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Gardening isn’t always about flowers and herbs. Sometimes it means nurturing a beautiful and lively tree. And it may seem strange to think that something as formidable as a tree could require a bit of extra TLC. But the truth is, like everything else in your garden, these gentle giants need certain things to flourish. Examine some of these simple yet effective methods for keeping your tall, green friends healthy.

Plant Mindfully

Growing healthy trees entails planting them in a spot that’s conducive to their growth. Like all the wonderous plant life in your garden, trees have specific growing conditions, watering requirements, and even preferred positions in relation to the sun. So you must be mindful of these factors before you plant. It’s also a good idea to evaluate your yard’s soil drainage and be aware of any other plants that might encroach on your saplings’ roots or trunk.

All of these things will play a role in your sapling’s ability to grow. So it’s no wonder that planting mindfully is truly one of the best tips for how to keep your trees healthy.

Keep the Grass Trimmed Back

Once you plant your trees, it’s wise to mitigate the growth of any other plants surrounding them. When weeds and grass grow too close to the trunk and roots of a tree, the tree must compete for the vital nutrients it needs to survive. As a result, the health of your trees may start to decline. So if you notice grass, weeds, or any other plants getting a bit too close to your trees, it’s wise to back the extra plants. Doing this is another small step you can take to ensure that your trees thrive.

Prune Regularly

Seasoned gardeners know that one of the best tips for how to keep your trees healthy is pruning them regularly. Cutting back your saplings’ branches allows the trees to expend energy on new growth rather than waste it on unhealthy or brittle branches. That said, there is a wrong way to prune. And when you prune incorrectly, it can cause a detrimental decline in your trees’ quality of life. Luckily, there are a lot of techniques to correct bad pruning. But bear in mind, it’s always best to call an arborist for this job. They’ll have the expertise required to get your trees back on track.

Use Mulch and Fertilizer as Needed

Sometimes, the best thing you can do for a tree’s health is give it an extra boost. Whether you’re planting trees or flowers, learning how to use mulch and fertilizer is essential. This is especially true for new gardeners looking for a bit of extra help. To start, fertilizers can help you fill in the nutritional gaps your trees might be experiencing. This inherently leads to better health for your trees. Additionally, using mulch around your trees can regulate their roots and soil temperature. This is most beneficial during the height of summer or winter, when temperatures are harsher.

Trees are beautiful features in any yard or garden, and they deserve proper care. Hopefully, some of the methods in this guide have provided new insight into how you can look after the health of your trees.

Nothing beats the taste of fresh produce, especially from a home-grown tree right on your property. In fact, there are many fruit-bearing trees that are perfect for your backyard, thanks to their durability, yield potential, and low maintenance requirements. Get ahead this winter and consider adding these trees to your yard.

Fig Trees

No fruit-bearing trees are easier to grow than fig trees, making them favorites among green-thumbed enthusiasts. For starters, figs trees are disease free and pollinate themselves. They require almost no maintenance and even survive harsh droughts or punishing cold fronts. Furthermore, fig trees grow fast and bud early, providing you with a quality supply of delicious fruits.

In cold climates, opt for Brown Turkey or Chicago Hardy trees. They produce efficiently and withstand cold zones from seven to five. Another beneficial feature of fig trees is that they come in different sizes, meaning you can plant a massive tree or a five-foot-tall dwarf plant. In short, fig wood plants are flexible and perfect for amateur growers.

Apple Trees

Apple trees are great for providing a refreshing snack. Their main draw is the wide variety of options for people to consider. Remarkably, there are nearly 7,000 different types of apples grown on earth, with around 100 of these apples existing in the United States. Some apple trees suffer from diseases, but those diseases are typically common and easy to treat.

The best backyard variations for northern climates include Fuji and Granny Smith trees. In the south, many people find success growing Anna or Dorset Golden apple trees. Regardless of the kind, an apple tree is a durable food-producing asset perfect for any home or property. Its yield potential is huge, so just one apple tree is enough for a family.

Pear Trees

Pear trees are nearly as easy to grow as fig trees, and many people admire their delicious fruit. They thrive in both warm and cold climates, depending on the variety. Sand and Kieffer pears are best for southern regions, while European and Asian pears do well in northern climates. Although pear trees are can self-fertilize, growers can cross-pollinate them with other varieties. Like most trees, they survive in the winter and have chill hour requirements for blossoming.

Ultimately, the best wood plant for your property is one that you prefer and enjoy. There’s no end to the many fruit-bearing trees that are perfect for your backyard!

One of the similarities between commercial and residential property is that you must prepare both for winter. This is especially true if you live in an area with heavy snowfall and powerful wind.

In order to prevent damage from occurring to your property, you need to follow the correct steps to winterize the building. With that in mind, here is how to prepare your commercial property for winter.

Always Keep Your Heaters On

Although the energy expenditure might seem wasteful, you must keep the heater on for the entire winter in order to prevent your pipes from freezing. The costly repairs that come with a broken pipe will surely outweigh the cost of your bill, so make sure that no one turns the heat off by accident. You can leave the heater on the lowest setting to save money, but you must ensure that it stays on for the entire winter.

Inspect the Property for Repairs

Checking your property regularly for any peculiarities can save you from expensive repairs down the line. If you notice anything suspicious, such as shingles coming loose on your roof, you need to fix the problem before the winter makes it worse. Also, you should develop a good rapport with your neighbors so they can alert you if an emergency should take place while you are away from the property.

Eliminate Drafts by Filling In Every Gap and Crack

Drafts can cause many problems to your commercial property when you leave them unabated. In addition to allowing cold air to enter, gaps can allow mold to form and lead to increased energy expenditure when attempting to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.

Consequently, your utility bill will go through the roof if this happens, and excessive energy use hurts the environment. Nonetheless, you can prevent this from happening by filling in every crack in your doors, windows, and elsewhere on your property. Using less energy is a helpful tip for living a more sustainable life.

Winterize Your Irrigation Systems

If you want to preserve your sprinklers for next season, you need to turn them off and make sure they can withstand the winter elements. Start by draining your irrigation system entirely so that no water remains, then shut down the control box for the season. Checking to ensure that your irrigation system is completely off is a practical way to conserve water and prevent damage.  Overall, nothing disastrous should take place as long as you remain cautious. Now that you know how to prepare your commercial property for winter, you can rest easy knowing that you’ve done everything you can to keep your property safe.

In a year, you can probably collect 100 wine bottles. If you stop throwing them away and find ways to upcycle them, you can transform your home into a vino lover’s dream. These are the best ways to repurpose your wine bottles. Check out why you should save them rather than recycle.

Garden Edging

Few people think to keep a stockpile of wine bottles to use as decoration in the garden. Whether all your bottles look the same or are mismatched, you can use them to create a border around your garden and pathways within it. Press the open end of the bottle into the ground until only the bottom sticks out. Continue with your bottles, making sure they are all the same height.

Tiki Torches

One of the cutest DIY tiki torch ideas is to make one out of a wine bottle. Fill the bottle with paraffin or kerosine and attach a tiki torch wick. You can secure the wick to the top of the bottle with putty, wire, or tape.

Slow-Drip Irrigation for Garden Pots

For this DIY project, you’ll need the cork that came with your wine bottle. Use a drill or other sharp object to puncture a small hole through the cork. This will allow water to flow in a steady stream. This is a great way to water seed paper because it keeps the soil moist.

Flower Vases

If you love the way that wine bottles look, enjoy decorating with them in your home. Place them on tables and other surfaces and use them as vases. You can place real or faux plants inside to invigorate your space.

Pickle Vegetables

Wash your wine bottles and reuse them for your own recipes. One of the best uses for glass wine bottles is pickling vegetables or fruits. Especially if you have a dark, cool place to keep them, wine bottles make beautiful jars for canned:

• Beets
• Peppers
• Carrots
• Strawberries
• Asparagus
• Cherries
• Rhubarb

Plant Terrarium

Wine bottles come in all different shapes and sizes—making them great for terrariums. The simplest way is to maneuver some air plants inside and add rocks. You could lay the bottle on its side or keep it upright. Once you figure out your favorite way to repurpose your wine bottles, you’ll want to use them more often. There’s no guilt in enjoying a glass of wine when it gets you closer to your craft goals. Introduce wine bottles into your interior or exterior décor and start upcycling today.

When it comes to skin care, finding natural, eco-friendly, and sustainable ingredients can be an uphill battle. With so many chemical mixtures, fragrances, and synthetics in most cosmetic products, maintaining clear and healthy skin can sometimes contradict sustainable values. However, most people don’t realize that one of the best ingredients that can benefit your skin is a highly sustainable and eco-friendly product.

Raw, unfiltered honey will naturally kill off bacteria, balance your pH, and revitalize your skin. Continue reading to learn about the reasons why you should use honey in your skin care.

Honey Is Antibacterial

Many people are nervous to try using honey as a skin care product. After all, how can one pantry item be both sustainable and beneficial for your skin? The answer to this question lies in honey’s potent natural properties. Honey has tons of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, and these nutrients have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Applying raw, unfiltered organic honey to your skin will instantly kill off surface-level bacteria and keep your pores clear of external irritants. The anti-inflammatory properties of honey will also balance your skin’s pH to keep it fresh.

Honey Is a Natural Exfoliant

If you don’t already use an exfoliator in your skin care routine, you should add one. When you exfoliate your skin, you safely remove dead skin cells and bacteria from your epidermis. Exfoliating helps to keep your pores clear, and this process also prevents future skin infections.

While many exfoliating products use harsh ingredients or peels, honey is more effective. Slathering a small amount of it on your skin and removing it with water will gently remove dead skin cells without creating microtears. Since honey is a natural product, you can also rest easy knowing this ingredient is more eco-friendly than chemical and synthetic formulas.

Supporting Honey Will Support Bees

If you care for a home garden or buy local honey, then you likely already know the importance of supporting bee products. Bees are one of the world’s largest pollinators, and protecting these insects is crucial.

If you value eco-friendly and bee-friendly practices, using honey in your skin care is one of the simplest ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Buying honey and other bee products will support bee businesses and beekeepers that protect active hives all over the world. Consider showing your support by buying more bee products. These are just a handful of the reasons why you should use honey in your skin care. Look over these benefits and consider whether this ingredient could be the best fit for you, your skin, and your lifestyle.