Sounds good, right? It is! But first, let’s take a look at all of the steps that will help your pots and containers to put on a peacock-worthy display throughout the season this year. It’s a sad sight to see. And it happens every year. Planters and containers that were once rich with color and foliage slowly fade and fail, becoming worn out and tired-looking by the time mid-summer rolls around....
Annuals are plants whose natural life cycle is one season long: they sprout, they bloom, they set seed, they die. Most annuals are propagated by seed. Perennials, on the other hand, live for several to many years. As they grow, they produce larger and larger root systems, supporting larger and larger top growth. As a result, propagation is often by root division, rather than by seed, although you can certainly grow perennials from seed too....
Here, we’ll cover the basics of collecting, drying, and storing, whether you’re growing a cultivar of Cucurbita pepo, C. moschata, or C. maxima. Here’s what to expect: Friends and neighbors who have you in their lives to grow pumpkins to share with them are fortunate indeed. Pies, fall displays, jack-o’-lanterns – all are provided for. You can extend this good fortune by saving seeds, too, so all of you can plant them in the garden next year....
While you eagerly wait for your stalks, or petioles, to grow large enough for picking, let’s learn all about when and how to harvest rhubarb. Growing rhubarb, Rheum rhabarbarum, is not for those who lack patience. Compared to something like a carrot, which you can enjoy just 60 to 75 days after planting, pie plant takes months. Often one year. Sometimes two or three. But oh, when you finally bite into that heavenly slice of rhubarb pie, crisp, or crumble, the wait will have been beyond worthwhile....
If you are looking forward to keeping your beloved plants healthy for a long time to come, then read about the following Things that’ll Solve All Your Houseplant Problems! Here are the top signs that indicate an unhappy houseplant Things that’ll Solve All Your Houseplant Problems 1. Butterfly-Shaped Sticky Traps If you don’t want flies and gnats near your plants, then simply hang these sticky traps and they’ll catch those pesky insects!...
Lilies are one of the most beautiful ornamental flowering species and a staple of many gardens. With their large, showy and often fragrant blossoms, they can add an instant appeal to any place you are going to plant them. And now, with the new interspecific hybrids, you have so many options to choose from! Here are the best Types of Lilies that you can bring home. Check out our article on the best Impatiens types here Types of Lilies: A Detailed Guide Asiatic Hybrids Asiatic lilies showcase beautiful, large flowers, approximately 4-6 inches over the 2-5 feet tall stems....
Not so fast. There’s a rose out there that some people love primarily for the thorns. Wingthorn roses do produce flowers, but they’re largely incidental. It’s the bright red, prominent prickles that gardeners celebrate on these unique bushes. Rosa sericea ssp. omeiensis f. pteracantha I’d venture a guess that the thorns are not most people’s favorite part of a rose. The flowers probably take the top spot, though some have exceptionally lovely foliage....
Oh, I was laughably proud of my leaf-heavy composting system. Despite all my wonderful garden produce, I can say with all honesty that my favorite thing to harvest was my compost. Before I moved to a part of the country where there are more tumbleweeds than trees, every autumn I developed a bit of a problem – I became a stalker. Always keeping my eyes on my neighbors’ curbs, waiting for the chance to make my move, I was on the lookout for the telltale sign of bulging garbage bags....
Here’s what we’ll cover: If you’re from the northern US like me, collard greens may not be a regular item on your dinner table. A side dish staple of the South, collard greens can make a tasty and nutritious addition to your leafy-green vegetable repertoire. After taking a deeper look into their health benefits, you’ll be ready to grow and cook up your own. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....
In this article, you will learn all you need to know to grow Virginia stock in your garden. Malcolmia maritima Sweetly fragrant Virginia stock, Malcolmia maritima, is a member of the Brassicaceae, or mustard family of plants that includes broccoli, cabbages, and cauliflower. Its Latin name reveals nautical origins, and in fact, it was originally found rambling along the salty shores of the Mediterranean. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....
Growing native flowers like Eschscholzia californica helps increase the biodiversity that native insects and wildlife species depend on while giving gardens a “sense of place.” Eschscholzia californica California poppies create spectacular displays of bright yellow-orange blooms that cover grassy hillsides in early spring. Their soft and silky petals reflect the sun’s light, making them shine. They truly are the stars of the native wildflower super-bloom! We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....
A root crop similar to carrots, they offer a unique flavor that’s rich and slightly sweet. And they’re just the thing to turn common meals like soups and stews into something special. Pastinaca sativa Aside from a quick glance at the grocery store, I never paid parsnips much attention. But that changed a few years ago, when a friend shared a batch of stovetop parsnip fries with me. A little bit of coconut oil or olive oil, maybe some ghee heated up in a skillet, parsnips cut into thin strips and tossed in, and a little salt and pepper to taste....
Read on to learn about the many diseases that can affect your cabbage crop, and steps you can take to prevent or control them. Cabbages can fall victim to an array of diseases from all of the major classes of pathogens – fungi, water molds, bacteria, and viruses. The infections can range in severity from the unsightly but not usually fatal, such as powdery mildew, to the almost uniformly fatal bacterial soft rot....
There are multiple species in the Achillea genus, some wild natives, and several stunning ornamental cultivars featuring a wide range of colors including pale pink, purple, red, white, and yellow. With its long history of medicinal use, I find yarrow to be one of the most incredible and fascinating common garden plants. An herbaceous perennial and member of the aster family, it is distinguished by its feathery leaves and flowers that bloom in densely arranged clusters....
It was a favorite tradition, but it’s a rare happening to see snow on Thanksgiving nowadays. As a gardener, these climatic changes are vital to understanding the evolving state of our yards and our gardens. Let’s take a little trip back in time… When I was a kid, I celebrated Thanksgiving with unusual aplomb. Part of it was recognizing the few days off from school as a prelude to a longer winter break, but the memories I hold most dear involve bundling up and taking a post-dinner hike into the woods....
These tough, woody perennials are mostly self-sufficient and handle lean soils, hot sun, and arid conditions without missing a beat. Highly popular for their gorgeous flowers and exquisite herbal perfume, the best way to keep lavender plants at their peak is to become skilled at pruning. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Pollinators flock to their sweet mauve, pink, purple, and white flowers, while the intense essential oils repel deer and gnawing rodents....
The gentle, natural sound of wind chimes can be relaxing. Why not make one for your home or garden? Follow these 30 special DIY Wind Chimes Ideas with tutorials for inspiration! 1. Bottle Cap Wind Chime Recycle bottle caps to create colorful wind chime for your garden. Check out the step by step tutorial here. 2. DIY Key Wind Chime Create wind chime with the old keys and hang it on the entrance....
In this article we’re going to get to know nine different species of goldenrods, examining their sun, soil, and water needs, as well as their growth habit, flowers, foliage, bloom time, and hardiness zones. Goldenrods are late-season wildflowers bearing big sprays of beautiful golden blooms that are both a delight to behold and an important food source for birds and pollinators. And with over 120 different species, there’s one well-suited to nearly every growing situation – wet or dry conditions, full sun or shade, vast meadows or compact gardens....
The degree of infestation will dictate whether you will need to implement control measures. We will guide you through the process of monitoring these pests and deciding on the appropriate course of action. Raspberry fruitworms, also known as raspberry beetles (or raspberry fruit worms), are members of a small family of beetles known as the Butyridae. The damage caused by these beetles can range from the occasional worm in a homegrown raspberry to major destruction of the leaves and severe infestation of the berries throughout your crop....
How do you protect your crops from these voracious vermin? Let’s look at some tried and true techniques. Halyomorpha More than 200 species of stink bugs call North America home, and you may very well think most of them have taken up residence in your garden. These shield-shaped munchers are known for the odor they produce when disturbed or squished, which is said to be similar to skunk, powerful cilantro, or coriander....
