Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Indoor plants

Are garden subscription boxes worth the money?

HappySprout Contributor
By

Much goes into caring for a garden, no matter the size — so much more than seeds, soil, water, and a little sunlight. A key area of focus for many gardeners is pest protection. We love to eat fresh produce, but unfortunately, so do a lot of little bugs. A possible helpful resource might be a subscription box. These regular deliveries are all the rage and for a good reason. Curated products can save a lot of time and research. For the avid gardener, the appeal in such a service is clear. However, do the benefits outweigh the cost? Let’s take a quick dive into the most commonly-asked questions about pest control methods and if those monthly parcels can aid in cultivating a flourishing Eden of your own.

Woman tending to potted plants indoors
popcorner/Shutterstock

Can you get rid of pests without killing them?

The most effective way to remove pests without killing them is by engaging in protective measures and installing barriers in your garden. A physical barrier could entail mesh or netted material of some kind. The benefit of this method is that sunlight is not restricted in the process. These types of coverings come in all shapes and sizes. They can be installed in the ground or simply draped over your seedlings.

Recommended Videos

You may also set barriers of a more baited variety. As strange as it may sound, beer is attractive to snails and slugs. Garlic serves as a repellent for many bugs as well. There are some subscription boxes that carry garlic sprays and the like, but for the most part, these types of precautions can be easily acquired for a comparable price at a gardening store. The real selling point of a subscription box is that you can sample many different products to find your favorite.

Related

How do you get rid of pests organically?

Spray bottle being used on garden plants
Andris Tkacenko / Shutterstock

Organic pest control methods carry the perk of minimizing damage to the plants you are trying to protect while driving out undesirables. A very popular method is referred to as insecticidal soap, which is designed to dehydrate soft-bodied insects. The only time-intensive aspect of this is that the bugs must come into direct contact with the solution. So, you must spray your garden thoroughly every few days.

Certain oil sprays can minimize egg production in insects also. Nematodes can be added to soil, which will release a bacteria to target and kill insects. Variations of these organic pest killers can be found in different subscription boxes. Sprays are more common, and many subscription boxes are able to diversify their available ingredients. Most services allow you to specify your preferences when compiling your order, minimizing the hassle of searching through a catalog of potential options.

Which plants deter bugs?

lavender
Pauline Jurkevicius / Unsplash

One of the biggest benefits to a subscription box is variety, particularly with plant assortments. There are verifiably thousands of different seeds available through any given package service. Because of this convenience, you can incorporate pest-averting plants into your garden. Several of these are flowers. Marigolds, chrysanthemums, petunias, and lavender are beautiful and functional. Tasty additions are herbs such as mint, basil, bay leaves, and rosemary. Each offers elements of repellent and toxicity to specific pests and insects. It is always a good idea to research the most common pests in your area to select plants best suited to the task. Dry, desert environments will likely have different challenges than a humid, forested area.

Are there organic chemicals that deter pests?

Many people don’t realize that chemical solutions can also be organic. A chemical, after all, is simply a compound. Organic chemicals often used include things like vinegar and lime sulfur. Other oils and acids can be sprayed or added to soil for alternative pest control. Organic pest control can be more or less expensive, usually contingent upon the frequency required when applying. Because subscription boxes are largely customizable, there is the opportunity to incorporate organic elements at the rate and volume needed with ease.

The debate over the worth of gardening subscription boxes can be approached from a number of sides. Most subscription boxes range in price from about $10 to $45 a month and carry a wide range of gardening products, not just pest control. Pest control itself has a range of products nearly as wide as the number of plants you may be trying to protect. Organic products especially are more easily sampled through a subscription service, while comparable products are typically available in your local gardening store. At-home practices can be implemented, but often at the sacrifice of time and energy. Subscription services offer ease and variety as you seek the solution that best fits your gardening habits and practices. Most subscription boxes offer discounted, or even free, boxes the first month. If you are thinking of giving them a try, you may find you will grow to appreciate them.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
HappySprout Contributor
HappySprout Contributor
Bring your herb garden indoors for the winter to keep your harvest healthy
Herbs on kitchen counter

As the temperature drops, you may notice leaves on your favorite garden herbs dropping as well. Even if you live in the appropriate climate zone for your herbs, they may benefit from going indoors over the winter. If you’re wondering why some herbs should go indoors and how to bring them indoors to ensure their chances of survival, you’re just in luck. Ahead, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about keeping your herbs healthy once cold weather sets in.

Why bring your herbs indoors
Bringing your herbs indoors will, first and foremost, protect them from freezing temperatures and cold winds. You'll especially want to transport your plants indoors during the winter if they're not perennial to your climate zone. Plants will also go dormant sooner outside and stop pushing out new leaves. Bringing them indoors essentially extends the growing season, so you can enjoy fresh herbs throughout the year if you provide enough light and warmth.
When to bring your herbs indoors
The best time to bring your herbs indoors during late fall or early winter is before the temperatures reach below freezing, so just as they hit the low to mid-30s. The colder it gets, the more likely it is for your plants to experience transplant shock when you bring them inside. Some herbs that can tolerate transplanting well include oregano, thyme, rosemary, and chives.

Read more
Mason jar herb gardens are easy and aesthetically pleasing. How to get started
A selection of herbs growing in mason jars

Herb gardens are a must for indoor gardeners, not just because of their functionality but because they can bring natural, wonderful scents to your everyday life! After all, who doesn’t love the fresh smell of basil in the morning? Unfortunately, it can be hard to fit a full indoor garden set-up into every space—and that’s where mason jars come in. Herbs are a great plant for small-scale gardening, and there’s a good chance you have some spare jars hiding in the back of the cupboard. Why not fill them with dirt and put them to use?

Why grow herbs in mason jars?
Mason jars, even if you don’t have ones on hand already, are an inexpensive, decorative way to set up an indoor herb garden. You can buy packs of them at the store for cheap, find some at a flea market/thrift shop, or even ask your friends if they have any to lend you! Because mason jars are used for other culinary purposes like storing dry herbs (hint hint), making jams, and pickling veggies, you won’t run out of options for the jars that don’t get used in the garden.

Read more
7 benefits of growing a living wall garden in your home
Indoor wall garden

A living wall garden is one of the most striking and aesthetically pleasing ways to incorporate greenery into a building’s design. You may have even passed one at some point—as its name implies, it’s basically a garden that’s incorporated onto building walls. So, what exactly are the benefits of this creative marriage between landscaping and architecture? Keep reading to learn all about what a living wall garden is and how it can improve your space!

A living wall garden, green wall, or vertical garden, is essentially a wall covered with living plants. The foliage can be grown in soil or another type of medium. The watering method usually isn’t your conventional pouring water into soil technique; these structures often take advantage of methods such as hydroponics or drip systems. You can find them either inside or outside of a building—they’re often designed to add a welcome pop of green to urban areas where it's harder to access nature.

Read more