backyard gardening
without the backache

20 gifts for gardeners, picked by someone who actually gardens. Real garden tools, real upgrades, and a few just for fun... for every budget and every kind of green thumb.

I'll be the first to admit it: I'm a lazy gardener. If there's an easier way to do something so I can spend more time enjoying my plants and less time worrying about whether they have what they need, I'm going to do it! Combining olla watering systems with companion planting techniques could be all you need to create a thriving pest free and low maintenance garden this summer, no chemicals needed. Ollas, with their efficient and targeted water delivery, can play a key role in fostering a thriving and balanced garden ecosystem. They also eliminate the stress of inconsistent watering that can make them an easier target when pests do arrive. Stronger plants can combat those pests more easily, so by combining the two methods, you can create mutually beneficial relationships between plants, leading to healthier growth, increased yields, and natural pest control.

It's safe to say that there is no one right way to water your garden. But if you're trying to make a decision about what watering system to use, I'd like to introduce my favorite - the olla watering system. Of course, every system has it's own unique benefits and potential drawbacks, so what makes ollas better than drip irrigation, soaker hoses, and traditional watering cans? At the end of the day, your decision should be based on factors such as water efficiency, ease of use, cost, and suitability for different plant types and garden sizes. But speaking as a long-time gardener who's tried them all and is always looking for ways to make gardening easier for people with physical limitations, limited time or energy, nothing even comes close to the accessibility of ollas. The best part is you can DIY them yourself, or get a ready to go kit for your garden. Still not convinced? Let me explain why ollas are so great.

Troubleshoot your DIY ollas with this guide!

Making your own DIY ollas can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. But, if you're going to keep bugs, dirt and other debris out of your ollas it's important to make sure and put a lid on them. Since I'm often asked what lid to use for ollas, I wanted to share some creative and practical lid options for olla pots, from repurposed materials to DIY crafts.

If you're wondering if you can use ollas in a container garden, the answer is yes! Container gardening is perfect for those with limited space, but it comes with it's own unique set of challenges (including watering) that an olla watering system can help with. I love container gardening from an accessibility standpoint, because it makes it possible for a lot more people to grow their own food. But, container gardens dry out much faster than in ground garden beds since they can heat up faster and have less volume to hold excess water in reserve. Which means if you're not careful, all it takes is one hot day or a weekend away to damage your plants. That's pretty unforgiving! Having backup systems in place not only reduces plant stress but also reduces wasted water lost to surface evaporation, a huge problem for container gardens in general that warm up so fast. But how do you know you're choosing the right sized olla watering system for your container garden?