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Brighten your indoor décor with plants that bloom. Whether growing traditional favorites, flowering tropical plants, or annuals moved inside for winter; their colorful flowers are sure to elicit smiles and months of enjoyment. Just provide the right growing conditions and sufficient light and you will be enjoying months of indoor color. You may have enjoyed an initial burst of color from traditional favorites like African violets and orchids but struggled to get them to...
Plant away the stress of the of the holidays and add some fragrance to the new year by growing paperwhites. Just plant the bulbs, no cold treatment needed, and watch them grow into their blooming beauty. Purchase firm healthy bulbs from your local garden center or an online bulb nursery. Ziva is the most common paperwhite variety sold for forcing, but there are newer varieties with less intense fragrance, larger blooms and sturdier stems. You may have to wait until next year...
The holiday season has arrived. That means you will be on the giving or receiving end of a poinsettia, Christmas cactus, cyclamen, amaryllis or other holiday plant. Extend the beauty and longevity of these holiday beauties with proper care. And that starts the minute you leave the florist or garden center. Always protect your gift plants from the harsh outdoors. Professional florists and garden center staff will provide a care tag and wrap your plants in a plastic or paper...
Gardeners know the benefits of digging in the soil. It elevates a person’s mood, improves mental and physical well-being and the outcome is always good — added beauty or tasty nutritional food. But many of us are stuck indoors for the winter, have a lack of space to garden outdoors or just can’t get enough of this healthful activity. Adding greenery indoors expands our gardening opportunities and provides the many benefits of living with and tending plants. Let’s start w...
Make gift giving easy with unique green gifts that provide weeks and in some cases months and years of beauty. Plus, gifting easy-care blooming plants is an experiential gift that's ideal for everyone, especially that person on your list who has everything. Gardeners as well as practical family members and friends will enjoy the dual purpose the Christmas rose (Hellebore) provides. This popular European holiday plant is gaining popularity in holiday celebrations here in the...
Don’t let a busy schedule stop you from creating a beautiful landscape. Incorporate a few of these changes into your fall landscape care. You’ll create beautiful results with a limited investment of time and effort. Cut the grass, recycle fall leaves, and improve the soil with a pass of the lawn mower. Shred leaves and leave them on the lawn as you mow this fall. As long as you can see the grass through the leaf pieces, the lawn will be fine. As the leaves break down, they add organic matter to the soil, improving dra...
It's time to think spring and get busy planning and planting for months of colorful blooms. The key to getting a continuous parade of spring flowers is to plant bulbs that bloom at different times. Include some early, mid and late spring bloomers. You'll enjoy the burst of color and sustained beauty that spring-flowering bulbs can provide. Enlist some help in planning your extended spring-blooming garden with Longfield Gardens' "Bloom Time Guide to Spring and Summer Bulbs"...
The pantry is full of fall favorites like squash, onions and potatoes, but busy schedules may have you finding a few things growing in the back of your cupboard. With little effort and a pinch of creativity you can grow these into a very imaginative indoor garden. Kids and adults love to watch kitchen discards grow into new plants. According to KidsGardening.org, a national nonprofit, these types of activities improve nutritional knowledge and enhance social emotional...
Celebrate the National Garden Bureau's Year of the Tulip in a big way by planting double flowered tulip varieties this fall for a showy display next spring. Flower arrangers love the big bold blossoms that resemble peonies and you'll love their impressive blooms in your garden and containers. Plant double tulip bulbs in small informal clusters of seven or more bulbs scattered throughout your gardens. Be sure to add extras to enjoy as cut flowers. Plant the early-blooming...
Houseplants make a wonderful addition to our home's décor and improve the indoor air quality. Those with pets however may struggle with keeping plants safe from curious pets and the pets safe from indoor greenery. The good news is you can grow an indoor garden even when you own pets. Yes, some do love to dig in the soil or even eat our favorite houseplants, but with proper plant selection and planning you can keep your pets safe while enjoying an indoor garden. Start by...
By MELINDA MYERS Contributor Enjoy your flower garden's beauty all year long. Harvest and dry a few flowers to use in flower arrangements, craft projects or as gifts for friends and family. Pick the flowers when they are at peak bloom and blossoms are dry. Cut flowers for drying mid-day when they contain less moisture in order to reduce the dry time. Use a bypass pruner or scissors to cut the stems. Remove the foliage and gather them into small bundles. Secure the stems with r...
Fall is a great time to start a garden or renovate an existing planting bed. The soil is warm while the air is cool - a perfect combination for establishing new plantings. It is also a great time to prepare gardens for the next planting season. Investing time up front to create a healthy foundation for your plants will pay off with years of beautiful, healthy and productive gardens. When you read plant tags and seed packets you'll find that the majority of plants prefer moist...
Break out the tools and garden your way to a healthier mind, body and spirit. Gardeners have always know it, but now research proves that gardening is a great form of exercise. You'll work out all your major muscle groups when raking, digging and planting for an hour. Include gardening as a major component of your workout schedule. You'll stretch and strengthen muscles while promoting cardiovascular health and maintaining bone mass. A University of Arkansas study found that ya...
Busy schedules, over indulging and strenuous summer activities can lead to sore muscles, indigestion and headaches. When searching for pain relief, look no further than your own garden or your local farmer's market. These five foods fresh from the garden - or pot - are packed with super pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory power. Mint Infuse mint into your tea or ice water to refresh and rejuvenate, so you're ready for more summer fun. Mint also helps relieve headaches and gen...
Keep your perennial gardens looking their best throughout the hot summer months with a bit of midsummer grooming and care. Investing time midseason means you'll be enjoying beautiful gardens now through the end of the growing season. Start by deadheading, removing faded flowers, to improve the plants' overall appearance. It won't extend bloom time on all perennials, but will keep some like bergenia, lamb's ear, peonies, and perennial geraniums looking neat and tidy throughout...
Spots and patches of white or gray talcum powder-like substance on your plant means powdery mildew infected your plant. This is one of the most widespread fungal diseases and attacks a wide range of plants. You may see mildew on a variety of trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables and lawn grasses. Don't despair - you can reduce the risk of this disease with proper plant selection, maintenance and if needed organic intervention. Powdery mildew is most common during hot dry weather....
It's a year-long celebration of flavor and beauty as we honor and grow the beet, coreopsis, calibrachoa and tulip. The National Garden Bureau (NGB) has declared 2018 the year of these garden mainstays. This non-profit's goal is to inspire you to grow these and more plants in your gardens at home and work. The celebration starts with the tulip, a symbol of spring. They come in a variety of flower types and colors. Select from early bloomers like Apricot beauty and end spring...
Make your next gathering one to remember by including a few unique vegetables on the relish tray, as a side dish or for dessert. Your guests will be "wowed" not only because you grew your own ingredients, but because of the unique shape, color or flavor of the vegetables you serve. Create a memorable dining experience with attractive edible containers adorning the patio, balcony or deck. Include a few Candle Fire Okra plants in large containers to create a tropical feel. The...
Fill your garden with colorful annuals you and the pollinators can enjoy all season long. Look for outstanding varieties chosen by All-America Selections (AAS), a non-profit plant trailing organization, to brighten your garden, attract pollinators and outperform other varieties on the market. Attract hummingbirds and second looks from passersby with the vibrant bright orange flowers of Canna South Pacific. This compact variety can be started from seed and was selected as a...
Elevate your gardens to waist high level for convenience and easy access. Elevated gardens are easy on your back and knees and are perfect for the patio, balcony, deck or any area where a bit of planting space is desired. Place them near your kitchen door, grill or table for easy cooking and serving access. You'll be able to plant, weed and harvest with minimal bending or even from a chair. Purchase one on wheels or add casters to the legs of your elevated garden for added...
Give mom a gift that provides beauty all season long with minimal care. A basket, container or garden bed filled with these award-winning annuals is sure to generate a smile and enjoyment all summer long. If mom likes to garden, provide her with a few seeds, potting mix and a container. Include a few new varieties of traditional favorites. Marigold Super Hero Spry is a compact French marigold with two-inch dark maroon and golden yellow flowers. The striking bicolor blooms top...
A shady spot provides welcome relief from the summer heat; but it can make growing a beautiful garden a bit more challenging. Take heart, your landscape may receive more sunlight than you suspect and if not, there are quite a few shade-tolerant plants you can grow. Evaluating the sun and shade patterns throughout the day, season, and year is a good place to start. Sun-loving bulbs need lots of sun early in the season before most trees leaf out, while other plants need sunlight...
A healthy lawn is your best defense against lawn diseases and other problems. But when the weather favors the disease more than your lawn, problems can occur. Reduce the risk of disease by keeping your lawn healthy. Mow high to encourage deeply rooted grass that is more drought tolerant and resistant to disease problems. Water early in the day so the grass leaves, blades, dry quickly and less water is lost to evaporation. Apply the right type and amount of fertilizer at the pr... Full story
Do you always squeeze in an extra tomato plant, another row of beans or hill of zucchini? It seems like a good idea at the time, until they all start to produce all at once. Your family, friends and co-workers start to hide as you try to pawn off yet another bag of zucchini or tomatoes. Here is a solution that satisfies your gardening obsession and feeds the hungry in your community. Designate some growing space to a "Giving Garden" and donate the harvest to your local food pa...
Turn up the heat and add a bit of spice to your meals with hot peppers. Add them to your garden, flower borders and containers for added beauty and easy picking. Your biggest challenge will be narrowing down your choices. Let All-America Selections (AAS), all-americaselections.org, winners help. This nonprofit organization tests new edible and ornamental varieties nationally for their suitability to home gardens and containers. Grow a few cayenne peppers if you like Mexican,...
