Pine Cones Discourage PestsPlace pine cones around the plants in pots to discourage cats from digging. If necessary, add short stakes to keep the cones from being moved.
Early American Gardeners of the Thirteen ColoniesEarly gardening and farming was nearly a full time daily job for the initial settlers of the thirteen colonies. The climate and soil were new to them and it took quite some time to discover what fruits, vegetables and crops would grow successfully here.
Water Your Plants with CoffeeIf you have leftover coffee in your coffee pot, once it's cooled, you can water your plants with it. Do not use cream or sugar though. I have no scientific evidence to back this one up but I have a house plant that is 14 years old that gets the coffee remains and it is so healthy.
How To Use Polymer Crystals for Best ResultsIf you use polymer crystals in a container, it's best to hydrate them before adding them to the soil. This way you won't end up hydrating them with your first watering and having soil rise up, over, and out of your container.
Cheap Plant MarkersFor inexpensive plant markers that won't blow away, buy an aluminium mini blind (don't use plastic as it may crack) at a garage sale or at one of the big box stores in a sale bin, and from 25 to 50 heavy-duty irrigation staples. Cut mini blinds in the length you need, 3" to 4", measure, and drill holes closer to one side to fit the staples. Write the plant name on the back with a Sharpie, so it wont fade in the shade, and then on the front using a paint pen or a pencil. Carefully thread it onto the staple and then spread a little, as shown in the photo.
Garden Tours: Valleylynn, Lynn SmithLet's take a trip this week to Oregon and visit the lovely gardens created by Lynn Smith and her husband, Cliff. It's always fun to step out of our own climate to see what grows well in another, and sometimes it's even more fun to see what our climates have in common. You are going to love what you see!
Hang Your ToolsDrill holes in the handles of hand tools to hang easier.
Honey Bees in the Garden: Royal Jelly a.k.a. Bee MilkRoyal jelly is another product of the honey bees. It is the stuff that makes a worker bee turn into a queen. You may have heard of the various medical claims made about royal jelly. Is it really a miracle substance or just hype? Let’s take a closer look at royal jelly.
Organize Your ToolsKeep your tools organized. There is nothing more frustrating than spending precious gardening time looking for your tools.
Free Bird SeedLeave seed heads on grasses over the winter. The birds will appreciate it.
All About Packaging Plants for ShippingThere eventually comes a time when you want to share your plants with someone in another state, province, or country. This is a tutorial showing one of the best ways to package your plants, ensuring that they will make it to their destination in one piece.
Herb Harvesting in the FallBefore the first frost of fall, harvest the last of your herbs. Chop them finely, put them in an ice cube tray, and cover with either water or olive oil. (I designate my blue trays for herbs, so they aren't inadvertently used for regular ice cubes later.) You can do cubes of individual herbs (one cube would equal about 1-1/2 tsp. of dried herb in a recipe), or a combination of compatible herbs, like basil and oregano, or rosemary and thyme. Cover the tray with plastic wrap, and when they are frozen hard, transfer them to labeled freezer bags.
Diseases That Affect HouseplantsHouseplants create a pleasant atmosphere in our homes; diseases can affect the health and vigor of our plants. Proper care and early detection of diseases will ensure healthy, good looking plants.
Make Finding Tools a Bit EasierUse brightly colored electrician's tape or paint on the handles of your favorite garden tools. It makes finding them much easier when you lay them down in the garden.
Team Seeds, or Plants?What kind of gardener are you: Team Seeds, or Team Plants?
Garden Tours: AlohaHoya, Carol NoelWelcome to Garden Tours. Each week we'll take you on a tour of the lovely gardens of one of our members. Join us now as we travel to Hawaii where Carol will take us through the gardens she and her husband have created. You are going to love what you see! Be sure you click on the images to enlarge them.
How To Empty the Garden FountainAn easy way to empty the fountain of water for cleaning is to create a siphon using an old piece of hose.
Setting Up a Bee Yard: Getting the BeesThe last step in setting up your bee yard is getting your bees. There are several varieties of honey bees and you need to choose which one is right for your climate and you.
Label, Label, LabelBe sure to label your seeds as soon as you harvest them.
Winter Tool PreparationAs part of preparing the garden for winter when freezing weather starts to approach, make sure to disconnect the garden hose from the house and drain the hose. Leaving the hose connected can cause damage to your hose, but worse yet -- it opens you up to the potential of a burst pipe.
All About the Fringe TreeIt was an elusive tree. We searched all the way up and down the mountain for what seemed to be years before I finally found the Fringe Tree. I told Aunt Bett we must be on a snipe hunt.
Hose Care for the WinterDrain and wind up your hoses before the first freeze. Store them indoors and they'll last longer.
New York Roof GardensGordon Hawkins' Brooklyn roof garden is well known in gardening website circles. He frequently posts photos of his exotic and eclectic collection of brugmansias, passifloras, clerodendrons, and more. The source of many brugmansia collections has been his generous free cuttings in late fall each year. Gordon also freely shares his clever directions for building planters and patio furniture from foam insulation boards.
Uses for PineconesIf you have lots of conifer trees in your yard and have been wondering what to do with all those cones after the crafts projects are done, try using them as a decorative mulch. I use cones from the Eastern White Pines (P. strobus). Lay down felted landscaping fabric and include an 8-12" mow strip of your favorite mulch at the perimeter. New additions every year keep it looking fresh. The only downside I've seen to date is that the squirrels sometimes raid it.
