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While it’s tempting to simply plant old seeds, if they fail to germinate then you will be left feeling disappointed and have wasted precious time. ‘No harm will come to you from using old seeds, but as seed viability decreases over time inevitably you won’t get such a good germination rate,’ says Matt James, a garden designer, horticulturist, and author of How To Plant A Garden. Storing seeds properly will extend the lifespan of many seeds by a year or more, so invest in some seed envelopes and airtight containers....

Common Central US Birds For those curious about these backyard visitors, here is a breakdown of the most populous birds in this region. Blackbirds Many members of the Icteridae family are found throughout the Ohio Valley region. Although most species of blackbirds have dark plumage, some like the orange and black Baltimore oriole are brightly colored. This family also includes the red-winged blackbird, European starling, common grackle, brown-headed cowbird and eastern meadowlark....

Some tasks, however, should not be ignored. This includes pruning, or cutting back plants, in preparation for winter. This guide aims to discuss how and when to cut back peonies, with a special focus on herbaceous types, so as to ensure their return season after season. Why You Need to Cut Back Peonies To better understand when to cut back peonies for winter, growers should first consider the rationale behind the process....

On the other hand, the seeds in the “bonsai tree pine cones” can certainly be planted and the seedlings nurtured into bonsai. You can think of this as one way to grow pine cone bonsai, although the cone itself doesn’t come into play. Bonsai Pine Cones There is something inherently appealing about pine cones. Tiny pine cones appear on the branches of conifers, then the pine cones grow and mature, either standing up on the branches like candles on a Christmas tree, or hanging down like decorations....

scion A slice of bark and sapwood that has a bud on it. It is then grafted onto another plant. seed pod A mature ovary of a flowering plant that has several seeds in it. seedling A young, newly sprouted plant. sepals A part of a flower. These are the outer covering of the immature flower that protect the flower bud before it opens. single flower A flower that has only one layer of petals....

When it comes to basil, nothing beats fresh. And considering how easy it is to grow basil indoors, why settle for those dry faded leaves? Growing Basil at Home Most often, visitors will find an indoor basil plant growing in my kitchen. This easily-cultivated herb is a member of the mint family and is incredibly tolerant of less-than-ideal growing conditions. Basil likes full sun, so a bright southern-facing window is the biggest requirement for growing basil at home....

Prized for their vibrant, pretty flowers, geraniums are popular additions to borders, patios, hanging baskets, and window boxes. Growing geraniums indoors is also possible in a conservatory or other bright room. Usually grown as annuals, geraniums are perennials in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11, and in cooler regions can be overwintered indoors. This makes growing geraniums in containers an ideal solution that offers the best of both worlds. You can propagate geraniums from cuttings taken in early summer, or grow geraniums from seed, for an everlasting supply of plants....

The Future of Gardening is Already Here Years ago, I would see vegetable gardens in the back or side yards of houses. Front flower beds would be filled with geraniums, marigolds, and petunias. Yews were the landscaping shrub of choice, and these would be neatly trimmed into cubes, globes, or pyramids. Those days are gone. Rarely do I see yews in newer landscaped areas. These high maintenance shrubs have been replaced by arborvitae, junipers, and hydrangea....

Efficient and eco-friendly, ollas conserve water and reduce the time you need to spend watering, providing only as many fluids as your plants need. But if you don’t take care during the winter months, these pots might fail or break. Find out how to overwinter ollas so they last for longer. Can You Leave Olla Pots in the Ground Over Winter? Burying a large olla in the garden takes some effort, so it would be nice if you could leave it in place for the dormant season....

Plants That Grow From Bird Seed Not all bird seed is created equal. Here are the most popular seeds manufacturers include in their mixes: Sunflower – Black oil sunflower seeds are enjoyed by a wide variety of birds, while striped varieties have thicker shells and are more difficult for some species to open. Whole sunflower seeds will sprout and grow. Shelling, hulling or chipping seeds eliminates this problem.Safflower – Cardinals, blue jays and tufted titmice are among the native species of birds which relish these small, white conical seeds....

What’s It About? Spring saw the release of our very first print book, Ultimate Gardening, which offers expert advice on every gardening topic under the sun, from Arbors and Annuals to Zuchinnis and Zinnias. But in our latest release, The Complete Guide to Vegetable Gardening, we’re excited to dive much deeper into the world of veggies, not only dishing out facts about vegetable gardening, but taking you all the way through the process of starting or improving your own garden....

It is quite easy to dip one’s toe into the trend with small changes such as recycling and composting. Still others are more hard-core and go all out with their sustainable life style. I would say we are somewhere in between. But one thing we rarely do is buy new items. This approach to sustainable living is sensible but has also provided us with everything we need by repurposing old items....

What is horticultural oil used for? Horticultural oil is highly effective for pests that are on the plants at the time of spraying, covering and suffocating exposed insects or eggs by clogging their breathing tubes. However, even the best horticultural oil has some downsides. What is Horticultural Oil and What are The Benefits? Don’t mistake horticultural oil as one type of oil like olive oil. Rather, horticultural oil is a collective term for any type of oil-based product refined for use on plants....

Alaska Winters Alaska is such a huge state that even if it were cut into halves, each half would still be larger than any other state. That means that the weather in different parts of the state can be very different. Juneau, the capital, for example, is way down on the panhandle and its weather resembles Seattle’s more than it does Fairbanks’. I was born in Fairbanks, the state’s second biggest town located pretty much in the center of the state....

Grasses come in a variety of sizes and colors, making them versatile additions to beds and edges. Another great reason to grow ornamental grasses is to support pollinators in your garden. Native grasses provide vital habitat for many types of pollinators. They offer shelter and serve as sites for overwintering eggs, caterpillars, and pupae. The best ornamental grasses for your garden are native species. These will survive the winter, require little maintenance, and be the best hosts for pollinators....

Selecting Low-Maintenance Evergreen Shrubs You may be looking for low maintenance evergreen shrubs for your front lawns or the backyard. Or perhaps you are planning a privacy hedge along one border of your property. Fortunately, there are selections of evergreen shrubs that fit the bill for any of these tasks. Not every evergreen is a conifer. Many people associate evergreens with Christmas trees and other needled trees. But there is another category of tree called broadleaf evergreen, with leaves that resemble the flat, lobed foliage on deciduous trees....

While fall is not the typical time to prune many plants, some are best done at this time of year for various reasons. Make a pruning calendar to ensure you always cut at the right time. Keep in mind that plants that can be pruned or trimmed in October don’t necessarily need to be cut back. Plants can reclaim some of the energy from foliage for storage in the roots, so there are some benefits of leaving plant matter until after hard frosts....

All trees offer interest in at least two seasons – whether the spectacle of blossom from spring flowering trees; fruit trees laden with edible delights in the summer; a stunning show of golden to red fall leaves; or trees with berries or interesting bark in winter. However, to create a four-season garden, you need to choose trees that make a display at every time of year. If you have a small yard, it is even more important to include one of these versatile varieties, so you can benefit from a showpiece tree throughout the seasons....

Bring More Native Bees to Your Garden Throughout the world, approximately twenty species of bees are considered to be endangered. Bees native to North America are no exception, with species such as Bombus affinis, Bombus pensylvanicus, and Bombus fraternus all facing reduced numbers. Attracting native pollinators to the home garden is an easy way to help local natives and encourage a dynamic growing space. Attracting native bee types begins with the creation of a habitat....

Seeding a lawn requires effort – clearing the area, tilling the soil, planting seeds, and providing irrigation while you wait for the seeds to turn into lush ground cover. You also need to keep the area clear of weeds until a thick turf develops. Wouldn’t it be easier if you could unroll a lawn like a carpet over bare ground? Put simply, sod is grass that arrives in a roll, pre-grown, with soil and roots....