'Prevent' garden fungal disease with 65p common household ingredient

As summer ends, people are eager to protect and refresh their outdoor spaces in preparation for the cooler months.

With a staggering 183 percent increase in Google searches for 'autumn gardening' in the past month, it's clear that people are seeking innovative ways to prepare their gardens for the colder season.

Leading online metal supplier metals4U has revealed the best hacks to recycle and spruce your garden using everyday household items.

Even better, one of the tips is preventing fungal disease in our garden and it's not vinegar or lemon.

Let's take a look at the gardening tips in more detail.

Prevent fungal disease

As autumn brings damper weather, powdery mildew can become a problem for many plants. Luckily, there's a quick prevention hack using cupboard staples.

Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with half a teaspoon of liquid soap in one gallon of water and spray the mixture onto the affected plants.

This will help prevent the growth of the disease. For the best results, apply this solution on a dry day and repeat weekly.

You can pick up baking soda from Tesco for as little as 65p or from Asda for the same price.

Raised bed

Another way to protect your plants from "harsh" weather conditions is by building your own DIY metal beds.

You should consider creating a metal raised bed by building one using recycled metal sheets or metal frames that you already have.

Metal offers durability and longevity, plus a raised bed provides several benefits for your plants, including improved drainage, better weed control, and enhanced pest management, especially during colder months.

Restore rusty metal outdoor furniture

In addition to caring for your plants, it's important to maintain your outdoor furniture, which can suffer from the colder weather.

Undiluted, distilled white vinegar can be used to remove rust from metal outdoor furniture that has been damaged by wet weather, and it can be bought for as little as 35p.

Either spray the vinegar or place a cloth soaked in vinegar on the affected area before rinsing with water or gently rubbing with a steel scourer in the direction of the grain to remove stubborn deposits.

Polish metal furniture

Once you've cleaned your metal outdoor furniture, applying car wax can help it stay cleaner for longer.

The wax polishes the metal and provides a water-resistant layer that prevents scratching and rusting. For best results, reapply the wax every four to six weeks during the autumn period, depending on the weather conditions and how often the furniture is used.