I had someone ask me how to keep squirrels out of Tiny Gardens. I did a bit of research. Here are the suggestions that I found: 1) Repellents containing cayenne, bitter tasting compounds, or predator urine. 2) Move bird feeders far away from the garden. 3) Create enclosures and barriers. 4) Keep tree trimmed to more than 6 feet away. 5) Clean up fallen fruits and nuts. Harvest vegetables and fruits promptly. 6) Plants squirrels don't like: daffodils, onion family, mint, hyacinth. 7) Things that move and change them often. 8) Deep prickly mulch. I don't have a serious squirrel problem. What have you tried?

A deer eat all my big cucumber leaves off my plant. The picture you see is before the deer eat it.The big leaves they eat but there are three small leaves still growing. Will the plant survive?

It's that time of year when we see insects move in on our plants. We had a great question come in on squash bugs this week. Here's some tips to help you deal with them before they destroy the fruits of your labor. Squash bugs are one of the few pests that can make even experienced gardeners want to throw in the trowel! 😅 The good news is that container gardeners actually have a few advantages over in-ground gardeners when it comes to controlling them. 🪴 Use your containers to your advantageBecause your plants are elevated and easier to access, make it a habit to inspect the undersides of leaves every few days. Squash bug eggs are usually bronze-colored and laid in clusters. Catching them before they hatch is the easiest way to stay ahead of the problem. 👀 Do a quick "leaf check" while wateringMost of us already check our containers daily for moisture. While you're there, flip over a few leaves. It only takes a minute and can save an entire zucchini plant. 🧼 Hand-pick bugs into soapy waterContainers make this much easier since you're not crawling through a large garden bed. Early morning is the best time when the bugs are moving slowly. 🍂 Remove heavily infested leavesIf one leaf is covered in eggs or young nymphs, don't be afraid to prune it off and toss it in the trash. Sometimes removing one leaf can prevent dozens of future squash bugs. 🌿 Keep containers spaced apartSquash bugs love it when leaves from multiple plants overlap and create a jungle of hiding spots. A little extra airflow between containers can make it easier to spot problems early. 🪵 Check around your containersEven if you're growing in pots, squash bugs often hide under nearby pots, plant stands, potting mats, mulch, boards, or garden decorations during the day. 🎃 Pumpkins and zucchini are favoritesUnfortunately, once they find your zucchini, they often move right on to pumpkins, squash, and gourds. If you grow multiple squash-family plants, inspect all of them—not just the ones showing damage.

This morning when I when to check on my plants I found a mother wolf sprider in my Zianna pot,if you look close you can see the babies on her butt. I do not know what she was hurting but you know I do have to thank her for keeping the plants bug free.Question one of ziannas leaves that are not their true leaves has want looks like burn on the leaves and then other ones true leaves are turning to one side. It's this normal? If you need pictures let me know.

i would love to hear everyones ideas for tackling squash bugs. every year they end up taking all my zucchini and this year they are also going for my pumpkins. i just cannot seem to stop them. i open to your suggestions