
Expert reveals best ways to save water while keeping gardens green and lush this summer
Expert reveals best ways to save water while keeping gardens green and lush (Image: Getty)
Growing a lush, thriving garden isn't just about mastering the basics. Many green-fingered enthusiasts encounter problems like exhausted soil, pests, or limited space.
However, with a few savvy tips and tricks, you can easily overcome these hurdles and transform your garden into the verdant haven of your dreams. Here are some top tips from gardening guru Fiona Jenkins at MyJobQuote.co.uk that can enhance your garden's health and productivity – and the best Amazon products to shop for that are sure to take your garden set up to a whole new level.
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Wasting water is detrimental to your garden and the environment. Fiona points out that sophisticated watering techniques can conserve water, ensure plants receive exactly what they need without wastage and overwatering, and maintain healthy roots.
Drip systems gradually supply water directly to the roots of grass, trees, and plants. Setting up timers means you don't have to water manually, and these systems use significantly less water than traditional hoses.
Check out this MIXC Irrigation System on Amazon (£19.99), which boasts a flow rate of 6.7-7 L/Hour and a maximum spray diameter of 0.3m. This irrigation system can save up to 70% of water compared to manual watering, and it comes equipped with two water outlet modes (columnar and misty), which make it easy to adjust the water flow to your plants' needs, waving goodbye to the woes of overwatering. This MIXC Irrigation System Greenhouse Watering Systems costs £19.99 on Amazon (Image: Amazon)
This drip irrigation kit can be used for a variety of outdoor areas, including agriculture, lawns, gardens, greenhouses, and conservatories. It provides a cool and refreshing environment for your plants, helping them thrive without the hassle of manual watering. Plus, it comes with an automatic timer, so you don't have to worry about your plants' needs throughout the day. Or, if you're looking for a larger set-up, B&Q offers this 60-piece set for £38.
Fiona also notes that you can use greywater to sustain your plants, a more environmentally friendly option. Greywater is water used in baths, sinks, or washing machines. If you filter it thoroughly, you can repurpose it for plants. Be sure to steer clear of water with harsh chemicals or soaps that could damage plants or soil life, and always check local regulations before using greywater.
Another investment worth making involves the modern tools on the market, which make gardening simpler. For instance, using sensors and apps can help you better comprehend your garden's needs. Sensors can inform you precisely when your plants require water or fertiliser, preventing waste and keeping plants healthy. They can also provide real-time data on soil conditions. This Gardena Soil Moisture Sensor is now £35.29 down from £56.99 on Amazon (Image: Amazon)
Specific apps and software can also assist you in planning planting schedules, setting reminders, and tracking growth. They're a fantastic way to enhance your gardening knowledge and keep everything in order.
For those who don't mind splashing some cash, Amazon offers a great solar-powered sensor system with its own handy app that lets you keep up to date on your garden's stats. Check out the Gardena Soil Moisture Sensor for £35. Or you can pick one up from The Range for its full price of £56.99.
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Black America Web
37 minutes ago
- Black America Web
Is Abstinence Really ‘Not for Everyone?' Rethinking The Narrative For Believers
Source: FatCamera / Getty Let's just be real: there's this running message in and outside the church that says abstinence is only for a particular 'type' of Christian. You know, the super spiritual ones. The ones who don't struggle. The ones who aren't dating. Or the ones who are 'called to singleness forever.' Somehow, we've watered down abstinence to a suggestion, instead of seeing it as what it is, a call to holiness. And I get it. When your desire for God is real, but your desire for connection, intimacy, and touch is also real, abstinence can feel impossible. Not because you don't love God, but because you're human. Add loneliness, disappointment, and pressure to the mix, and suddenly what God asks of you feels unfair, even outdated. But here's what I've learned: it's not that abstinence is unrealistic, it's that obedience is costly. And for many of us, that cost feels too high. RELATED: 3 Ways Singles Can Grow Closer to God 5 Green Flags In Friendships Knowing that you should live for God and choosing to live for Him are two very different things. Christians understand that we're called to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. That's considered a reasonable request from the Lord (Romans 12:1). But let's be honest, our flesh, which is part of our God-given nature, doesn't always cooperate. Paul, one of the most influential authors of the Bible, speaks to this tension in Romans 7:15: 'I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do.' That verse has always comforted me. It reminds me that even the most devout can wrestle with doing what's right. Abstinence is one of those topics that always seems to stir up debate, especially in Christian spaces. When I decided to become abstinent 13 years ago, the conversation around purity was everywhere. But honestly, my decision wasn't shaped by media or church culture. It was deeply personal. God came to me in a dream and told me I needed to live for Him, and for me, that included abstinence. That encounter gave me a conviction stronger than anything a sermon or social trend could offer. Dating as a single woman in New York City or any major city is already a challenge. The culture here doesn't exactly push people toward marriage or family. It's all about career, hobbies, and self-fulfillment. Add being a Christian and abstinent to the mix, and it gets even more nuanced. Early on in my dating journey, disillusionment became a familiar feeling. I can't count how often I heard people say, 'Abstinence isn't for everyone.' And if I'm being fully transparent, I wondered if that statement had some truth. But I've come to this conclusion: Abstinence isn't just for the super-spiritual. It's a call for every believer. Over and over in scripture, God calls His people to be set apart. What's encouraging is that God never pretends we're not surrounded by temptation. He sees the world for what it is, messy, loud, flesh-driven. And still, He calls us to live differently. One verse that drives this home is 2 Timothy 2:20-21: 'In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work.' We have a choice. We can live surrendered lives and be used in powerful ways by God, or we can remain 'common', not because we're not loved, but because we're unwilling to surrender. God is holy. He's also forgiving, yes, but He's clear: believers are not to engage in premarital sex (1 Thessalonians 4:3–5): 'It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God.' And his reasons aren't about control, they're about love. He disciplines because He loves. And obedience brings rewards, both natural and spiritual. I think we forget this sometimes, but Jesus was entirely God and fully man. He understands what it means to struggle. Hebrews 4:15 reminds us: 'For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.' Before He went to the cross, Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, begging God to take the cup from Him (Matthew 26:39): 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.' He didn't want the pain, but He submitted anyway. He knows what it feels like to deny the flesh. And because of that, He empowers us to do the same. Source: FatCamera / Getty Dating while abstinent felt impossible at times, especially in conversations with men. I would hear things like: 'You're never going to find anyone.' 'Men can't abstain.' 'It's impossible.' And after hearing it repeatedly, part of me started to believe it. I questioned if abstinence was just something for me or a select few. I wondered if I had some 'special gift' that others didn't. But that's not the truth. Abstinence is not a spiritual superpower. It's also essential to understand the difference between abstinence and celibacy. Abstinence is the choice not to engage in sex with the intent to marry eventually. Celibacy is the choice never to marry and remain sexually inactive. Celibacy and abstinence are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. After years of wrestling with the question, I've landed here: Abstinence is for every believer. Not because some of us are wired for it and others aren't, but because God calls all of us to sexual purity. When we refuse to abstain, it's not because we're incapable; we don't want to. That may sound hard, but love without truth isn't love. The truth sets us free (John 8:32): 'Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' In my book Ready, Set, Wait , I talk about the reality of navigating sex, singleness, and abstinence as a Christian woman. I share how childhood sexual trauma awakened a hypersexual desire in me. So when God called me to abstain, He wasn't calling someone untouched by pain. He knew I couldn't do it without Him, and I couldn't. That's what we have to understand: real abstinence requires God. Abstinence is possible, but not without a strategy. You need tools. Here are three things I recommend: 1. Flee Immediately (James 4:7) 'Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.' Stop entertaining temptation. Those texts, DMs, 'just checking in' calls? Let them go. 2. Take the Escape Route (1 Corinthians 10:13) 'No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.' God always provides a way out, even when you don't want to take it. Invite Him into those moments. 3. Guard Your Gates Convictions aren't legalism; they're protection. That meant letting go of '90s R&B because of what it stirred up. Be honest about what triggers you and set boundaries accordingly. That moment of satisfaction isn't worth the long-term disobedience. Sometimes, it's not that you even want the person—you're just tired of waiting. Saying 'no' isn't punishment; it's protection. Abstinence isn't about perfection. It's about pursuit. God isn't asking for a flawless record; He's asking for a surrendered heart. If you've messed up, you can start again. If you're in the middle of temptation, you can choose differently. It's never too late to come back to Him. Holiness isn't out of reach. It's the fruit of obedience. And obedience, even when it's hard, is always worth it. DON'T MISS… Breaking the Silence: A Deep Dive into Sexless Marriages With An Intimacy Expert How to Date Well: Cultivating Healthy Relationships and Behaviors 5 Books You Need To Read If You Struggle With Setting Boundaries SEE ALSO Is Abstinence Really 'Not for Everyone?' Rethinking The Narrative For Believers was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE


Buzz Feed
4 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
36 Products With Before-And-After Pictures That Prove Just How Hard They Work
All-in-one decor paint for an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition-worthy transformation. The chalk-like paint comes with a built-in primer to help it cling to most surfaces, from upholstery and wood to metal and glass. With over 50 colors to choose from, this paint can help you revitalize every room in the house. Aaand it dries in just 30 minutes! A deep-conditioning hair mask promising smoother, shinier, and stronger hair, even if you're fighting against bleached, dry, or damaged locks. It can even handle Florida levels of humidity! A lawn dog spot repair treatment to make your crispy, brown lawn look like it belongs in front of a house in Emerald City. Reviewers say they noticed results almost immediately — as in *days*! A lightweight gel cream from Nivea with powerful Q10 that helps plump, firm, and moisturize skin in as little as two weeks with consistent use. One reviewer found success with this when expensive neck creams from department stores and Sephora fell flat. 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Miss Mouth's Messy Eater Stain Treater Spray renowned in the parenting community thanks to its uncanny ability to erase stains from most fabrics in record time, all without harsh ingredients like chlorine, sulfates, or perfumes. Just spritz some on spilled juice, melted Popsicles, chocolate (hopefully), and more to watch them go *poof* and disappear. A mint-flavored teeth-whitening pen that's way more convenient than a painful trip to the dentist or an annoying attempt at the strips. Just brush your teeth with the bristled pen whenever you have a minute to work through stains and discoloration (without sensitivity, according to 800 5-star reviewers). A roll of scar tape, aka silicone sheets that mimic the skin's barrier, locking in moisture and preventing the excessive healing that could lead to scarring. Bonus: Some reviewers have used the tape as a short-term measure to reduce the appearance of fine lines — it temporarily smoothes the skin by keeping it taut overnight. 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As I said, I've bought this before and make sure my kitchen always has a spray bottle nearby." —Me in SoCalGet three spray bottles from Amazon for $25.86. A hair-lightening spray to brighten up hair by TWO shades or more! Spritz a little of this citrus and chamomile spray onto damp hair, then activate it with heat-styling tools. I recommend blow drying and hitting it with a curling iron or straightener for the best results. Over 7,000 5-star raters love it because it's less harsh than bleach and even works on dark hair.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Amazon truck crash causes full closure of Highway 50 in Sacramento
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