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Gardening Advice
How do you start a garden in an apartment, townhouse, or condo without a proper yard? If you have access to a balcony, rooftop, terrace, or patio, you can still grow a wide range of veggies, herbs, perennials, flowers, and vines in containers! Here are 10 things to think about when diving into balcony gardening.10 Things to Consider When Balcony or Rooftop Gardening1. If you live…
We love hummingbirds! Hummingbird nectar is simple to make at home, though you’ll 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 Your Own Hummingbird NectarHelp these hard workers get a proper meal: nectar! Make your own “nectar” in just a few steps; it’s far less…
How do you keep Easter lilies alive after they bloom? Do Easter lilies multiply? Are Easter lilies poisonous to pets? Learn all about caring for Easter lilies! Learn all about the pure white Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum).The fragrance of an Easter lily is a sign that spring is here! But like most true lilies, if left to nature, they actually wouldn’t blossom until late summer. The potted…
Goodness, there are some gorgeous purple flowers! In ancient times, purple dye was so rare that it was only used by the rich and powerful. Luckily, nowadays, purple is available for all of us to use in our landscapes. See 20 purple-flowering plants to add to your garden.Purple, a symbol of royalty and wealth, adds richness and depth to a flowerbed or container. A mix of blue and red, purple…
By starting your own tomatoes from seed indoors, your fruits turn red earlier and fruit longer for a better harvest. Plus, you’ll have access to many more varieties than what you’ll find at a garden center. Check out 12 easy steps to starting tomato seeds for success.Any kind of tomato can be started from seed: beefsteaks for slicing, romas for sauces and salsas, and cherry or grape tomatoes…
Many of us remember hunting for that elusive “four-leaf clover” as children, and we’ve all seen that green shamrock on St. Patrick’s Day. That brings us to today’s garden musings. Let’s talk about what a shamrock really is—and what it isn’t!What Is a Shamrock?The shamrock is a symbol that we commonly associate with St. Patrick’s Day and with Ireland. It can be seen…
There are lots of new plants coming our way in 2024. Many are old favorites that have been dusted off and improved by plant breeders. There are also new treats to tempt us! Take a look at award-winning flowers, fruit, vegetables, and herbs to try this year.Adding more disease resistance, shorter time to maturity, larger flowers, cold and heat hardiness, and new colors are just a few of the…
Yellow is the color of sunlight, capable of brightening the darkest moods—just like the flowers in our garden! Consider adding a touch of yellow to your flowerbeds to evoke even more happiness and joy. Our Top 20 List of Yellow Flowers for the Garden includes annuals, perennials, bulbs, and shrubs that incorporate yellow into your landscaping and container gardens.How to Use Yellow Flowers…
Some flowers prefer winter sowing. (Yes, in the snow!) Learn which flower varieties need an extended period of cold to germinate and how to winter-sow outside in recycled milk jugs in January or February to jump-start a beautiful flower garden (and do it for pennies).What Is Winter Sowing?Those of us in cold climates don’t usually think of January and February as times to plant seeds…
All white is the most common monochromatic color-themed garden, and instead of being boring, it gives a sophisticated air to the landscape. Check out our list of 20 wonderful white flowers to incorporate into your garden!How to Use White Flowers in the GardenAn all-white garden – sometimes called a moon garden - has the added advantage of glowing at night when all the other colors in…
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…
You can garden all year ‘round (even in the winter)! Hydroponics sounds complicated, but it just means growing vegetables in water instead of soil. The benefits are: no weeding, no pests, and great yields. Learn the basics of hydroponic gardening for beginners—and how to get started! What is Hydroponics?The word hydroponics comes from the Greek for “working with water” and is …
