About.com Gardening: Most Popular Articles

Pruning Roses

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Pruning rose bushes is intimidating to many gardeners, but actually very good for the plants. Becoming an accomplished rose pruner takes time and practice, but keep in mind that it is very hard to kill a rose with bad pruning. It is better to make a good effort at pruning roses than to let them grow rampant. Here are some basic rose pruning guidelines for use in your rose garden.

Tomato Growing Tips

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Tomato plants know what they like and they grow well when you give it to them. Growing the best tasting or the earliest tomato is a great source of pride for the home gardener and here are 10 tips for growing terrific tomatoes.

Container Vegetable Gardens

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

You don't need a plot of land to grow fresh vegetables. Vegetable container gardening can offer high yields in small spaces. With some thought to selecting bush or dwarf varieties, almost any vegetable can be adapted to growing in a container or pot. Container vegetable gardening is perfect for plants that take up little space, such as carrots, radishes and lettuce, or crops that bear fruits over a long period of time, such as tomatoes and peppers.

Strawberries

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Strawberries are one of the easiest fruit crops for the home gardener to grow and one of the most rewarding. Day neutral and everbearing strawberries have been getting all the attention, but there still is no season like June for fresh strawberries. Whatever your zone, there is probably a strawberry plant for your garden. Here's how to grow great strawberries in your backyard.

Growing Plants from Seed

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Starting plants from seed isn't rocket science, but there are several seed starting tips that will help your success rate with seed germination and give your seedlings a healthy start. Here's how to start seeds indoors and the seed starting supplies you'll need to grow plants from seed.

Cyclamen Care

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Although many species of cyclamen are hardy, the cyclamen plants sold in greenhouses and stores during the holidays are considered houseplants and require different care than garden cyclamens. Still cyclamens make excellent long, blooming houseplants with minimal care, as outlined here.

When to Start Seed

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Growing plants from seed is an easy, inexpensive way to get more plants. The hard part is often knowing when to start the seeds. Here are a few easy tips to get you on the right track for seed starting.

Growing Rosemary

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

It's not hard to grow rosemary. Rosemary is a heat loving herb, associated with the Mediterranean, but you can successfully grow rosemary plants just about anywhere, as long as you give it plenty of sun and bring it inside for the winter.

Garden Catalogs

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Gardening catalogs are a great way to learn about new plants, tools and supplies. Many garden catalogs are so full of information, reading them is like reading a book. Garden catalog shopping isn't quite as much fun as gardening, but it's very close. Here is a list of gardening favorites and what they have to offer the gardener.

Lavender

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

You can be successful growing lavender if you choose the right variety, even if you don't live in the Mediterranean region. Lavender plants, with their fragrant flowers, can be used to make lavender soaps and lotions. Or maybe you'd like to cook with lavender. Even gardeners who need deer resistant plants can grow lavender.

Seed Starting FAQ

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Starting plants from seed is a great, inexpensive way to get exactly the plant varieties you want to grow. Seed starting indoors requires the same basic elements as growing plants outdoors. Maintaining seedling indoors will take a bit more diligence though, since you can’t rely on rain and sun to do the work for you, and your seedlings will need the right nutrients to get off to a good start. This FAQ covers everything you’ll need to know to start plants indoors, from seed.

Tomato Problems - Tomato Disea

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

There are many diseases that affect tomatoes. Tomato diseases are often weather dependent and can spread rapidly. Here are some common tomato diseases, their symptoms and what to do if tomato diseases threaten your home vegetable garden.

Pruning Hydrangeas

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Hydrangeas are popular old fashioned flowering shrubs. Regular hydrangea garden maintenance involves pruning the shrubs to keep them in shape and flowering profusely. But when to prune hydrangeas determines how well they will flower or if they will flower at all.

Companion Plants for Tomatoes

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Companion planting for tomatoes can improve the tomatoes growth and flavor and repel insects and diseases. Choosing companion plants for your tomatoes should be easy because companion plants for tomatoes include many of these popular garden vegetables.

How to Grow Potatoes

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Growing potatoes in the home garden can be easy, if you learn to avoid the pest and disease problems. Potatoes are one of those mystery crops that develop out of sight, underground. You never really know how you’re doing until you harvest - and then it’s too late. Here are the basics on how to grow potatoes.

Growing Amaryllis

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Most amaryllis will go dormant naturally and re-bloom sometime during winter. However, many people prefer to force their amaryllis into bloom for the holiday season. Many ‘prepared’ bulbs are sold in the fall, ready to pot up and have in time for Christmas. Here are directions for forcing your Amaryllis for holiday display, as well as general care for your amaryllis plant.

Houseplants You Can't Kill

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Easy care houseplants. Houseplants for people who don’t take care of their plants. These 6 indoors plants are extremely hard to kill with neglect, yet they’ll add that homey feel that only plants can bring.

Windowsill Herbs

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Many herb plants can be easily grown indoors, in a sunny windowsill or under lights. You can have a herb garden throughout the winter, with fresh herbs to cook with, in your kitchen. Herbs will grow in containers with minimal care.

Pruning Raspberries

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Brambles like raspberries and blackberries need regular pruning to keep bearing large, healthy crops and to prevent them from taking over your garden. Don’t let this scare you off of growing raspberry or blackberry plants. Pruning rambles is actually a simple procedure, if you follow these steps.

Pruning & Removing Suckers from Apple Tree Branches

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

How to Prune Apple Trees - Removing Suckers and Water Sprouts

Clearing the Clutter

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

How to Prune Apple Trees - Thinning Inside Branches

Small Garden Design

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Garden design for a small space has its pros and cons over grand scale gardening. In small garden design, the gardener can pay attention to detail. You can keep on top of maintenance, while still having time to sit and enjoy your small garden. The principles of good garden design still apply, but you’ll need to tweak them slightly. Virtually any plant or garden style can be worked into a small garden space.

Plant Lights

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Starting seeds indoors usually requires some type of supplemental plant lighting. Your choice of plant lights depends on how many seedlings you are starting. Choices range from single lamp bulbs on up to 1000 watt high intensity lights. Follow these guidelines to choose which plant light system is right for you.

Evergreen Privacy Hedge

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Planting a Hedge. There are many evergreen trees and shrubs that make excellent hedges, privacy screens and wind or noise breaks. Some mature quickly into dense hedges and others develop with you, over time. Choose an evergreen that suits your time frame for growth and maintenance. Here are 10 of the best evergreens for creating a hedge.

Remove Any Wood that is Unproductive and Attracts Problems

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Apple Tree Pruning - Removing Dead and Diseased Wood

The Main Point Behind Pruning Apple Trees

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

How to Prune Apple Trees - Fruiting Spurs

Outward Facing Bud Photo

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Pruning Apple Trees - Outward Facing Bud

Keeping Your Apple Tree Pruned to One Main Leader

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Apple Tree Pruning - Competing Leaders

Growing Spinach

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Leafy vegetables always taste better fresh from the garden. Spinach, like lettuce, grows best in the cool weather of spring and fall. Spinach also grows extremely quickly, which means you don’t have to wait long to enjoy it, but you’ll also have to keep planting new spinach to extend the harvest. Getting spinach to grow is easy. Keeping your spinach growing takes some finesse. Tips for growing spinach in the home garden.

Pruning Low Branches

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Pruning Apple Trees - Removing Low Branches

Pruning Out Future Problems

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Pruning Apple Trees - Downward Facing Branches

Drying Herbs

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Fresh garden herbs can easily be air dried, to preserve their flavor and quality. Air drying herbs is not only the easiest and least expensive way to dry fresh herbs, but this slow drying process also doesn't deplete the herbs of their oils. Here are some simple steps for air drying herbs.

Growing Sweet Potatoes

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Can you grow sweet potatoes at home? Except for being a long season crop, sweet potatoes are very easy to grow. Even the sweet potato leaves are edible. If you have a small garden, bush sweet potatoes might be a better choice for you. Here are some tips for growing sweet potatoes in any home garden.

Small Space Garden Design

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Gardening in a small space.

Amending Your Garden Soil

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Most garden plant problems are caused by poor soil. What is good soil and how do you know what kind of soil is in your garden? Understanding your garden soil means knowing its fertility and texture. Fertility is a combination of essential nutrients and a pH that makes these nutrients available to the plants. Texture refers to the size of the soil particles and their cohesiveness.

Poinsettias

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Poinsettias are popular holiday decorations and gifts. Knowing how to keep Christmas poinsettia plants in bloom longer and how to force them to rebloom next Christmas, requires some special care.

Here's What You're Aiming For

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

How to Prune Apple Trees

Basil - Growing & Using

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Basil is an easy to grow tender annual. The hardest thing about growing basil is choosing which varieties to grow. Give basil some sun and good soil and you can pick leaves daily all summer long. And picking the leaves is what will keep your basil producing for the whole season. Here are some suggestions for great basil varieties and how to grow basil in your home garden.

New Garden

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Starting your first garden shouldn't be a daunting task. Probably the best piece of advice is - Start Small. If you're frozen in your steps, wondering what to plant, where to plant it, how to not kill it..., here's a bottom line Step-by-Step primer for you. Veteran gardeners, how many times have you been asked for help from frazzled first timers. Here are some tips to pass along.

February in the Garden

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

February may well be the toughest gardening month. Gardeners in warm climates don't know what kind of weather to expect from day to day or from day to night. Gardeners in cold climates just want to see the sun again. February in the garden is for planning and pruning and for seeing the first signs that spring is around the corner. Here are some regional tips for gardening in February.

Forcing Paperwhites

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Paperwhites (Narcissus tazetta)are popular indoor plants for winter because they're easy to grow and bloom a long time. Unlike other narcissus, paperwhites don’t require a chilling period, so forcing them is as easy as putting the bulbs in water and waiting. The fragrant flowers bloom within about 2-3 weeks of planting, for almost instant gratification. It's that easy. Here are some tips for forcing paperwhites.

SmVegetableGarden

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

You don’t need a farm to grow fresh vegetables, herbs and fruits. You don’t really even need a garden. Plant breeders know that after taste, home gardeners want a high yield in a small space. So they’ve been developing more varieties that can grow in a small foot print or even live in containers all year long.

Plant Nutrient Deficiencies

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Not all plant problems are caused by insects or diseases. Sometimes an unhealthy plant is suffering from a nutrient deficiency or even too much of any one nutrient. Plant nutrient deficiencies often manifest as foliage discoloration. The following chart outlines some possible problems.

Low Maintenance Plants

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Low maintenance perennial plant. There is such a thing as a low maintenance plant. It may vary from climate to climate and season to season, but there are many wonderful perennial flowers and other plants that can be labeled low maintenance, providing undemanding easy care interest and bloom in the perennial border.

Viburnums

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Viburnums have long been one of the most popular flowering landscape shrubs. You can find a variety to suit any garden need. Bloom times span early spring through June and are followed by attractive fruit and outstanding fall foliage.

Soilless Potting Mix

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Starting plants from seed is a lot of fun, but it’s not so much fun to watch them wither and die shortly after germination. One way to gain an advantage is to use a sterile potting mix, because you never know what problems come along with soil from the garden. If you’re going with a potting mix anyway, you might want the further advantages a soilless mix brings. Here’s a rundown on what’s in the potting mix if you leave out the soil, and why you’d bother to in the first place.

Top 10 Fall Bloomers

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

The trick to designing your garden with perennial flowers is making sure you have something wonderful in bloom all the time. Each season has its stars and fall blooming perennials have some of the best. Fall blooming perennials have all season to grow, so many of them are tall and stately. Fall bloomers also tend to blossom in the jewel tones of the season, deep purples, rusts, scarlet and gold. Here are some top picks for fall blooming perennial stars.

How Much to Plant

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

It's time to plan the vegetable garden, but how much should you plant per person? Here are some guidelines for how much to plant, but remember that they're just guidelines. How much to plant depends on a number of factors.

Tomatoes - Growing Tomatoes

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Tips for growing great tomatoes and trouble shooting tomato growing problems.

Growing Bamboo

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Does the idea of bamboo growing in your garden spark fear or longing in you? How bad can bamboo be if all the garden magazines are touting it? Bamboo can be grown successfully and safetly in home gardens, but you need to know what kind of bamboo you are getting and you need to take care that it doesn't take over.

Pruning Clematis

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Clematis vines need to be pruned to encourage new growth, which results in more flowers. Pruning clematis comes down to a question of when your clematis blooms. Here are some tips.

More Plants From Cuttings

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Increase the plants in your home and garden by taking cuttings from existing plants and rooting them to make more plants.

Vines and Climbing Plants

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Vining and climbing flowers and plants can add an element of height to a garden or be allowed to scramble along the ground or through other plants. Vines and climbers can fill many garden design needs, from covering eye sores to creating privacy on your deck. Consider some of these vining plants when planning your landscape.

Plants for Bees

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Every garden needs pollinators and bees are among the best. Without them there would be limited flowers and even fewer fruits and vegetables. To attract bees and other pollinators to your gardens you need to select flowers and plants that are high in nectar and pollen and plant so that they are obvious and available to the insects. Here are some tips for luring bees to your garden and lists of good plant choices for bees.

Growing Sweet Peas

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Sweet peas evoke old fashioned cottage gardens, with their fluttering blossoms and intense fragrance. Growing sweet pea vines in the garden is both simple and rewarding, with a long season of bloom and an abundance of cutting flowers.

Vegetable Garden Overview

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Photo of a well maintained vegetable garden

ContainerPhotos

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Gardening in pots and containers offers many advantages. A container lets you experiment with plant combinations and color. You can easily swap out plants with the season. Many container gardens are portable. You can let them follow the sun, or use them to fill in gaps in a border. And container gardens fit just about anywhere. So there's no excuse not to have a garden.

Baking Soda for Powdery Mildew

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Powdery mildew and other fungus diseases of plants have long been successfully controlled with a mixture of baking soda, water and and oil or soap to help it spread.

Freezing Herbs

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Freezing is a quick and easy way to preserve fresh garden herbs. We usually think of drying herbs to keep them, but many herbs, like basil, mint and chives, don't dry easily. Freezing these herbs will preserve their garden fresh flavor for months. Here are some simple steps for air drying herbs.

Companion Planting

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Companion planting is an age old gardening technique of pairing two or more plants to gain some type of benefit,: vigorous growth, higher yield, repelling pests or attracting predators of common pests. Some companion plantings work, others disappoint. But the idea of strength in diversity is never truer than in the garden and that’s what companion planting provides. Here are some tips for attracting beneficial insects and for companion planting with herbs to repel insect pests.

Growing Oregano

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Growing, harvesting and using oregano is easy, but sometimes confusing. Plants in the genus Origanum are can be perennial ground covers, tender perennials or even small perennial subshrubs. There is much confusion over what type of oregano to use in cooking, but there is no disputing the flavor when you taste it. This Plant Profile of 'Oregano' will help you make sense of which type of oregano to grow for your needs.

Container Garden Tips

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Container gardening offers many conveniences. Good soil, easy access and the ability to correct mistakes quickly are just a few. These rules of thumb can help you successfully combine plants to create a container garden.

Long Blooming Perennials

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Long blooming and repeat blooming perennial flowers form the backbone of garden design. Large blocks of color add impact to a garden and the best way to achieve that is with long blooming perennial flowers, like Rudbeckia, Sedum and Veronica. Here are some more perennial plants to consider.

Growing Petunias

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Petunias are one of the most popular bedding flowers and new types of petunias are constantly being introduced. Here are some petunia basics to guide you through grandifloras, waves, supertunias and more, as well as how to grow and care for your petunias and keep them blooming all summer.

Growing Green Beans

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Often called green beans or string beans, the common garden bean can be both stringless and colors other than green. But it’s the green bean that everyone recognizes as one of the most frequently prepared vegetables. Hot, cold, even raw, string beans are versatile in the kitchen and very prolific producers in the garden. They are also easy to grow. Here are some tips.

Growing Onions

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Growing onions takes patience, since all the action takes place under ground. If you can provide a rich soil and a full day of sun, you can grow a good sized harvest of onions for eating fresh and storing for later. And as with most fresh vegetables, onions from the garden will have far more flavor than onions from the produce aisle. Home grown onions can be more pungent too. Here are some tips for choosing and growing the right onions for your home garden.

Choosing Plants for Pots

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Container gardening offers immediate gratification. You can experiment with new plants and combinations. If you don’t like the result, start over with minimal trouble. There are no rules for designing a container garden. However, there are certain design principles that can be scaled to container size and make creating effective container gardens an art. Think of them as Rules of Thumb, not Rules per se. Here are some Rules to Guide You and/or Break When Creating Container Gardens.

Powdery Mildew

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Powdery mildew is one of the most common and easily recognized plant diseases. Almost no type of plant is immune. As the name implies, powdery mildew looks like powdery splotches of white or gray, on the leaves and stems of plants. Although powdery mildew is unattractive, it is rarely fatal. However severe or repetitive infections will weaken the plant. There are several steps a gardener can take to prevent and control powdery mildew in the garden.

Plants for Clay Soil

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Gardening in clay soil is a challenge that can be met. Their are many plants that will grow very well in clay soil and some that will even help improve it. Rugged natives and tough, tap rooted plants can make a garden even in the difficult conditions posed by clay. Here are some to get you started.

Growing Miniature Roses

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Miniature roses deliver all the punch of full size roses in a size that suits any garden. They may look delicate, but miniature roses are hardier than many tea roses and much easier to grow. Great as a specimen, an edger or in containers, mini roses are easy care plants that bloom throughout the season.

Fragrant Roses

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

All roses are beautiful, but fragrant roses are extra special. And who would be better qualified than the 'All America Rose Selections' to clue us into some great growing roses with exceptional fragrance. Here are their picks from the last 5 decades.

Interplanting Veggies & Flower

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

There is no rule that says vegetables and flowers can’t mix. In fact, the vegetable garden will benefit greatly from the addition of some flowers and herbs. It’s not just aesthetics that make flowers and herbs welcome in the vegetable garden. Interplanting flowers and herbs offers several beneficial features that can protect your vegetables from insect pests and even make them more productive.

Flower and Garden Shows

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Just when we need it most, horticultural societies across the country provide us with a breath of spring in the form of flower and garden shows. Whichever you attend, you can expect garden landscape displays, competitions, a vendor area, seminars by garden experts and floral displays. Here is a listing of some of the most popular spring flower and garden shows.

Patio Garden Design

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Gardening on your patio or terrace creates an extension of your home. An outdoor room that serves the dual purpose of being an outdoor room without walls and a place to indulge in gardening. A patio garden is limited only by your aspirations. Designing a garden on or around your patio or terrace can create a place to enjoy and entertain or a place to indulge your green thumb on a smaller scale.

Zone_Changes

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

The USDA Hardiness Zone Map has been used by gardeners to determine what plants will survive in their garden climate. The latest revisions by the American Horticulture Society, add zones and take into consideration more than just annual low temperatures. Other hardiness measures include: length of cold spells in the winter, airflow patterns, the effect of large bodies of water like oceans and lakes and heat factors and how these things effect garden plants.

Epsom Salts and Plants

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Gardeners have been using Epsom salts as a plant fertilizer for generations. There is little research to prove conclusively that Epsom salts have any effect on plants, but many seasoned gardeners cite their own gardens as proof that Epsom salts help certain plants grow stronger and produce better. If you’d like to try experimenting on your own, here are some tips for using Epsom salts in your gardens.

Perennial Spring Pruning

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Four season interest in the garden is nice. Dried flowers hold onto snow like frosting. Seed heads feed the birds. But some perennials don’t handle cold weather well. Plants like Butterfly Weed, Chrysanthemums and Coral Bells benefit from the protection their foliage provides for their crowns and survive best if cleaned up in the spring. The following list is a recommendation of plants that are best pruned in the spring.

Growing Thyme

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Thyme is an extremely easy growing Mediterranean herb that prefers dry, lean growing conditions. In fact, thyme almost grows itself. You can grow thyme in herb gardens, on rock walls, between pavers or even indoors. Here are some tips on growing and using great thyme.

Saving Tomato Seeds

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Seed saving is the only way to make sure you have seeds of your favorite plants to grow each year. Tomato seeds need special handling to ensure good germination. Here's how to begin saving tomato seeds.

Front Yard Gardens

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

If there is one place that small space gardening should be more widely practiced, it is in front yards. We have surrendered the front of our homes to foundation plantings of overly pruned evergreens and uninspiring dots of geraniums. It is intimidating to experiment in full view of every passer-by, but the pay off is great and I think you’ll find most people, neighbors included, will be delighted.

Peas Please

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Peas are one of those vegetables that must be tasted fresh from the garden to truly be appreciated. Whether they are shelling, snap, snow or sugar pod peas, their moment of glory is rather brief in the garden. Learn how to make the most of the peas you grow.

Growing Asparagus

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Asparagus is one of the few perennial plants for the home vegetable garden. Plant it once and it keeps on growing. There is some up front work to be done by the vegetable gardener, before you can enjoy an asparagus harvest, but a well-established asparagus bed can produce for decades. Here are some tips for growing great asparagus plants.

How To Plant Spring Bulbs

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

The key to growing healthy, vibrant spring flowering bulbs is to provide them with a great growing environment. Rich well-draining soil and sunshine will reward you with ample flowers for your bulb planting efforts. It doesn't hurt to know which end is up, either. Here are some more tips for growing large, colorful spring flowering bulbs.

Harvesting Vegetables

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

There are no precise guidelines as to when to harvest your vegetables, but there are some rules of thumb to guide you. Most vegetables are harvested just before full maturity, for maximum flavor and the most pleasant texture. The following are vegetable harvesting criteria for judging whether your vegetables are ready for picking.

Flowering Trees and Shrubs

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

It is always confusing knowing whether to prune flowering trees and shrubs in the spring or wait until they bloom. Most spring bloomers should be trimmed after blooming, but not all. Here's a list of common landscape trees and shrubs and when to prune them.

Growing Sage

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Sage is one of those wonderful Mediterranean herbs that only asks for sun and warmth and then takes care of itself. Being an evergreen, even northern gardeners are able to harvest fresh sage leaves at Thanksgiving. And it's beautiful enough not to have on display in the herb garden or the perennial bed. Here are some tips for growing great sage.

Vegetable Gardening in Limited Space

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Small Space Vegetable Gardening

Starting a Vegetable Garden

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

How to Start a Vegetable Garden

Hybrid Tea Roses

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Hybrid tea roses are the most popular rose in the world and perhaps the most popular flower. Hybrid teas have all the virtues you look for in a flower: beauty, fragrance and easy care. As with any other type of plant, not all hybrid teas are created equal. However, the idea that hybrid teas are fussier than other rose types is unwarranted. The key, as always, is to choose a variety suited to your climate and zone.

Lettuce

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Salad greens are easy to grow and there are literally hundreds of varieties. That pale green head you see at the grocery store is just the tip of the iceberg. From curly to oak leafed, here's a look at growing and choosing the best lettuce.

Plants for a Small Garden

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Every plant looks tempting in the nursery center or catalog. How do you know what will do well in your garden? There are some guidelines for what to consider when shopping for plants for your garden. While there are times to indulge yourself with whatever plant catches your fancy, when designing a small garden, every plant matters. Choose wisely.

Garden Soil

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Soil is often viewed as the boring part of gardening. While garden soil will never be glamourous or even as interesting as choosing plants, there is a whole world under our Wellingtons that literally and figuratively is the foundation for our gardens. New gardeners are cautioned to put money and effort into improving their soil before they even consider planting, but few appreciate this wisdom. Here's why you should.

Shade Garden Perennials

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Shade gardens can be woodland retreats or bursts of color. Many shade garden plants often considered sun lovers actually prefer some shade in hot areas or the peak of summer. Of the many plants that will grow well or even thrive in shade gardens, the following list are top shade garden performers.

Cool Season Annuals

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Cool weather can be hard to garden in, because you never know how long it will last. But there are many annual flowers that prefer the cool days of spring and fall. Many cool season annuals look wonderful in containers and growing these flowers will make your gardening season seem that much longer. If you live in a warm climate, some of these flowers will bloom from fall through spring.

Growing Garlic

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Garlic is very easy to grow in the home garden. There are hundreds of garlic varieties and the only way you are gong to get to taste them is if you grow them yourself. Read on to learn what types of garlic to grow and how to grow and store your garlic.

Determinate Tomatoes

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Determinate tomato varieties tend to reach a fixed height and ripen all their fruit in a short period of time.

Organic Pesticides

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Profiles of the most commonly used organic garden pesticides, including Sevin, insecticidal soap and oils and neem.

Coreopsis

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Coreopsis are sunny flower border work horses. They are great additions to any garden design, blooming most of the summer. Coreopsis make great garden edging as well as nice cut flowers.

What Does Full Sun Mean?

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Garden plants usually come labeled with required sun exposure. The definitions of these terms can vary some, but here are the generally accepted meanings of Full Sun, Partial Shade, etc..

Pest ID Web Sites

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

When insect pests attack your garden plants, the first line of defense is to identify the insect. To control insects in your garden, you need to know what kind of insect you are dealing with, what plants it favors and what time of year to expect it. These web sites provide photos for identifying pests and most also give info on controlling the garden pests.

Using Wood Ash in the Garden

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Is wood ash good for garden soil? Will it do more harm than good? That depends on your soil and, of course, on the wood that was burned. Here are some thoughts to consider before you put wood ash on your garden plants.

Astilbes

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Astilbes are long-blooming plume-like flowers held above airy foliage. Astilbes are one of the easiest perennial flowers to grow, but they give a high return. Virtually pest free, they can light up the shade garden.

Plant Pruning FAQ

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Most plants benefit from some sort of regular pruning and maintenance. The trick is in know when to prune what. It’s confusing, but rarely fatal. Pruning at the wrong time of year may result in less flowers and fruits, but it usually won’t harm the plant in the long run To help you take the guess work out of pruning, here is a series of articles to help you learn when to prune the plants in your garden.

Creating a Garden to Suit Your Purpose

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Small Space Gardening - Creative Fencing

Gardening on the Patio

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Small Space Gardening - Gardening Around a Patio

A - Z Guide to Plant Information

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

An alphbetized listing of plants with info on selecting, growing and using plants in garden design. Includes: flowers, vegetables, fruits, herbs and more

Backyard Frog Pond

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Backyard Frog Pond

Deer Resistant Plants

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

If deer are in your area, sooner or later they will find your garden. Plant wisely by choosing deer resistant plants. Use the lists here to help find plants deer don't like.

Paperwhites & Alcohol

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

A problem when growing paperwhites is that they grow quite tall and top heavy and can fall over. Researchers in the Flowerbulb Research Program at Cornell University have come up with an unusual solution to this problem: Alcohol. When paperwhite bulbs are grown in a dilute solution of alcohol, the plants don't grow as tall as they normally would - but the flowers remain normal size and last just as long. Why they thought of giving their paperwhites a nip, I don’t know.

Growing Kale

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Growing kale is an easy and very rewarding crop for the home gardener. This cooking green is as beautiful to look at as it is tasty to eat and it attracts very few pests or problems. The secret to growing great kale is cool temperatures and plenty of water. Here’s how to have your best crop ever.

Vision in Garden Design

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Small Space Gardening - Terraced Front Yard Gardens

Cleaning Houseplants

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Is it really necessary to clean houseplants? A layer of dust on the leaves of your houseplants will block sunlight and reduce the plant’s ability to photosynthesize. A clean plant that’s photosynthesizing at optimal levels will be healthier and healthy plants can resist diseases and pest infestations. So cleaning the leaves of your houseplants actually makes less work for you in the long run. Here are some quick tips for keeping your houseplants clean.

Roses for Shade

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Rose growers recomend at least 5 -6 hours of full sun for growing roses. If your garden doesn't provide that much sun, you may still be able to grow select varieties of roses. No rose will thrive and bloom without some sun, but there are roses that will do just fine with a little shade. Here are some top rosarian picks of roses able to perform in partial shade.

Raised Bed Gardening

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Raised bed gardening refers to gardening in soil that has been mounded or contained higher than the surrounding soil. Raised bed gardening is an old gardening practice, but it’s currently growing in popularity again because it offers several advantages to simply growing your plants in level ground. Here are some tips on why raised bed gardening should be considered and how to get started with a raised bed.

Houseplant Insect Problems

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Indoor pests multiply quickly. There are no natural predators to keep them in check, so you have to be very diligent about checking for symptoms. Spider mites, aphids, mealy bugs and scale can cover a plant in days. If severe enough, the plant may never recover.

Flowering Houseplants

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Many people shy away from houseplants because even the most hardy houseplant will eventually require some care. But you would be surprised at how a handful of plants can survive on the most minimal attention. If you’d like to try your hand at growing a flowering houseplant or you’re looking to brighten someone else’s abode, here are 8 flowering houseplants that will thrive with minimal care and in varying degrees of sunshine.

Preserving Vegetables

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

How to preserve fruits and vegetables by drying, canning, pickling and making jams and jellies. Keep the freshness of the harvest by preserving your own garden vegetables at home. There’s a method safe and easy enough for everyone, as well as tips for success and recipe suggestions.

Reading a Fertilizer Label

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

How to make sense of the numbers on your plant fertilizer bag and choose the right product for your plants.

What are Rose Hips?

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Rose hips are the seed pods of roses. We don’t often see them anymore, because we tend to prune the faded rose blossoms to encourage more flowers. However if you leave the spent flowers on the rose bush at the end of the season, you should see these small, berry-sized, reddish seed balls, left on tips of the stems. Rose hips are actually very ornamental and birds enjoy them too. They are also edible and a good source of vitamin C. Here’s how to harvest and use your rose hips.

Garden Magzines - Top Picks

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Gardening magazines are monthly garden inspiration. They tell us about new plants, garden design ideas and gardening techniques. Gardening books are like old friends. Garden magazines offer endless new gardening possibilities. Here are my picks for the top gardening magazines.

Indeterminate Tomatoes

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Most of the tomato varieties grown in home gardeners are considered indeterminate varieties, or vining tomatoes. They continue growing until they are killed by frost and keep setting fruit throughout the growing season.

Container Gardening

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

The following photos demonstrate the diversity of gardening in containers.

Growing Pansies

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Pansies are probably the most popularly grown and most recognizable cool season plant. The variety of colors and the cheerfulness of the pansy’s ‘face’ have made them a long standing favorite. And they’re easy and undemanding to grow. Here are some tips to keep your pansies growing and blooming longer.

Growing Fruit in Small Gardens

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Small Space Gardening - Espalied Fruit Trees

Asparagus Feature

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Asparagus is one of the few perennial vegetable crops for the home garden. Plant it once and it keeps on gorwing. There is some up front work to be done, before you can enjoy the harvest, but a well-established asparagus bed can produce for decades. Here’s how to grow great asparagus.

A Border of Flowers Can Enclose a Small Space

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Small Space Gardens - Creating a Flower Border

Fungus Gnats

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Fungus gnats are more than annoying pests flying around your new plant seedlings and cuttings. Fungus gnats can do serious damage to young plants and should be controlled before their population becomes too large. There are effective biological control measures you can take to detect, deter and control fungus gnats around your growing plants.

Tomato Plant Problems

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Growing tomatoes are subject to a lot of diseases. Many tomato problems don't show themselves until the fruit starts to ripen? With blossom end rot, green shoulders and tomato cracking, what can be done to save the ripening tomatoes? How can these problems be reduced with future tomatoes?

The Year of the Chile Pepper

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Are all chile peppers created equal? The National Garden Bureau sorts of the variety of hot peppers available by grouping them by their heat and shape, as listed here.

Winter Rose Care

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

All rose plants need some attention going into winter. Winter weather can really challenge rose bushes, particularly the hybrid teas. You will need to discourage new growth and make sure the rose plants in your garden are well water and well mulched. Look out for overwintering garden pests and diseases too.

Double Wheel Wheelbarrow

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Wheelbarrows and garden carts are indispensable garden tools. There will always be things to haul around the garden and there is no substitution for a wheelbarrow or garden cart. But which wheelbarrow or cart will suit your needs and fit your gardening style? Here are 10 top picks of garden wheelbarrows and carts to get you thinking.

Purple Foliage Plants

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Foliage has taken center stage in the garden. Purple foliage not only provides color all season, it blends well and highlights other colors in the garden. There seems to be a never ending stream of new purple plants for sale. Here are the top choices of plantsman Tim Wood, resident horticulturist for Spring Meadow Nursery. purple foliage plants, purple plants, plants with purple or red leaves,

Spring Vegetable Gardening

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Spring Vegetable Gardening - Vegetables that Enjoy the Cool, Early Weather of Spring

In Garden Design, Simplicity Can Be Surprising

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Small Space Gardening - Containers

Growing Nasturtiums

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Nasturtiums are cool season annual flowers in rich, jewel tone colors. Nasturtiums are extremely easy to grow, practically growing themselves. There are bushy, trailing and climbing nasturtiums to fill every gardening need. They are even edible. You won’t usually find seedlings of nasturtiums, but the large seeds germinate quickly and the plants bloom all season. Here are some more nasturtium growing tips.

Growing Cannas

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Cannas are tropical and subtropical flowering plants with large, banana like leaves. Cannas can be grown as annuals in cooler regions, where they add an instant touch of the tropics to flower gardens. Easy care and dramatic effect make planting cannas worthwhile for any garden border. They can even be grown in pots and

Modern Comforts

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Small Space Gardens - Landscaping a Town House

Garden Design Principles

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Garden design is often broken down into design principles: Order/Balance/Proportion, Harmony or Unity and Flow, Transition or Rhythm. These categories contain the basic elements that, when combined together, constitute the generally accepted version of good garden design.

Growing Sweet Corn

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Sweet corn, fresh from the garden, is a treat like no other. Although corn is a long season crop and can take up crucial space in your garden, it is easy to grow and the rewards far out weigh the costs. The real challenge to growing sweet corn is having the patience to wait for it to ripen and beating the critters to the harvest. If you've never tasted just picked sweet corn, you owe it to yourself to try growing it at least once.

Pole Tree Pruners

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Sometimes there's a damaged branch, just out of reach. Or maybe you need to open the canopy or snip off crossing branches. It's frustrating when there's a branch you can't get to it. Ladders are fine, but pruning requires stability and balance. Some clever person came up with pole pruners. How brilliant to attach a long handle to a saw blade. Here's some advice and suggestions on what to look for in pole tree pruners.

Tulips as Cut Flowers

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Tulips just don't seem to behave as cut flowers. They bend and bow and contort. How do you deal with tulips in a vase?

Planning a Small Garden

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

A good site assessment is vital to any garden design. When creating a small garden, every space is important. Where to put the garden, how large to make it and the choice of plants all must be edited, unlike with a small garden. Here’s how to take an honest look at your garden site and what you can hope to plant there.

Tomato Blossom Drop

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Blossom drop is a common tomato growing problem that can be extremely frustrating to the home gardener. Otherwise healthy looking tomato plants set flower blossoms, only to have them dry up and fall off the plant before a fruit is formed. Blossom drop can be attributed to several causes, most often related to either temperature and / or stress.

Consider A Cutting Garden

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Cutting gardens or cut flower gardens are a great way to bring your garden indoors. Well planned cutting gardens can grow enough flowers to create bouquets for the entire growing season. Cutting gardens can include long flowering annuals, seasonal perennials and colorful foliage. Here are some plant ideas for your cutting garden.

Designing Herb Gardens

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Herbs don’t need to be grown in a garden of their own, but a designated herb garden is a luxury for all the senses and working in an herb garden is as much pleasure as it is toil. Whether you want an iconic four-square herb garden, a scented herb border or a few kitchen herbs on the windowsill, here are some tips for creating an herb garden to enjoy.

Growing Catmint (Nepeta)

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Catmint (Nepeta) is extremely hardy, drought tolerant and virtually maintenance free. All this and nepeta repeat blooms sporadically throughout the summer. Such a wonderful garden plant should be more widely appreciated and used by gardeners. Take another look here, at the pleasure of growing nepeta and its usefulness in any garden design.

Container Garden Plants

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Container gardens offer the advantage of changing your garden with every season. The choice of plant material is limited only by your climate and your imagination. Keep in mind the scale of the container and how aggressively the plant grows. While you want your container garden to look full, fast growers will quickly outgrow their pots.

The following choices should get you thinking.

Garden Clip Art

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Here’s a selection of garden clip art, including gardens, flowers, vegetables, birds and insects, to spice up your garden writing. Even in this day of instant digital photos, clip art is still a fun way to make a quick point. Thanks to some wonderfully skilled people, garden clip art has gotten more abundant and more sophisticated every year.

Mint

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Plants in the mint family are very hardy perennials with vigorous growth habits. Mint, left to its own devices, will spread quickly and become a nuisance. However, it is very popular as a flavorful herb and the plants can be grown easily. Just try to chose a spot where you won’t mind the rampant growth or grow it in a confined space.

Drying Gourds

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Ornamental gourds grow as easily as zucchini. But unlike zucchini, there is no limit to what you can do with gourds. By drying ornamental gourds, you can keep them intact indefinitely. Drying gourds is an easy process, but it takes time. Here’s all you need to know about how to dry gourds.

Growing Blueberries

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Blueberry Growing Tips: Blueberries are popular to grow in home gardens because they can grow in a small space, even in containers, and have very few problems. There are three main types of blueberries: highbush, rabbiteye, and southern highbush, with different varieties doing better or worse in various areas. Here are some tips for growing your own blueberries.

Choosing Planters & Containers

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

With so many plant containers and pots available for use in gardens, on decks and porches and indoors, how do you choose the best one? Too often we are guided by our taste alone. However to keep your container gardens growing happy and healthy you should give some consideration to the plant's needs when choosing a planter. Here are some things to think about.

Sagina subulata (Irish Moss)

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Sagina subulata (Irish Moss)

Using Cornmeal as a Fungicide

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Researchers at Texs A&M have discovered that cornmeal has powerful fungicidal properties and is effective on all kinds of landscape fungus problems, from turf grass to black spot on roses. Here’s how to apply cornmeal to treat fungus problems in your garden.

A Welcome Home Garden

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Small Space Gardening - Front Yard Gardens

Choosing a Greenhouse

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

It’s so tempting. The idea of building a greenhouse means gardening year round. Greenhouses are the ultimate fantasy for gardeners, but they’re also a big responsibility. One night without heat and all of your plants and seedlings could be goners. Your greenhouse will need heat, water, benches, venting, electricity. And that’s just for starters. Here are some key points to ponder before you buy a greenhouse.

Even a Small Garden Can Be a Destination

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Small Space Gardens - Flower Island on a Hill

True Geraniums

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

The term geranium is confusing. The first geranium most gardeners encounter is not a geranium at all, but Pelargonium, a relative of the perennial geranium. True or hardy or perennial geraniums belong to the genus Geranium. You will sometimes see them referred to as cranesbill geraniums, because their seed pods do somewhat resemble a crane’s bill. The flowers, in shades of white, pink, magenta, purples and blues, are long blooming. As you see here, geraniums are easy care.

Hydrangea Types

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

There are many new hydrangeas on the market that take the guess work out of when or if you need to prune your hydrangea. However many of us have old hydrangea shrubs in our yards that can cause a lot of frustration when they don't bloom. Bloom on an older hydrangea usually depends on when it was pruned. To know when to prune your old fashioned hydrangea, you'll need to know what type of hydrangea it is. Here's some help in identifying your hydrangea.

Pruning Tomato Suckers

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Tomato suckers, or side shoots, are the growth that appears in the crotch between the stem and a branch. If left to grow, tomato suckers will become another main stem with branches, flowers, fruit and more suckers of their own. Sometimes that’s good, sometimes not so good. Here are some guidelines for when to prune your tomatoes and how much.

Pink and Gold Rose

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Photo of Pink and Gold Rose

Fall Perennial Pruning

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

It can be nice to leave some perennials standing for winter interest. But many perennial plants don’t survive rough weather well. Many plants have recurrent problems with pests and diseases, which will over winter in their fallen foliage and surface in the spring. The following list of perennial flowers survive and thrive better if pruned or cut down in the fall.

Pruning Lilacs

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

If lilacs are left to grow and spread on their own, without maintenance pruning, you will get shrubs reaching 15 - 20' in height and all the blooms will be way above your head. Lilac plants that have a balance of new shoots and older stems, will bloom best. Older lilacs can have stems as thick as small trees and will flower only on the top most branches. Fortunately, it is pretty easy to rejuvenate an old lilac, in about 3 years time. How to Prune Lilacs...

Growing Phormium

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Phormium is a spiky, sword-leafed evergreen perennial that is used as a garden focal point or specimen plant. Some are small enough to use in containers, others can reach several feet in diameter and 7+ feet tall. Phormium aren’t hardy in many areas, but can be brought indoors for the winter. Growing Phormium is easy, if you give the plants what they want.

How Much Mulch?

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Knowing how much mulch or amendment to purchase for your garden is always a bit of a guess, but you can make it an educated one by using a couple of easy measurements and calculations. Here's how to know how many bags, pounds or cubic yards of mulch will actually give you 3inches of coverage.

Growing Lamb's Ears

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Lamb's Ears are popular in gardens because of their soft, inviting texture. They are very easy to grow almost anywhere. This profile of Lamb's Ears, Stachys byzantina, gives you their preferences and recommends varieties for your garden.

Growing Primroses

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Primroses are unusually vivid spring blooming perennial flowers. Unlike the subtle pastels associated with spring, primroses shout out in bold yellows, reds, pinks and blues, making them ideal for brightening the spring garden. Primroses look their best in mass. These easy care perennials are profiled here.

Merging Your Garden and Your House

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Small Space Gardening - Framing a Window

Companion Planting for Roses

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

When choosing companion plants for your roses, consider aesthetics, growing conditions, and plant health. Rose companion plants should look good with roses and require similar growing conditions. Here are more tips from the New York Botanical Garden on what plants to grow with your roses.

Roses from Cuttings

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Ever wonder if you could root and grow branches from your favorite rose bush? With a little care, roses root very easily. You won't always get exactly what you started with, but it's fun trying. And here's how.

Top Heirloom Vegetables

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

There's only one reason needed to try growing heirloom vegetables - Taste. There are thousands of heirloom vegetable varieties available for the home vegetable garden. Heirlooms vegetables became heirlooms because people prized them enough to save seeds. Here's a top pick list of heirloom vegetable varieties to try in your vegetable garden.

A Garden of Bouquets, Year After Year

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Free Garden Design - Perennial Cutting Garden

Using Dwarf Evergreens

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

The term 'Bones of the Garden' can be difficult to understand, let alone accomplish. Garden Bones refers to using something architectural to define the structure of a garden. Most often we see it in large-scale estate or public gardens, but it is doable in more humble gardens too. One of the best tools for adding bones to your garden design is dwarf conifers. Structural, eye catching, easy to grow and diverse, dwarf conifers show a garden means business. Here are some of the best.

No Fruit on Your Fruit Tree?

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

There are many reasons fruit trees can take years to begin bearing fruit. Home fruit growers need to make sure their fruit trees are given the right care and growing conditions. gardening fruit apple trees home backyard orchard not setting fruiting gardens

Passion Flower - Aida A.

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Photographs taken by About Gardening readers from around the country, of their own gardens in winter.

Companion Planting Vegetables

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Companion Planing in the Vegetable Garden

Growing Rhubarb

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Is rhubarb a vegetable? A fruit? An ornamental plant? It’s a very ornamental vegetable that is usually prepared and eaten much like a fruit. All that and it’s perennial in many areas. Rhubarb is a cool season crop that is grown for its fibrous leaf stalks, which are a wonderful sweet-tart treat. These tips should help you get your rhubarb started right and growing well.

Top Plant Varieties

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Need a clay buster? A rose for shade? What to try growing some of those heirloom vegetables you've heard about? Wish your annuals would self-seed? These lists will give you some top plant varieties, whatever your garden needs.

Flowering Plants for Dry Areas

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

It’s a smart idea to study up on which plants can adapt to dry areas, because sooner or later every garden will experience a period of drought. While water is crucial to growing healthy plants, there are many perennials that can withstand periodic dry spells, if they are given a chance to become established before they are severely stressed.. Here are 10 perennials that may surprise you with their drought tolerant constitutions.

Growing Sedum

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Border Sedum or Showy Stonecrop is a must for every perennial garden. The sturdy stems, succulent leaves and clusters of flower buds are attractive all season and light up a fall garden. Growing Sedum is easy; almost mistake proof. There are Sedum varieties to blend with every color scheme and trailing Sedum to fill container gardens. Here are some tips for growing great Sedum.

Organic gardening

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

What does it mean to have an organic garden? Does organic gardening mean you have to put up with insects eating your plants or unattractive flower beds? Actually, organic gardening just means trying to working with nature and to replenish as you deplete resources. Here are some basics...

Garden Insect Pests

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Plants need insects for pollination, so no garden should be insect free, but there's no denying some insects are garden pests. Learning to identify which insects to worry about and which to welcome is part of the learning process of gardening. Here are a handful of common garden insects. Some are garden pests, some are beneficial and some are just passing through. Always assess the situation before spraying. But when you must treat the problem, the info offered here will be helpful.

Garden Design - Color

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Color is arguably the most prominent factor in a garden design and often the first one considered. Good garden design involves knowing how to combine colors so that the final product has a cohesive and pleasing effect. Here are some tips to train your eye to see color and for combining color in the garden.

Kitchen Herb Gardening

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Probably the most popular herbs to grow and use are the culinary herbs. Growing culinary herbs is very similar to growing vegetables. The two most important considerations are to harvest at full flavor and to never use any fertilizer or pesticide on them that isn’t labeled for use on edible plants. Here are some more tips for growing flavorful culinary herbs.

Basic Considerations When Choosing Plants for a Formal Herb Garden

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Designing an Herb Garden

Perovskia

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Perovskia, or Russian Sage, is a widely popular perennial garden favorite. The foliage is finely cut gray-green leaves that are slightly scented. When fully in bloom it looks like a purple haze. As you can see here, these plants are very easy to grow.

Hybrids Vs. Heirloom Vegetable

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Vegetable seeds are labeled either hybrid, open pollinated or heirloom. Is there a difference and is one type of vegetable seed better for you than another. Here's a breakdown of what it means when a vegetable is defined as hybrid, open pollinated, heirloom or even genetically modified (GMO).

Fall and Winter Greens

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Cool weather vegetable gardening offers many advantages, not the least of which is the colorful choice of crops that can be grown, like 'Bright Lights' chard, ‘Red Russian’ Brussels sprouts, ‘Osaka Purple’ mustard greens or any of the many other suggestions offered here by Cathy Wilkinson Barash for the National Garden Bureau. Extend your vegetable gardening season and try something new. Here are some growing tips and variety selections.

Digitalis 'Candy Mountain' (Digitalis purpurea)

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Digitalis 'Candy Mountain' (Digitalis purpurea)

Gardening Basics

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Starting a garden should be a pleasure. But it does help to have a little knowledge of how to go about making a garden. Here's a quic selection of articles to give you confidence in creating your won garden.

African Violet (Saintpaulia)

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

African Violet

Making Hypertufa

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Hypertufa planters are a wonderful way to bring the look of stone into your garden, without the weight. Hypertufa is easy to make yourself at home. Although it can be messy, it’s also a lot of fun. Here are some basic recipes and some creative suggestions for hypertufa toughs and garden decorations.

Annual Garden Plants

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Annual flowers and plants only live for one growing season. But not all plants that are killed by frost at the end of the season are annuals. An annual plant must complete its life cycle in one growing season.

Starting Small and Personal

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Small Space Gardening - Flower Island

Shade Gardening

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Shade gardening offers the opportunity to work with a diverse variety of plants and to garden in a cool spot both the gardener and the plants will appreciate. There are shade plants suitable to the different degrees of shade. It is possible to create a shade garden with color and interest, if you choose appropriate shade garden plants. Here are some tips and suggestions for making the most of your shade garden.

Organic Gardening Essentials

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

p]The key to organic gardening is keeping a healthy balance in your garden. Prevent problems, rather than treating for them after the fact. Healthy plants are better able to withstand pests than stressed plants. And your plants will be healthy if they are given what they need to grow well and if you are growing a diversity of plants. Here are some more tips to help you garden organically:

Cabbage & Kale

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Cabbage and kale are among the hardiest and most nutritious vegetables a home gardener can grow. They are also very easy to grow, especially for home vegetable gardeners in cooler climates. Beautiful, in shades of pale yellow to wrinkled steel blue and ranging in flavor from sweet and crisp to tangy, cabbage and kale are versatile vegetables and there’s a variety suited to almost every garden.

Easter Lilies

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Easter Lilies are a beautiful, fragrant symbol of the Easter season. A few simple tips will keep your lily plant blooming through the season and maybe even keep it going a few season longer. It is possible to plant your Easter Lily outdoors in the garden and have it rebloom. Success isn’t guaranteed, but what do you have to loose by trying. Here are some Easter Lily tips for caring for your lily plant and keeping it going.

What is Mulch

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Mulch is any type of material that is spread or laid over the surface of the soil as a covering. It is used to retain moisture in the soil, suppress weeds, keep the soil cool and make the garden bed look more attractive. Organic mulches also help improve the soil’s fertility, as they decompose. Here are the pros and cons of various mulch materials.

Herb Gardening

2010-02-09T10:30:09Z

Herbs are some of the easiest plants to grow and they grow effusively. Most require little maintenance, unless you have the notion of planting a tidy 4-square decorative herb garden. Most herbs are not tidy and the plants are meant for use, not decoration. Herb gardening comes down to what you want to do with the plants you grow - kitchen herbs, herbs for potpourri or dying, even medicinal herbs. Having a designated herb garden makes their care and harvesting more convenient.