Pipe cleaners make wonderful soft flexible ties for attaching plants to stakes and cut easily to size with just regular scissors. They come in a variety of colors so you could match them to the plant if you wanted. I purchased mine at a dollar store so it is very cost effective.
It's exciting to look at beautiful gardens in the middle of winter. For our first tour of the new season we're taking you to Wisconsin to see the gardens of Chris Rentmeister. Her creative touch can be seen not only in the color combination of blooms, but also in the interesting garden art she shares with us. You're going to love what you see!
When planting in a pot, make sure the pot has a drain hole. Plants don't like to sit in water.
When having bulk mulch delivered, set out a tarp and a bunch of bins and buckets. Tell the driver to do his best to fill the bins. Lifting a bin is much easier than shoveling to fill your wheelbarrow!
It's that time again. Critters who live near you are making plans for midnight raids on your roses, early morning feasts involving your lettuce, and late afternoon snacks with your daffodils. It's that time again; trust me, they're making plans. It's a surprise party they'll have. You won't be getting an invitation.
A little cinnamon in your soil will help keep the bugs away from your seedlings/cuttings.
When sowing petunias in a seed tray, it is best to do it indoors as the seeds are very fine indeed, and any wind will blow them everywhere. Make sure the compost is damp, and when you open the seed packet, tap the seeds carefully in the seed packet to the end of it, then tap the seed packet very gently with your finger, while moving your other hand to make sure they are evenly distributed. Do not cover them with more compost or water with a big watering can. Use one of the little hand-held mist sprayers that people use for houseplants.
Despite what you may have heard about growing clematis, these beautiful plants are quite easy to grow. There are many variables to take into consideration when selecting the perfect plant for your location.
Crushed Eggshells: Wash eggshells thoroughly, crush and sprinkle atop the soil beneath plants to repel slugs. Cleaned, crushed eggshells are also a great source of calcium for backyard birds, mix in with birdseed or place in an old pie tin and place in the garden.
Put a straw sleeve around leggy seedlings, to prop them up to the light. They'll strengthen up in no time!
Some indoor and outdoor plants can be rooted directly in soil.
Soft fruits, hard fruits, exotic fruits, vine fruits: do you grow them?
A nail with a large head works really well for doing small cuttings or planting small seedlings. You use the pointed end to make a hole to insert the cutting and then use the flat head to smooth the soil around the cutting.
Last month's Name That Bloom Contest subject was the Black Locust Tree, Robinia pseudoacacia 'Purple Robe.' Check in to see who was the first to give us the right answer and while you're here, check out this month's mystery flower, too.
Use plastic knives as plant markers. Use a paint pen to write the plant names on them.
How many of you have ever dumped out packs of new seedlings, trying to pour excess water from the seedling flats. How frustrating is that? Why not grab your old turkey baster, tip the flat up a bit, and suck all the excess water up into the baster? Quick, easy, and no dumped seedlings. Buy a new baster for the turkey...
America has become a nation of suburbs and now exurbs. There's no getting around it. More Americans live there than anywhere else these days. But does that mean we all need to have a parcel of ground with a solitary shade tree in the front yard and a patch of lawn to manicure? I hope not.
Spring bulbs sprouting early? Don't panic! No need to bury them in extra mulch. They know what they're doing. Just let them do it.
Part of the story of Hillfarm as we know it will always have to be the roses that we found here.
Water seedlings with Chamomile tea to prevent damping off.
Gardeners love their plants and their pets. Many popular house plants such as Ivy and Philodendron are poisonous to cats. The following list contains a few of the more common house plants toxic to them: Arrowhead Fern, Amaryllis, Anthurium, Avocado, Cactus, Caladium, Chrysanthemum, Creeping Fig, Crocus, Croton, Daffodil, Dieffenbachia, Euphorbias, Fiddleleaf Fig, Holly, Hydrangea, Ivy, Easter Lily (most lilies are highly toxic to cats), Mistletoe, Narcissus, Philodendron, Tomato leaves.
Lions and Tigers and Toads, Oh MY! Well, nix the first two but the latter is a must in your garden! Ninety percent of a toad's diet consists of insects as well as other small creatures (think cutworms!) Encourage them to linger by providing a toad abode (upturned flower pot, box, etc) and a shallow pool for drinking and cooling off in on hot days.
Signs of spring - do you grow early spring bulbs? Come share with us!
Invest in a sturdy garden scoot. It saves wear and tear on knees and back, and if the handle locks in place, you have support to help you stand up. A basket or tray keeps tools handy or carries produce back from the garden.
The year 2011 was a violent weather year in the US, with at least 12 weather-related disasters exceeding a billion dollars in damage. Some say it was Earth's most extreme weather year since 1816. Much of the country suffered from record heat and drought . . . and so did the yards and gardens.