Fall Gardening: Using Fall Leaves In The Garden

Fall Gardening: Using Fall Leaves In The Garden

Fall is here, bringing cooler weather and chores in the yard. For many, raking leaves is an annual task to keep your landscape tidy. Fall is an excellent time to clean the yard. Still, many people miss out on the opportunity to improve their landscape using leaves. It’s easy to think we should remove any leaf clutter from our yards, but those leaves are a great source of organic matter. What Is Organic Matter In Soil? Organic matter is any carbon-based compound that stores and releases nutrients into the soil. In other words, using leaves in the garden will add […]

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Extend The Growing Season: Using Row Covers & Other Techniques

Extend The Growing Season: Using Row Covers & Other Techniques

Keep Growing Fresh Vegetables All Year Long! Want to extend the growing season? You can grow fresh vegetables well into the fall—or even all year long—by protecting them from the cold with a simple row cover, grow tunnel, or DIY cold frame. With all the hard work you did upfront, let’s keep your plants going strong! Learn more. Where To Grow Late Summer Or Fall Vegetables Before we talk about using season extenders, let’s take a moment to think about where you grow the vegetables you want to keep producing in the colder months. Here are some ways to use your garden’s location to your advantage: […]

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An Easy Guide To Forcing Bulbs

An Easy Guide To Forcing Bulbs

Updated: October 24, 2024 Every year, I look forward to planting bulbs in the fall. However, waiting for them to bloom requires patience. Fortunately, you can enjoy flowers in the middle of winter without traveling to a warm climate. Many of your favorite bulbs can be forced indoors, allowing you to keep away the winter blues. Before we dive into the specifics, we’ll look at the basics of bulb physiology. The bulbs we plant in fall require a cold period to bloom, which occurs during winter. Bulbs can also receive this cold period through other means, like a refrigerator. Forcing […]

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Fall Gardening: Ornamental Grass

Fall Gardening: Ornamental Grass

Fall is a time when perennials prepare to go dormant for winter. As a result, many plants are no longer blooming, leaving an absence of color in the garden. However, during this time, ornamental grasses are coming into their prime. These grasses come in many sizes, colors, and forms, making them easy to use in the garden. They are also low maintenance, requiring little care apart from cutting them back each spring. This group of perennials brings a fresh look to the landscape. Benefits Of Adding Ornamental Grass To Your Garden Many types of ornamental grass are native to the […]

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3 Tips to Create DIY Planters & 3 Ideas on How to Use Them

3 Tips to Create DIY Planters & 3 Ideas on How to Use Them

Plants and flowers add wonderful color and life to any space. From sprawling yards to small balconies, choosing the suitable planter helps you make the most of your green and growing areas.  Of course, not every planter is equal. Size, shape, and material play important factors in the best planter choice. Plus, they have to match the existing aesthetic! Creating your own planters is often the best way to ensure they live up to your standards. Indeed, with a few handy pointers, anyone will turn their old items and forgotten scraps into picture-perfect planters.  Here are three tips to create […]

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Aquaponic Gardening: The Beginners Guide To Growing Vegetables With Fish

Aquaponic Gardening: The Beginners Guide To Growing Vegetables With Fish

Did you know you can grow a vegetable garden in your fish tank? In this article, we’ll teach the basics of aquaponics, the art, and science of growing plants in your fish tank.  Aquaponics is a fun and fancy word for a fun and futuristic concept: growing plants without soil in the same tank where you’re raising fish. This may sound like science fiction, but it’s not. Not only is this wacky pairing science fact, but it’s also actually accessible in your own backyard! In this article, we’ll cover the principles behind aquaponics, the basic setup, and some of the […]

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Toxic Houseplants: What Is Safe & Not Safe for Cats?

Toxic Houseplants: What Is Safe & Not Safe for Cats?

Are you passionate about indoor or outdoor gardening or do you just like fresh flowers or a couple of pothos plants to liven up your home décor? While gardening can be therapeutic and a beautiful yard with flower beds can add to your home’s appearance and value, when you have a cat, it’s wise to select carefully what you cultivate. Whether you are bringing plants into your home or if your cat goes outside into your yard, or onto a patio or balcony, consider your favorite feline’s safety. Many plants are harmless for a kitty while others pose a danger […]

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Strawberry Growing Guide

Strawberry Growing Guide

Updated: October 2, 2024 One of the most popular fruits to grow in home gardens is strawberries. They are easy to grow and can be grown in small spaces such as containers or baskets. Strawberries are not only bursting with flavor but they are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. You can enjoy them freshly picked from the garden or in your cooking such as cakes, jams, and salads. Here are some helpful tips for growing an abundance of strawberries in your garden. Strawberry Culture At A Glance Types of Strawberries There are two types of strawberries – June-bearing and Everbearing/Day-Neutral. […]

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Late Bloomers: Keeping Landscapes in Color

Late Bloomers: Keeping Landscapes in Color

Perennials are a staple of the garden, and each year they come back to impress us with their floral display. I look forward to the spectacular blooms on my perennials every year, as do many of you. Creating consistent colors in the garden can be a challenge. Perhaps your garden is full of spring-blooming perennials that look gorgeous in May, but those blooms soon fade, leaving you little color to enjoy in summer. You can solve this problem by planting long-blooming perennials. Here are a few plants to count on for long-lasting color. Rozanne Geranium Hardy Geraniums come in many […]

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7 Common Garden Plants That Are Toxic to Dogs

7 Common Garden Plants That Are Toxic to Dogs

Dogs are naturally curious and love to use their olfactive superpowers on walks, in garden beds, and in front and backyards. While some garden vegetation is completely harmless for our furry family members, other vegetation is poisonous. Your garden may contain poisonous plants that in a few cases can be lethal for the family dog. Some plants may cause diarrhea, vomiting, or discomfort, while others can lead to liver damage, convulsions, and kidney failure. Unfortunately, many of these plants are more common than one might imagine. If you have any of these plants on your property, you may consider relocating […]

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