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Gardening Advice
There is no magic bullet for keeping your garden and indoor plants free from insect pests. Some tricks I have learned over the years provide ways to cope with bugs without resorting to nasty chemicals. Here are my tips for pest control, including homemade insecticidal sprays (soap sprays) and organic pesticides.Pest Control Starts With YouBefore resorting to using pesticides (even…
Animal manure has long been used as a fertilizer in gardens and on farm fields, creating nutrient-rich, moisture-retaining soil for your plants. See the best type of manure for your garden and the best time to apply—as well as a few things to consider first.All manure is not created equal. Depending on the kind of animal, its age and health, its food, what…
Gardeners are often advised to sprinkle diatomaceous earth (DE) around plants to deter pests. Unsurprisingly, we’re often asked, “What is diatomaceous earth, exactly?” Well, here’s your answer!What Is Diatomaceous Earth? Diatomaceous earth (DE) is the fossilized skeletons of microscopic single-celled aquatic organisms called diatoms. Their skeletons are made of a natural…
When we talk about beneficials for the garden, don’t forget about frogs and toads. Both are total carnivores, eating grasshoppers, beetles, cutworms, flies, slugs, and all kinds of insects. They will not eat your plants! See how to attract these “good guys” to the garden.All toads are frogs but not all frogs are toads. There are 3 types of frogs:Toads are frogs with dry thick skin…
A quintessential summer flower, the sunflower has so many amazing uses—from cooking to crafts! Not only are sunflowers pretty, they’re also entirely edible! See lots of great ways to make the most of sunflowers.Sunflowers: A Pretty Native American PlantHonored as the state flower in both Kansas and Nebraska, there are about 70 species of sunflowers. Most are native to the Great…
A few years ago, I was given a beautiful bonsai container and decided to try my hand at growing a compact plant that would fit. I had an old azalea growing in a pot that was too small, and I thought it would be perfect for my experiment. Here’s what I learned about bonsai—a living art form—and how to start and grow a bonsai tree.
I envisioned my pretty pink azalea looking something…
We always seem to have extra herbs on hand. Here’s an idea: Dry some of those leaves and use them for tea! We’ll show you how to dry herbs and make a full-bodied cup of tea.Grow Your Own Herbs for TeaI really enjoying grow herbs, especially what I call “calming herbs,” which help with stress and anxiety. So, it makes perfect sense to use these calming herbs in teas. Chamomile…
Hello, “gourd-geous”! You can find all sorts of funky gourds … so what’s with these bumpy, weird-looking squash? See different types of gourds—from bottle gourds to snake gourds to luffas—and learn how to grow, harvest, and cure them yourself!What Are Gourds? Gourds (Cucurbitaceae) are among the oldest cultivated plants. They were the early water bottles of the Egyptians (2200…
Feed your plants—with other plants! It may sound strange, but you can use your own weeds and grass to make homemade fertilizer tea that’s 100% organic. It’s a great boost for your plants in midsummer when soil fertility is running low. Here’s how to make fertilizer tea at home.Yes, garden plants appreciate a spot of tea now and then, too—just like I do—as a pick-me-up. No expensive Earl…
We all know that trees and plants help offset pollution and clean toxins in the air. So, would indoor plants do the same with indoor air? Let’s explore how plants purify the air—and we’ll list the 10 best air-purifying houseplants for your homeAbout Indoor AirToday, Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors, often in places with little or no ventilation. The air inside our super-…
If you’re going to grow and eat healthy vegetables, why not consider which ones are nutrient-dense? So, which veggies are the nutritional stars? Here are the top 10 healthiest vegetables and fruits that you can grow at home—plus advice for growing a healthier garden.We all want to provide our families with the freshest, most nutritious meals we can, and if you are growing your own…
Happily, we’re seeing more biodegradable planting pots. They make growing seeds easy, and the pots can go right in the ground! Here are 10 types of biodegradable pots—plus, see how to make your own!As much as we would like to see plastic plant pots being recycled, tons of them end up in landfills and incinerators every year. That leads many of us to look for alternative containers in which…
