Have you caught the gardening bug? If so, then you’re about to enjoy a very fulfilling and valuable hobby. Like anything else, there’s a right way and a wrong way to get started. If you want to become an expert gardener, then you need to master the basics first. We want you to succeed in growing your first plants, so here are some important tips for new gardeners. Do Your Growing Research One of the hardest things for new gardeners to get right is the timing. Getting the timing right is critical for growing healthy plants. Each plant will have a different bloom time. The region that you’re in also plays a part in when you should plant. Here are a few tips for nailing the timing: Know which plants you intend to grow first. Check out a growing calendar for your area to know when to plant. Learn the average first and last frost dates in your region. Keep It Simple at First A lot of beginner gardeners tend to bite off more than they can chew. Remember, while you may want to grow a mile-long, bustling garden, you’re still new to gardening. That’s why starting small is a great idea. Try starting with a simple raised garden bed with a few plants. By starting simple, you’ll get to know the needs of your plants. You’ll also get familiar with the climate in your area. You could even start with some seed paper sheets to keep it light and simple! Scout for the Sunniest Areas Your plants will need a lot of sunlight to thrive. Most plants need at least six hours of sunshine each day. That’s why you need to find the perfect spot that gets the most sun. Make sure there are no significant obstructions, such as trees or houses, in the way. Also, try and view your selected spot during each time of the day to make sure it gets consistent sun. Set Up a Watering System Plants need water to survive. As a result, you need a quality irrigation system to provide your plants with a steady water supply. Your irrigation system needs to stay in pristine working condition. If you spot signs of a faulty irrigation system, you’ll have to seek repairs. Any leaks? Get them sorted as soon as possible so that you’re not wasting any water. Your Soil Is Everything You should know that there’s a big difference between dirt and soil. A seasoned gardener can instantly spot the difference. Soil is dark black and rich in nutrients, and it usually has worms. You can perform a home soil test to check the potency of your soil. You can also fertilize the ground to improve the quality of the soil. If you don’t have rich, robust soil in which to grow your plants, you won’t find success as a gardener.There you have it—some important tips for new gardeners. Follow this guide, and you’ll have a vibrant garden growing before you know it. Don’t give up!

When looking at the current climate change projections, it is hard not to have a bleak outlook on the future. During times like these, when people are uncertain about events to come, folks tend to look toward leaders for guidance. Politicians, police officers, scientists, and even business owners need to set an example for the rest of the world. If you own a business and wish to be a responsible leader in your community, you should learn these ways to reduce your company’s carbon footprint.  Minimize Food Waste No matter the size of your company, if you are purposeful with the way you purchase and discard food, you can reduce a major source of environmental strain. When you cater, work with companies that are dedicated to minimizing their waste. Purchase from businesses that work with local farmers, thereby decreasing the amount of travel waste. Also, your company can create its own compost program to turn food trash into fertilizer. Invest in Renewable Energy With fossil fuels being a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, environmentally responsible companies are moving away from those sources in favor of greener options, like solar or wind. If you want to limit your company’s carbon footprint, there are federal, state, and local incentives available to businesses ready to make those alterations. You can check out these incentives at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency.   Use Product Destruction Services No company should feel like they alone are responsible for all the work in managing a switch to a greener mode of operation. In truth, there are many, many businesses whose sole purpose is to assist corporations in their renewable efforts. One such industry is product destruction services. This industry protects the environment by properly disposing of paper, including sensitive documents; eliminating harmful recalled products, and composting. Working alongside a product destruction company, you will feel much more secure in your environmental goals. Use Sustainable Web Hosting Services Most people are unaware of the vast amount of fossil fuels used up by web hosting services. The unfortunate truth is that unless you are told otherwise, it is likely that your website is on a data server stored in a warehouse that is powered by fossil fuels. Data servers must be cooled and powered at all times, which makes for an unsustainable arrangement. Thankfully, one of the ways to reduce your company’s carbon footprint is to partner with a certified sustainable hosting member, like CanvasHost or Sustainable Hosting, to eliminate the environmental costs of fossil fuel-powered hosting.

In the last year, many people have picked up new and enriching hobbies. Gardening is one of the most popular choices among them. You get to nurture a living thing from a seed and watch it grow to its full potential. Sometimes, however, keeping track of everything your little green buddies require to reach full bloom can be difficult. Luckily, some fuzzy friends can help you give your plants what they need. Below is a guide to how gardening with moss helps your garden thrive. Moss Can Indicate Disease in Trees The growth of moss can sometimes indicate disease in various types of plants and trees. For instance, if you start to notice an overgrowth of moss on your favorite oak tree, this might be a sign that the tree is sick or dying. Of course, moss overgrowth on trees and plants doesn’t automatically point to illness, as moss can develop without taking nutrients from another source. But, in some cases, it can indicate that a tree is in poor health: when there are fewer leaves on the branches, more sunlight will hit the bark, creating an ideal space for moss to prosper. Moss Provides More Nutrients to Potted Plants Moss can also serve as a potent fertilizer for your potted plants. Putting a layer of moss over the soil in your pots can help the plants succeed, as the moss will retain each drop of nutrients and return them to the ground. In this way, the plant is not only benefiting from the extra nutrients but also receiving a boost of moisture. This can be especially helpful if you wish to have a thriving garden but your time to care for each of your plants is limited. Moss Serves as a Great Home for Beneficial Insects Moss also attracts certain types of insects that are directly beneficial to the health of a garden. When you think of insects, your mind probably leads you to thoughts of creepy-crawlers that you would rather not find in your house. When it comes to gardening, though, some of these creatures will keep your plants free of harmful pests and diseases. For example, moss makes a perfect dwelling for spiders and worms, two insects that keep the harmful bugs away and ensure your soil stays nutrient rich. Furthermore, moss attracts lightning bugs, which are whimsical reminders that nature is beautiful. Gardening is an incredible and rewarding way to spend your free time. You get to watch something burst forth from a seed and grow to full fruition. Even better, there are so many creative ways to provide your plants with everything they need to flourish. With these tips on how gardening with moss helps your garden thrive, you can do even more for the health of your plants!