With Spring wrapping up and summer in full swing, there is no better time to liven up your home with gardening. Spending time outdoors, especially when you have a screened porch, is a great way to unwind and enjoy time with friends and family. Plants and flowers can bring your outdoor space to life. Keep reading for gardening tips and tricks so you can make sure you are making the most out of your outdoor space this summer.  

Keep sunlight in mind when choosing plant locations

Misjudging sunlight can lead to unhealthy plants that don't grow to their full potential. Keep in mind where the sunlight will be throughout the day so that your garden is getting us much sunlight as it can. Edible plants like many vegetables, fruits, and herbs usually need at least 6 hours of sun to thrive 

Borrow and share your tools

Especially if you are new to gardening, there is no need to spend a bunch of money on new gardening tools you don’t even know if you are going to use. Talk to your friends and family to see if they have tools you can borrow to figure out what you need. You can also consider turning to Goodwill and Facebook Marketplace for a starter set before investing in a nice set of tools.  

Utilize Colorful/Scented Flowers and Plants

To really upgrade your garden, plants that give off an aroma will especially bring your garden to life. Not only will this give off a pleasant smell to any guests, but plants that are bright and fragrant also attract more wildlife. With birds, butterflies, and bumblebees flying around your outdoor space will be peacefully connected with nature. Don’t fear though, SCREENEZE screened porch systems ensure the creatures will stay on the outside of your screened in porch, so you can enjoy their presence from a distance. Here are some eamples of flowers that fit these criteria.  

• Azalea 

• Oriental Lily 

• Garden Phlox 

• Sweet Pea 

• Hyacinth 

• Lilac

• Lavender

Turn Kitchen Scraps into Compost

Utilizing kitchen scraps for compost for your garden is a great way to save money and be less wasteful. Kitchen scraps, such as coffee grounds, eggshells, and vegetable and fruit trimmings are nutrient dense and great for plants. Also food decomposing into compost eliminates the methane gas that the food would generate in a landfill if they had been tossed out. Grass clippings and other yardwork scraps also work great when they are composted.

Will you put any of this tips to use? Make sure you tag is in pictures of your gardens, we would love to see the awesome outdoor spaces you can create. You can reach us @SCREENEZE on Instagram and Facebook, or by using #SCREENEZE.