Search Results
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6 Clever Ways to Reuse Your Christmas Tree in the Garden
Wait! You may not want to drag your Christmas tree to the curb just yet. We may have said goodbye to another Christmas and your tree may have lost some of its evergreen color as a result, but that doesn't mean this holiday pine has completely fulfilled its purpose. There are a couple ways you can recycle your Christmas tree that will benefit your garden well into the New Year! From mulch to ground cover, learn how you can reuse and recycle parts of your tree long after Christmas is over. ...
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Get the Most From Your Garden With Companion Planting
As gardening becomes increasingly popular, the methods used to ensure a productive garden have also become more strategic. Gone are the days where planting certain vegetables and fruits just for the sake of growing them would yield positive results. With more growers becoming serious about the health and bounty of their crops, now's a great time to really consider what plants are right for your garden based on what you’d like to achieve and companion planting is one way to get you there. ...
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Should You Grow in a Straw Bale Garden?
Straw bale gardening is a technique that uses bunches of straw as hosts for growing plants. This method of cultivation is built like a raised bed garden - above ground with the exception that you use straw bales in place of soil. Find out how you can create your own straw bale garden, the pros and cons of it and what you can grow with this gardening method. Which Type of Straw is Needed? To make a beautiful, healthy garden you need good, firm straw bales. Wheat, rice or barley are good choic...
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Major Elements vs. Trace Elements: Why Your Plants Need Both Last updated: April 7, 2026 Written by: Amir Tajer, B.S.M.E., QAL — Co-Owner & Technical Director, Greenway Biotech Reviewed against: UC Davis Plant Sciences Extension, Penn State Extension Agronomy guidelines, and USDA nutrient function references Disclosure: Greenway Biotech manufactures the fertilizers mentioned in this guide. Alternative formulations, including organic options, are also discussed. ⚡ Quick Facts: Plant Nutrients Major (macronutrients): Nitrogen, phosphorus...
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Is it Possible to Build Your Plant's Immune System?
Last updated: March 25, 2026 Written by: Amir Tajer, B.S.M.E., QAL — Co-Owner & Technical Director, Greenway Biotech, Inc. (Est. 1989 · CDFA Registered · Madera, CA) Reviewed against: UC Davis Plant Sciences, Penn State Extension, and USDA ARS plant pathology research on plant defense mechanisms and nutrient-disease interactions Disclosure: Greenway Biotech manufactures Potassium Sulfate and other fertilizers mentioned in this guide. General nutrient management practices are discussed ind...
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A Guide to Natural Herbicides, Pesticides and Fungicides for Your Garden
As we become more aware of the potential hazards posed by using synthetic chemicals in our lawns and gardens, people are scrambling to find alternatives. There are plenty of substances that can be used as eco-friendly fertilizer for plants that don't have to cause harm to the animals and humans that inhabit our properties, as it turns out. Here is a brief guide to natural pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides that can be easily used in your garden to deter pests, weeds, and plant fungus....
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A Guide to Greener Grass - Selecting the Proper Fertilizer for Your Lawn
Having a yard with luscious, green grass is ideal, but is not always the easiest to achieve. Many turn to fertilizer to help with lawn care, but with all the options available on the market, how do you know which one to choose? Read on to learn how to diagnose your lawn and what factors you should consider before deciding what fertilizer is best for your lawn's needs. What Are the Symptoms of a Sick Lawn? Healthy grass is thick, uniformly green and weed-free. When you run your hand over ...
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Rodent Roundup: Natural Solutions for Keeping Critters Out of Your Garden
It's almost inevitable – if you have a garden, you'll likely have pests like snakes and rodents threatening your garden. Don't fret, however. You have many different pest control options for keeping rodents away from your homegrown fruit and vegetables so that the bounty remains safe for your family to harvest and enjoy. You don't have to turn to dangerous chemicals or inhumane traps, either. Instead, you can use a variety of preventative solutions and natural, environmentally...
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Garden Moss 101: From Root Causes to Remedies
Moss growth can be an inevitable yet undesirable part of having a garden. No matter how many times you get rid of it, it seems to sneak up on you, reappearing when you least expect it. Yes, removing it by hand or using toxic chemicals can provide temporary relief, but without the right approach to lawn and garden care, it will only return. With so many other forms of unwanted foliage that plague your lawn and garden on an annual basis, it's easy to believe that standard weeds and moss are...
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The Role of Root Health in Your Plants and How to Improve It
Take care of your plants and your plants will take care you. Get more enjoyment from your flowers and plants while increasing crop yield, when you take proper care of their root systems using an organic fertilizer. A common mistake made by new gardeners is to overlook the health of the root systems of their plants. Root systems are like the foundation of a house or building. Just as a poor foundation can lead to a structure tumbling down, an unhealthy root system leads to the "tumbling do...
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What's the Function of Zinc (Zn) in Plants?
If you're like most home gardeners, you're always looking for ways to keep your plants thriving and disease free without resorting to chemical fertilizers. Even many commercial growers want to lessen their impact on the environment by finding natural ways to improve their yield and quality of their crops. It's often not as easy as it sounds to be an organic gardener or farmer. One good resource that can help boost your vegetable production and keep your plants healthy without harm...
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What's the Function of Phosphorus (P) in Plants?
Last updated: April 7, 2026 Technical Review by: Amir Tajer, Greenway Biotech Technical Team Reviewed against: UC Davis, Penn State, and Oregon State Extension plant nutrition guidelines Disclosure: Greenway Biotech manufactures phosphorus fertilizers mentioned in this guide. Organic and water-soluble options are both discussed. ⚡ Quick Facts: Phosphorus in Plants Role in plant nutrition: Phosphorus is a macronutrient essential for energy transfer, cell division, root development...
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Why Calcium is Crucial for Plant Growth: Functions, Deficiency Signs, and Fertilizer Tips
Last updated: April 7, 2026 Written by: Amir Tajer, B.S.M.E., QAL — Co-Owner & Technical Director, Greenway Biotech Reviewed against: UC Davis Plant Sciences Extension, Penn State Extension Agronomy, and Oregon State University Extension Service guidelines Disclosure: Greenway Biotech manufactures several calcium fertilizers mentioned in this guide, including Calcium Nitrate and Cal-Mag Plus. Organic and alternative options are also discussed. ⚡ Quick Facts: Calcium in Plants ...
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Why Chelated Iron DTPA Can Help Your Aquaponics System Thrive
Chelated Iron DTPA is an artificially created supplement which ensures that plants grown through aquaponics get the necessary amount of iron to thrive. This supplement prevents iron deficiencies by attaching iron to an organic substance, making it soluble. Chelated Iron DTPA works with the natural processes used by plants to absorb iron into the root structure and is specifically optimized to work best in aquaponic systems that have a standard pH level between 6.0 and 7.5. This product is adm...
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Should You Add Fertilizer to Your Compost Pile?
"What are you using for compost?" "That compost pile is coming along nicely." "I never start planting without a compost pile." Whether you've been planting for years or you're tilling rows for the first time, composting and fertilizing never fail to come up in conversations about the ins and outs of gardening. But what exactly is composting? Is the talk of fertilizer simply hype? If you've ever wondered about compost or fertilizer and what they can do for y...
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The Importance of a Pollinator-Friendly Garden and How Boric Acid Can Help
Most people wouldn't think twice about applying pesticides to their garden when the plants aren't being produced for consumption. After all, as long as you aren't planning to eat what you're growing, it shouldn't matter what you apply to keep pests away, as long as they help your plants thrive. This explains the popularity of toxic pesticides like sprays and granular varieties aimed at killing ants, beetles, and other insects that prey on plants, even when they are harmful...
