Gardening Basics

People use elephant ear leaves for many different crafts. Casting the leaves and drying them are two of the most popular options. Whether you want to preserve the elephant ears for casting at a...

Mulch is a type of ground cover put around plants. It may help to control weeds, retain moisture, provide warmth, prevent erosion and sometimes add nutrients to soil.

Sphagnum moss grows in wet and boggy areas with low pH levels. It's typically found in thick, spongy clumps and has light green color fronds or leaves. Sphagnum moss is harvested as a...

Maintaining a stable pH is an important part of caring for a garden pond. It is part of the necessary balance needed to mimic a natural ecosystem. The ideal pH is as close to neutral as possible...

Earthworms are an essential part of a healthy garden. While the idea of adding these slimy, creepy crawlers to your garden might make you uneasy, it is important to note that earthworms are a part...

Since the early days of medieval England, when gardens were framed by boards or colorful flowers, garden borders have been a decor of popularity for landscapers, expert and novice alike. Gardens...

Pole beans are a garden staple; their vertical growth stands out among other plants. Those who are in colder climates may not be able to grow these plants outdoors. People overlook the fact that...

Tomatoes, like most plants, require specific growing conditions. Knowing the correctly light source can help you grow tomatoes indoors. Even if you plan to grow tomatoes outside, it is crucial to...

Expand your tomato garden quickly and easily by propagating the plants you already have. All you need are healthy tomato plants and a few basic gardening supplies.

There are a number of different pests commonly associated with orchids. Here is a brief description of how to identify each type and how to get rid of them.

The Cooperative Extension Service came into being with the Smith-Lever Act of 1914. The purpose is to have a local resource for farmers and gardeners on plant problems, local conditions and pests...

Urban gardening has become popular for people who don't have enough space to maintain a regular garden but still wish to have an indoor garden and make compost. Good soil is an important part of...

You want compost because you know its good for your garden---but it takes so long to make, you feel you'll never get that good dirt other gardeners boast of creating. Composting requires the...

Fruit tree mulching is an easy and important practice for keeping your trees healthy year after year. Any fruit tree will benefit from the application of a good mulch as long as a few key points...

Tomatoes are a common item in home gardens, and they're pretty easy to grow. Because they tend to sprawl, the fruits can come in contact with the ground and spoil. Many gardeners prefer to "train"...

Peach seeds should usually be planted just before winter outside, where they undergo a natural cold-weather treatment called stratification, which helps increase their odds of germinating. If you...

Everyone knows compost is worth its weight in gold to the vegetable gardener---providing much-needed nutrients and soil conditioners without resorting to chemical additives. However, even...

Creating a worm bin is a simple and inexpensive process that will allow anyone, regardless of how much space they have, to create their own composting area indoors or outside. Urban gardening has...

Composting is an important part of gardening, and for those without enough space to create a large compost bin or area, a worm bin is an excellent and inexpensive solution. Making a worm bin is...

It often becomes necessary to transplant a plant that has outgrown its current location or would serve a better function elsewhere. North Florida, with its abundance of rain and relative lack of...

Lemon trees are small thorny evergreens which grow 10 to 20 feet high. In addition to their flowers and popular citrus fruits, lemon trees are coveted for their leaves as well. Young supple lemon...

Miracle-Gro soils come in more than a dozen varieties, including soils designed for in-ground planting and soils for planting in pots. Some include additives that retain moisture or prevent weed...

There are many different types of liquid fertilizer products designed to stimulate growth in plants and gardens. One type of liquid fertilizer, often referred to as fish emulsion, contains...

People add food coloring to water used to water plants in order to alter the color of the plant. This alteration is done to show children how plants absorb water or to make white flowers more...

Everyone wants a lush green lawn, but in some regions of the country constant moisture can make that difficult. One such area is the Pacific Northwest, notorious for its abundant rainfall. Instead...

Planting trees is one of the best ways to beautify the outside of your home. Trees provide shade and a nesting habitat for birds and other desirable animals, and they help the environment by...

Do you remember playing in the garden with your dolls on a warm and sunny afternoon while grandma was shelling peas in the shade of apple trees in the yard? What a sweet memory! And do you know...

Killing weeds in a garden bed that is intended for seeding complicates the lives of many gardeners. While commercial weed killers are some of the most effective products available and seem like...

Clay soil causes a number of problems in the garden. It drains slowly, it takes longer to warm in the spring, and, because it compacts easily, it is difficult for the roots of a plant to...

Rain is the natural way our plants and our lawns get water. In some areas, the rain falls often and the vegetation stays nice and green. In other areas, the rain seldom falls. If you live in an...

The most important thing to consider when planting a dogwood tree is the type of soil. If the soil is already rich in nutrients, less fertilizer will be needed. Dogwood trees do not grow well in...

Using earthworms for composting, or vermicomposting, is becoming a popular solution for organic gardeners who want to maximize and simplify their compost efforts. Usually, a vermicompost bin...

Composting sounds as easy as mixing together food and organic waste into a pile or bucket, then letting it biodegrade. Eventually, it will turn to compost, but it can take a long time and won't be...

Wrapping plants can save them from freezing, especially from the bitter freezes of 10 degrees Fahrenheit and lower. It also protects them from heavy snows. Especially susceptible to freezing...

You want to garden. Looking at the place you've selected, all you can see are weeds growing. Weeds mean work and that usually means pulling them and digging in the ground to remove their roots and...

Citrus trees are flowering, warm-weather plants that produce tart, edible fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit and kumquats. Citrus fruit trees are popular garden trees because of...

The ponytail palm bonsai is a tiny version of the Beaucarnea recurvata, a popular houseplant native to Mexico. Because ponytail bonsais need only a little attention and care, they are ideal for...

A Victoria lime tree can make an excellent addition to the garden if you are able to plant and grow it properly. Although not commonly found in most home gardens or yards, the lime tree is fast...

Each clove in the garlic bulbs you see at the supermarket is capable of sprouting into a full-grown garlic plant; that is, it would if it hadn't been treated to sprout. Because of these...

Water can be as damaging for plants as it is necessary. Though all plants require water to conduct photosynthesis (converting light energy to sugar), too much water can kill a plant.

Sometimes there just isn't enough floor or garden space to put a potted plant, or the location isn't ideal for its sunlight needs. There is probably enough ceiling space to hang the plant,...

Fescue grass is among the most hardy cool-season grass you can plant for a year-round green lawn. Fescue grasses include the tall, bunching grasses known as tall fescue and the finer, shorter...

Keeping plants in a nursery facilitates growth by shielding them from the elements. However, effective watering is needed to ensure that the plants grow properly. How much water and at what time...

At a glance, raspberries and blackberries may seem nearly identical, especially when black raspberries are considered. But they are two distinctly different plants that can be distinguished by...

The old trusty Clorox bottle has many more uses than whitening your whites and disinfecting bathrooms and counter tops. Though household bleach is often assumed to be harmful to the environment,...

For outdoor window boxes and large plants, metal containers are an interesting choice. Metal planters are durable and can increase in beauty as they age, due to the patina they take on when...

Bartlett pear trees, which produce bright yellow pears, are easy to plant and will give you many generations of delicious fruit. Pears are packed full of fiber, vitamins A, B, and C, and are also...

Bamboo adds an exotic touch to your garden, but without proper care the bamboo can overrun smaller plants. Bamboo is actually the fastest growing plant on the face of the planet. Bamboo plants can...

Rubber mulch is somewhat controversial. It is useful and does protect plants well; however, there are some drawbacks. The expense and initial odors seem to repel some away from this landscaping...

Ground cover refers to plants that are of low height and cover the barren ground, adding beauty and interest to a garden or landscape. Shaded areas are notoriously difficult to grow many plants...