…How well do you think you know your garden?
Gardening is not as easy and dreamy as it might seem at first. Goodness knows that it takes a lot of patience, dedication, a few skills, and quite a bit of luck to properly do all of those things that make your garden look its best.
Whether your garden is full of vegetables or flowers, there are some basic rules that everyone follows. However, this doesn’t mean that secrets don’t exist, especially when all the people want to have the most beautiful and flourishing garden. So if you’ve been on the hunt for some of the best tips, but you couldn’t find any, you came to the right place.
In this article, we’ll reveal some simple secrets all experts know and use all the time to create a magnificent garden. Now is the time to put that knowledge to good use! Are you ready to learn more? Here are 9 secrets you didn’t know about your beautiful garden!
1. Plants love sounds
We’re sure that when you were little, and you wanted to take care of a flower, adults used to tell you that you should sing to it, talk to it or read it some poetry, so that it could grow strong and spectacular. Now you might consider that those were nothing but lies, but let us prove you wrong!
Researchers have discovered that vibrations, such as music or even the sound of your voice, can impact the growth of your plants. In addition to that, some guys from Myth Busters did their own study (which is not as scientific but still counts, right?), and they compared a silent greenhouse to one where they played some music. They noticed that the plants that were part of the second category actually grew more.
…Moral of the story? If you want to have a beautiful garden, make sure to talk to your plants or your vegetables!
2. Certain orchid combinations smell like dessert
We don’t know about you, but we would love to have a garden with nice-colored flowers that smell just like our favorite desserts. Speaking of sweet things, did you know that the vanilla bean actually comes from an orchid varietal? And this is not all. Sharry Baby is an oncidium hybrid that has the sweet smell of chocolate.
But if you prefer something more interesting, there is a flower called cymbidium Golden Elf, and it has a delicious lemony smell. But if you like something different better, the phalaenopsis violacea has the best cinnamon scent.
Just like people combine Jelly Belly beans to create new and interesting flavors, you can combine as many orchids as you want to turn your garden into the best dessert buffet.
3. No composting is required
You might say that this is cheating, but life is busy, and we want to make the best of it in the shorter amount of time possible, right? That is why we tell you that you can apply eggshells, used coffee grounds, chopped-up banana peels, or any other type of organic matter straight to your soil. Yes, without having to compost them first!
It will offer your plants the nutrients they need as they decompose, and it will make your garden more beautiful than ever! If you already have growing beds, just scatter and bury the natural goodness within the first few inches of soil and let them do their thing!
4. Butterflies might like weeds better than flowers
Butterflies won’t come rushing to your garden just because you have pretty flowers that look so dreamy, but because they are attracted to the nectar and the fragrance. In conformity with the Smithsonian Institute, some new cultivars of well-known flowers have been bred for embellished size and color, but they usually lose their beautiful perfume during the process.
But some ordinary weeds, such as clovers and dandelions, are actually the most intriguing things in your garden, at least for butterflies (but they won’t like them that much if they’re covered in pesticides).
…Do you like having butterflies in your garden?
5. Baking soda and tomatoes
Are you looking for an easy way to make your tomatoes even more delicious than they already are? The answer might be right in your pantry! Go to your kitchen, get some baking soda and sprinkle some of it into your plant’s soil. This kitchen staple will help reduce acidity and your tomatoes will be sweeter than ever!
…Did you know about this simple hack?
6. Soil pH level and hydrangea
Many people don’t know that their soil’s pH levels can actually influence the colors of hydrangeas. A soil that is more alkaline, for instance, will result in blooms that are more on the pinker side, while more acidity will result in some pretty blue blooms.
If you want to enjoy some blue flowers, add more organic matter to your soil, such as eggshells or some high-acid fertilizer as well. You won’t see results overnight, but you will surely change the pH levels of your soil.
7. You have microorganisms in your garden
Have you ever wondered how many microorganisms were in your soil? You might say many, which is true, but the correct answer is that there are more microorganisms in just a teaspoon of soil than there are people on our planet. Isn’t it crazy?
Whether this funny fact makes you itchy or not, you should know that these microbes are essential for keeping your soil healthy and full of all the nutrients it needs.
8. Keep deer away
How many times have you seen deer in your garden? They might be cute and friendly, but many people are scared that they might ruin their beautiful gardens. If you’re one of those people, you might think that a tiny fence is all you need to keep them away from your property.
But that’s not actually true since they have the ability to jump up to 8 feet high. Of course, they might need a running start to reach this impressive height, but a minuscule fence won’t discourage them from going for a walk in your garden. Plant some pungent or thorny plants so you can have a natural barrier, build a taller fence or scare them off with wind chimes or lights.
9. Tulips valued more than gold
Tulips have amazing colors, and they look absolutely gorgeous in any shade or light. But let us tell you something that will make you want to plant tulips in your garden—if you don’t already have them. As many experts say, once upon a time, tulips were actually more valuable than gold.
That’s because this beautiful flower was considered to be a rarity and only people who were very wealthy were able to afford it. A long time ago, in 1624, the price of one Rembrandt-type bulb was actually the equivalent of $1,500 in today’s money.
And what is even more interesting is that at the time, that price was 10 times the annual income of a talented craftsman or the price of a spacious house. People used to consider tulips so special and precious that even though the tulip market crashed, the same thing happened to the Dutch economy.
…Did you know that tulips were more valuable than gold?
…If you find this article interesting and you want to know even more secrets about gardening, check this one out: 15 Amazing Secrets Gardeners Won’t Tell You!
