Here’s How to Use Fertilizer for Plants in Your Garden or House
A regular dose of important nutrients goes a long way toward better growth. Get expert tips on fertilizing plants for the best results. When it comes to figuring out what to feed your plants, it can get overwhelming fast. Once you factor in the different types of fertilizers, the quality of your soil, and what exactly your individual plants need, sometimes it feels easier to just skip the whole process. But if you’re not fertilizing your plants, they likely won’t grow as well or bloom as much as you want. Besides sunlight and water, all plants require certain nutrients to thrive, and if you don’t occasionally replenish their supply, they can end up having health issues. Here’s what you need to know about fertilizing plants to keep your greenery thriving. Why Do Plants Need Fertilizer Much like people do, plants need a set of essential nutrients to grow properly and…
How to Install Edging
When building a garden path, use edging to keep it in place. Here’s how to install various types of edging in your yard. Edging is a quick and easy way to form a stable edge for a pathway. And depending on the chosen material, edgings do more than keep patio and path materials inside their boundaries. They also become an integral part of the landscape design, adding color, form, and texture. We’ll introduce you to the many different types of edging—plus offer how-to tips for installing edging in your yard. Types of Edging Brick: Brick is set as soldiers (standing upright and on edge), sailors (flat along the edge), or at an angle. Set brick in a concrete footing for increased stability. Poured concrete: You can color poured concrete during mixing to match or contrast the paving material. You can also give it texture. Plastic and steel: Flexible plastic edging will conform to…
30 Fun Facts About Plants
We’ll bet you didn’t know you can cut onions without crying. Here are some fun and interesting facts about plants. There’s a lot more to our plants than we realize. Secrets are lurking everywhere in our gardens. Here are 30 super interesting facts you may not have known—until today, of course. 1. Torenia, a shade-loving annual, is called the wishbone flower. Look for tiny wishbone-shaped stamens inside the purple, blue or burgundy petals. 2. The world’s tallest tree is the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), which grows along the Pacific Coast of the United States, mainly in California. Interestingly enough, it’s not the world’s oldest growing tree; that award goes to a bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata). 3. Bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant in the world. It can grow up to 35 inches in a single day. 4. Tomato juice is the official state beverage of Ohio, honoring the part A. W. Livingston of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, played in popularizing the tomato in the…
Your Season-by-Season Guide to Watering Your Garden Effectively
Keeping your plants well hydrated is key to helping them thrive all year. Use these tips to ensure they get the moisture they need. Much like you, your plants get thirsty, especially during those long, hot summer days with no clouds in sight. A wilted plant is a stressed plant, so it won’t grow well and is less able to fend off pests and diseases. Figuring out how much to water your garden can be a little tricky, since it depends on a number of environmental influences, including the season and weather conditions, as well as the types of plants you’re growing. Here are a few basics you need to know in order to have the healthiest, best-hydrated landscape, while more efficiently using every last drop. When to Water Your Garden by Season The time of year and precipitation (or lack of it) impact the amount of water you may need to supply. Plants grow…
7 Weeding Mistakes That Make Gardening Much Harder
These tips about the best timing, tools, and methods to use will help give you the upper hand. For most gardeners, removing weeds isn’t exactly a favorite chore. It sure can feel like an endless (and maybe even a losing) battle during the growing season. Yet, a weed-free garden looks neat and tidy, especially right after big weeding session. Plus, regularly getting rid of weeds goes well beyond aesthetics because these garden invaders compete with your plants for water, nutrients, and light. If left unattended, aggressive weeds can totally overrun a bed, smothering your favorite flowers or vegetables. Some weeds also can give diseases and pests a foothold to spread to your cultivated plants. Make things easier on yourself by avoiding these common weeding mistakes. 1. Not knowing the enemy. Identifying the weeds in your garden can help you figure out the best strategy for controlling them. “One key aspect I encounter with gardeners trying…
How to Grow Plants from Cuttings to Fill More Pots for Free
Many perennials, shrubs, and herbs can grow roots from their snipped stems. Use this simple propagation technique to expand your plantings for no extra cost. Want more plants in your garden? Um, of course! But did you know that you can quickly expand your collection by rooting stems trimmed from many of your outdoor plants? It almost seems magical how their stems, when snipped at the right time, can develop roots and become brand new plants. Plus, stem cuttings can give you full-grown plants in half the time it takes to start from seed. How to pull off this amazing propagation trick depends on the type of plant. Woody plants, such as shrubs and some perennials, root best when treated with a rooting hormone and placed into a potting mix. Many soft-stemmed plants can produce roots in just a vase of water. When to Make Cuttings Most stem cuttings can be rooted anytime the plants are…
How to Care for Hydrangeas in Winter to Ensure Blooming in Summer
Don’t let freezing weather ruin next year’s flowers. A hydrangea in full bloom is a colorful sight to celebrate. But did you know that some types of hydrangeas actually produce their flower buds during the growing season before blooming? The young, tender buds form in late summer and then need to hang on through whatever winter weather comes their way. If cold winds, subzero temperatures, and freeze-and-thaw cycles damage those buds, chances are you won’t see any hydrangea flowers the following spring or summer. Extra care for your hydrangeas in winter in colder regions will help maximize their blooms. Here’s what you can do to prepare your hydrangeas for the cold so you’ll be sure to enjoy their beautiful flowers once again. 1. Know your hydrangea type. The first step in planning winter care is to get a good idea of what kind of hydrangea you are growing. If your hydrangea doesn’t bloom in spring but instead blooms…
How to Prevent Powdery Mildew on Squash Plants for a Healthy Crop
When this super common plant disease shows up, it’s important to act fast. Use these tips to keep powdery mildew from ruining your squash harvest. When your squash leaves look like they’ve been dusted with flour, chances are good that they’ve come down with powdery mildew, one of the most common diseases in the vegetable garden. The fungi that cause the disease are somewhat specific to the plants they target. The ones that cause powdery mildew on squash (both summer squash varieties such as zucchini and winter squash types like butternut) may also infect melons, cucumbers, and pumpkins. Symptoms range from mild, which may only slightly reduce yields, to severe, killing the entire plant. Here’s how to prevent powdery mildew on your squash plants, plus tips for minimizing damage to infected plants. What is powdery mildew? Lots of plants, both edible and ornamental, can get powdery mildew. Unlike many other fungal plant diseases, the fungi that cause powdery…
7 Watering Mistakes That Could Sabotage Your Vegetable Garden
Keep all your veggies well hydrated and healthy with these simple tips. How do you know when to water your vegetables and how much water to apply? It’s not difficult, but there are certain nuances to watering vegetables that you should know about in order to make the most of your watering efforts. For example, watering seedlings is different from watering established vegetable plants. Watering in-ground beds is different from watering containers. And watering in the morning is better than watering at noon. Understanding these differences will maximize your watering efficiency. Here are the most important mistakes to avoid so your vegetables get all the water they need for a healthy harvest. 1. Under or overwatering seedlings. Because they’re just developing their roots, newly planted seeds and young seedlings require a steady supply of moisture—don’t let them dry out! Water seedbeds lightly every morning, and check them again in the evening. If a dry crust forms…
The 8 Best Lawn Sprinklers to Keep Your Lawn Hydrated in 2022
Our top pick is the Rain Bird 32ETI In-Ground Automatic Sprinkler System Kit because it’s a full lawn irrigation system at a great price. The quickest and most efficient way to water the lawn—and to remember to do it regularly—is to set up your yard with one of the best lawn sprinklers. Whether you need one or more will depend on the size of your property, but a good sprinkler system will save you time and energy and keep your lawn in its best condition. There are several different types of lawn sprinklers available, including traveling, stationary, and telescoping, and some have the ability to rotate and oscillate for a better water distribution around the lawn. Sean Khandker, owner of InsideOut Gardening, Landscaping, and Maintenance Services, suggests that the best lawn sprinkler for a medium- to large-sized yard is an irrigation system with pop-up sprinklers. “These sprinklers will—as the name suggests—pop…