Trying to control squash bugs can seem like an insurmountable task when you find them in your vegetable garden. If you grow zucchini or squash, you may be familiar with trying to deal with a squash bug infestation. These bugs can do a huge amount of damage, particularly to new plants. Young seedlings and plants …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 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 …
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 …
Who doesn’t love the look of a lush, green hydrangea bush in their yard, just full of those gorgeous and huge blooms? Propagating hydrangeas to get new plants for free can be done in several ways – hydrangea cuttings, tip rooting, air layering and division of the mother plant. Growing hydrangeas from seed is also …
It is easy to clean a cement bird bath to make it a safe and fun place for birds to enjoy. All you need are a few common supplies and minutes of your time. After a long summer of use, a bird bath can be getting pretty grimy this time of the year. Algae grows …
Make your own home made Miracle Grow as well as several other plant foods easily with epsom salt, baking soda and household ammonia. It’s time for another fun vegetable garden hack. This DIY Miracle Grow fertilizer is a more organic way to feed your plants. The homemade plant food recipe is easy to make and …
Growing Spring Onions is a garden project that starts early in the year. You’ll end up with small bulbous onions that have a much milder flavor than a normal yellow onion but can be used in the same way. I use onions all the time in my recipes, and fortunately for gardeners, they are very …
Growing onions is a pretty easy from a gardening standpoint, but did you know that you can also regrow spring onions in water? At times like these, when some food items are in short supply, knowing how to get more bang for your buck is a win in anyone’s book! Using parts of an onion …
Planting forsythia is all about timing and spacing. The two best times are early spring and mid fall depending on your hardiness zone. One of the earliest plants to bloom in spring is forsythia, but when should it be planted? Forsythia bushes delight us each spring with their burst of cheery yellow flowers. This deciduous …
These 20 seed starting tips will help you to get your garden going early this year. With seeds, it’s never too early to get gardening! The holidays have come and gone and most of us are hunkering down for the colder months of the year. But wait – now is the perfect time to think …
There are many types of perennials, from tender types, which need to be grown in the southern part of the USA, to very hardy perennials that keep coming back after a freezing winter outside. Budget conscious gardeners have a very good friend when they turn to growing perennials. What is not to like about a …
For unbeatable spring color, try growing forsythia bushes. These easy care bushes require very little care. Nothing screams spring in your garden quite like Forsythia. With their vibrant yellow color, these perennials are one of the first bushes to flower in the spring. The shrub is very hardy, and relatively easy to grow. These tips …
To choose cottage garden plants, think of tall flowering perennials, self seeding annuals and hardy biennials to give your garden just the right look. English cottage gardens have a very romantic feel to them. The look may seem haphazard but is actually planned. A cottage garden has a very distinct style that throws formality out …
Plants that close their leaves at night are interesting to look at, but have you ever wondered why they do this? Have you ever walked out into your garden in the early morning, or early evening and seen that the leaves or flowers of some of your favorite plants are closed up? Don’t worry – …
Vertical gardens make more use of available space by growing vegetables, flowers and herbs up a wall instead of taking up lots of growing space on the ground. I speak to people all the time who admire my large yard and gardens but say “I don’t have the room to do this.” While a large …
These 20 Low Light Indoor Plants are easy to care for and don’t mind growing in lower light situations. This makes them ideal for those with limited light, especially during the winter months. With the cold weather out in full force, thoughts of gardening are often far from the front burner. Those are the times …
