Gardening Advice

When summer brings hot, dry weather without enough rainfall, we need to water our gardens wisely. It is possible to conserve water but also have a beautiful, lush garden. Just follow these 12 steps.First, understand that plants drink their food. If your soil dries out, your plants will starve. We often hear that vegetables and flowers need “an inch of water” per week. This doesn’t seem…

Considered the Holy Grail of the garden, no color is more challenging to find in the plant world than true blue. Supposedly, only 10% of all the flowers on Earth are blue! Here are 20 beautiful blue flowers—with pictures to gaze upon!Many plants marketed as blue are actually closer to purple. Petunias are a prime example. True blue is a pure blue hue that isn’t shaded with black, white…

If you’re as eager to get the garden party started as I am, it’s hard to refrain from starting your garden seeds too early. Sooner is not always better! When should you really start those seeds?There is always some debate about when the best time to start seeds is. If you sow seeds too early, you need to be prepared to keep potting them up into bigger pots.Here in New…

You can garden all year round (even in the winter)! Hydroponics sounds complicated, but it just means growing plants in water instead of soil. Great for small spaces! Once you’re set-up, hydroponics is easier than farming (no weeding, pests, etc.) and provides great yields. Learn the basics of hydroponic gardening for beginners—and how to get started! You’ll have fresh lettuce and…

If you are short on space (or energy) for a large Christmas tree, why not try a Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla)? These are smaller, potted trees found around the holidays that can remain as wonderful houseplants throughout the year! Learn more.This time of year, Norfolk pines are easy to find at your local garden center or big box store. Its soft needles and tiered branches make…

Who doesn’t love hummingbirds? Hummingbird nectar is simple to make at home, but you do need to use the right ingredients and know the right recipe. Learn how to make homemade hummingbird food and attract hummingbirds to your garden!How to Make Hummingbird NectarHelp these hard workers get a proper meal: nectar! Make your own “nectar” in just a few steps; it’s…

Everyone has heard of fast food, but Thanksgiving is a time to think about "slow food." No, I don't mean the bad service you get at your favorite greasy spoon.Slow Food is a worldwide movement celebrating the pleasure of fresh, local food and traditional cooking. Promoted as an alternative to fast food, it strives to preserve traditional and regional cuisine and encourages the farming of plants…

We usually treat evergreen trees as background plants, quietly doing their work offstage where they offer cover and food for wild animals, provide shade, block the wind, or mark a boundary line. Cue the dwarfs! Like the Munchkins in Oz, these small evergreen trees will steal the show!What are Dwarf Evergreens?Like large evergreens, the smaller “dwarf” evergreens hold their green needle-like…

Start an indoor herb garden! Even just a few pots of herbs grown on a windowsill or under grow lights can supply wonderful flavors at your fingertips year-round. Just be sure to select the right herbs that grow indoors in winter. Here’s how to get started!Many indoor herbs prefer the same temperatures as most people—around 65 to 70 degrees F—so it’s a cozy relationship!We…

If you grow tomatoes or other crops in the same garden bed year after year, you’re likely to notice an increase in pests and diseases. Break the cycle! Take a moment to learn about the basics of crop rotation. Your plants will thank you with a bigger, healthier harvest.In the mad rush to get the garden planted in the spring, we forget all about something as important as crop rotation,…

One of the most frequently asked questions by houseplant lovers is, “Why are my plant’s leaves turning yellow?” To determine what is ailing your plant, take a close look at those yellowing leaves. The simple answer is that there is no simple answer. Houseplant leaves turning yellow can be caused by several things. Random leaves that are yellow or have yellow patches on the…

Garden pots need a thorough scrubbing at the end of the growing season. It’s essential to clean any pots that you are reusing to rid them of disease spores, salt deposits, and pest eggs. Take those extra few minutes to do it right! Here’s how to quickly clean and disinfect your pots.Used pots will harbor lingering bug eggs and disease spores that you can’t always see. Salt…