Articles listed under “basics”
Tips to bring in the birds — November 10, 2009
Have you ever watched a robin splashing enthusiastically in a birdbath? Or witnessed a young bird step from a branch for its very first flight?
Caging hyacinth bulbs — October 20, 2009
Rabbits and deer rarely munch on the bulbs, flowers or foliage of hyacinth. However, underground critters tunnel around the bulbs and leave air pockets that can stunt the growth.
Storing calla tubers — September 22, 2009
If you overwinter your callas, they’ll get bigger and bigger, producing a better show every year.
Light up your garden — September 8, 2009
Remember how you hated to go when your mom called you inside as it got dark? With landscape lighting, you can stay outside and “play” in your garden a lot longer!
Easy bulb planting — September 1, 2009
Not many flowers rival the welcome splash of color that spring bulbs can give you. But if you’ve ever planted them in fall, you can appreciate the effort that goes into planting.
Metal ornaments in the garden — August 18, 2009
If you like the look of rusted metal ornaments in your garden, you’re in luck. Left unprotected, anything made of iron or steel will rust naturally when exposed to air and water.
What kind of bee? — August 4, 2009
Not sure what kind of bees you’re seeing? Here are some ID tips.
Save marigold seeds — July 21, 2009
Did you know that you could save seeds from this year’s marigolds for next year’s flowers? Marigold seeds ripen easily on the plant if you don’t deadhead all of the spent flowers.
Garden access paths — July 7, 2009
Whether your garden is large or small, you need to be able to get into it without crushing plants, compacting soil and stepping on dormant bulbs or new transplants.
Creative staking — June 16, 2009
Sooner or later, you’re going to have a floppy plant that needs some help standing tall.
Video: Getting to the roots — April 28, 2009
When you shop for perennials, how do you know which plant is the best value? Our video tells you what to look for on your next trip to the garden center.
Soaker hose tips — April 7, 2009
Soaker hoses are a gardener’s best friend. Just set them in your flower garden once in spring and don’t move them again until you put them away in fall.
Pick a pack of peppers — March 24, 2009
Starting the seeds of flowers or veggies indoors in early spring is a great way to get a lot of plants for not much money.
Pruning conifers — February 24, 2009
There’s a conifer for almost any landscaping situation. They can be mixed into perennial gardens or foundation plantings.
Birdbath basics — February 3, 2009
Some types of birdbath are more attractive to birds, and safer for them, than other designs.
Deer damage — February 3, 2009
Deer populations, once hunted to near extinction, are rebounding to their highest levels ever.
Seed-starting rolls — January 13, 2009
Peat pots are a great way to start seeds, but you don’t have to go to the store to find biodegradable pots.
Whiteflies — December 30, 2008
If you brush the foliage of a plant and a white cloud floats up and quickly resettles, chances are your plant has whiteflies.
Poinsettia care — December 16, 2008
The classic red poinsettia is ever-present come December, and you can buy it as easily in the supermarket as the floral shop.
Too much fertilizer — December 16, 2008
There is such a thing as too much of a good thing — fertilizer, for example. In house plants, too much fertilizer can cause the leaf tips to turn yellow and eventually brown.
Checking stored bulbs — December 9, 2008
A couple of times during winter, remember to check on the summer bulbs that you’ve stored in your basement to make sure they’re not drying out or rotting.
Controlling herbs — December 2, 2008
Not all herbs are invasive, but there are a couple of ways to keep the troublesome ones under control.
Mulching around perennials and trees — November 18, 2008
How much mulch do you need to put around your plants? Since the idea is to create a blanket, use the soil as a gauge.
Daylily rust — November 18, 2008
Like other rust diseases, daylily rust causes orange spots and streaks on the leaves.
Colander hang-ups — November 11, 2008
Don’t toss that old aluminum colander — turn it into a unique hanging basket.
Moles — November 4, 2008
These poorly understood landscape pests are difficult to control. You may never see a mole, but they leave an obvious trail of evidence.
Video: Plant bulbs the easy way — October 28, 2008
An electric drill and special bulb auger bit make quick work of planting spring-blooming bulbs in fall.
Saving sweet potato tubers — October 21, 2008
Instead of buying new sweet potato vines every year, try saving the tubers.
Juglone toxicity — October 14, 2008
You may have heard that you can’t grow anything under or around a walnut tree. Well, there’s some truth to that.
Dividing bleeding heart — September 23, 2008
The best way to propagate bleeding heart, either fernleaf or the old-fashioned type, is by division.
