Click picture to enlarge What you need: Spade Tarp Hose Old kitchen knife Daylilies are rugged perennials. Though they can be divided at practically any time of year, early spring, late summer, and early fall are ideal. Use a strong spade to lift the clump, digging about 6-8″ out from the base of the plant. […]
Click picture to enlarge Heeling in is helpful if you are unable to immediately plant a bare root rose or tree after purchasing it. Start by digging a trench. The trench should be straight on one side, and angled on the other. It should also be large enough to easily accommodate the rose’s roots. Click […]
Click picture to enlarge Following a couple easy steps will ensure that you get a representative soil sample of whatever area you are testing. The more uniform the samples you take, the more accurate the results will be. There are tools made specifically for taking soil samples, but if one is not available a bulb […]
Click picture to enlarge One way to distinguish between plants is by the shape of their leaf edges or margins. Here are a few of the more common leaf margin types. Entire leaf margins have smooth edges. Most foliage plants like Dracaena, Ficus, and Philodendron fit into the entire category. Click picture to enlarge Serrate […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Paper pot maker Newspaper Scissors Nursery flat A simple wooden device called a paper pot maker allows you to make 2-” pots from strips of newspaper. These recycled pots are great for starting seeds. To make a pot, begin by cutting a strip of newspaper about 4″ wide […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Ceramic pot White exterior latex paint Empty yogurt cup Clean rag 1″-2″ paint brush Ceramic pots can be made to look old and weathered in a few easy steps. Click picture to enlarge Half fill a yogurt cup with white latex paint. Add water to the paint until […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: 8″ medium mill bastard file Steel wool Light machine oil Wire brush Whetstone Naval jelly Keeping the blade of a shovel or hoe sharp will improve the tool’s usefulness. Start the process by clamping the shovel in a vise. Position the shovel so that the blade is facing […]
Click picture to enlarge ot watering will ensure that your plants receive a deep watering. In addition, pot watering ensures that the nutrients and mineral contained in the soil are not washed away. Bury a pot next to your plants root ball and fill it with water. It is not necessary to remove the pot. […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Bamboo plant Shovel Corrugated plastic Mulch Bamboo is an invasive plant. Take precautions when planting or it can spread like wildfire. Start by digging a hole at least 2′ deep and as wide as you want the bamboo to eventually become. The deeper you make the hole the […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Half moon edger Sod A piece of plywood large enough to fit over the damaged area Hand fork An alternative to reseeding a bare spot on a lawn is repairing the damaged area with sod. One of the benefits of using sod is that the damaged area can […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: String Wooden stakes Half moon edger Square headed shovel The first step is to set a string line. Using stakes as shown and a builder’s square, you can create a uniformly square or rectangular area. If you want a more organic shape, use a garden hose to mark […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Seeds Jiffy pots or seed tray Seedling potting mix Plastic labels Permanent marker Pane of glass or a propagator Spray bottle There are several options for starting seeds indoors. You can start seeds in a community tray, packs, or Jiffy pots. Start seeds directly into packs or Jiffy […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Medium gauge galvanized wire fencing Wire cutters 20-gauge utility wire This compost bin was constructed using medium gauge galvanized wire fencing. It holds roughly 1 cubic yard of material, which is about the minimum volume needed for efficient composting. Click picture to enlarge Unroll the fencing on the […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: A roll of perforated fabric or plastic row covering Garden spikes Using floating row covers helps protect over wintering salad greens, or helps you get an early start on planting your garden. They are made from lightweight plastic or fabric sheeting that has many small perforations in it. […]
