Making a few changes in your garden care can yield great benefits. Less time and water wasted means more time for you to relax or entertain friends and family in your beautiful landscape. Water is critical throughout the life of a plant, but deciding when and how much water to provide each plant can be…
Lift your spirits, enliven your indoor décor or give the gift of beautiful blooming orchids. You’ll enjoy these exotic blossoms for months with just minimal care – once you know what to do. Start with a healthy flowering plant. The phalaenopsis or moth orchid is the most widely available and easiest to grow. It’s similar to caring…
Herbs have been around for centuries. Their uses vary from medicinal to culinary. Herbs can be grown in your garden year-round. Some herbs, like rosemary, actually enjoy the summer heat. When harvesting herbs, snip a few leaves or leaf-covered stems as needed. For the same intensity of flavor, you generally need two to three times…
Container gardens allow you to easily dress up your balcony and patio, create a colorful welcome for guests and keep edibles close at hand for cooking and entertaining. They’re also a terrific way for new gardeners to get their start. Increase your success growing vegetables, herbs or flowers in a container with these tips. Proper…
Photo courtesy Gardener’s Supply Company Dress up your home for Thanksgiving or give gifts that keep giving throughout the year with these low-maintenance gardening trends. Just add a little fun, classic beauty or style to make it even more memorable now and throughout the year. Terrariums These mini greenhouses continue to grow in popularity and…
No matter your budget, space or gardening experience, you can design an outdoor entertainment area for you, your family and friends to enjoy, as fall descends on the desert. Start by gathering ideas from magazines, blogs and websites like gardeners.com for examples of outdoor garden spaces. Next, select an area that is convenient and suitable…
Citronella oil or scented candles keep mosquitoes at bay when entertaining outside. Photo courtesy Melinda Myers LLC Don’t let disease-carrying mosquitoes keep you indoors this summer. Instead, employ these eight tips to protect yourself and manage these pests in your backyard. Do a bit of yard and garden clean up. Remove weeds, manage neglected gardens…
Don’t be afraid to add a little spicy heat to your meals this season by growing a few hot peppers in either the garden or containers. It’s easier than you think, and many of the hot pepper myths floating around the garden are simply not true. Don’t worry about your hot peppers heating up your sweet peppers. Peppers are normally…
Photos courtesy of Gardener’s Supply Company Add some homegrown flavor to your winter meals. From microgreens to tomatoes, it is possible to grow produce indoors. Microgreens are a quick and easy way to add some flavor and crunch to your plate. Just plant seeds labeled for sprouting or microgreens in a shallow container filled with…
These essential members of our ecosystem are responsible for much of the food and beauty we enjoy each day. Unfortunately, pesticides and habitat loss are threatening their existence, but there is something you can do to help. Turn your garden, backyard or balcony into a pollinator’s habitat. Choose a variety of flowering plants that provide…
