Click picture to enlarge To get dense, bushy Chrysanthemums with numerous flowers, you will need to “pinch” them. Pinching refers to pruning soft, new growth with the thumb and forefinger. Tools such as a hand pruner or a large bonsai scissors may also be used. Click picture to enlarge When the new growth is 6-8″ […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Pruning knife Tape or twisties Sphagum moss A clear plastic bag or sleeve The first step is to select a healthy growing shoot. Next, trim off all of the lower leaves. Click picture to enlarge Once you’ve trimmed off the lower leaves, place a plastic sleeve over the […]
Click picture to enlarge African violets or Saintpaulia, are among the most popular houseplants. They are found in a broad range of flower colors and leaf types. Click picture to enlarge They grow best under fluorescent lights or in the diffuse light of a north or east facing window. When they refuse to bloom, it […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Chicken wire Staple gun Shovel If you have a wooden fence, here is an easy way to keep rabbits from digging under it. Dig a trench approximately 1′ wide and 1′ deep along the outside of the fence. Click picture to enlarge Lay a piece of 3′ wide […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Large healthy garlic bulbs Mulch Trowel Planting your own garlic is easy. All it takes is semi-fertile, well draining soil, and about 36 weeks of growing time. Separate a bulb of garlic into individual cloves. Each clove should be large and free of any marks or soft spots. […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Good bonsai candidate Tray Sharp pruners (or specialized bonsai pruners.) Bonsai root hook or garden claw Copper wire Misting bottle Bonsai potting soil Wire mesh Decorative stone, moss, or gravel The ancient art of bonsai is a beautiful blend of knowledge, soul, and nature that originated in China […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Concrete blocks String Rubber mallet Shovel Spirit level Three wooden stakes Plate compactor The first step in building a circular retaining wall is marking off the area the wall will encompass. To do this you need a center point to start from. Assuming that the wall is being […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: 32 gallon trashcan w/ lid Manure, either dried or composted Burlap sack Twine Water soluble fertilizer (optional) Manure tea is a wonderful booster for your roses and it’s easy to make. All you need is a plastic garbage can, some manure, and a burlap sack. The one drawback […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Dried fragrant herb leaves Dried orange peels, seed pods, flowers, whole spices, etc… Essential oils Orris root or Sweet Flag Mortar and pestle Large plastic bag or container Have ready two cups of dried fragrant herb leaves such as lemon verbena or scented geraniums. You’ll also need two […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Pruners Window screen Bricks Harvest the herbs on a dry day after the morning dew has evaporated. Click picture to enlarge In a dark, dry, well-ventilated place like an attic, elevate the screen to allow air to flow over, under, and around it. Click picture to enlarge Arrange […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Chicken wire Wire cutters Wooden stakes Pruning shears Shovel Leaves or straw Many bush-type roses such as hybrid teas, floribundas and grandifloras require winter protection where temperatures drop below zero. (Even in milder climates, some protection is a good idea.) But they can survive colder winter weather if […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: 6 mil black plastic Shovel Scissors It’s simple to create a suitable environment for a bog garden. Once you have determined where you want to create your bog, dig out the area to a depth of one to two feet. Lay six mil black plastic over the entire […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: There are many types of sprinklers on the market and each spreads water at a different rate. It’s a good idea to determine where a sprinkler deposits the most water, so you can place it to achieve the desired coverage. To test the pattern, turn on the sprinkler […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Many shrubs need pruning to balance their shape, stimulate flowering, or to promote compact growth. Before you start pruning, step back and take a look at the shrub to determine its natural shape. This shrub has a naturally round habit that has become a little overgrown, so the […]
