Garden Soil Amendments It is the season of gratefulness. We have gathered in our harvests and are putting away the garden for winter’s long sleep. We are thankful. But what about the garden? What will replenish its fertility and wellbeing for the next growing season? Now is a good time...
November 14, 2024 by Dave Compost bins are essential in the garden. They take the waste materials from the yard, garden, kitchen, or farm and turn it into usable soil. Good compost is worth its weight in gold to gardeners which is exactly why it is nicknamed “gardener’s gold.” One...
(about the diameter of an average pencil), in an exposed area of ground. I’ve seen them in soil along garden walls, in bare ground in the garden, or bordering sidewalks. The nests are only active for a very short time in spring and are interesting to watch. Female mining bees place...
While you’re waiting for your soil test to come back, take some time to plan this year's garden. It’s important to consider the land that you have, not the land that you wish you had, when designing gardens or planning for the future. Consider the available sunlight throughout the...
In most cases, you’ll want your garden room near your house and in your own yard, and you might forget that you need a permit to built something even in your own yard or as a part of the house. So, a quick checkup with a planning office won’t do you any harm. No one will...
I’m not a fan of using corrugated cardboard as a mulch, which like other sheet mulches creates problems for the underlying soil. Long-time readers of this blog may remember several previous posts (1, 2, 3 and 4) on this topic and I won’t belabor the points made in those posts. ...
Tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils are breaking through the soil. Trees and shrubs have a tinge of green. And, according to tracking websites, the ruby-throated hummingbirds are heading north. My favorite summer garden visitor loves the Fuschia flowers growing in my garden. ...
If you are a beginner gardener or master gardener, and you are looking for the absolute easiest flower to grow and care for, Daffodils are the perfect choice! In Autumn, plant the bulb 6 inches deep into the ground, pointy side up. Cover with soil and apply water. That’s […] ...
High fertility helps create lusher growth and more flowers, so this is one place where a balanced liquid feed bi-weekly will help the final display as it will promote lush growth and more flower buds. As a native of South Africa, the soil mix should be well-drained, be it in a bed ...
So as leaves fall, rake them from lawns and add them to the compost bin or shred them and dig directly into your vegetable garden. Aerate to Loosen the SoilRegular aeration prevents soil from becoming compacted and covered with a layer of thatch. Thatch blocks water, oxygen, and nutrients ...