Covering drainage holes in pots is a necessary evil. Without something to cover the hole in the bottom of your planter, the soil will eventually wash out of the pot through the hole in the planter and the plant will settle. This also means that your furniture will take a beating. Planters without drainage holes …
Believe it or not, this easy raised garden bed can be completed in a couple of hours. Once you have the supplies on hand, most of the work comes from cutting and staining the boards. If you have a very uneven ground area, you’ll need to add an hour for leveling the wall supports. Other …
If you have never tried to grow sweet potatoes before, you are in for a treat. Starting sweet potato slips is easy to do and lots of fun. Slips are the rooted sprouts that grow from an actual mature sweet potato. They are used to grow new sweet potato plants. Growing sweet potato slips is a …
Do you use baking soda for plants? Baking soda in the garden can be used in lots of different ways. Many of us think of baking soda in conjunction with various indoor “green cleaning” techniques. It has so many uses in the house, that it makes sense that it will work outdoors too. We all …
Did you know that certain lucky plants are thought to have the ability to attract good fortune and prosperity to your home if you grow them? St. Patrick’s Day is right around that corner and that brings with it thoughts of good luck. Whether you are interested in getting better luck, having good health, or …
Oxalis plant care is generally easy but some varieties of the plant can be considered a weed. Even so, it is a popular perennial plant that often shows up around St. Patrick’s Day. Oxalis has shamrock-shaped leaves and is also commonly referred to as love plant and wood sorrel. What is oxalis? Oxalis is a …
Growing ginger from root is a fun kid’s project. Ginger is a tropical plant that is easy to grow indoors. All you need is a piece of fresh ginger, some water and some soil to get a plant growing. It seems that I am on a growing from scraps kick lately. There are many vegetables …
Propeller plant is tender succulent that has impressively shaped leaves and a spectacular red flower that lasts for weeks. These growing tips for crassula falcata will make sure your plant performs to its best. Crassula is a genus of succulents that are often seen at garden centers in many different shapes. They are grown as …
One of the prettiest holiday plants is a cyclamen – cyclamen persicum, also known as the florist cyclamen. Like some other holiday plants, getting a cyclamen to rebloom after the first year can a tricky task. For this reason, many gardeners simply discard the plant after it is done flowering and purchase a new one …
Looking for a pretty houseplant to decorate for the holidays? Try growing cyclamen persicum. Caring for a cyclamen is easy if you plan to grow this houseplant as an annual and discard it after flowering. Taking care of florist cyclamen during the dormant period so that they will bloom again the following year is the …
The weather is getting colder outside, but this does not mean that gardening is over. Read on to get some tips for Thanksgiving cactus care and enjoy blossoms indoors even when there is snow on the ground! Thanksgiving cactus is not the only holiday cactus plant. There are several others. Each one blooms during the …
These top 10 ways to protect the environment at home take very little time to do. It’s just a matter of making a commitment to doing something good for the planet and sticking to that plan. I call this “my environmental to do list.” Earth Day happens in April and lots of people talk about …
This no carve sunflower pumpkin uses the heads of silk sunflowers or any other colorful daisy like flower to cover the outside of a faux pumpkin. This is a great idea for those of you who do not like the mess of a carved pumpkin. It’s also one that gardeners will love! Fall is my …
Save your money and help the environment at the same time with these DIY log planters. They are rustic and easy to make and look natural in any garden setting. You don’t have to spend a fortune on planters at the nursery store. Like so much else in gardening, start by looking in your own …
It’s time to get your spook on – with creepy flowers, Halloween plants and all sorts of growing things that are sure to make you feel a Halloween mood. Traditional Halloween decorating is done with just a few plants and colors. This time of the year is cold and plants in most areas of the …
Knucklehead pumpkins, as the name suggests, are covered with warts that are reminiscent of the knuckles on your hand. This type of pumpkin, along with heirloom pumpkins of various colors and shapes, are all the trend right now for decorating. Have you ever headed to to pumpkin patch to get your pumpkin to carve only …
The common name of this pretty perennial says it all – candy corn plant has blooms that look quite similar to the popular candy that we love to eat in the fall! It wouldn’t be fall without a candy corn martini, or a candy dish or two loaded with candy corn. Good news for gardeners …
Fall greenery is perfect to use when decorating with natural elements. It’s both bold in color and rustic in texture and gives a calming look to any home decor project. I love the feel and look of fall. There is nothing like cool days when the garden starts to die down for winter. It may …
Are you looking for a natural and easy to care for fall arrangement? Try making these DIY Pumpkin Succulent Planters. They look great and can be put together in almost no time at all. If you love succulents as much as I do, you will want to check out my guide for buying succulents. It …
Old Man cactus has so much character and personality! Even the botanical name – Cephalocereus senilis – hints at the senility of an Old Man! The spiky body of this cactus plant is covered with fine white hair which gives the impression of a frail senior citizen – thus the common name. I first discovered …
It’s time for one of my DIY garden ideas on a budget! This Rotisserie Chicken Mini Terrarium is inexpensive to make and looks great as a table decoration. It is also a fun way to get a head start on spring gardening by using the recycled container to start seeds. Early spring or late winter …
Make your own seed tape with some seeds and a roll of toilet paper. Why waste money on store bought seed planting tape when you can make your own seed tape with this common household item? The tutorial shows you how easy it is to plant tiny seeds in a vegetable garden. Have you ever …
These homemade greenhouse ideas make use of recycled household materials in a fun new way. Extend your growing season with one of these creative ideas for DIY greenhouses, cold frames and terrariums. When I tour Botanical gardens around the USA, the ones that appeal to me most are those that have greenhouses as part of …
Plants need nourishment to perform in the best way. Flowers and vegetables love potato starch and using potato water in the garden is a good way to give it to them. To add starch in a “green way”, save the water you boil your potatoes in. Starchy water will spur the release of plant nutrients …
These inspirational flower quotes are both pretty and motivational. Share one today with friends. I love to start the day with an experience that gives me a moment of inspiration. Often, that is simply walking through my garden, admiring the flowers. Why are Quotes so Popular? When things in life get tough, like they have been …
Are you bothered by the cost of maintaining a garden? These creative DIY garden ideas on a budget should help to keep your costs down. I’ve put together a list of 30+ vegetable garden hacks that will make your gardening life easier and cheaper. One of the big pleasures of summer for me is tending …
