http://gardening.about.com/ Get the latest headlines from the About.com http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hh http://www.about.com/ 118 20 en-us 2012-02-14T07:00:38Z Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:00:38 +0000 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/15/how-much-should-you-plant.htm <p><a href="http://gardening.about.com/od/vegetable1/a/How-Much-Plant.htm"><img src="http://z.about.com/d/gardening/1/0/h/e/Wide_Rows_Blog.jpg" border="0" alt="" hspace="5" align="right" /></a>I am firmly in the "How could you possibly have enough, let alone too much?" camp, when it comes to growing most vegetables. This is perhaps not the wisest way to decide how much to grow and why I have a 2nd freezer and a wall of canned tomatoes in my home.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/15/how-much-should-you-plant.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/15/how-much-should-you-plant.htm Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:00:48 +0000 2012-02-15T07:00:48Z http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/14/caring-for-your-valentines-day-flowers-3.htm <p><a href="http://gardening.about.com/od/gardendesign/a/CutFlowers.htm"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/gardening/1/0/9/8/1/Cut-Flowers.jpg" border="0" alt="" hspace="5" align="left" /></a>Cut flowers look so beautiful in their wrapping that they can be intimidating. I'm sure we've all had rose buds that drooped the day after we put them into water. Sometimes you can fault the flowers themselves, but that doesn't really make you feel any better. Here are some <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/od/gardendesign/a/CutFlowers.htm">cut flower tips</a>, to make sure your Valentine's Day flowers last longer than your chocolate.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/14/caring-for-your-valentines-day-flowers-3.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/14/caring-for-your-valentines-day-flowers-3.htm Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:00:38 +0000 2012-02-14T07:00:38Z http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/13/waking-up-your-roses-2.htm <p><a href="http://gardening.about.com/od/rose1/a/Spring_Roses.htm"> <img src="http://z.about.com/d/gardening/1/0/Z/e/Roses.jpg" border="0" alt="" hspace="5" align="right" /></a>The weather has kept all of us guessing this winter. What fun. It's been unusually sunny and snow-free in my area and I've been taking advantage of the weather by doing some pruning and even some weeding. I know it could still snow at any second, so I'm holding back on tasks like pruning my roses. The last thing I want is for them to start growing, only to be killed back by frost. But some of you already have pruners in hand and others are wondering when to start, so now is a good time to bring up spring rose care.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/13/waking-up-your-roses-2.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/13/waking-up-your-roses-2.htm Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:00:50 +0000 2012-02-13T07:00:50Z http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/12/gardening-question-of-the-week-what-can-i-do-with-the-spring-bulbs-i-never-planted.htm <p><a href="http://gardening.about.com/od/floweringbulbs/a/Planting_Bulbs.htm"><img src="http://z.about.com/d/gardening/1/0/N/b/Tulips.jpg" border="0" alt="" hspace="5" align="left" /></a>The emails have started. It seems some of us never got around to planted our spring bulbs. We've all done it at some time; bought bulbs, but never planted them in the fall. I realize some of you still can't work, or perhaps even see, your soil yet. So if you do have spring blooming bulbs you stored away, at leasat check that they are still firm and plump, in a cool, dark spot.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/12/gardening-question-of-the-week-what-can-i-do-with-the-spring-bulbs-i-never-planted.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/12/gardening-question-of-the-week-what-can-i-do-with-the-spring-bulbs-i-never-planted.htm Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:00:56 +0000 2012-02-12T09:00:56Z http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/11/winter-blues-blue-flowers-for-the-garden.htm <p><a href="http://gardening.about.com/od/galleryofgardens/tp/Blue-Flowers.htm"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/gardening/1/0/6/8/1/Meconopsis_grandis.jpg" border="0" alt="" hspace="5" align="left" /></a>I have a thing for blue. Maybe it's because I don't look terrific wearing it. I will plant any flower that comes close to a true blue. Very often I'm disappointed, but there are also times when I make a delightful discovery. Only once was I successful growing the Himalayan Blue Poppy (<em>Meconopsis betonicifolia </em>) pictured here . It was a challenge for me, but it was worth it. Here's my list of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/od/galleryofgardens/tp/Blue-Flowers.htm">favorite blue (bluish) flowers</a>. If you have any to suggest, I'd love to hear about them.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/11/winter-blues-blue-flowers-for-the-garden.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/11/winter-blues-blue-flowers-for-the-garden.htm Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:00:12 +0000 2012-02-11T09:00:12Z http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/10/the-meaning-of-flowersbe-careful-what-you-say-2.htm <p><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/gardening/1/0/7/8/1/Valentines-Day-Roses.jpg" alt="" hspace="5" align="right" />Has Valentine's Day panic set in? Before you rush out to order the typical dozen roses, give some thought to expressing yourself more creatively with flowers. How about saying "Perfected Loveliness" with camellias? Maybe "Gratitude" with white bellflowers. Not the flower type at all? Send a basket of hazelnuts in hopes of a reconciliation.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/10/the-meaning-of-flowersbe-careful-what-you-say-2.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/10/the-meaning-of-flowersbe-careful-what-you-say-2.htm Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:00:07 +0000 2012-02-10T09:00:07Z http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/09/readers-choice-gardening-awards.htm <p><img src="http://0.tqn.com/h/gardening/1/3/d/7/1/Readers-Choice-Awards.png" alt="Readers' Choice Awards" align="left" />The deadline for nominations for the 2012 About.com <strong>Gardening Readers' Choice Awards</strong> is Wednesday, February 15th. Get your favorites in the competition.</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/u/ntn/Readers-Choice-Awards/The-Best-Gardening-Websites/form.htm">Best Garden Blog</a> </li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/u/ntn/Readers-Choice-Awards/The-Best-Classic-Gardening-Books/form.htm">Best Classic Gardening Book</a> </li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/u/ntn/Readers-Choice-Awards/The-Best-New-Gardening-Books/form.htm">Best New Gardening Book</a> </li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/u/ntn/Readers-Choice-Awards/The-Best-Gardening-Catalogs-For-Plants-And-Seeds/form.htm">Best Gardening Catalog for Plants and Seeds</a> </li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/u/ntn/Readers-Choice-Awards/The-Best-Gardening-Magazines/form.htm">Best Garden Magazine</a> </li> </ul>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/09/readers-choice-gardening-awards.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/09/readers-choice-gardening-awards.htm Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:04 +0000 2012-02-09T00:00:04Z http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/08/bark-for-winter-interest.htm <p><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/gardening/1/0/y/7/1/River-Birch.jpg" border="0" alt="" hspace="5" align="left" />I'm still waiting for the chance to take a great shot of my <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/od/shrubsbushes/p/redtwig_dogwood.htm"> red twig dogwood</a> against the snow. The first year I planted them they were covered with several feet of snow. This year we have no snow (not that I'm complaining). I planted several trees and shrubs for the interest they would provide during the winter. I didn't even realize these river birches had exfoliating bark until they started peeling. Imagine my surprise!</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/08/bark-for-winter-interest.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/08/bark-for-winter-interest.htm Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:00:26 +0000 2012-02-08T07:00:26Z http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/07/blue-eyed-daisies.htm <p><a href="http://gardening.about.com/od/plantprofiles/p/Osteospurmum-Growing-And-Caring-For-African-Daisies.htm"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/gardening/1/0/v/7/1/3D-Osteospermum-Flowers.jpg" border="0" alt="" hspace="5" align="right" /></a>You have to wonder what goes through the minds of the folks that name plants. Osteospermum? Really? It doesn't help to learn that it's some Latin/Greek combination for bone seed. Don't hold it against this plant. Think of it's many common names - African Daisy, Cape Daisy and my favorite, Blue-Eyed Daisy. It's the unusual combination of colors that makes Osteo so captivating. I was given these '3D' Osteos to try out this summer. They were doing fine - until the groundhog moved in. Apparently he loves them as much as I do. So my plants never really took off and the fluffy tufts of '3D' never finished filling out. Don't let that happen to you. Here are my tips for <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/od/plantprofiles/p/Osteospurmum-Growing-And-Caring-For-African-Daisies.htm"> growing an caring for Blue-Eyed Daisies</a>.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/07/blue-eyed-daisies.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/07/blue-eyed-daisies.htm Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:00:56 +0000 2012-02-07T07:00:56Z http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/06/gardening-on-the-dark-side.htm <p><a href="http://insects.about.com/od/behaviorcommunication/f/findfoodplants.htm"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/gardening/1/0/o/_/Tomato_Hornworm.jpg" border="0" alt="" hspace="5" align="left" /></a>Sooner or later we all venture into the dark side of gardening - pests search and destroy. I think I'm more tolerant of problems on my flowers than my vegetables but looking through Debbie Hadley's <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://insects.about.com/od/insectpests/ig/12-Worst-Veggie-Garden-Pests/">12 Worst Vegetable Garden Pests</a> gallery, I see that I've had them all. Luckily she also gives some chemical-free ways to annihilate them.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/06/gardening-on-the-dark-side.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://gardening.about.com/b/2012/02/06/gardening-on-the-dark-side.htm Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:00:21 +0000 2012-02-06T11:00:21Z