Posts

Table of Contents If you’re noticing a proliferation of flies, and your brassicas or root vegetables are starting to yellow, it’s a warning sign. You may have an infestation of root maggots. These fly larvae are no joke! Hungrily, they will chew through your plants, causing them to lose vigor, wilt, yellow, and possibly die off. Rescuing your plants from root maggots is possible! Read on to learn everything you need to know about these garden pests and how to wipe them out....

Table of Contents I’ll admit, when I first started gardening the idea of growing ornamental grasses made no sense to me. “If you can’t eat it, who cares?” I thought. Well, I’ve changed my ways! Ornamental grasses add a​n extra layer of beauty and depth to your garden and landscaping, and are surprisingly easy to grow. In this article, we’ll look at over 27 of the most popular types of ornamental grasses with brief growing instructions for each of them....

When I was growing up my Mom always complained to my Dad about her garden and flower beds. She would say things like “Nothing grows in this red dirt!”, or “I’m not planting anything this year, it never grows!” Table of Contents I always thought Mom just didn’t have a green thumb. Fast forward about twenty years, and now I understand her struggle. Digging in my flower beds and garden used to be like playing in a big mud pie that was left out in the sun to dry....

Weeds are something every gardener has to contend with at some point. Whether it’s lawns or garden beds, weeds can grow anywhere, develop seed heads, and spread seeds everywhere. A battle with weeds can demoralize the efforts of even the most optimistic growers. And one weed that is the bane of gardener existence is the foxtail weed. Table of Contents Much like crabgrass, foxtail seeds and foxtail weeds can turn a healthy lawn or pasture into their domain in a matter of a couple of seasons....

Lighting is one of the most important components of your indoor or greenhouse hydroponic garden. But lighting is nothing without a good digital ballast, the device that is actually running your precious bulbs. Table of Contents As of this year, the options are plentiful and making the right purchase can be a daunting task. I know that delving into a new subject empty-handed can be a chore, so I’ve decided to simplify this process to save you time and money....

If you’re growing kale for the first time, you may have some questions about the best way to maximize your kale harvest. The great news is that you don’t have to devote a large amount of space or even grow a large number of plants to produce an impressive amount of this superfood. Table of Contents With proper care and harvesting, you can enjoy this annual leafy green from about 4 inches tall up through the first snowfall in your area....

We all know cacti come from the desert. But, what if you live up North, in the tropics, or anywhere that’s not full of sun-baked sand? Is it still possible to grow a cactus? The answer is yes, but only if you have the right cactus soil. Table of Contents In this article, we’ll dive into the soil needs of cacti and what you can do to help them thrive. It’s not difficult to provide exactly what your cactus plants enjoy!...

If foxes were green, you can bet this is what their tails would look like. Similar to the animal, foxtail fern fronds are long, lush, and look soft enough to cuddle. The tails, also called spears or stems, are cylindric shapes that rise and twist from the ground. The leaves are evergreen and look like soft pine needles. Don’t be fooled by the plush and delicate aesthetic though. These plants are tough and dominating....

Table of Contents Here’s why I love hydroponics: with just a little imagination, you can design a custom hydroponic system for just about any application — large or small. In this series, I’m going to highlight one of the most popular hydroponic growing methods: the ebb and flow system. You’ll learn about the advantages to ebb and flow systems, as well as their downsides, and I’ll even show you how to build one on a budget....

I may be writing this in the middle of summer, but now’s the time to start shopping for the best pellet stove you can get. Since they can be a significant investment, it’s important to do your homework and have it in place well before the cooler months arrive! Table of Contents Heat is absolutely essential for the cold season. When you come stomping in after using the snow blower and spreading ice melt on the front steps, you have to be able to get warm!...

Many homeowners aspire to maintain the perfect lawn, but there are certain pests that can make this dream rather challenging. Chinch bugs are a family of 20 species that are native to North America. Out of this group, only a handful cause significant damage to turf grass. Chinch bugs are adapted to eat a variety of grasses including ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, fescues, and creeping bentgrass. Chinch bug damage is a significant issue for some homeowners and golf course operators....

Rohdea japonica is a stellar evergreen herbaceous perennial of the genus Rohdea and is also known Japanese sacred lily or sacred lily. Table of Contents This rare, tropical-looking oriental plant is one of the most highly prized perennials in Japan. It’s native to both Japan and China where it’s naturally found in moist woodlands and on grassy slopes. Rohdea japonica It has been cultivated in Japan for at least 500 years and probably for just as long in China....

A good water feature can make or break your landscaping. The best outdoor fountains can sometimes be elusive. There’s a lot of poorly-designed fountains that won’t last. Why opt for something low-quality when you can enjoy yours year after year? Table of Contents We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite outdoor fountains for your perusal. Of course, there’s millions of designs to choose from. But ours are chosen due to their quality, good manufacture, and reliability....

The Brazilian native, pitangatuba, is a must-have, low-maintenance evergreen shrub that produces juicy delicious fruit. Commonly referred to as star cherry, the yellow fruit resembles star fruit and has a pit in the middle like your typical cherry. The acidic fruit is a combination of sweet and sour with hints of tropical fruit flavors like mango, passion fruit, and pineapple. Star cherry thrives in the heat and requires mild winters. Fortunately, it can be brought inside for protection during the winter making it possible to grow almost anywhere....

Table of Contents A plant with a lot of personality and even more interesting names: I’m talking about the Flamingo Flower, or Anthurium. Green, heart-shaped leaves with white, pink, lavender, orange, or red spathes that inspired names like Pigtail Plant, Painter’s Palette, and Painted Tongue. If you want to show true hospitality, you’ll bring this plant to your next housewarming party. Flamingo Flower Overview The anthurium flower name comes from two Greek words, oura and anthos, or “tail flower....

Growing calendula in your garden will cheer up even the dullest corner with beautiful vibrant yellow and orange, daisy-like flowers that bloom from late spring through to the first frosts. Fuss-free and easy to start from seed, grow calendula (also called the pot marigold) if you are new to gardening, as it’s a great easy-to-grow starter plant for people just starting to garden. Table of Contents Traditionally, gardeners would grow calendula flowers for medicinal and culinary use....

Now that you’ve tended to your spinach plants and allowed them to grow into beautiful rosettes, you may be thinking about how to harvest spinach. Since spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a cool-weather vegetable related to swiss chard, you won’t be growing it during the heat of the summer. Table of Contents Spinach is a popular crop to plant in the early spring or late summer since it is cold hardy and can tolerate full sun to partial shade....

There are literally hundreds of gardening books out there. It’s easy to look at these massive mountains of tomes and wonder which are the best gardening books… or at least, the ones that you should seriously consider picking up at some point. Table of Contents So we sat down and considered this issue, and we’re breaking these down into various categories. Everything from the must-have books for your permanent collection down to the esoteric is somewhere on this list....

One summer, I came out to my back garden to find all my basil seedlings gone. I didn’t know what could have taken them out, and assumed it was insects. Later that week, I discovered the culprit was a cardinal. If only I had used floating row covers to protect my basil seedlings, I’d be stocked up on pesto right now. Table of Contents While floating row covers are great for protecting plants from birds, they’re also a useful barrier between plants and insects, or other mammals that may want to have a little snack from your garden....

Growing hollyhocks can be one of the most stunning and rewarding acts of gardening you can do. There is nothing like hollyhock flowers at the height of their growth. Their bright blooms are perfect as a classic cottage garden staple. They attract hummingbirds and are a great addition to any garden. Table of Contents Most people love hollyhocks for their ability to bring in hosts of pollinators, and their variety in color....