Garden basics. Learn in a fun-filled way as you spend time in the great outdoors connecting with nature.
Installing a mini garden pond is a great way to invite nature into your outdoor living space, these ponds will create the perfect habitat for birds, frogs, toads, tadpoles, hedgehogs, bats, lizards, water snails, etc… butterflies, dragonflies, and other insects. What I love about a mini pond besides plant life, is wildlife will have your pond teaming with many activities which are so exciting.
In just a few days we will be entering the spring months, this time of year presents us with the opportunity to take advantage of that extra yard space if we have not done so as yet or to begin working or to make some improvements in our existing garden planting some of our favorite veggies, herbs, fruits, or even ornamental plants including shrubs and other gardening plants. Prepare your garden beds by the removal of rocks, leaves, and other debris.
There are so many reasons for pruning shrubs, trees, and other garden plants, but for the beginner gardener pruning jobs are painful because of not knowing when to prune and how to prune. In this guide we will be showing the benefits of pruning and pruning mistakes to avoid, the practice of pruning trees and garden plants is not a death sentence in fact pruning will add to the longevity, health, and beauty of your plants once done correctly.
Adding value to your property should be something every homeowner should work towards why because investing in our property is one of our greatest investments when it comes to home ownership. However, there are many homeowners who don’t take the time to properly maintain their property which can decrease its value. Just a few changes can pay off in big ways adding thousands of dollars which I think is pretty amazing.
Poinsettias are a favorite at Christmas time because of their beautiful colors and soft texture, but what happens once the colder months have passed and your poinsettias begin to lose their luster and beautiful color? While it may be a challenge to help your poinsettias regain their colors it’s possible for your poinsettias to rebloom by following this method that has proven to give the results you’re
looking for.
Poinsettias are beautiful plants with colorful showy bracts or leaves that can add much flavor to any indoor or outdoor living space, and while it’s true that care must go into these garden beauties for them to maintain their beauty there are several methods that’s been used to increase their numbers which will not cause you much except for your time. Below we will be discussing such methods that have proven to give much success, so let’s take a closer look at how poinsettia plants are propagated.
One of the key components to growing healthy poinsettias is carrying out pruning procedures, for the beginner garden however this may seem to be a bit of a daunting task of fear of damaging or killing the plant. However, there is no need to fear because the knowledge we’re about to share will give you the confidence to prune your poinsettias to ensure that they stay healthy and vibrant.
Although the Christmas holidays come to an end and the warmer months arrive you can still keep your poinsettias growing healthy and thriving, one of the many challenges however is knowing how to continue to care for these garden beauties once the colder months have passed. Besides providing adequate moisture the proper lighting and the right amount of fertilizer there other maintenance practices that must be carried out which include insect pests and disease issues that may arise.
The colder months of the year are not the time to hang up our garden gloves and put away the tools until the warmer season arrives, there is still much that can be done during this time of the year and even though nature is taking that long-awaited rest, nature will still lend a hand to those of us who see the many opportunities of working in our winter gardens.
The cooler months are finally here and as the temperatures continue to dip it’s not too late to winterize or prepare your fruit trees to survive the colder months as it sets in. Making preparations now will ensure that your fruit trees are healthy and in top shape, once the warmer seasons return. The steps that we are about to discuss have proven to be effective in fruit tree winter protection. Let’s continue our discussion below as we take a closer look at winterizing fruit trees in South Florida.
For most of us, spending time in our gardens is a great way to unwind and relax as we connect with nature, allowing the creativity of our minds to come forth in our garden oasis that says home sweet home. The spring through the summer months and even autumn offer us the opportunity to plant our favorite veggies, fruits, herbs, ornamentals, and flowering plants that paints our gardens and landscapes with an array of beautiful colors.
Mulches are natural organics that can benefit our gardens and landscapes in so many ways however although mulches are popular their use is limited by many homeowners simply because of not knowing how important mulches are to plant life, soil, and soil microbes. I have used mulches over the years both on outdoor garden projects as well as interior plantscape and have seen how these natural organics do not only transform (aesthetics) those garden projects but the nutrients that were added as mulches break down or decompose over time.
Working outdoors Whether planting a vegetable, flower, or herb garden or installing or maintaining your lawn, weekend warriors and garden enthusiasts alike are connecting with nature seeking to reap a good harvest from their time spent working outdoors during the spring and summer months.
Durants are beautiful shrubs that can bring that need color into your landscapes and gardens, you can populate your gardens with as many as you want that will not cause you a dime.
The question has been asked, can you grow Duranta from cuttings? the answer to that question is Yes. The golden Duranta or golden Dewdrop is a tropical to sub-tropical plant or ornamental shrub which includes about 30 species.
Fall allergies are common in the U S, in fact, it’s estimated that “50 thousand people have fall allergies”, it’s said that” one in five” has allergies issues. It’s believed that “allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness”. There are many culprits that are responsible for allergies some of which include dust, mold, dust mites, certain foods such as peanuts, milk, eggs, shellfish, some fruits and vegetables, soy, wheat, etc...
As the temperature begins to dip it’s a sign from nature that the winter months are fast approaching, but despite this time of the year for those who haven’t started as yet there is still time to work in your gardens. Yes even during the fall months we can get busy in our gardens, just a few days ago I was busy in my yard and garden doing my fall cleanup.
The use of cold frame gardens popularity is widespread, this type of gardening is not a new concept but has been around for some time now, and based on the rise in popularity this method of gardening is not going away anytime soon. But the question many may be asking is what is cold frame gardening? simply put cool frame gardening or a cold frame garden is a bottomless box that is set out in the garden over plants to protect them from the Cold weather.
The Spring and Summer months presented us with the opportunity to work the soil as we grow some of our favorite edible and ornamental plants, now that we’re in the fall months there are still a lot of opportunities that we can take advantage of as the winter months approach. However, for the beginner gardener the question may be asked how do I take advantage of this time of the year?
The warmer (Spring through Summer) season is not the only time to display an array of colors from our gardens and landscapes, the fall season as well as the early winter months can give us a beautiful show of colors provided we choose the right plants. A great way to add a rainbow of colors is the use of annuals, annuals are some of my favorites.
Garden insect pests can be a real nuisance as they invade our gardens making a meal out of our garden plants and what makes matters worse is that many of them have been known to carry and spread diseases. These garden pests can turn a dream garden into a nightmare causing healthy beautiful plants to become an eyesore if action is not taken immediately.
The fall months are depicted as a time when plants are preparing to take their long-awaited winter nap as leaves (deciduous plants) begin to fall from the trees along with the slow growth of garden plants. And while this is true for many plants there are so many that continue to grow (every green plant) throughout the year. Deciduous plants lose their leaves at a certain time of the year but will produce fresh beautiful leaves when the growing season or warmer months returns. Evergreen plants are plants that retain their leaves throughout the year and into the following growing season. However, in our discussion, we will be turning our attention to orchids.
In our previous articles, we discussed flowers to plant in the fall in South Florida and also vegetables to plant in the fall in South Florida but we will be turning our attention to some of the best herbs that can be grown during the fall months. Garden herbs have their place in our gardens and really do deserves our attention, the aromas and the flavors that herbs produce are just simply amazing.
Why limit the beauty of our South Florida gardens to the summer and spring months when we can extend the season to ensure that our gardens are in full bloom even during the fall months? While we can agree that the fall months present the opportunity to do a bit of spring cleaning the opportunity is also there to include flowering plants that can beautify and brighten our gardens during the fall months.
With the passing of spring and the summer months and winter fast approaching there is still much that can be done during the fall months, among the many tasks that are undertaken in our fall gardens is extending the season by growing vegetables. Yes even during the fall months we can grow edible foods in our South Florida gardens before the temperature dips ( the winter months sets in).
The spring and summer months were a busy time for all if not most of us, we worked in our gardens hoping to reap a good harvest from our food crops or to see our ornamental plants come to full bloom as they amaze us with their many shapes, sizes, and various colors. Now we’re in the fall months but we can’t throw up our feet just yet because during the fall months there is still much to do to prepare our garden beds before winter sets in.
What I love about greenhouses is the ability to extend the season with the plants of choice, these houses have become so popular because of the many advantages they offer which we will be discussing a bit later. Greenhouses can be any shape or size and based on your needs and the size of the area a greenhouse can be installed.
I read a story many years ago about a farmer’s wife who grew beautiful roses that she loved dearly, one day she was asked the question about pruning her rose bush and her reply was “before I prune my roses I would rather cut off one of my chicken’s head”. I believe when it comes to pruning our plants, especially for the beginner there is fear of making even one snip and I understand in part.
Wow how time flies, just the other day it seems, we were all in high gear as the spring months approach with great anticipation to get outdoors in our gardens and work the soil connecting with nature. Then it was on to the summer months where in spite of the heat we were still determined to reach our goals of completing those garden projects and now we are in the month of August. As summer is about to come to a close we enter the fall months.
Have a colorful season all summer long with these 4 container garden ideas that are sure to bring that much-need flavor and change, If you don’t have the space to install the garden you’ve always desired or you may have been planning to give your outdoor living space a facelift then look no further because with a container garden you can bring that much-needed change.
The summer months are finally here which gives us a chance to go outdoors and work in our gardens, although the heat may be a challenge, working in our gardens provides us the opportunity to connect with nature as we install beautiful plants that displays their own uniqueness with their varies sizes, shapes, colors, and fragrance.
The insect world is so vast that they outnumbered the human race by far, the human population is”7.9 billion” whereas there are estimated to be “10 quintillion insects” on planet earth. I know, the word quintillion can twist your tongue or cause you to get tongue-tied, That’s a lot of insects, many of these insects can be found in our homes and gardens.
The sea grape plant can be grown as a tree, hedge, or shrub, this tropical beauty is native to tropical America, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Greater and Lesser Antilles. The sea grape or the Coccoloba uvifera is a species of flowering plant in the buckwheat family, sea grapes are grown in many coastal areas because of their high salt tolerance and also serve as a dune stabilizer and protective habitat for small animals.
Aspirin is a common drug or medication that I think every home should have, these pills are used to treat mild to moderate aches and pains, such as muscle aches, toothaches, etc… the important component that’s found in aspirins is called salicylic acid. This active ingredient eliminates pain and swelling in humans but when given to garden plants aspirins help by boosting the plant’s immune system. When a plant’s immune system gets boosts it helps a plant fight against garden pest invasion, parasitic attacks, and pathogens or plant diseases.
Have you ever heard the saying that “one man’s junk is another man’s Treasure”? but what if I tell you that your junk can also become your treasure. This saying is so true even when it comes to taking care of our gardens, we can reuse kitchen scraps (Vegetables and Fruits) to grow and maintain healthy plants.
Pseudolarix amabilis commonly called golden larch although not considered to be a true larch is native to eastern China, it is said that “the wood of this tree is used in traditional Chinese medicine as a dermatologic antifungal remedy. The wood of the golden larch bonsai tree is also used in the manufacturing of boats, bridges, and furniture”.
Whether you’re growing flowers in your garden, from containers indoors, your porch or patio, or maybe a hanging basket one thing that we can all agree on is flowers can light up a garden or a room with their various colors, shape, sizes, textures, and fragrance. The presence of flowers has been known to change the atmosphere and moods of people from all walks of life. It’s no wonder why flowers have been used and are being used to brighten up that special someone’s day.
Sack gardening is a great way to grow in small spaces, this method of gardening is not new but has been around for some time. In fact, sack gardening was first introduced in 2008 because of a crisis that took place in Mathare, Kiambu, and Kibera slums. Because of food insecurity, a plan was put in place where this garden technique was brought to 22,109 households which helped more than 110,000 people.
Keeping written records of your garden is a great way to keep track of how your garden is performing, overtime a garden can become so cluttered that it can be disorganized and confusing. For example, you may sow seeds but not mark or indicate what you had sown and sow the seem seeds in another part of your garden when that was not your plan.
The golden Duranta or golden dewdrop is a perennial plant that’s cultivated in many tropical and sub-tropical gardens, there are some 30 species of this ornamental beauty, the golden Duranta is native to Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, this broadleaf evergreen shrub can be grown as a hedge or a specimen or stand-alone plant.
Creating a flower garden that is picture-perfect requires some know-how, there is just something about a beautiful flower garden design that gives a good restful feeling. It has been proven medically that exposing patience to a flower garden scenery helped or sped up the healing process. It’s no wonder why many homeowners have taken on personal projects investing in a home garden. In this article, however, we will be discussing when to plant perennial flowers.
Connecting with nature outdoors is a great way in helping to promote our ecosystem, gardening is a privilege that allows us to embark upon such ventures as we do our part in using many gardening methods not only to create the garden of choice but also to provide a home, food source and shelter for wildlife.
Among the many visitors that come to our gardens besides wildlife are pollinators and beneficial insects however, there are other visitors that are not welcome (garden insect pests) which can cause much damage turning a dream garden into a nightmare these uninvited guests must be dealt with right away to avoid their destruction.
Growing food in small spaces has sparked interest especially since the pandemic (Covid-19), many persons are now removing part of their flower gardens for this purpose and then there are those that are gardening for the first time making use of whatever available spot they can find to start a vegetable garden. Never has there been a time since 1800 that people are finding ways to sustain themselves by growing their own foods.
During 1800 in the old English days British peasants installed gardens around their homes planting fruits, vegetables, herbs along with flowering plants, beehives, and livestock that provided food for their families. This method of gardening was called cottage gardens, cottage gardens were crowded with plants. In other words, these peasants made the most out of the little space they had ensuring every bit was utilized because they knew their survival depended on it.
Eco-Friendly Landscaping or gardening is a great way to connect with nature while beautifying our outdoor living space or growing food crops in an environment that’s safe for humans, pets, wildlife, and beneficial insects as we seek to achieve our gardening goals while bringing balance to our ec0-system. What I also love about this garden method is saving money while operating on a small budget yet achieving great results.
Eco-friendly landscaping ideas are being used in many home gardens because of the benefits one can achieve, this is a great way of helping to give mother nature a helping hand as we do our part in seeking to create an environment that is free of contamination. Eco-friendly landscaping also increases the presence of and the activity of pollinators that plays an important part in helping trees and garden plants with an increase in food production. So whether you’re growing a flower garden, herb, fruit trees or vegetable garden here are 18 eco-friendly landscaping ideas that will help you accomplish the desired end that’s a win-win for humans, pets, beneficial insects, plant life, wildlife, and pollinators.
The use of container garden has become so popular, this way of gardening is being used to grow all sorts of plants from herbs to vegetables, ornamentals plants, etc… Though this method of gardening has its advantages there are some don’ts as well that govern having success with this garden type so continue reading to find out about container gardening in particular growing trees and shrubs.
Gardening with the use of pots has become so popular because of the many benefits it offers including ease of gardening however, consideration should be taken especially when growing trees and shrubs because that little plant that you purchased from the plant nursery will not be small forever and before you know it you will have a plant that is extremely large and too big for the pot in which it was installed.
Alright, I know that lawn area may be the pride and joy of your life because you have invested so much time and money so why shouldn’t you be proud as your hard work has paid off. A lawn can do a whole lot to increase a property’s value, I have seen lawns that appeared to be picture perfect with so much green and well-manicured.
Even though your lawn looks really polished you may be thinking of adding a garden but the challenge is your lawn has taken up all of that available space so the question is what do you do? while a well-maintained lawn has its place why not enhance the beauty of your lawn by making space for a garden adding flowering plants to create a garden oasis that says home sweet home.
I am sure if not most of us all of us at some point have had the garden blues, who would ever think working on the great outdoors in the midst of all that beauty connecting with nature can result in burnout. If the truth could be told despite the many benefits of working in our gardens we can experience burnout.
If that’s you and your desire is to bounce back from garden burnout then continue reading for ways to beat the garden blues so you can once again enjoy working outdoors making a major contribution to the environment and the ecosystem.
One of the joys of summer besides planting and harvest time is preserving those veggies and fruits. Preserving your garden produce is a great way to have a lot of extras or and an almost endless supply of edible foods at your fingertip that will save a few extra bucks which is a winner.
If you love spending time in your garden growing edible foods and are looking for ways to preserve some of those foods then continue readings as you learn of ways to preserve your fruits and veggies for future use.
Do you know that you can turn your love for gardening into a thriving business? Gardening connects you on the great outdoors with nature that offers so many benefits. This side hustle has caused many to work full-time for themselves because of the profits that can be made.
As long as you are willing to put in the time you will be well on your way to garden success. What better way to make a living than doing something you love. So if you desire to take your love for gardening to the next level then continue reading as we take a closer look at turning your hobby ( gardening) into a money-making machine.
A nice bouquet of flowers can brighten anybody’s day, floral arrangements seem to speak to us with words such as I love you, hope you get better or thank you for your support, I am thinking of you and so on.
A beautiful Foral arrangement says something special to that special one it’s no wonder why growing flowers are a big business. Without even saying a word these arrangements will go to work for us.
Wouldn’t you love a garden without the use of pesticides and synthetics, a garden that’s growing all-natural the way nature does it? many home gardens are using natural means to grow such gardens which are sustainable by using natural methods that’s environmentally safe bringing balance to our ecosystem.
This type of garden method can be looked at as smart gardening. As a gardener for more than 25 years, I have worked on many garden projects both out and indoors and have seen what can happen when a garden that is properly planned not only for beauty or an edible garden but a garden that can be sustained using natural ways in growing plants that are healthy helping wildlife along with beneficial insects to do their part to ensure that we not only reap a good harvest but providing a home in which wildlife can raise their young.