Today is a mix of excitement and chores for John and me. It’s Father’s Day, and we’re looking forward to a wonderful family gathering this evening with John’s dad. But first, we have some essential garden work to tackle.

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Tackling the Herb Tower

Our small vertical herb tower needs some attention. The herbs have outgrown their prime—basil is starting to flower, and while the mint still looks good, it’s time for a refresh. We have baby seedlings ready to take over, but my timing wasn’t perfect this time. So, we’ll be without some of our favorite fresh herbs until the new seedlings mature.

Spider Mite Trouble

We’re also dealing with a persistent spider mite problem. These tiny pests have invaded one of our larger vertical towers and have spread to our herb tower. Initially, we used neem oil to manage them, but we’ve recently switched to a DIY Plant Spray. This change was inspired by recommendations and has been more effective for us. You can read more about this switch in our previous post here.

Here’s what has been helping us manage the spider mites:

• Regular Inspections: Checking plants frequently helps catch issues early.
• Natural Remedies: The DIY Plant Spray has shown better results for us compared to neem oil. It’s a straightforward solution that you can make at home.
• Isolation and Cleaning: Keeping infested plants away from the healthy ones and thoroughly cleaning the area is crucial to stopping the spread.

Cleaning Up and Looking Forward

Today, we’ll dismantle the herb tower, harvest what we can, compost the rest, and give it a good cleaning to ensure it’s free of mites. After that, we’ll tackle the larger tower. These plants are also nearing the end of their life cycle, and with plenty of new ones ready to go in, it’s a perfect time for a reset.

Exciting New Project

On a brighter note, we’re starting a new project with a different type of tower garden. It’s new to us, and we’re really excited to try it out. I’ll share more about this in an upcoming post. This addition is part of our ongoing effort to innovate and improve our gardening setup.

A Day for Family and Growth

Gardening chores like these are more than just tasks—they’re activities we do together as a family. As we work through our garden today and then join our family for Father’s Day celebrations, it’s a reminder of how these shared moments bring us closer.

Join the Conversation

We’d love to hear from you. How are you spending Father’s Day? Do you have any tips or stories about your own garden? Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with us on social media.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there, and happy gardening to everyone!