Click picture to enlarge Tillandsias are members of the Bromeliad family. Most of them are compact to miniature plants that make ideal, easy-to-care-for houseplants. Click picture to enlarge Most grow best when mounted on cork or bark. Hang these mounted plants in a sunny window. They grow particularly well in humid areas of the house […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: 32-gallon plastic trash can w/ lid Alfalfa meal or pellets Epsom salts Rose bushes love alfalfa tea. It’s easy to make and organic, so you don’t have to worry about overdoing it and burning your prized plants. A 32-gallon plastic garbage can works perfectly for brewing the tea. […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Concrete blocks Rubber mallet String Wooden stakes Shovel Set a string line that runs the entire length of the proposed border. Measure the length of the proposed border and divide it by the length of a single block. This will tell you how many blocks you will need. […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Pruning shears Unheated garage or basement A hardy Water Lily can spend winter in the water in all parts of the United States as long as the point at soil level from which the leaves emerge does not freeze solid. In a cold climate, lift your plant from […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Slow-release fertilizer Wooden stake or 1/2″ rebar Regular hammer or 3# sledgehammer Fertilizer should be applied underneath mulch, but what if you already have a thick, semi-permanent layer of mulch (such as bark chips) on your landscape? Here’s a way to get optimum results without moving the mulch. […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Soil block maker Coco-fiber Compost or worm castings Sand Gelatin Large plastic tub Soil sieve Seedling tray Capillary matting Spray bottle Planting seeds directly in soil blocks is an easy, inexpensive way to start seedlings. The most important factor is the mix. Commercial seedling mixes work just fine, […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Small brush Identification tag Pollen To hybridize a rose, pollinate its blossoms with selected pollen from other roses. First, select a blossom that has not fully opened. This important step ensures that the bloom has not been contaminated with any undesired pollen. Click picture to enlarge Remove all […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Ceramic pot Dry sand Small piece of paper or cardboard Pruning knife This is a simple method for drying flowers like gallardia, cosmos, water lilies, zinnias, daffodils, marigolds or young rose buds. Make sure the flowers you use are fresh. First, trim the stems back to about 1″ […]
Click picture to enlarge Dig a trench 2 spades deep and reserve the soil in a wheelbarrow. Add at least 4 inches of compost to the first trench and mix in. Dig a second trench 2 spades deep directly behind the first, and deposit the soil in the first trench. Add compost to the second […]
Click picture to enlarge Paphiopedilums or Lady Slippers are popular and easy-to-grow orchids. They are found in a broad range of flower colors and many of them have gorgeous foliage. These orchids have modest light requirements. Place them in a bright window, usually with an eastern exposure. Do not place in direct sunlight. They have […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Pruning shears Rake Bark mulch, evergreen boughs, straw, or compost If you are growing perennials in a region where the temperature drops below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s a good idea to take some special precautions to ensure that your plants survive the winter. After the ground has frozen, […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Strawberry pot Strawberry plants Slow release fertilizer Transplanting fertilizer Potting soil Crocks 3/4″ pvc pipe 3/4″ pvc cap Drill with 1/8″ drill bit Start by placing several crocks in the bottom of the strawberry pot for drainage. Click picture to enlarge Next, fill the strawberry pot with soil […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Digging fork or spade Wooden or cardboard box(1 or 2 gallon containers, optional) Peat moss, sawdust or sand Cannas are beautiful, dramatic summer-blooming bulbs that are hardier than most people think. However, they can be severely damaged by temperatures dropping below 0F. If you live in a region […]
Click picture to enlarge What you need: Living Christmas tree Large plastic container Pot tray Rubber mat Anti-transpirant Keep alive the memories of a special Christmas by watching the tree grow and flourish in your garden. A living Christmas tree can bring magic to the season, or disappointment, depending on the care it receives during […]
