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Gardening Advice
There are lots of new plants coming our way in 2024. Many are old favorites that have been dusted off and improved by plant breeders. There are also new treats to tempt us! Take a look at award-winning flowers, fruit, vegetables, and herbs to try this year.Adding more disease resistance, shorter time to maturity, larger flowers, cold and heat hardiness, and new colors are just a few of the…
Yellow is the color of sunlight, capable of brightening the darkest moods—just like the flowers in our garden! Consider adding a touch of yellow to your flowerbeds to evoke even more happiness and joy. Our Top 20 List of Yellow Flowers for the Garden includes annuals, perennials, bulbs, and shrubs that incorporate yellow into your landscaping and container gardens.How to Use Yellow Flowers…
Some flowers prefer winter sowing. (Yes, in the snow!) Learn which flower varieties need an extended period of cold to germinate and how to winter-sow outside in recycled milk jugs in January or February to jump-start a beautiful flower garden (and do it for pennies).What Is Winter Sowing?Those of us in cold climates don’t usually think of January and February as times to plant seeds…
All white is the most common monochromatic color-themed garden, and instead of being boring, it gives a sophisticated air to the landscape. Check out our list of 20 wonderful white flowers to incorporate into your garden!How to Use White Flowers in the GardenAn all-white garden – sometimes called a moon garden - has the added advantage of glowing at night when all the other colors in…
When summer brings hot, dry weather without enough rainfall, we need to water our gardens wisely. It is possible to conserve water but also have a beautiful, lush garden. Just follow these 12 steps.First, understand that plants drink their food. If your soil dries out, your plants will starve. We often hear that vegetables and flowers need “an inch of water” per week. This doesn’t seem…
You can garden all year ‘round (even in the winter)! Hydroponics sounds complicated, but it just means growing vegetables in water instead of soil. The benefits are: no weeding, no pests, and great yields. Learn the basics of hydroponic gardening for beginners—and how to get started! What is Hydroponics?The word hydroponics comes from the Greek for “working with water” and is …
If you are short on space (or energy) for a large Christmas tree, why not try a Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla)? These potted pines used at Christmas can remain as wonderful houseplants throughout the year! Learn more.During the holidays, Norfolk pines are easy to find at your local garden center or big box store in pots. They have soft, short, dark green needles and widely…
Everyone has heard of fast food, but Thanksgiving is a time to think about “slow food.” No, I don’t mean the bad service you get at your favorite greasy spoon.Slow Food is a worldwide movement celebrating the pleasure of fresh, local food and traditional cooking. Promoted as an alternative to fast food, it strives to preserve traditional and regional cuisine and encourages the farming of…
Start an indoor herb garden! Even just a few pots of herbs grown on a windowsill or under grow lights can supply wonderful flavors at your fingertips year-round. Just be sure to select the right herbs that grow indoors in winter. Here’s how to get started! Many indoor herbs prefer the same temperatures as most people—around 65 to 70° F—so it’s a cozy relationship!We’re big fans of…
If you grow tomatoes or other crops in the same garden bed year after year, you’re likely to notice an increase in pests and diseases. Break the cycle! Take a moment to learn about the basics of crop rotation. Your plants will thank you with a bigger, healthier harvest.In the mad rush to get the garden planted in the spring, we forget all about something as important as crop rotation, which…
One of the most frequently asked questions by houseplant lovers is, “Why are my plant’s leaves turning yellow?” To determine what is ailing your plant, take a close look at those yellowing leaves.The simple answer is that there is no simple answer. Houseplant leaves turning yellow can be caused by several things.Random leaves that are yellow or have yellow patches on the window-side of…
Garden pots need a thorough scrubbing at the end of the growing season. It’s essential to clean any pots that you are reusing to rid them of disease spores, salt deposits, and pest eggs. Take those extra few minutes to do it right! Here’s how to quickly clean and disinfect your pots.Used pots will harbor lingering bug eggs and disease spores that you can’t always see. Salt deposits also…
