Gardening can be one of the most satisfying eco-friendly hobbies. Beat the Seattle blues with these three DIY gardening projects that will prep you for the spring gardening season!
1. Build Your Own Compost Bin
Composting is a great way to get rid of food and yard waste while limiting your eco-footprint. The soil that is produced from composting is swarming with nutrients and can be put directly into your yard. Plus, this is a fun project if you have kids!
Materials Needed:
- Large Trash Can with Locking Lid
- Platform (such as a wooden plant stand)
- Screws
- Drill
Directions:
- Using your drill, make holes along the sides of your trash can as well as on the lid and on the bottom of the can. Make approximately 25 total holes.
- Attach the platform to the bottom of your trash can. Make sure not to cover up the holes on the bottom of the bin. This will allow for drainage from the composting bin and save the grass underneath your bin.
- Collect some of the approved items and start composting!
- Every few days put the trash can on its side. Roll it around for a couple of minutes and then return to upright position.
- Add more items as you need.
- When desired, use the rich, nutritious soil for the rest of your yard!
2. Create Your Private Vegetable Garden
Nothing is better than the crisp, juicy taste of home-grown vegetables. Although Seattle weather can be harsh on your yard, here are a few easy steps to build a sustainable vegetable garden.
- Choose a location in your yard that gets at least 6-8 hours of potential sunlight each day. Make sure this spot is not susceptible to extreme temperature drops, such as at the bottom of hills where frost can develop.
- Prepare your soil with organic compost (maybe even your own!). If your soil is compacted, use a shovel or rototiller to add the soil to help with drainage. Make sure the garden bed is raised to prevent the hazards of flooding. Add fertilizer at least 2 weeks before planting.
- Plant your vegetables:
- Cold Weather Vegetables (Plant between Feb. 22 and April 1): peas, lettuce, radishes, and spinach.
- Summer Vegetables (Plant between April 1 and June 1): tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, beans, and yellow squash.
When your vegetables are ripe, you will have tasty treats that your neighbors will be jealous of!
3. Bring Your Lawn Back to Life
Seattle winters can dampen even the lushest lawns. Mid-March is the perfect time to reseed and revamp your lawn.
Materials Needed:
- Hoe
- Topsoil
- Grass Seed
- Crank Spreader
Directions:
- Prepare your soil. Break up dirt clumps using the garden hoe and remove rocks in the soil. Avoid planting on a rainy day, as seeding is easier on a dry lawn.
- Cover the entire planting area with fresh top soil. This should be about 3-4 inches deep.
- Spread the seeds throughout your law, using a crank spreader. You may spread the seeds by hand, but this could lead to an uneven distribution. Apply about 16 seeds per square inch.
- Embed the seeds no more than 1/4 inch into the soil using a rake. Cover the seeds completely so birds will not get to them.
- Pat the soil down with the back of a shovel. Level the ground and water daily to keep the seeded area moist.
- Watering daily in the late afternoon is the best time to prevent the grass from burning.
- Grass should begin to sprout within 2-3 weeks.
Grass should begin to sprout within 2-3 weeks, leaving you a lavish lawn for springtime activities!
Are you inspired to create a garden paradise? Check some homes with the perfect canvas for gardening: www.bellevueseattlehomes.com