Why I Love the Woods in Spring I live in the suburbs, but in an older development that left a lot of wooded areas intact. Walks through these areas are nice any time of year, but in spring, when the air and soil begin to warm, it’s a joy to see the first wildflowers appear. Summer is hands down my favorite time of year, but there is something special about spring....
Many gardeners are confused on ways to use green tomatoes. They can be eaten raw but are quite acidic. That acidity is perfect paired with smokey foods, spiced dishes, or even pickled. The methods of preparation when using green tomatoes include frying, grilling, roasting, and sautéing. Many green tomato uses are in soups and stews, as a side dish, or even in a salsa. Any recipe that uses ripe tomatoes can be translated to green tomatoes, but may need some additional sweetness added to balance out the tart flavor....
Black Locust Tree It’s hard not to fall in love with black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). Few trees produce more abundant, beautiful, or fragrant flowers, or afford more pleasing contrast between the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves. It is such an appealing tree, with a massive trunk (to 100 feet tall or 30.5 m) and broad limbs, in stark contrast to the chains of gorgeous white racemes of blossoms and the fluttery, graceful foliage....
Should I Buy Bare Root Plants? Like every other thing in life, bare root plants have advantages and disadvantages. “Should I buy bare root plants?” is not a question with a universal answer. The important thing is to consider whether they’re right for you. Since almost all bare root plants are also available with a rootball, the choice is really up to each gardener. Bare root plants are pulled from their growing spot while they are dormant....
Of the 20,000 known species of bees, mason bees stand out as some of the best, most prolific pollinators. Protecting the diversity of bee populations is one way to support our planet by increasing our desperately needed global pollination. Crown Bees is helping with that effort in a big way. Diversity in the World of Bees From the tiniest Perdita Minima bee to the hulky female carpenter bee, we are reliant on the bee population for about one in three bites of our food, not to mention their role in pollinating cotton and the exotic foods we love, like coffee and chocolate....
4 Cheap DIY Garden Path Ideas Creating a walkway isn’t rocket science, and with determination and a little creativity, any gardener should be able to build a budget-friendly path across the landscape. To get started, here are a few cool pathway plans you can build yourself. Option 1: A Moss Pathway A moss pathway is both charming and inexpensive. It is one of several intriguing inexpensive stepping stone walkway ideas. All you need is a shovel or garden rake, stepping stones or pavers, and sheets of moss....
Growing a beautiful, low-maintenance garden is indeed possible, and plenty of garden types are available to you, such as shade gardens, drought-tolerant gardens, those offering seasonal splendor, and gardens that support pollinators and wildlife. The thing to know about low-maintenance gardens is that they are not no-maintenance gardens. Occasional weeding helps keep the garden looking good, and the biannual garden cleanups will keep pest and disease pressures low. There are a few general caveats to any new garden adventure, and those are to use plants suited for your USDA hardiness zone and that are appropriate for your existing light, soil type, and moisture conditions....
Dividing plants is easy, and involves digging up perennial plants and splitting them into two or more sections. Not only does this practice allow you to create more plants, but it will give the old ones a health boost. Signs that perennials are overdue for division are fewer or smaller flowers, thin growth, spindly or weak stems that need staking, and fungal diseases or rot. In addition to improving their performance, consider dividing perennials whenever you want to keep the size of a plant or a patch of plants under control....
DIY Sustainable Christmas Decoration Ideas The concept of sustainability has been around for about 50 years and is more important today than ever. It is practiced in nearly every field and you too, can be a part of the movement. One way you can minimize your impact on the environment is by making your own sustainable Christmas decorations. So find your inner artist, get out your glue gun and pick one (or more) of these 7 fun natural Christmas decoration ideas....
Crystal brain is a common fungus in Europe but is also starting to appear in North America. It is frequently found rotting on the dead branches of broadleaf trees. Here’s how to identify this peculiar fungus – and what to bear in mind if you see it cropping up in your garden. Quick Crystal Brain Fungus Facts Botanical name – Myxarium nucleatumHeight – Individual fruit bodies up to half an inch (1....
About Easter Lilies The Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum) is native to southern Japan. Westerners discovered it in the 1800s and it became a popular cultivated plant, eventually becoming a symbol of the Easter holiday. Today, in the U.S., just a handful of farms in the Pacific Northwest cultivate these plants for commercial sale. They grow the lilies and ship them to greenhouses where they are forced to bloom out of season and in time for Easter....
What Is Intergenerational Gardening? Intergenerational activities in the garden involve shared garden projects among two or more generations of people. Most often, it includes seniors with decades of gardening knowledge, and often some experience working with and mentoring children. These gardens are organized by many different groups. Assisted living centers and senior residences might start a garden and invite children of staff or grandchildren to join for activities. Community centers, community gardens, and local garden clubs are increasingly hosting intergenerational activities....
I know because I’ve been out there at night with my headlamp on plucking the slimy creatures from around my plants. Another option is to use a DIY snail or slug trap. A slug or snail trap DIY is often combined with repellants, baits and handpicking. Keep reading to find out what to use for slugs and how to make your own snail and slug trap. How Do I Get Rid of Slugs and Snails?...
So let’s look at coco fiber vs. peat moss. Will coco coir actually do the job? The simple answer is yes, but read on for the details. Peat Moss vs. Coco Coir The question of coco coir vs. peat moss is more than an issue of which is more effective as a soil amendment. There are bigger things at play here. Let’s start by looking at these two materials and where they come from....
Benefits of Urban Beekeeping Raising bees in the city has become popular for several reasons. Apiarists find many benefits of keeping hives in gardens or on urban rooftops: Enjoy and sell your own honey - One of the most obvious benefits of caring for a community of honeybees is access to the freshest, most local honey available. A hive can produce anywhere from 25 to 100 pounds of honey per year....
Nicole applied for our Gardening Know How sponsorship because of a lack of rain in upstate New York. Unofficially in drought mode, the daycare needed to improve their water system. They had lost apple trees, their pond with frogs and goldfish had to be refilled by the fire department – there just wasn’t enough rain. We were happy to help out. A Peaceful World For Little Ones Nicole’s husband is a contractor who managed the construction of the daycare, which was built from scratch....
Many different trellis types are available to support plants, but the best vegetable trellis ideas also form an attractive feature, making the garden feel more three-dimensional. Training crops to grow upwards is beneficial to the health of the plant, minimizing access from pests, increasing airflow, and enabling access for tending and harvesting. It can also make a crop more productive, encouraging the formation of more fruits. Vegetable trellis can be as sophisticated or as simple as you like, with upmarket products doubling as elegant walkways, and the most basic solutions employing sticks and string, costing almost nothing....
Good poinsettia care is key to their survival, but the plants have specific needs that must be met to ensure they thrive. Post-holiday plant care is also important for the plants to have longevity. Avoid these common poinsettia care mistakes, and your plant will live on to see another Christmas. 1. Taking it outside Poinsettias are very sensitive to cold drafts, so don’t buy one from an outside stall, and don’t leave it outside when you get home – not even in a sheltered porch....
Most herbs produce lovely little flowers, which are often sweetly scented and magnets for pollinators. They also have attractive leaves and grow in appealing ways. Using edibles as ornamentals is the perfect solution for smaller yards, where there is often no room for a dedicated vegetable patch. Many hardy evergreen herbs will persist in winter, adding much-needed greenery to the garden. While you can enjoy herbs purely as ornamental plants, their aroma and usefulness in the kitchen are integral to their appeal....
I am notorious for starting my seed too early. I just cannot stand to wait until it is the appropriate time to start seeds. I am just itching to see little green shoots, my mouth is watering with thoughts of the tasty goodies I will be making, and my head is filled with visions of lush, verdant leaves and brightly colored fruits. After a long winter, who can blame me?...
