Time To Sow PoppiesRemember to sow poppy seeds in your garden in October for bloom in early spring.
Making Stepping StonesAt the Whitinger Farm, we are busy making stepping stones for a walkway between our driveway and the house. It's an ambitious project and we've already made dozens of stones. By popular request, here is the tutorial on how we're making them.
Propagate Shrubs in the FallFall is a great time to increase your shrubs. When pruning Euonymous and Forsythia, remove the bottom leaves from good stems and put them (6 inches deep) where you want a new plant.
Setting Up Your Bee Yard: Choosing the LocationYou have decided to become a beekeeper. Congratulations and welcome to a fascinating hobby. Your next step is to decide where to put your bee yard. Let's take a look at choosing a location.
Jet Out the DirtAfter re-potting, I set the hose on JET to jet the dirt out from under my finger nails. May not be perfect, but it sure helps!
Benefits of Vines Growing on Your HousePlanting a vine against the side of your house will help keep that wall cool in the summer (by shading it) and warm in the winter (by giving it a pocket of air to insulate, and reduce wind chill).
All About SchlumbergeraWinter blooms can be especially enchanting and are very much appreciated by most gardeners. The genus Schlumbergera provides us with beautiful blooms during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and beyond. Let's take a closer look at these plants and learn how to successfully cultivate their beautiful blooming colors.
Fixing the Juniper Rash ProblemIf you are like me, you get a rash from working with junipers. They prick your skin and it's not always possible to wear long sleeves heavy enough to protect your skin. Wash your arms well with soap and dry them. Then hold them over the sink and literally drench them with Witch Hazel. Let it dry naturally. You may have to repeat the Witch Hazel again in an hour or so but I find that after doing this I do not suffer with the rash for days on end.
Team Fresh Flowers Inside, or Team Flowers OutsideOne thing that flower gardeners have is a lot of flowers. The question is: Do you bring them inside?
Cinnamon Makes a Great Rooting Hormone Substitute!Out of rooting hormone? Open your kitchen cabinet and grab some cinnamon. Plant stems dipped into it will kill fungus and bacteria to help keep those new cuttings free of disease while rooting.
Shredded Paper for MulchGo paperless in your office, then use your shreddings as mulch in your garden.
Garden Tours: Indygardengal, Veronica BowlingWelcome 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 Indiana where Veronica will take us through the gardens she has created. You are going to love what you see! (Be sure to click each image for an enlarged view.)
All About PumpkinsFrom the legend of the Jack O'Lantern and "chucking", to growing, health benefits and pumpkin trivia, let's find out more about this amazing fruit.
Leave the Leaves for Natural MulchDon't rake the leaves from your flower beds in the fall. Leave them until spring. They will help insulate your plants and decompose to enrich your soil.
Bring Harvests Inside for Indoor InterestBefore a killing frost, harvest several carrots, beets, and turnips. Remove any unsightly leaves. Cut each vegetable crosswise, so that about two inches remains below the leaves. Arrange in a dish containing a layer of pebbles or a pebble/sand mix. Add a piece of charcoal. Fill dish half full of water. Place in a bright window and keep water level constant. You now have an interesting foliar display that is sure to draw comments.
Divide Your Plants in the FallFall is a great time to divide your plants! Dividing perennials is an easy way to increase your plants, and it also keeps many perennials healthy and prevents them from outgrowing their space.
All About GarlicGarlic is one of my favorite flavorings to use in the kitchen and one of the easiest of all the herbs to grow in the garden. If you absolutely love the smell and flavor of fresh garlic, or have ever considered growing your own garlic, this fall would be a really good time to plant some cloves. It takes little effort to grow them yourself and you will be rewarded with juicy and flavorsome bulbs.
Plant ProperlyKnow how big that gallon plant will be before you place it.
Startup Costs of Becoming a BeekeeperBecoming a beekeeper doesn't require a great outlay of cash or time. After that initial investment in the hive and equipment, it's a pretty cheap hobby. Let's take a look at the basic equipment you need to get started.
A Source for Cheap Gardening ContainersScour garage sales for inexpensive garden pots, containers, and garden art. You get more for your buck!
Team Latin, or Team Common?Latin names and common names: In honor of our quickly growing ATP Database, today we're going to explore which side ATPers are on.
Use a Wood Pallet for Growing VinesIf you want a privacy barrier that's great for letting a vine grow on (such as Morning Glory, etc), use a wood pallet! You can usually find a company that will either give them away or charge a nominal fee. We put up 2 pallets together and had the Morning Glories growing all over them. Plus it created afternoon shade in a sunny spot!
"Deer-Resistant" May Not Really BeDeer will eat just about anything when they are hungry enough! Don't go by the 'deer resistant' tag at all.
Garden Tours: ge1836, Jo Ann GentleWelcome to a special feature at 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 New York to see the gardens created by Jo Ann Gentle. I think you are going to love what you see! (Be sure to click each image for an enlarged view.)
All About MulchOne of the best things you can do for your flower and vegetable gardens, and for trees, is to apply mulch. Mulch is a material placed on the soil to protect it and conserve moisture, but it has many more benefits than that.
