Gardening Basics

Growing a garden is something that more are people are doing because of the rising cost of food and the desire to eat healthily. Because of a growing awareness of the costs of processed food to...

Hydroseeding is the common term used to describe hydraulic mulch seeding. It is a fast and effective plant process that utilizes a slurry of seed and mulch to seed a large area and encourage...

Canes of bamboo grow from rhizomes, a sort of underground stem. Propagating cloned bamboo by planting harvested pieces of rhizomes with buds is a fast, easy, and inexpensive way to fill the...

Compost is one of the best things you can add to the soil in your garden. Made up of decomposed plants and plant material, compost contains beneficial bacteria, micro-nutrients, potassium,...

Viburnum bushes provide a lot of bang for the buck. These attractive plants show well during all four seasons. They range in size from 2 feet tall by 2 feet wide for the dwarf American cranberry...

Much of the appeal of container gardening lies in the creativity of choosing your containers. Galvanized tubs are great options offering a simple, rustic appeal. Galvanized tubs are inexpensive,...

Ladybugs, or ladybirds as they are known in some places, are among the most well-known and well-liked insects. These red or orange beetles with black spots prey on aphids, helping gardeners and...

When it comes to gardening, one of the biggest concerns is how well the water drains. The soil you plant in must be capable of holding some water so that the plant can absorb it, but it must also...

Getting ready for winter means bringing in the lawn furniture, putting up storm windows and maybe preparing firewood. It also means protecting young plants that may not have had time to root...

Using compost in the garden helps fertilize and condition the soil. Most people mix the compost into the soil, but you can also just spread it on top as either an additive that's then covered by...

Compost is an excellent organic material which can fertilize, condition and enhance the quality of your garden soil greatly. Often referred to as black gold by gardeners, compost is very dark in...

Certain types of grapes are found growing wild throughout the state of Florida, particularly in the humid regions. Muscadines are the most commonly found grape in the state, while other grapes...

Hibiscus plants are popular in gardens across the country. This bush produces showy flowers in colors ranging from yellow to red in the springtime, and can be easily maintained with little pruning...

Since the victory gardens of WWI and WWII, food gardeners have known that the time their garden requires is well worth the effort. Planting a garden at your private residence is a healthy,...

A weeping willow tree is a lovely addition to any home lawn or garden. Planting a weeping willow near a septic area in your lawn is not a problem, as the weeping willow does very well in moist...

Fruit trees are broadleaf and usually deciduous, meaning they lose their leaves annually in the fall. Knowing what types of fruit trees occur naturally will narrow the list of possibilities when...

An old wheelbarrow can go from eyesore to charming centerpiece in your garden when converted into a planter. Wheelbarrows function as movable planting boxes, broadening your planting possibilities...

Flowers bring sunshine into your home even on the rainiest of days. Their vibrant color and fresh aroma are enough to brighten any house. Knowing when and how to pick your flowers is the first...

Do you need manure in compost? The short answer is no. You can make perfectly good compost without manure. While farm animal manure is a very good source of nitrogen (one of the primary elements...

The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a carnivorous plant native to North Carolina. This plant has adapted to low-nutrient conditions by evolving its leaves to attract, trap and digest animal...

Clay soil holds water even when completely drained and is sticky. It is a heavy soil, containing minerals, clay, silt, sand, water and air. Clay soil is found throughout the US, but is most...

Vegetable gardening can be a rewarding hobby, with a payoff of fresh produce at the finish line. Gardening doesn't require a large financial investment, but you do need to consider what plants...

Grapes are hardy and versatile plants. There are many varieties, each one preferring different conditions, so most gardeners can find one that will grow well in their area. The vines are...

Ivy is a lush plant that can be found around the world. It's naturally a climber, which means it's quick to cover both the ground and the walls it grows near. But when green ivy is tamed, it can...

Epsom salt is one of the easiest and cheapest fertilizers to use for a garden. It is primarily made up of magnesium and sulfur, which are important for seed germination and chlorophyll production,...

Old Bradford pear trees are popularly known for their oval shape and the beautiful and juicy pear fruits they produce. They are considered old or mature trees when they reach a height of 30 to 50...

Growing mushrooms at home for food is easier than you might think. If you have a cool, dark, damp place where you can easily regulate the temperature in a small area, then you could have edible...

One of the best gardening secrets has always been soil additives. Some gardeners have their own formulas for creating the best gardens using mulch, compost and fertilizers. However, there are some...

Gardening can be one of the most relaxing activities. You can grow almost anything depending on your climate. Maybe you want to grow some vegetables in your garden, or maybe you wish to plant a...

Privet hedges are easy to grow. They will quickly fill in and give you a thick hedge of greenery. Some countries such as Australia have outlawed growing privet hedges because they grow like weeds....

Healthy, nutrient-rich organic soil is the most important factor in growing a vigorous, prolific garden. Building up garden soil is a time-consuming process, sometimes taking several years until a...

Once believed to be a delicacy reserved for special occasions, asparagus has become as commonly grown throughout Australia as peas and carrots. Exports of Australian asparagus are sold in...

High water bills during the summer months are common due to lawn and garden watering. If you cringe when you see an envelope from the water company, a rain barrel might ease the blow to your...

Arranging outdoor planters means arranging outdoor plants. Attractive planters can add a decorative touch to your garden or yard, but their primary purpose is to display your plants and allow you...

Water softeners use either sodium chloride or potassium chloride to remove minerals from hard water. Because they leave very little trace of sodium or potassium behind, it's OK to water a garden...

Shucking pecans without gloves allows the yellow sap to oxidize on hands and turn them dark brown or black. Unfortunately while you can lighten the the shade of the stain by using an abrasive like...

Making a trellis out of PVC is quite easy and should take you less then 30 minutes to complete. A trellis made out of PVC will last longer than the wood trellis that you buy at the nursery and is...

Evergreens provide color, windbreak and privacy to the landscape year-round. They are a food source and habitat for wildlife as well. Sometimes in the dead of winter, however, a little greenery...

The hose-end fertilizer application method is the easiest fertilizer application method available. The fertilizer used in hose-end applicators is water soluble, which is one of the reasons it is...

Growing a new plant without planting seeds first may seem impossible, however, it is one of the most common means of plant reproduction. Cloning, as gardeners refer to it, is the method of...

While pecan trees offer shade and edible nuts, they are high-maintenance trees that need space, proper irrigation and fertilization to reach their full height of at least 70 feet. Along with...

Growing your own tomatoes allows you to have delicious, healthy food straight from your own backyard. While tomato plants do not require too much work to pollinate, you may notice your plants are...

As the popularity of indoor and specialty gardens grows and use of the internet to purchase hard-to-find plants increases, shipping has become a popular method of delivery. It is possible to ship...

Citrus trees are deciduous trees that are hardiest in warmer climates with temperatures that rarely dip below freezing. Brightly colored fruits in yellow, orange or green make for a colorful...

Prevent winter damage to evergreens from wind and temperature changes. Protection methods for evergreens in planters depend on region and species. In her book, "Overwintering Potted Plants,"...

Plant cuttings are an easy and inexpensive way to add new specimens to your garden without spending a fortune. And if your friends, family or neighbors have plants you admire, starting a cutting...

Earth worms are nature's gardeners. They cultivate, aerate and fertilize, all without any effort or payment from you. Raise or buy them, then add worms to your lawn and garden and let them go to...

If you live near a busy street, you probably hear traffic noise. If you have children who like soccer, the sides of your house might be a little dented. Garden hedges can reduce the traffic noise...

Several varieties make up the onion family, including the Egyptian onion that not only grows bulbs underground, but forms infant onions on its stems to replant. The best way to grow an onion is...

Zoysia grass is a common warm-weather turfgrass that creates a lush, green lawn. Keeping Zoysia grass out of a flowerbed is not easy because it spreads quickly and is difficult to control. Zoysia...