Keep your perennial gardens looking their best throughout the hot summer months with a bit of midsummer grooming and care. Investing time midseason means you’ll be enjoying beautiful gardens now through the end of the growing season. Start by deadheading, removing faded flowers, to improve the plants’ overall appearance. It won’t extend bloom time on… Continue reading Summer Care for Perennial Gardens
Category: Hobbies
Garden Your Way to Better Health
Break out the tools and garden your way to a healthier mind, body and spirit. Gardeners have always know it, but now research proves that gardening is a great form of exercise. You’ll work out all your major muscle groups when raking, digging and planting for an hour. Include gardening as a major component of… Continue reading Garden Your Way to Better Health
Natural Pain Relief is as Close as Your Garden
Busy schedules, over indulging, and strenuous summer activities can lead to sore muscles, indigestion and headaches. When searching for pain relief, look no further than your own garden or your local farmer’s market. These five foods fresh from the garden – or pot – are packed with super pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory power. Mint Infuse mint… Continue reading Natural Pain Relief is as Close as Your Garden
Organic Prevention and Management of Powdery Mildew on Plants
Spots and patches of white or gray talcum powder-like substance on your plant means powdery mildew infected your plant. This is one of the most widespread fungal diseases and attacks a wide range of plants. You may see mildew on a variety of trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables and lawn grasses. Don’t despair—you can reduce the… Continue reading Organic Prevention and Management of Powdery Mildew on Plants
Grow Unique Edibles to Wow Your Guests
Make your next gathering one to remember by including a few unique vegetables on the relish tray, as a side dish or for dessert. Your guests will be “wowed” not only because you grew your own ingredients, but because of the unique shape, color or flavor of the vegetables you serve. Create a memorable dining… Continue reading Grow Unique Edibles to Wow Your Guests
Celebrate 2018 with Four Garden Honorees
It’s a year-long celebration of flavor and beauty as we honor and grow the beet, coreopsis, calibrachoa and tulip. The National Garden Bureau (NGB) has declared 2018 the year of these garden mainstays. This non-profit’s goal is to inspire you to grow these and more plants in your gardens at home and work. The celebration… Continue reading Celebrate 2018 with Four Garden Honorees
Twelve Must Plant Pollinator-Friendly Flowers
Fill your garden with colorful annuals you and the pollinators can enjoy all season long. Look for outstanding varieties chosen by All-America Selections (AAS), a non-profit plant trialing organization, to brighten your garden, attract pollinators and outperform other varieties on the market. Attract hummingbirds and second looks from passersby with the vibrant bright orange flowers… Continue reading Twelve Must Plant Pollinator-Friendly Flowers
The Art of Waterwise Gardening
Making a few changes in your garden care can yield great benefits. Less time and water wasted means more time for you to relax or entertain friends and family in your beautiful landscape. Water is critical throughout the life of a plant, but deciding when and how much water to provide each plant can be… Continue reading The Art of Waterwise Gardening
Add Gardening Space, Beauty and Ease with Elevated Gardens
Elevate your gardens to waist high level for convenience and easy access. Elevated gardens are easy on your back and knees and are perfect for the patio, balcony, deck or any area where a bit of planting space is desired. Place them near your kitchen door, grill or table for easy cooking and serving access.… Continue reading Add Gardening Space, Beauty and Ease with Elevated Gardens
Shade Gardening Beyond Hostas
A shady spot provides welcome relief from the summer heat; but it can make growing a beautiful garden a bit more challenging. Take heart, your landscape may receive more sunlight than you suspect and if not, there are quite a few shade-tolerant plants you can grow. Evaluating the sun and shade patterns throughout the day,… Continue reading Shade Gardening Beyond Hostas
Take It Up a Notch Out Back – Adding Appeal to your Patio or Deck
Summer means time spent gardening and relaxing with friends. And just like the kitchen in winter, the patio or deck tends to be the gathering spot when the weather turns warm. Get the most from this space with a bit of preseason planning and decorating. Select functional and beautiful furnishings to create a special spot for you,… Continue reading Take It Up a Notch Out Back – Adding Appeal to your Patio or Deck
Plant Lilies for a Summer Garden of Elegant and Fragrant Blooms
Lilies add long-lasting color and fragrance to flower gardens and summer bouquets. These stately flowers provide vertical interest and blend nicely with other perennials. And best of all, with very little care, you’ll be enjoying them for years to come. Plant different types of lilies to extend your enjoyment from early summer into fall. The… Continue reading Plant Lilies for a Summer Garden of Elegant and Fragrant Blooms
Keep Your Lawn Green and Healthy All Season Long
A healthy lawn is your best defense against lawn diseases and other problems. But when the weather favors the disease more than your lawn, problems can occur. Reduce the risk of disease by keeping your lawn healthy. Mow high to encourage deeply rooted grass that is more drought tolerant and resistant to disease problems. Water… Continue reading Keep Your Lawn Green and Healthy All Season Long
Grow a Bountiful Garden and Share with the Hungry
Do you always squeeze in an extra tomato plant, another row of beans or hill of zucchini? It seems like a good idea at the time, until they start to produce all at once. Your family, friends and co-workers start to hide as you try to pawn off yet another bag of zucchini or tomatoes. Here is… Continue reading Grow a Bountiful Garden and Share with the Hungry
Colorful Caladiums Brighten Shade Gardens All Season
Tuck them into the garden, pop some in a container or dress up a window box. Then water as needed, add a bit of fertilizer and wait for the color explosion. The showy heart-shaped leaves of caladiums come in combinations of pink, red, white and green. These heat-loving plants provide beautiful color all season long.… Continue reading Colorful Caladiums Brighten Shade Gardens All Season
Hottest Pepper Varieties to Try this Year
Turn up the heat and add a bit of spice to your meals with hot peppers. Add them to your garden, flower borders and containers for added beauty and easy picking. Your biggest challenge will be narrowing down your choices. Let All-America Selections (AAS) winners help. This nonprofit organization tests new edible and ornamental varieties… Continue reading Hottest Pepper Varieties to Try this Year
Light ‘em up Now for Better Garden Results
It’s time to break out the seeds and potting mix to start your garden plants indoors. It’s a great way to keep your green thumb in shape over winter. Plus, you’ll save money, increase your variety of plants and jump start the growing season when you start seeds under LED grow lights. more info on… Continue reading Light ‘em up Now for Better Garden Results
Brighten the Indoors with Colorful Amaryllis Blooms
Brighten those gray winter days with a few colorful, easy-care amaryllis. The 6- to 10-inch trumpet shaped blossoms are sure to generate a smile and brighten your mood. And consider sharing the fun of growing these beauties with friends and families. Watching the bulbs transform into beautiful blossoms is an experience everyone will enjoy –… Continue reading Brighten the Indoors with Colorful Amaryllis Blooms