After a long summer of use, a bird bath can be getting pretty grimy this time of the year. 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. I admit…
If you are fond of growing perennials, you really should try daylilies. They are one of my favorite perennials. There is such a variety of bloom style, color and temperament. and they are very easy to grow. There are so many types that it is hard to know what you have in your garden. This…
I love to find ideas about recycling or re-purposing household items in garden projects. Someone else’s trash can always be a garden treasure. Bicycle planters make great garden accents for both annuals and perennial plants. Many bicycles have baskets or back carriers which are the ideal spot to tuck away some flowers and vines. The frames…
If you study the habits of any gardener who has wonderful looking plants and shrubs, you will know that proper pruning is a key to their success. These pruning tips will help you make sure that your shrubs and garden plants will look their best, season after season. Done correctly, pruning will add to the…
If you like the look of cottage gardens, you’ll love purple coneflowers (echinacea purpurea). These tips for growing echinacea will have butterflies, birds and bees flocking to your garden in droves! This easy care perennial draws insects and birds to it, making sure that neighboring plants will have plenty of pollinators all season long. This coarse…
Budget conscious gardeners have a very good friend when they turn to growing perennials. What is not to like about a plant that comes back year after year and needs very little care and watering after the first year? There are many types of perennials, from tender types, which need to be grown in the…
A lot of my time spent in maintaining my summer garden is spent in deadheading. So, finding plants that don’t need deadheading to add to my garden beds is something that I am always in search of. What is deadheading? Basically, this gardening term refers to the time spent removing old flower blooms to allow…
Make your own home made Miracle Grow as well as several other plant foods easily with epsom salt, baking soda and household ammonia. This DIY Miracle Grow fertilizer is a more organic way to feed your plants. The homemade plant food recipe is easy to make and works really well! Many people who garden do…
We all know that we should keep a carton of baking soda in the fridge to take away odors. but there are so many other uses for it too, even in the garden! Baking soda in the garden is often used in various “green cleaning” techniques. It has so many uses in the house, so it…
Roses are perennial plants that come back each year in your garden and have a very long blooming season. They are one of the most popular garden plants. Do you know what the different rose colors meanings are? This lovely flower is often given as a gift. The reason is simple – each rose color means something…
Determinate tomato plants are also known as “bush tomatoes”. They are smaller than normal tomato plants and generally need no staking but still produce well. Nothing tastes quite like a home grown tomato. They are sweet and juicy and so easy to grow. But they also take a lot of room, so are not so…
The Wellfield Botanic Gardens in Elkhart, Indiana are like a living museum with art, nature, and structure all coordinating beautifully. The waters of Christiana Creek stream through the gardens, which are a combination of nature, art and hardscaping that is sure to delight. The Botanic Gardens feature 36 acres of lush gardens against a backdrop…
Trying to control squash bugs can seem an insurmountable task when you find them in your vegetable garden. These bugs can do a huge amount of damage, particularly to young plants. These 10 easy tips will keep your garden pest-free. Take charge and get rid of these destructive pests for good. Last summer I had…
Asiatic and Oriental Lilies may look similar but they actually have several differences. All types of lilies are grown by home gardeners for their dramatic and colorful flowers on long, sturdy stems. Each type has their own particular growing needs, which may make one a better choice for your gardening needs. Although these types of lilies…
If you enjoy vegetable gardening, you may have heard about heirloom vegetables. These are vegetables grown from heirloom seeds which are an open pollinated variety of seeds developed prior to 1940. There are many advantages for growing this type of vegetable. Experts vary in their definition of heirloom vegetables, but typically they will agree that…
We tend to think of edible gardens as those that grow vegetables but there are also many fruits that can be grown just as easily at home. There are several types of melons that are right at home in a vegetable garden. Growing melons such as cantaloupe and honeydew require a few things: plenty of sunshine and…
Ticks are a nuisance and can be dangerous as well, since they carry numerous diseases such as Lyme Disease. The bugs are drawn to dark and moist places so there are steps that we can take to control them. These tips show how to get rid of ticks in the yard as well as a…
I love to get new plants for free by taking cuttings of some of my existing indoor plants. Purple passion plant cuttings root very easily and I’ll be showing you how to propagate it today. Gynura Aurantiaca – also known as purple passion plant or purple velvet plant is an easy to grow houseplant with…
Get a head start on spring gardening by starting seeds indoors with Jiffy Peat Pellets. These handy peat pots have the perfect soil for seedlings and they can be transplanted right into the ground as soon as the weather is warm enough. This step by step tutorial features a Jiffy Peat Pellet Greenhouse with perennial,…
Forsythia bushes have a wonderful arching habit will makes them a great focal point when planted in a large garden bed. All shrubs need pruning, but what do you do when you have totally overgrown forsythia shrub? It’s either time for hard pruning or renovation pruning for them. If you stay on top of pruning…
Garden arbors and arches are set up as walk through areas in home gardens or public parks where one can welcome guests. There are many styles of arbors to choose from. Some are man made and others formed over time by nature. Trellises are often a part of arbors for the garden, giving some support…
Nothing is more attractive to a gardener than getting new plants without having to pay for them. And since succulents are a very sought after plant, it stands to reason propagating succulent leaves and cuttings is a popular project for many gardeners. Best of all, it’s easy and free! Succulents are very drought hardy plants…
Try growing astilbe for beautiful, showy flowers that do well in a shady garden bed. This perennial has feathery flowers that sit above the fern like foliage in a majestic way. These tips will show you how to grow astilbe and bring color to your shady perennial garden beds. Most shady garden beds are filled…
Ever since it was established in 1970, people around the world take part in Earth Day Activities as a way to celebrate National Earth Day on April 22. This day is now a worldwide event where more than 1 billion people take part in a day of action. Here are some things that you can…
Onions are easy to grow both outdoors and inside. They are one of those vegetables that I never seem to have enough of because I use them every day for cooking. This article shows you how to use onions as indoor plants. Growing onions indoors is a fun project and one that the kids will love…
Nephrolepis Exaltata Bostoniensis is one of the most popular indoor plants, and can also be grown outdoors in some parts of the country. Care of Boston Fern means providing extra humidity to keep the fronds fresh and fluffy and not giving the plant too much sunlight. Luckily for gardeners who don’t seem to possess a green thumb,…
