Your Map To The Garden: Not all crops grow well in every region. Temperatures, pH Levels, topography, precipitation and more all vary greatly from region to region. Some plants may grow well in Maine but will not survive in Arkansas, and vice versa. One way to determine which plants grow best in your region is […]
From Our Garden To Yours: We have partnered with the incredibly talented Cheryl Conklin from wellnesscentral.info to provide this guide for edible landscapes. An edible landscape is the perfect way to combine beauty and functionality in your garden. Imagine a space that’s lush and colorful and provides fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs for your table. Whether you’re […]
Top Pruning Techniques: Definition – Pruning is “trimming away” dead, discolored and overgrown stems and branches to increase growth of plants. Pruning promotes further flower/plant growth, keeps insects and disease away, and prevents plants from getting too sparse. Plants benefit the most from pruning during spring and summer (typical growing seasons). Insects and pests are […]
Your Garden’s Winter Protection Plan: Mulch – Apply mulch, compost, leaves or hay to help insulate your plants. Mulching helps hold moisture and heat to protect plant root systems. Cold Frame – Consider housing plants in an enclosed space like a cold frame or greenhouse. Frost and cold weather will harm and kill your plants, […]
Techniques To Revive Your Plants: There can be a variety of reasons why your indoor plant leaves are turning yellow. This issue could be as simple as old age, but there could be other problems to address. Soil Drainage – Poor soil drainage causes water to collect/accumulate in the pot and drown the roots. Make […]
The Beginner Gardener Guide: Location – Pick a location that receives plenty of natural sunlight. Most plants and vegetables require 5-7 hours of sun per day. Different plants/vegetables require different amounts of sun. For example, peppers and tomatoes require more sun than lettuce and spinach. Water – Pick a location in close proximity to a […]
Guide To Potatoes: Potatoes are generous plants and there are several varieties based on when you harvest. The underground “tuber” is the edible part of the potato; the tuber grows from underground stems (once the plants are 7-8 inches tall). Give them the following and they will accept almost any planting situation: full sun, loose […]
Christmas Tree Maintenance Guideline: Pick The Right Tree – Look for trees with vibrant green needles and a trunk that is sticky with resin. Resin indicates freshness. Cut – Cut your tree at its base as straight as possible, ensuring the pores of the tree open up and absorb water more effectively. If sap from […]
Top Transplanting Techniques: Choose the right time to transplant. One of the worst things you can do to seedlings is abruptly moving them from indoors to outdoors. Gradually introduce seedlings to the outdoors over a span of a few days – placing them outside for 2-3 hours each day. This process is called “hardening off”. […]
Guide To Kale In Your Garden: Kale grows best when planted 3 – 5 weeks before the last frost. Fall/Autumn is one of the best times to grow kale as long as the weather does not drop into the teens. The leaves are sweeter when grown in cooler weather. Kale is resilient, making it one […]
Pest Control Tips: The first step to deterring animals and critters away from your garden is to identify what kind of animal is invading your space. From deer to moles to squirrels, there are identifiers that can help you identify the type of animal. Check for tunnels or mounds of dirt to help identify the […]
Steps To Control Weeds: Mulching is a great way to minimize weeds. Mulch deprives weeds of sunlight while keeping soil moist and cool for your plants. Replenish your mulch as needed – the mulch should be about 2 inches deep (mulch deeper than this can deprive your soil of oxygen). When you cannot fully uproot […]
Trusted Lettuce Growing Guide: Lettuce is grown best during the spring and fall in most regions. Ideal soil temperatures are between 50 degrees Fahrenheit and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Extreme heat or prolonged heat will make lettuce “bolt” – move from flower then seed as oppose to growing new leaves. The existing leaves will also become […]
Expert Guide to Cucumbers: Cucumbers thrive in temperatures over 60 degrees Fahrenheit and in drained soil with pH levels between 6.0 and 6.8. Cucumbers do best when sown directly into the ground. Space the cucumbers 36-60 inches apart and plant in an area with ample sunlight. Sow seeds 1 inch deep. Provide the cucumbers with […]
Spring Garden Prep: Prepare Garden Beds – Early Spring is a great time to loosen soil, add soil nutrients and remove all debris. Loosen all compacted soil. Weed/Pest Removal – Remove all weeds by their roots to eliminate the chance of them re-sprouting. Turn over the top 6 inches of soil to reveal any pests […]
Guide to Growing Carrots: The best soil temperature for carrots is between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Till your soil to a depth of 10 inches – remove all rocks, stones and hardened soil clumps. Add compost and sandy topsoil if your soil is not loose as the carrots will grow deep into the ground. […]
Poison Ivy Guide: Poison Ivy can be tricky to identify and avoid, but there are attributes that differentiate the plant from others. Poison ivy has compound leaves and each leaf is composed of three leaflets. Each leaflet is 2 to 9 inches long and 1 to 5 inches wide. The stem of the middle leaflet […]
Tips For Composting: Add your Green Material – this can include kitchen scraps (eggshells, coffee grounds, fruit & vegetable peelings, fruit cores, etc.) and scraps from the yard (weeds, leaves, grass clippings, manure, sawdust, etc.) These scraps are high in nitrogen. Add your Brown Material – this can include sawdust, branches, twigs, straw, shredded paper, etc. […]