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My favorite gardening recs
16
items All of my favorite things that help me in my garden are here!
Sections
4
Beneficial insects
Winter protection for Citrus
Citrus tree care
tools
Beneficial insects
Here are my favorite beneficials and native insects that help reduce pest pressure in my garden!
I've ordered three times this season and I will continue to do so every season! With my last batch, I made an effort to “grow them up” inside so I fed them and released them in July 2025. I used a butterfly tent and kept them in my office with me whi...
5 Freshly Harvested Carolina Praying Mantis Egg Cases Fresh Picked 2025 season.
I used the 15.7x15.7x23.6 inch pop up tent to house my praying mantises. It was large enough and there was plenty of space. As long as you keep them fed, they won't eat each other!
RESTCLOUD Insect & Butterfly Habitat Cage 23.6"
This is the neatest culture kit (it isn't messy). This same company also sells the fruit flies that I use for my Carolina Praying mantises. Their flies are better than what you find at the pet stores and they last a while.
byFormica Just Add Flies! Fruit Fly DIY Kit
Winter protection for Citrus
Here are my must-haves to keep my Citrus trees outside in the winter!
I put these over my citrus tent to help hold in heat from the incandescent christmas lights. This is the thickest I've been able to find so far (2.4oz) and it is oversized so it could also fit a larger tent structure.
2-Pack 120x120 Inch Large Plant Covers Freeze Protection, 2.4oz/yd² Frost Cloths
This plug is programmed to our Home Assistant app, along with a splitter and Ecowitt temperature gauge so the incandescent lights will turn on when the temperature in my citrus tent falls below my set threshold.
Z-Wave Dual Outdoor Smart Plug, Waterproof
This splitter is essential to my outdoor citrus tent set up.
KUNCAN Power Cord Extension Y Splitter 2 Way
This is the most cost effective kit and platform that I found to help monitor the soil moisture in my plants and temperatures in my yard and citrus tents. This kit includes a soil moisture meter and the required wi-fi gateway. I placed the gateway in...
Ecowitt GW1106 Soil Moisture Meter Kit w/GW1100
I have three of these sensors to monitor the temperature in my front yard, back yard, and inside my citrus tent. The current listing says that you can't use it outside but the seller's details still list it as indoor and outdoor use. I've have them o...
ECOWITT WN31 Wireless Multi-Channel Thermometer
I put a cover over the 2 sensors in my yard; it helps to insulate the sensor so the readings are more accurate. My Ecowitt sensors fit this one.
Ambient Weather WH31-SRS Solar Radiation Shield
I squeeze all of my citrus trees in this tent and it is strong enough to hold snow, and up to three frost blankets!
Portable 4'x4' 6FT Tall Plant Netting Cover
Citrus tree care
Everything I use to take care of my citrus trees
This is the slow release fertilizer that I sprinkle on the base of my citrus and fruit trees. I use a 2 prong approach; a slow release and a water soluble.
Espoma Organic Citrus-Tone 5-2-6 Fertilizer
This is the water soluble fertilizer that I use to water my citrus and fruit trees. I use a 2 prong approach; a slow release and a water soluble.
Jack's Professional 25-5-15 Water-Soluble Fertilizer
I used this water soluble fertilizer for my citrus trees before I found the high performance from the same company. it works well and is easier to find in stores.
Jack's Classic 20-10-20 Citrus Water-Soluble Fertilizer
tools
tools that help me garden with more ease
These are very sturdy planter pots.
5 Gallon Nursery Pots 10-Pack, 12 Inch Planter
I love these because they take the guesswork out of watering your plants, whether indoors or outside! Be sure to soak the terracotta spikes for 15-30 minutes before using and the bottles are plastic so you don't have to worry about heavy glass bottle...
12 Sets Terracotta Self Watering Spikes
I love that this is dark and it is not a cheap material at all. I love this and use it to dry herbs in my basement without using heat.
AC Infinity 2-Layer Herb Drying Rack Mesh