Making Your Own Effective Natural Bug Repellent

Natural bug repellent is something that you can make yourself at home. Many of us are more aware of the contents of certain bug control products and wish to avoid using sprays or lotions that are full of chemicals.

The good news is you can create an effective repellent at home. The basic ingredients, if used properly, will be a safer mix for your skin, and you will also save money as the products you use are everyday items that you likely already possess.

Your natural bug repellent will then be ready to be applied either as a lotion or insect repellent spray. Like most any commercially made insect repellent, your homemade batch will need to be reapplied if you get wet or after you've been outside in the sun for an extended period of time.

A homemade bug repellent, though safer than most commercially made products, can still produce a chemical reaction; pregnant women should check with their physician before using.

Natural bug repellent can be made cheaply and easily in the comfort of your own home. Everyone has their own body chemistry and so the strength of a homemade organic insect repellent can be adjusted according to each person's needs.

If you live in a location that has a high number of insects, then you may need to make stronger repellent as well. Finally, a natural insect repellent will have a much softer impact on the environment.

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Accelerating Grass Growth In The Springtime With Fall Lawns Alive! All Natural Fertilizer

The winter weather can be unforgiving on our lawns; killing off grass, injuring roots and sucking the life out of soil. It then seems like it takes homeowners half the spring and summer trying to restore the grass back to its healthy green again.

The Fall Lawns Alive! All Natural Fertilizer is a product that is designed to accelerate grass growth (which occurs within 10-14 days of your springtime application). All winter long, Fall Lawns Alive will provide a long-lasting blend of vital nutrients to the soil, boost resistance to insects and disease, and improve the soil structure.

The beginning of spring and the start of fall are the most important times to perform routine maintenance on the lawn and a little bit of the right stuff can go a long way, taking your lawn through each season with ease.

The most reviews for Gardens Alive, including the Fall Lawns Alive! All Natural Fertilizer, can be found at www.davesgarden.com. One buyer calls them the "very best fertilizers ever made!"

In addition to the fall formula, other products are highly rated as well. "I am a new Gardens Alive customer and have been very happy with the 100% Spring Organic Lawns Alive fertilizer," says another reviewer.

Though the formula was "powdery" and sometimes tough to spread, this buyer said the lawn is "currently very thick and green!" Other buyers report using the Flowers Alive, Tomatos Alive and living insects kits to stimulate their lawns' natural processes.

Some consumers admit these products are a bit pricier, but insist they work great so all-in-all Garden's Alive products are a great buy. "Customer service is excellent," a number of individuals have commented.

Consumers can buy 20-pound bags (to cover up to 2,500 sq ft.) for $24.95 or 40-pound bags (to cover up to 5,000 sq ft.) at www.gardensalive.com. They also offer $1-per-bag product discounts, the more bags you buy.

Even though the product is a little pricier than other fertilizers, especially with shipping factored in, buyers are making the conscientious decision to have plush, green, organic lawns at any cost.

Besides, a little bit of Fall Lawns Alive! All Natural Fertilizer goes a long way, considering you only have to perform this kind of maintenance twice a year.

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Gardening Solutions And Plant Suggestions With EasyBloom Plant Sensor

The EasyBloom Plant Sensor is the perfect product for that tech-savvy gardener. EasyBloom's manufacturer, San Francisco-based company PlantSense, said they wanted to bring greenhouse operator technology to amateur gardeners.

In one test, EasyBloom took in 129 data points over 30 hours and recommended 321 plants for that specific soil and conditions. While guesswork can sometimes be a fun part of the process, EasyBloom provides you with solutions to ailing plants and plant suggestions you may have never thought of before.

The EasyBloom Plant Sensor has received rave reviews with the press. In a January 2009 article titled "Cool News Gizmos For Home, Families, Kids," CBS News writes, "The EasyBloom enables anyone to enjoy a beautiful garden, from a single potted plant to a backyard full of blooms."

ABC News recommends this gadget in their December 2008 article "New Home Gadgets for the New Year" and in their May 2009 article "11 Gadgets to Make Her Gush." Barron's chose EasyBloom as their February 2nd, 2009 "Gadget of the Week," with the author writing, "I was impressed with the EasyBloom's secondary functions, which say if plants need watering and diagnose ailing ones."

The EasyBloom Plant Sensor does not win everyone over. Some people feel that gardening should be an intimate moment involving man and nature only. "This is not hands-on gardening," argues Bruce Butterfield of the National Gardening Association.

"I'll rely on my old-fashioned green thumb," adds St. Petersburg Times contributor Yvonne Swanson, who says that "most of the rules are thrown out the window" with Florida gardening.

One Amazon reviewer from Texas argues that this gadget only alerts you to the water/sunlight conditions of the plants and that "Using your better judgment would be more effective and allow you to learn as a gardener." Other reviewers say they don't like that they had to register before being able to use this gizmo.

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Improving Your Garden With Tips From Joy of Gardening

If you're looking for a great book about vegetable growing, you're probably hoping to find full-color photos, easy-to-read charts and well-written descriptions of various planting charts and garden tending methods.

Expert gardener Dick Raymond's top-selling book, Joy of Gardening, borrows from his 40 years of professional experience as a Garden Specialist and mentor. This book has received glowing reviews and has been referred to as "The Gardening Bible."

You'll find that readers of this book are almost cult-like in their fanaticism about every pearly word of wisdom Dick Raymond has. For proof, just read some of the glowing reviews at www.amazon.com.

People call Raymond "my guru" or "my master" and talk about spouting off quotes from the book everyday. Disheartened gardeners who suffered a bad season find they are rejuvenated by this book and experienced gardeners learn tips and techniques that take them further than they ever thought before.

"My garden looks ten times' better than last year's," one reviewer writes. "This is the only book you'll need," another satisfied customer adds. At www.angeluspress.org, Joy of Gardening was called "so vivid you can almost smell the dirt and taste the fresh vegetables!"

The review adds, "The locals around here say this is the best book on gardening." On the Powell's Books website, an enthusiastic reviewer writes, "I have had this book for years, and refer to it each year. In fact, in early January and February it's good for the soul to read about gardening."

Given the dicey economy, it's no surprise that seed orders were up 40% in 2008 or that backyard gardens have sprouted up like crazy. Gardens are one of the best investments you can make, giving you high yields and fostering healthier living.

Whether you're working with a full yard, a terrace, a box, a pot or a raised bed, Joy of Gardening can get you started with everything you need to know to create delicious and successful organic food for your family. You can buy this book at www.lehmans.com or www.amazon.com.

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