardening, the right tool makes t

As is so true in gardening, the right tool makes the work so much easier. I used to hang lights in this arb with a broom before I scored a telescoping light hanging rod. Total game changer! And I love the shadow my neighbor’s projecting on the side of her house. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have the same view I have and can’t fully appreciate it from inside her home the way I can. Gotta love a borrowed view! Thanks @amilcarek13 #ohchristmastree #treelighting #christmaslightshow #christmaslights #holidayseason #hereshegrows #chicagogardening

Mealybugs are a common houseplant pest. They’re

Mealybugs are a common houseplant pest. They’re a member of the scale family and their soft body or exoskeleton is their Achilles heel.

If caught early, mealybugs are easy to control as long as you’re vigilant. For bad infestations, unless it’s a high-value plant, I suggest pitching it and getting a new one. It’s not worth the risk of mealybugs spreading to the rest of your houseplant collection. And they will, FAST!

They love soft-stemmed plants like succulents and suck the juices from the plant which, over time, weakens the host and can cause the plant to wilt and die. Rubbing alcohol works great for small issues while insecticidal soap is best for bigger problems in my experience.

🫧Insecticidal Soap Recipe🫧
To a spray bottle add…
2 tsp Castille Soap
1 Quart Water

Mealybugs favor tight spots so be sure to spray the mixture liberally and into all the crevices. Repeat every four to seven days until resolved and be sure to isolate the plant until the mealybugs are history.
#houseplantproblems #mealybugs #mealybugssuck #houseplantpests #plantpests #insectcontrol #houseplants #houseplantcare #houseplantlover #biophilichome #indoorgardening #houseplantsmakemehappy #chicagogardening #wintergarden #hereshegrows #succulents

Now that the garden’s buttoned up for winter, I

Now that the garden’s buttoned up for winter, I can turn my attention to the houseplants that have survived months of neglect. Despite a layer of dust on their leaves, they’ve endured.

There are even a few new leaves on the fiddle which nearly touches the ceiling!

A damp cloth and a good once-over on all the leaves takes care of the grime. And while a humidifier isn’t absolutely necessary, it benefits us and the plants. As soon as the furnace goes on, the nosebleeds start so we humidify the air to help us and our leafy family members.

Watering frequency varies. During the growing season, it’s usually once a week, but that will stretch to every 10-12 days or whenever I remember 😬

Err on the side of caution and let your houseplants dry out some before offering another drink. I think that’s the secret to happy houseplants. Don’t love them too much!

What houseplants are you pampering?

@objectonyc #houseplants #flf #fiddleleaffig #houseplantcare #humidifier #happyhouseplants #indoorplantlove #houseplantlove #fiddleleaffigtree #sundayvibes #plantmom #biophilia #indoorgardening #chicagogardening #houseplantsmakemehappy #hereshegrows #plantparenting

No matter how much care you took to debug your hou

No matter how much care you took to debug your houseplants before bringing them in for winter, you’re chances of bringing in a freeloader or two are pretty high. And now’s about the time you might be seeing them.

I’ve got some mealybugs that need to die!

So I make my own insecticidal soap in a clean spray bottle. To it add a quart of water and two teaspoons Castille soap. That’s it!

Avoid dish detergents as they don’t contain the fatty acids needed to suffocate soft-bodied insects like my lovely mealybugs.

Before spraying your entire plant, test the mixture on a small area to be sure the plant can handle it. Some will wither, brown or spot in protest.

Make this solution every time you see an intruder and be sure to isolate the affected plant until it’s pest free. Spray every seven days until there are no more signs of infestation.

Insecticidal soap works best on soft-bodied insects like thrips, aphids, mealybugs, whitefly and spider mites.

#insecticidalsoap #houseplants #houseplantcare #mealybugs #houseplantclub #houseplantcaretips #happyhouseplants #biophilichome #plantproblems #indoorgardening #greenyourfeed #indoorgardeningtips #plantcare #plantcaretips #diy #chicagogardening #hereshegrows #aphidcontrol #debugging

Just reflecting on the year and feeling grateful f

Just reflecting on the year and feeling grateful for this garden that’s nourished me in so many ways for 20 years. It’s my refuge, my joy, my passion. There’s so much to be found in the soil if only you’ll just touch it and get dirty!!! #mygardenlife #inmygarden #gardening #garden #suburbangarden #backyardgarden #allotmentgarden #potager #chicagogarden #zone5 #hereshegrows #growwhatyoulove #gratefuleveryday #gardenlifestyle #healthylivingforall

Every winter, I disconnect outdoor spigots to prev

Every winter, I disconnect outdoor spigots to prevent water from freezing in the pipes and wreaking havoc. But before I do so, I give all of the evergreens planted in the last two years a deep drink.

Unlike deciduous trees and shrubs, evergreens are transpiring all year long. Which means they’re constantly taking up water from the soil and releasing it through their leaves into the air.

If newly planted evergreens aren’t watered deeply before the ground freezes, they won’t have the water they need to withstand the desiccating winds and harsh conditions of winter.

Broadleaf evergreens like…
💧Boxwood
💧Holly
💧Euonymus
💧Rhododendron
💧Azalea
…lose even more water compared to yew, spruce and fir because they have a larger leaf surface.

So before you turn off the spigots and head indoors, give all of your newly planted trees, evergreen and deciduous, a nice long drink.

#conifers #evergreens #winteriscoming❄️ #gardentips #gardentipsandtricks #winterprep #treecare #transpiration #newtrees #wateringplants #gardencare #savethetrees #protectyourinvestment #gardening #novembergarden #chicagogarden #zone5bgardening #hereshegrows

Hey garden tribe! Join the @impatientgardener and

Hey garden tribe! Join the @impatientgardener and me LIVE this Monday, November 14, at 12pm CST for a lunch time garden chat! If you head to my stories, you can click the reminder and Instagram will make sure you don’t forget. So who’s joining us?! #letsgrowtogether #gardenchat #gardentalk #learntogarden #gardening #chicagogarden #hereshegrows #zone5 #zone5bgardening

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