You’ve heard of wood chip mulch and straw mulch, but did you know that leaf mulch is just as good? In some situations, it may even be better to use leaf mulch instead of wood mulch. Not only do leaves suppress weeds, but they’re also a great organic material that is free. Table of Contents So if organic mulch is something you’re thinking about as we head toward winter, consider leaf mulch for building and maintaining healthy soil....
You may start seed indoors in early spring and transplant seedlings to the garden after the last frost date, or purchase and plant nursery pots at any time during the growing season. Just because the lazy, hazy days of summer are over, that doesn’t mean you have to have a fallow garden until next year. With the following 15 cool-weather perennials perfect for temperate zones, you’ll have vibrant color that returns with vigor each autumn....
QUESTION: My carrots are forking. What causes forking in carrots? What am I doing wrong? -Van R. ANSWER: A few environmental conditions can cause carrots to fork. They could run into an unforgiving obstacle such as a small rock as they were growing downward, causing them to split and grow in two directions to avoid the object. Carrots also have a tough time developing properly in heavy, compacted soil. They prefer a light loam or sandy soil medium instead....
As Rocky Balboa puts it so succinctly, birds look “like flying candy.” Well said, Rock. Well said. What’s a garden without the sound of birdsong? I know I’m not alone in selecting plants and gardening practices that encourage the presence of wildlife, most especially a motley crew of feathered friends. Not only are these animals a welcome audial addition to my garden, they also bring unexpected flecks and flutters of color that add real variety to stands of flowers and grasses....
If that’s the case, you’ve come to the right place, because today we’re going to talk about when and how to harvest this delicious melon (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus). Is there anything tastier than a juicy, soft-yet-firm piece of cantaloupe unfurling its delightful flavor on your tongue? Of course not! And there’s no better reward for the work involved in planting and growing this tasty melon. Maybe your melons are looking more and more mature every day, and you’re not sure when to harvest them....
Raking grass in spring is a great excuse to get outside and enjoy the warm weather. But if you start raking too early, you can damage your lawn. So, how do you know when to rake the lawn in spring? In this post, I will give you some tips to figure out if it’s too early to rake your lawn, and how to tell when it’s safe to start. Is It Too Early To Rake My Lawn?...
QUESTION: Which plants are the best to grow in hanging pots? I’m adding some hanging containers to my garden and am excited for their first year. — Linda G. ANSWER: Hanging pots are an easy way to add some extra drama to the garden. With many hanging container options, you’ll be adding a splash of color as well. Keep reading to learn about the options we recommend for hanging gardens....
“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” ― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden Like the way Mary, in The Secret Garden, found the key to the hidden garden, which opened a completely new world for her, and started a magical journey that transformed her into a different person, you can also experience the same if you can find Ways to Create a Secret Garden in Small Space!...
Bananas are an excellent source of phosphorus and potassium for us, and their peels do the same for the plants. They decompose quickly, so simply chop and add them to the planting hole for tomatoes or peppers, this is one of the Banana Peel Uses In The Garden; more you can read below! Check out some awesome corn starch uses in the garden here Banana Peel Uses In The Garden 1....
There are maroon blossoms and dwarf plants, and flowers that are frilly and full like a giant marigold. Quick, picture a black-eyed Susan. I bet you imagined a daisy-like yellow flower with a black center, right? It’s true, black-eyed Susans don’t have the variability that something like roses or poppies do. People might assume the blooms generally have the same appearance and a similar color. But there’s actually quite a bit of variety available....
1. Spring Succulent Planters Spring is the season of color and this colorful spring succulent planter project supports this idea. Also Read: 24 Creative Succulent Planters 2. Spring Succulent Wreath Welcome spring with this artificial succulent wreath, you can use the real ones as well. Get the tutorial here. 3. Easter Egg Succulent Planters Celebrate Spring and Easter with these colorful Easter egg planters and succulents in them. The DIY is here....
Also Read: 31 DIY Privacy Fence Ideas for Backyards 1. Use Potted Plants Growing bushy potted plants gives you the cover you need. It’s an easy way to improve privacy that also adds some foliage to your outdoor space. Get plants that spread out wide as they grow. Also Read: Balcony Privacy Ideas 2. Shutter Privacy Screen from Old Windows Get old windows and doors with louvers and line them up against the fence on the side you intend to cover....
Have an empty spot in your yard that you want to fill up? Well, pick one from these DIY Front Yard Garden Bench Ideas! Here are DIY Plant Risers for Indoor Plants to Make a Statement DIY Front Yard Garden Bench Ideas 1. A Wooden Bench with Blue Cushions Here is one of the best DIY Front Yard Garden Bench Ideas to make an amazing wooden bench adorned with cushions....
By Bethany Hayes Gardeners often view shade as a curse — it’s empty space that doesn’t serve much purpose in a garden. It’s time to take back the shade and reclaim it as a valuable growing space. That means you need to find vegetables and herbs that grow in the shade, along with flowers, to show that full sunlight isn’t always required. The herbs that tolerate shade often grow well in limited sunlight....
Ice cream banana? It sounds almost too good to be true. But the blue java banana, also called ice cream bananas, is an incredible fruit. An ice cream banana is initially blue while on the plant, but ripens into a creamy yellow color. And did I mention that it tastes like vanilla ice cream? Table of Contents Slightly gooey in comparison to other banana types, these are rapidly gaining popularity around the world....
People have been growing collard greens for centuries on every continent. They are known as a staple in the US south. Tour any kitchen garden in the south, and you’ll find collard greens growing there. They are delectable, just as much as their vegetable counterpart kale, which has gained popularity in the US in recent years. Table of Contents It’s a wonder they’re so popular because they tend to attract a lot of pests....
If you’re looking to add some unique character or charm to your garden, then growing vertically is just what you need! It’s fun and addicting, and truly a wonderful way to garden. Once you discover all of the amazing techniques that you can use to grow plants vertically, it will open your eyes to a whole new way of gardening. Use this guide as your starting point for everything you need to know about vertical growing....
Let’s find out all we can and then see where to buy some of our own. Alstroemeria, also known as Peruvian, parrot, or princess lily, as well as lily of the Incas, is an exceptional cutting garden flower in the Alstroemeriaceae family. There are about 80 species native to South America, with the greatest diversity in Chile. Thanks to today’s hybrids and cultivars, there’s a rainbow of options available for the home gardener....
You may not live in a place like the Columbia River Gorge with its plentiful sunshine, but you can still grow apricot trees at home if you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9. Prunus armeniaca As a kid, I spent a few summers camping along the Columbia River in Maryhill, Washington – Yakama Nation land – where some of the best stone fruits in the world are grown....
Catmint is a loosely mounded herbaceous perennial with attractive gray-green foliage. Nepeta x. faassenii Hey, get your cats straight! CatMINT is not catNIP. Unlike its cousin catnip (Nepeta cataria), Faassen’s catmint does not drive felines wild, so you are free to plant it in your garden without fear of your yard turning into a hangout for tipsy tabbys. All members of the Nepeta genus produce nepetalactone, the kitty intoxicant, but the amount in Faassen’s catmint is considerably less than the amount found in catnip....
