Gardening Basics

Evergreen trees and shrubs are lovely landscape plants with vibrant shades of year-round green. Holly, juniper, boxwood, rhododendron and other ornamental broad-leaf evergreens are valued for the...

Repairing a small engine is usually a much simpler task than many people think. The general rule of thumb with engines is that you need 4 things for them to work. The first is fuel, the second...

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...

Gardening is an enjoyable activity for many people. Not only does it allow you time to spend many enjoyable hours outdoors in the sunshine, it can provide fresh, healthy vegetables for your table....

Humming birds can be very charming, indeed. But how can you get them to visit your garden area more often? You could try simple things like adding a bird bath, or certain types of plants they...

As this may seem pretty simple to do, you will be surprised by how many house plants die from lack of care. This article will give you tips on how you can properly care for your plant. Providing...

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...

The Weeping Siberian Pea Tree is a native to Russia, with blooms of a beautiful bright yellow color and shaped like a delicate pea. These trees prefer a more sunny location, but will tolerate some...

Rainwater gardens are excellent solutions to 2 common problems - you live in a watershed and are concerned about runoff carrying pollutants from fertilizers and pesticides into nearby lakes and...

Figs trees can be expensive to purchase in some areas, however they are easy to propagate. Material for several trees can be removed from one small plant. Propagation is simple and fun with the...

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...

Every spring as the weather turns warm and the sun is shining bright in the sky you may decide that you need to landscape your yard. Before landscaping your yard you need to think about how to...

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,...

Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) is not a true willow. This is a hardwood tree native to southeastern United States, Gulf Coast and western United States. Native Americans use the wood for a...

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...

There is no better time to start planning a kitchen garden also known potage. It is a small herb and vegetable garden where you can grow to suit your cooking.

Love spaghetti or pizza? Growing tomatoes will give you plenty of one of the main ingredient for these dishes.

Squirrels can devastate pecan trees in just a matter of weeks and even days. This article will give you step by step instructions for keeping squirrels out of pecan trees and any tree for that...

Having a beautiful patio garden can be a wonderful way to create a relaxing place to enjoy a cup of tea on a pleasant evening. Incorporating lights to illuminate your patio plants is not only...

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...

I know that most of us are too busy shopping and getting ready for Christmas that we try to ignore and forget about our gardens. But our gardens are still there and need a little attention. It...

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...