7 Interesting (or Maybe Weird) Facts Abo
ut Gardening at Home
If you have been gardening at home for a while, you may think you know quite a bit about your garden, but it turns out that there may be more going on in your yard than you ever realized. Want to know about the strange things that are going on in your soil and among the leaves? Take a look at a few of the fascinating facts about your garden:
A flower isn’t always just a flower. For instance, the sunflower has not just a single bloom at the top of that stalk, but more like 1,000 to 2,000 individual flowers. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself slowing down on the Kansas highway to get a better look.
The population of your dirt may shock you. The soil in your garden is more than just dirt. It’s crammed full of microorganisms, and the number of critters in one teaspoon of soil outnumbers the total population of people living on earth.
They’re listening. Your plants, that is. You’ve heard the old wives tale that says success with gardening at home includes taking time to talk to your plants. It turns out that studies show that vibration or the sound of your voice can positively affect plant growth. The Myth Busters even tested this by comparing growth in a silent greenhouse with one that had music piped in. The serenaded plants had better results.
Butterflies might prefer your weeds to your flowers. The cultivating of brighter blooms in your garden plants may come with a price: the loss of fragrance. As flowers have been bred for better appearance, it seems that their fragrance often becomes less potent. As a result, butterfly visitors may be more likely to frequent your yard if they find that you’ve left those detested dandelions to grow unfettered.
Your baking pantry might sweeten up your tomatoes. No, you aren’t being advised to add sugar to your tomato plants. However, a sprinkling of baking soda on a regular basis can reduce the acidity of your plants and provide you with a sweeter fruit.
You may enjoy eating fruit from rose bushes. It may surprise you to learn that many of your favorite fruits are from plants related to the roses you love getting on Valentine’s Day. Apples, pears, peaches, cherries and strawberries are all grown on plants that are cousins of the rosebush.
Deer are great jumpers. Deer can jump up to eight feet high to get to your garden, so plan your fence for at least that high. You can also try pungent plants that are natural deer repellents, or you can use wind chimes to frighten nibblers from your garden.
Gardening at home seems a little more edgy now, doesn’t it? If you want to keep the excitement, but in a responsible, organized fashion, check out the selection of beautiful plant markers at Kincaid Plant Markers. We look forward to talking with you about the weird and wonderful things you find in your garden!
