Garden Maintenance Tips: Video Series

Refrigerating bulbs is sometimes necessary in climates that do not experience a cold enough winter to provide the dormant period necessary for a bulb's development. Place bulbs in a paper bag, and leave them in the refrigerator for eight weeks in the winter, with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

Seeds from sunflowers can be removed and harvested when the flower is almost at the point of breaking apart, and tying a plastic bag around the head of the flowers is a great way to collect fallen seeds. Harvest sunflower seeds carefully with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

To remove yucca from the ground, first cut off all of the greenery and growth, moisten the ground, and use a shovel to break apart the root system. Get rid of every trace of yucca root before planting new growth in the area with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

When scheduling fruit tree maintenance, use the winter time to eliminate dead branches, prune back overgrowth and spray down the tree with oil to kill any bugs. Maintain a fruit tree through the winter for optimum fruit production in the summer with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

When tying and staking a tree, use soft materials for tying, such as used nylons or strips of old sheets, as wire and string can dig into the bark and harm the tree's surface. Stake and tie a tree gently, replacing the tying material often to account for growth, with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

Starting a garden can be done in even a very small space, so long as the plants are provided with quality soil, good drainage, proper sun exposure and regular watering. Maintain a garden in the yard, in a raised bed or on the patio with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

To start growing grapes, simply acquire a start or a root, which can be clipped from an existing plant, grow it in a pot, and provide a trellis for it to grow on. Put a grape plant in the sun to thrive with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

Starting a plum tree from the seed requires first letting the seed dry out in the sun for a couple of days, planting it in the early spring and providing high-quality composted soil. Start a plum tree that will produce fruit in two to three years with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

Storing edible flowers, such as chrysanthemums, violets, lavender and nasturtiums, is best done by keeping them in plastic bags, plastic containers or glass containers in the refrigerator. Keep fresh edible flowers moist to preserve their freshness with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

Pruning a hibiscus plant down to the next bud in the fall will encourage new growth, and keeping it pruned in a circular shape will maintain the plant nicely. Trim back a hibiscus bush, which will produce more blooms in the following season, with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

Training apple trees is important to get the most fruit out of the season and for easier harvesting, so prune the top of the tree into a vase shape to encourage more fruit growth where the sun hits it. Begin training apple trees from the small starter plants with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

Blueberry bushes can be transplanted in the late winter or early spring, and trimming back one-third of the root system will encourage new growth for more berry production the following year. Transplant a blueberry bush into a well-drained area with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

Transplanting grapevines can be done by trimming back the bush to 2 or 3 feet tall, breaking away the dirt and one-third of the roots to encourage more grape production and replanting the grapevine as soon as possible. Move a grapevine into well-aerated soil with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

High bush blueberries should be transplanted in the winter or early spring while they are still dormant, and cutting back one-third of the plant creates a nice balance between new and old growth. Transplant high bush blueberries with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

Transplanting rhubarb is best done in the winter when the stalks are cut back, and cutting the entire plant into pieces is a great way to easily maintain the plant. Cut pieces of rhubarb plant, each piece containing a bit of stem and a bit of root, with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

Transplanting seedlings requires finding a permanent spot for them, whether the plant likes shade or sun, replanting them in the winter or early spring to avoid shock and nurturing the new growth until it is hearty enough to thrive on its own. Transplant seedlings from seed trays to the ground with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

To trim a bonsai tree, always trim back branches in groups of three, trim back the foliage in the spring, and use copper wire to train new growth to grow in various directions. Trim the wood of a bonsai tree in the winter with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

When trimming a butterfly bush, only trim back one-third of the plant at a time and dispose of the buds in a way that will not allow the plant to spread. Maintain a rounded shape butterfly bush with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

Trimming fruit trees requires thinning out the topmost branches to create a bowl or vase-shaped tree, which allows the sun to hit the innermost branches for more fruit production. Trim fruit trees annually to encourage more fruit growth with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

Trimming lilac bushes is similar to trimming fruit trees, as it is best to prune the bush into a bowl or vase shape to allow the innermost branches to be exposed by the sun. Trim a lilac bush to encourage more blooms with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

Winterizing geraniums requires trimming them back to two-thirds the size, transplanting them into a container and putting them in a greenhouse under plastic. Reintroduce geraniums outdoors when the weather is 70 degrees or warmer with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

To winterize hydrangeas, cut back one-third of the plant, and leave them in the ground, as hydrangeas can handle freezing weather during their dormant period. Maintain hydrangeas during the winter season with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

When making a Japanese-style garden, block off the area with a wall of bamboo, use lots of rocks in the landscaping, plant things in groups of three, and include a water feature. Create a balance of beauty, nature and meditation in a Japanese garden with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

Pruning an orange tree is done in the fall after it is finished producing fruit for the season, and trimming away the light-colored branches near the top and middle of the tree will encourage more fruit growth for the following year. Prune an orange tree annually with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

When planting plum trees, plant them in their dormant period in the fall or winter, plant them in a raised soil area to allow for good drainage, and use a good composted material to provide extra nutrients. Plant a plum tree from the seed, from a starter tree or from a graft with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.