There is a famous quote “one man’s junk is another Man’s treasure” This is so true as I have seen many times how a throwaway has been turned into something useful it’s all a matter of thinking outside of the box and using your creative imagination. This is also true when it comes to gardening, that which is considered useless and without value can be transformed into something useful and of great value.
Educating kids from an early age about the importance of healthy living is a great way to get them off to a great start, the time that’s invested will point them in the right direction on what it takes to maintain a healthy lifestyle. These healthy snacks can be grown either from your garden or you can map out a plot or a little area that personally belongs to them where they are given the responsibility to care for their garden which I think will excite them.
A great way to teach kids about the importance of nature is with a wildlife garden, these gardens can show kids the importance of biodiversity and how it impacts our environment. A wildlife garden will entertain and impact kids in a positive way as they expand their knowledge about how nature works as a whole to bring balance to our ecosystem.
Hydrangeas are beautiful plants that produce an abundance of beautiful flower blooms, These garden beauties are two species of plants Hydrangea quercifolia (the oakleaf hydrangea) and hydrangea arborescence (the smooth hydrangea). Hydrangeas are native to the North American continent, hydrangeas are woody shrubs that come in an array of colors from green, blue, and pink in all shades of lavender and white.
Who would have thought that black pepper could be used to reduce and bring control to garden insect pests population, this herb or seasoning that’s all natural has proven that it’s not only great as an added flavor to our food recipes but can also act as a natural pesticide or repellent for insect control. The demand for natural ways or means to take care of garden plants is on the rise especially edible gardens to safeguard against food contamination along with decreasing air population that’s damaging to our environment and our eco-system.
The summer months are the time of the year when farmlands, plant nurseries, home gardens, and other plant growers are challenged with long days of extreme heat. This heat wave can cause plants to become stressed which can lead to other issues. Even drought-tolerant plants can be affected by long periods of temperatures that are high. The good news is there are measures that can be put in place to ensure that our vegetables or other garden plants survive while continuing to grow healthy during this time of the year.
The ideal time to make soil improvements is at the onset of installing a flower garden or a garden bed, this makes it easier to work in soil amendments (before plants are installed). But what if your garden is already established and it’s discovered that the soil needs to be improved to ensure that your plants continue to grow healthy? How do you make these improvements? the good news is a garden bed that is established can still have soil improvements done whether you’re growing flowers, herbs, or vegetable garden growing ornamental plants or fruit trees, soil improvements can make a huge difference to the growth and health of plant life.
There is a right way and a wrong way to remove gas from a mower, often times gas has to be removed and replaced because of sitting in a lawnmower for long periods of time and starts to degrade ( a month or more), somehow water may have gotten in the tank or it may be that time of the year when the colder months are approaching and you’re about to winterize your lawnmower or removing the gas for the following season when spring arrives.
A part of proper lawn maintenance is keeping your grass well-manicured by the proper cutting height which requires the help of a lawnmower that’s working properly. In some cases, our lawnmower may have run out of gas just when we were about to complete our grass-cutting task. This has been my experience before and I am sure that for some this may have happened before.
Restarting a lawnmower when it runs out of gas in some instances may become a challenge but in this guide, we will be looking at steps on how to start a lawnmower when it runs out of gas.
Growing and caring for indoor plants is a great way to connect with nature in our indoor living space, growing indoor plants has so many benefits contributing to the aesthetics and creating a healthy environment by purifying or cleaning the air we breathe. Although the natural habitat for plants is outdoors we can climatize or groom many of them to thrive on the inside.
A flower bed can add to the curb appeal of a home or building structure, a well and beautifully designed flower bed has the potential of increasing a property’s value but in order to keep these garden beds neat and polished requires maintenance practices. A challenge that some homeowners face however is keeping these beds free not only of weeds but grass that may be planted nearby from growing into these beds.
The lantana plant is a hardy perennial that’s native to the tropical regions of the Americas and Africa, this garden beauty belongs to the family Verbenaceae and goes by the common names wild sage or button sage. I love lantanas because of their beautiful multi-color flower bloom that remains me of a rainbow. I have worked with lantanas on many garden projects in fact, I am growing a few of them as potted plants on my porch and have installed a few in my home garden.
Pentas are beautiful flowering plants also known as the Egyptian star pentas are native to tropical southern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Comoros, and Madagascar. This tropical woody plant is considered a perennial or a subshrub. In its native habitat pentas can grow to be 3-6 ‘ tall, when grown and cared for in outdoor garden settings pentas will attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds but are known to be deer and rabbit resistant.
Trash cans are essential and should be a part of every home, these life savers if I can use that word make getting rid of garbage very easy. There are many brands of trash cans that are sold on the market that comes in many shape, sizes, colors, and features. Because of this choosing the one that’s right for you may be a bit of a challenge when thinking of the many types.
Pentas are warm-season plants that thrive best in the full sun, these flowering beauties grow 18 to 36 inches, pentas can be grown as annuals but in warmer regions, pentas are viewed as perennials. Pentas can be used as bedding plants, as border plants, and can be grown in containers and hanging baskets, I have worked with pentas on several garden projects, and know that these plants are worth the effort of keeping them growing healthy
Bromeliads are some of my favorite plant species that I have worked with for more than 25 years, these garden beauties come in so many shapes, sizes, and colors, in fact, there are estimated to be 2,877 species of bromeliads making these plants one of the largest in the plant kingdom. Besides their beauty, I also love bromeliads because they’re low maintenance so for anyone who wants plants but doesn’t have much time to spend in their garden then bromeliads are the ideal plants for you.
Nemesia flowering plants are grown mostly as annuals and look great as a bedding plant or a ground cover, these garden beauties come in a variety of colors and can give your garden and landscape that color pop. What I love about nemesia is their’ re low maintenance with no main disease or pest problems and once established little care is needed except to monitor the amount of moisture there are receiving.
Nemesia flowering plants are popular ground covers or bedding plants that are grown in Florida gardens, this garden beauty is a genus of perennials, annuals, and sub-shrubs that are native to the sandy coast of South Africa and can be found growing on coastal regions in and other areas. Nemesia thrives best when grown in warm conditions and has many cultivars that range in different sizes.
Compost is a gardeners gold to growing healthy plants, this all-natural organic benefits plants in so many ways, if your desire is to build a compost pile but you just don’t have the space then this guide will show you the quick and easy way of building a compost pile on a low budget and in no time you to can enjoy the many benefits of adding this natural-organic to your garden plant beds to reap the rewards or should I say a bountiful harvest (edible garden).
Roses are the queen of flowers, these beautiful plants need our attention, especially after coming through the winter months. As the warmer season returns, there are some steps that need to be taken to ensure that our roses perform their best by producing an abundance of healthy flower blooms. The approach to grooming your roses however is determined by the region your roses grow.
We are smack in the middle of the spring months, and garden insect pests that went into hiding by overwintering have emerged as they seek to take up residence in our gardens using plants as shelter, food and to lay their eggs as they make way for the next generation. These insect pests if left to occupy and use our gardens as a natural habitat will turn our dream gardens into a nightmare if control measures are not taken.
Keeping our lawns growing healthy requires the proper maintenance practices, one major component to a beautiful lawn that’s thriving is an effective fertilizer program. While fertilizer application can be broadcast by hand it’s a proven fact that the use of a fertilizer spreader has proven to give better results by distributing fertilizers equally over an entire area getting the proper coverage.
For those of us who work in our gardens, it’s a common thing to run into weeds, sometimes it seems at every turn weeds are staring us in the face. Weeds are not only unattractive but if control measures are not taken weeds will take over our gardens competing with garden plants for water, sunlight, and nutrients. Weeds also encourage disease, and certain garden pests and can be harbourage or hiding places for rodents such as rats and mice.
A healthy snack that’s enjoyed by kids and adults alike is raisins, I remember as a child raisins was a sweet treat that my parents would often provide for all of their kids. But how did we discover raisins or what’s the history behind raisins and how far does it date back to? History records that raisins were first discovered in dry form growing on vines probably in ancient Persia or Egypt around 2000 BC.
Appling fertilizers to your spring garden along with your lawn area is so important, during the spring months grass turf as well as garden plants are actively growing which means they need that extra boost or push to grow and perform their best. This practice of fertilizer application will supply your soil with the right amount of nutrients that your garden plants need including your lawn to grow healthy.
Whether you’re growing ornamental plants, shrubs, herbs, vegetables or fruit trees there is always the challenge in most cases of having to deal with and bring control of plant disease when spotted because if measures are not taken right away can rob you of a bountiful ( edible garden) harvest or turn that dream garden of beautiful healthy flowering plants into a nightmare.
Growing a lemon tree from your home garden is pretty amazing because you have at your fingertips an almost endless supply of this citrus fruit that can enhance the flavors of so many recipes. However ensuring that your lemon tree provides you constantly with nice juicy lemons requires the proper maintenance care, one such issue that growers of lemon tree face are garden insect pests that are attracted to the fragrance of your lemon tree.
The zingy and zesty taste of lemons can enhance the flavors of drink, dessert, and food recipes, this citrus fruit is a delight exciting our taste buds. Lemon trees are perennials growing in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant zones 9 through 11. These fruit trees are not only grown for their fruits but for aesthetics in a garden and landscaping setting.
Centipede grass is one of the most popular grasses that’s grown from South Carolina to Florida and along the gulf coast, this warm season turf can be identified by its coarse leaves and apple-green color. Centipede grass gets its name from how the short upright stems grow from the stolons that have the appearance of a centipede.
Spending time outdoors is an awesome experience filled with many rewards, this activity can relieve stress and is of great benefit to our physical as well as our mental health. There is just something with spending time in nature that gives us the freedom to unwind as we watch the many wildlife in their natural habitat, it’s estimated that in 2020 48 million households went camping whereas some households went camping 3 times per year. With these record-breaking figures, it’s quite clear that spending time in nature offers so many benefits.
Our environment has been negatively impacted in so many ways from the exhaust of cars to harmful fumes to small and big engine equipment to burning fossil fuels, deforestation, coal, oil, factory fumes, etc.. a common practice in many countries is planting trees. One such day that’s celebrated is Arbor Day, this popular day is set aside on March 21 when schools nationwide recognize this day with environment-related activities such as tree planting.
The awareness of self-sustainability has increased and is on the rise since the pandemic, homeowners are no longer growing ornamental plants but ripping out flower beds to grow edible gardens and there are others that are intergrading both edible and ornamental plants to create not only beautiful landscapes but a garden that provides foods in a control and confined environment.
Water is one of our most precious resources, therefore, we should do all that we can when it comes to water conservation, every living thing needs water to survive, from humans, plants, and animals even down to the tiniest microscopic organism. I once heard a statement that someone made many years ago” Water is the liquid of life.” This liquid of life supports all life forms on our planet.
Organic fertilizers are a great way to feed our garden plants especially if we are growing an edible garden, going organic is a great way to avoid food contamination. Goat manure which is a natural organic is broken down by soil microbes once broken down in a nutrient form is taken up by the plant’s root system. This natural organic is rich in levels of nitrogen that conditions the soil structure which improves soil’s absorption or moisture.
Weed management is an issue that many homeowners as well as landowners and farmers face, weeds can become a real problem especially if control measures are not taken. If weeds are left to grow freely can present many challenges some of which include the encouragement of disease, a harbourage for insect pests, competes with garden plants for water, sunlight, and nutrients.
Pocket Garden Construction Guide One of the many wonders of gardening is being free to experiment with plants (landscape) as well as hardscapes that allow us the creativity to combine plants with other features that work with nature to support plant life as well as wildlife including pollinators, beneficial insects to the tiniest of soil … Read more
Installing spring flower bulbs in your garden is a great way to kick the spring months off, spring flowering bulbs however are planted during the fall months and will not emerge until the following spring. Although you may not have taken advantage of fall planting you can still fill your spring garden with these flowering beauties. Choose an area that gets plenty of sunlight.
The long winter months are finally over as our gardens are awakened to the warmth of the sun’s rays and the beautiful singing of bird species as nature comes alive with a burst of energy and plants as well as wildlife work together in our ecosystem that’s so diverse but work as one to bring balance to the environment that needs our assistance as well in not only beautifying our surroundings but providing a habitat that helps to support and sustain them.
A common problem that many homeowners and other growers face is the pink hibiscus mealybug bug, this garden pest according to records was first detected in 1994 in the Caribbean islands. But it was not until June of 2002 that the pink hibiscus mealybug was spotted in Miami-Dade countries and Broward, the female hibiscus mealybugs reproduces very quickly laying up to 600 eggs which are deposited on the undersides of the plant leaves.
Raccoons are nocturnal meaning they are most active during nighttime although they can be spotted during day time, these little critters are agile and very intelligent. Their natural habitat includes ponds, wooden areas near streams, mashes, and dense clumps of cattail, but can also be found around agricultural areas making their dens in rock crevices, tree cavities, brush piles, abandoned fox burrows or woodchuck, sheds, haystacks, attics, underneath porches and chimneys.
Vinegar is used in so many ways around the home, but do you know that vinegar can be used in our gardens as well to help resolve many garden issues? This all-natural remedy has proven time and again its benefits not only in our indoor living space but outdoors as well. If you are facing these listed issues in your garden and are looking not only for an inexpensive way but a safe and effective approach to remedy these concerns then look no further you have come to the right place to get the results you’re searching for.
To keep your landscapes and gardens well-manicured requires not only having some knowledge to take on those garden projects but the right tools to get the job done. Investing in good garden tools that are of high quality will make your time spent outdoors easier, these tools that are top-rated will last for years apart from giving them the proper maintenance care.
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.
Springtime has finally arrived and for many of us who have been waiting with anticipation can get started working outdoors to freshen up our outdoor living space or to install a flower garden painting our landscapes with an array of beautiful colors and fragrances that are so inviting. What I love about creating a spring garden are the many benefits this type of garden offers, from beautification to helping to bring balance to our ecosystem attracting wildlife ( butterflies, birds & bees) to inviting the many beneficial insects that help to protect our garden plants from garden insect pests.
St. Augustine grass is a warm-season turf that is popular throughout the state of Florida, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean, this turf adapts to a wide variety of soil types. When properly maintained St. Augustine grass produces a nice dense green turf that is very beautiful, if you’re living in a coastal area this grass type is the best choice because of its ability to withstand salt sprays.
Sea grapes are grown in many coastal areas because of their high salt tolerance the sea grape tree can serve as a dune stabilizer and protective habitat for small animals. This evergreen is a tropical plant that’s native to tropical America, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Greater and Lesser Antilles. Sea grapes can be grown as a tree, hedge, or shrub.
Since the pandemic (covet-19) there has been an increase in awareness of the importance of starting backyard farms or gardens to sustain one’s self by not only relying wholly on foods being produced by growers (farms) but individuals turning their backyards into edible gardens or increasing food production in an existing home garden setting that has proven to be beneficial. One such garden that has made a comeback from the Middle ages is kitchen gardens which are believed to” have started from the days of the ancient Greeks and Romans”.
Good Garden soil is at the root of a plant’s health therefore care should be taken when choosing the right soil type, there are billions of soil microbes that are busy at work breaking down organic matter for example, leaves that have fallen on the soil’s surface, branches, tree limbs, dead plant roots, the dead bodies of insects. Anything that was once alive but is dead and laying on the soil’s surface is considered organic matter and will be broken down by soil microbes and converted into nutrients that are taken up by the roots of trees and plants.
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.
The warm weather of South Florida makes it ideal for growing (tropical) a range of flowering plants, one such plant that has made its mark is the evolvulus flowering plant commonly called the blue daze. This evergreen is a member of the morning glory family, blue daze is a perennial beauty that produces bright blue flowers with gray leaves that are fuzzy.
Blue daze can reach heights of 12 inches with a width of 2-3 ft. This garden beauty grows best in zones 8-11 and blooms from mid-summer through mid-fall.