Mulch is really important for any garden, not only does it conserve moisture and enhance plants, it’s also an erosion buster! If you’re having a weed problem, mulch helps by stopping weeds from taking root. On hot days, the mulch helps shade the roots of your plants.

The first thing when it comes to applying mulch is do you want organic or inorganic? Organic mulch is wood, bark, compost, leaves, and grass clippings. It will eventually decompose and improve the soil as it’s decomposing. Stone is a more permanent mulch. It’s a low-maintenance option but it’s not easy to plant in. When choosing a mulch, you need to decide if you will need to do any gardening that requires digging and moving the mulch around. If so, choosing an organic mulch would be a better option.

Now you need to pick the right mulch, since every mulch is different. For example, bark nuggets can float away if there is heavy rain. Cocoa hulls have an aroma, but are expensive and are toxic to dogs. Most choose shredded bark or wood, as it’s inexpensive and easy to apply. The con is that it doesn’t add as many nutrients to the soil as other mulches.

If you’re on a budget, you can use your yard waste as mulch. Grass clippings, leaves, and compost are all good mulch. Although compost adds tonnes of nutrients, it isn’t very good at keeping weeds at bay. Grass clippings can be effective, but don’t pile them too deeply because they can get soggy. Remember not to use grass clippings that have been treated with herbicides. If you decide to use leaves, make sure to shred them first. Pine needles are a great choice because they last a long time, and work well with azaleas (and other acid-loving plants), since pine needles acidify soil.

Don’t spread the mulch too thickly, and don’t spread it too thinly, either. Spread the mulch 2-3 inches thick. If it’s thicker, it could attract pests. You can apply mulch any time, as there isn’t a specific time you need to mulch your plants. Plants will accept mulch any time of the year. If you decide to apply mulch in the winter, wait until the ground freezes before mulching.

Photos: Eco Pro Mulch, Look Home Design, The Floor Decor.

Cookie sheets are one of those things that seem impossible to clean. Oil and grease get stuck to them and are hard to get off. Before you give up and toss them out, try our cleaning recipe!

What you will need: baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.

Sprinkle baking soda all over the pan, then hydrogen peroxide, and then add more baking soda. Leave it to do its magic for 2 hours. When the two hours are up, prepare to be amazed! Your pan should look as good as new! Simply wipe the baking soda away, no scrubbing required!

Before:

After:

Huge improvement! It’s not perfect, but it looks so much better! And best of all, you don’t have to scrub it! So, if your cookie sheet has seen better days, give this recipe a try!

Photos: The Polka Dotted Turtle.

Lemonade is our go-to drink for summertime. It’s refreshing and extremely good for you, too! There’s no need to buy store bought lemonade loaded with sugar and preservatives. You can make your own homemade lemonade using freshly squeezed lemons right in your own kitchen! Here’s one of our favorite classic recipes to make this cooling drink yourself:

The Best Lemonade

This will definitely be the best lemonade you have ever tasted!

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups white sugar
• 8 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups lemon juice

Instructions

1. In a saucepan, combine sugar and 1 cup of water.
2. Bring to a boil and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Allow it to cool until it is at room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled.
4. Squeeze lemons for juice and remove seeds, but leave the pulp.
5. In a pitcher, stir together the chilled syrup, lemon juice, and the remaining 7 cups of water.

Photos: Seevanessacraft, Static Parade

Ever wonder what that foul smell coming from you kitchen may be? Prop open your fridge and you may be in for a surprise – refrigerators are known to carry thousands of germs and mold which can eventually lead to allergies, food contamination, and e coli.

Cleaning your fridge isn’t a tough task and you can use a lot of household products you already have like vinegar, baking soda, and water. With the warm months quickly approaching, now is the time to give your fridge a good scrub as germs multiply and mold grows at an even faster rate due to the increasing warm temperatures. Follow our easy guide to combat those germs and keep you and your family safe this warm season:

1. Toss it Out

First things first – remove everything from your fridge and immediately toss out any old ormoldy fruit and vegetables. Check expiry dates on other foods such as ketchup, mayonnaise, cold cuts, sauces, e.t.c, and toss out everything pasts it’s prime.

2. Scrub Shelves

Strap on your rubber gloves and get down to the messy part of cleaning your fridge! Remove the wire racks racks, the glass shelves, and the drawers and place them into the sink. In a large bowl make a combination of hot water and dish soap and give them a good scrub, and then place them on a dish towel to air dry.

3. Use Vinegar Baking Soda Mix

In a small bucket or bowl, make an even mixture of hot water, vinegar, baking soda, and a little bit of dishwashing soap. Use a sponge to scrub the mixture all over the inside walls of your fridge. Use an old toothbrush to get hard to reach areas. Rinse everything with hot water.

4. Wipe Down Containers

Wipe down all the jars, containers, and bottles and place your food back in the fridge.

TIPS:

* To diminish odors, place a box of baking soda in your fridge.
* For clean the outside of your fridge (if its plastic on enameled steel), use a multi-surface cleaner such as Windex and paper towels.
* If you have a stainless steel fridge, use a damp cloth and white vinegar to bring back its shine – make sure to rub in the direction of the grain for best results.