Team Cold Season Annuals, or Team Done for the Year?Are you a gardener who plants annuals for the cooler season, or do you call it a year and let your landscape be bare until spring?
Take Cuttings To Hedge BetsUnsure of the cold hardiness of a new plant? Make starts from the new plant, leave some in the garden to overwinter, and keep the others in a protected area during winter (indoors or in a garage).
Christmas Ornaments for Garden DecorShop the Christmas aisles early for ornaments that can be used in the garden.
Garden Tours: flaflwrgrl, AnnWelcome to All Things Plants: 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 way down south to Florida where Ann will take us through the gardens she has created. You are going to love what you see!
Carry Your Cell Phone to GardenAlways carry your cell phone in case of an emergency.
Beekeeping Equipment: The Basic ToolsBefore you get your bees you need to have their hive set up and some basic tools to work with. Beekeeping supply catalogs show you all kinds of tools, but which ones do you really need to get started? Come and find out.
Beer Attracts SlugsA dish of beer in the garden will attract slugs.
Trade Flower and Vegetable SeedsTrade seeds -- either ones you have extra of, or newly harvested.
Plant Pansies for Winter FlowersTry a hayrack planter on your deck railing for flowers when the garden goes to sleep for winter. Winter pansies are cheerful and colorful to see from your window on dreary days.
Store Your Bulbs for the WinterWhen I have dried bulbs that do not need stratification, I store them in an empty coffee can with shredded paper until I'm ready to get them going again in spring.
The Hummingbirds Are Gone NowIt always makes me a little melancholy when I realize that the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left here on their annual fall migration to southern Mexico, Central America, and even as far away as South America.
Garden Tours: TarevWelcome to All Things Plants: 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 zone 7 where Tarev will take us through the gardens she has created. You are going to love what you see!
Use Acorns and PineconesFall is a great time to gather all those acorns and pine cones, large and small. You can drop them off at the art department of your local school for the kids to use in craft making. With all the budget cuts nowadays, the schools are very appreciative of this.... and so are the kids.
Fold Your GlovesFold clean gloves like socks so you can grab a matched pair.
Setting Up Your Bee Yard - Setting Up the HiveNow that you have selected the location for your bee yard it’s time to select your hive and set it up. A hive can be considered to be a manufactured home for bees. Early hives were crude shelters made of any material easily procured in the beekeeper’s locale.
What To Do While You Wait for Your Plant OrderAfter you order plants or bulbs online or by mail, make good use of your waiting period by making up plant labels. That way you will be ready to dig when they arrive.
Old Mailbox for Tool StorageDecorate an old mailbox with paint and place it in your garden. It is a great place to store gloves and hand tools, and it also looks pretty.
Winterizing Garden ToolsAll of the leaves have been raked and added to the compost; frost has put all of the plants to sleep for the winter. The outdoor furniture has been covered or moved into the garage. We still have one final task to accomplish before completing our outdoor work for the season. We need to winterize those tools, both power and manual, to ensure they will be ready to go in the spring
Keep Your First Aid Kit StockedKeep an emergency kit nearby, stocked with first aid cream, band aids etc.
Real Uses for a Toy RakeUse a child's toy rake to clean under shrubs or other hard to reach places.
What's Blooming in OctoberOctober usually spells the end of the gardening season here in Iowa. This year we've been blessed with an extended season as there has been no frost yet. Come on in and see what's still blooming at Cottage-in-the-Meadow Gardens! Check out the photo contest at the end of the article and take a moment to scroll down farther to the forum to show us some of the flowers blooming in your garden right now.
Save Soil When Using Big PotsWhen planting in a very large container or pot, first fill to one third with styrofoam pieces or peanuts before adding the soil. The roots will find their way around the material, and the pot will be less heavy and easier to move around.
Which Season Is Your Team Favorite?Is spring automatically a gardener's favorite season? Let's find out in this week's Which Team article!
Fertilizer StorageTransfer and store your fertilizer in coffee cans. The fertilizer stays dry and the cans are easy to tote wherever needed to feed plants. For convenience and safety, label the contents of the container!
Garden Tours: Calsurf73, MikeWelcome to All Things Plants: 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 California where Mike will take us through the gardens he has created. You are going to love what you see!
