Cynthia Boyd
I am currently getting my Master's degree and will be finished next fall. I am a freelance writer who has worked with several different publications. I am looking to get more exposure, to learn more and to be able to teach my readers something.
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Growing Aquarium PlantsNothing can do more to make an aquarium attractive and keep fish healthy than a collection of well-grown plants.
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Cut Branches of Outdoor Plants Give Early BloomMany gardeners, anxious for the first color of spring, get a glimpse by forcing branches of shrubs and trees indoors for early bloom.
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Plant Light: Home Plants Signal Light ProblemsHouse plants are trying to tell us constantly whether they like the light they are getting. Some symptoms they show us are clear and easy to interpret. Others may be somewhat vague.
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Gourds Serve Many UsesGourds have been used for both decoration and as containers since prehistoric times. Utensils have been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to about 2400 B.C.
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Summer Care of RaspberriesRaspberry harvest normally begins in late June, although time of harvest varies with the type and variety of raspberry grown.
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Beware of ChickweedTake a quick look around the lawn, strawberry bed or perennial flower bed for a little plant waiting patiently to take over. Although it may look harmless now, chickweed will soon begin growing rapidly.
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Bush Vine Crops Save SpaceA bush vine crop may seem like a contradiction.
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Frankincense and Myrrh: Ancient Plant IndustryAmong the most famous plant products of all times are the frankincense and myrrh brought to the Christ Child by the Three Wise Men.
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Outdoor Plant Care: Winterize Plants OutdoorsWhile we are able to escape the winter cold, our plants must endure every minute of it.
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Grow Spring Bulbs in WaterSome spring flowering bulbs may be forced to bloom indoors while growing in nothing but water.
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Healthy Ferns: Time for Summer Look at FernsThe recent revival of ferns for house plants means that many people are growing them for the first time. Several conditions must be met to keep them healthy.
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Renew Strawberry PlantingThe best time to get your strawberry plants prepared for next year's crop is immediately after harvest. Without reworking, or "renewing," yield and size of berries usually get progressively smaller each season.
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Proper Care of Spring Flowering BulbsProper care of tulips, daffodils and other spring flowering bulbs until the foliage dies is very important.
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Little Bulbs Make Winter ShortEven before winter arrives we can have spring waiting just outside the door by selecting a few small bulbs that push up their delicate flowers very early. -
Growing Houseplants for Constant BloomFlowering houseplants may be divided into two general categories. -
Prepare Gourds for Fall DecorationSmall decorative gourds are as much a part of the fall decoration as pumpkins and Indian corn. -
Keep Roots Cool with MulchDuring hot August days, plants need to keep their roots cool. A summer mulch of plant residues such as compost, wood chips, sawdust, peatmoss or grass clippings can help protect their roots. -
Cactus Rate High in House Plant PopularityThose looking for the "in" thing for Christmas plant gifts may well consider the cactus.
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The Troubles with Yew (Taxus)It is easy to discuss the troubles with yew (Taxus), because it has so few of them. The yew is our most popular evergreen ornamental plant and its many desirable features have given it that distinction.
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Growing Potatoes: Potatoes Are Important Food CropOn a worldwide basis, the potato is one of man's most important food crops, exceeded only by wheat, rice and corn. -
Rooting Shrub and Plant CuttingsCuttings of many shrubs may be rooted in mid-summer. Included are forsythia, rose, willow, euonymus, holly, yew, barberry, azalea, magnolia, lilac and many more.
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Planting Bulbs: Select Well-Drained Location for BulbsGood soil drainage is important for most plants, but it becomes extremely important when selecting locations where spring flowering bulbs will be planted. -
How to Save Poinsettia PlantsNew and improved poinsettia varieties often maintain color and foliage long past the holidays. Older varieties dropped their leaves soon after the holidays were over and discarding them was easy.
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Growing Berries: Berries Brighten Late AutumnMany trees and shrubs have had an especially abundant set of fruit this season. Some that produce colorful berries are especially attractive. -
Growing Amaryllis After ChristmasThe Dutch amaryllis had long been a popular flowering bulb for indoor bloom in spring. More recently the white and red varieties have become popular as potted plants for the Christmas season.
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Christmas Plants Have Colorful Fruits and BerriesDuring the holiday season, potted plants with colorful red or red-orange fruits and berries are popular and traditional. Most likely their popularity stems from holly, which with its red berries has been used at Christmas time for centuries.
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Groundcovers for Problem AreasWhen grass is difficult to grow, or an area is difficult to mow, groundcovers of other types may be the best way to keep the soil from washing and improve the landscape.
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Ornamental Vines Serve Many UsesThe landscape benefits of ornamental vining plants are often overlooked. When skillfully used, vines can add beauty and enjoyment to the garden area in ways that no other plants can match. -
Ideas for Fall ArrangementsDried arrangements for fall do not have to be a collection of exotic or expensive materials.
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Shrubs and Tree Care Before PlantingApril is an excellent month for planting trees, shrubs and perennial flowers. It is also a difficult time in certain areas, because frequent spring rains may make soils difficult to work for long periods. -
The Brown Rot and Black Rot Plant DiseasesBrown rot of peaches and plums as well as black rot of grapes are two destructive fungus diseases that attack fruit. Under moist conditions that are favorable for infection, entire crops may be lost very quickly.
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Proper Care Keeps Roses BloomingWhen roses are finishing their first major flush of bloom, proper care throughout the summer is important to keep them blooming. -
Soil Conditions and Vegetable StorageExcessive moisture in the soil before harvest can influence the storage life of some vegetables. Among crops most likely to be influenced are potatoes, onions, winter squash, pumpkins and sweet potatoes. -
Spring Flowering Shrubs After-Bloom PruningWhile many plants should be pruned when they are dormant, some are best pruned in spring after they have finished flowering. -
Outdoor Plants: Use Leftover Holiday GreensIn days of recycling, we should be aware that evergreens used in holiday decorations can be put to good use after their duty indoors is complete. -
Put Fallen Leaves to WorkAfter the spectacular beauty put on by autumn leaves, they suddenly become a mass of brown scattered over our landscape. -
Water-Lilies Provide Garden InterestWater-lilies are a garden plant desired by many, but grown by few. The culture of water-lilies, however, is no difficult. When grown properly, they flower all summer. -
Summer Flowers Need Not Be MemoriesSummer memories can become permanent pleasures by preserving garden flowers for use indoors in arrangements. -
Poinsettia Growing: Poinsettias Prolong Holiday BeautyGone are the days when the poinsettia lost its leaves within a week after Christmas and its flowers within two weeks.
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Dry Flowers for Winter BouquetsThe garden, roadside, fields, and woodlands provide an abundance of flowers, leaves, and seed pods suitable for collecting and using in dried winter bouquets. -
Prepare for Spring Pruning of Trees and ShrubsOne of the best times for pruning many trees, shrubs and evergreens is in late winter or early spring before new growth starts.
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Check Juniper Problems in Early SummerThere are probably more than 200 species and varieties of junipers in the United States today. -
Plant Problems May Increase During Wet WeatherToo much rain brings with it problems for plants as well as people. Long periods of cloudy weather reduce plant growth. -
Plant Crocus in October for March BloomThese little spring-flowering bulbs can be depended upon to welcome every spring.
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Growing Cucumbers: Cucumbers Come in Many SizesKeeping "cool as a cucumber" is a pleasant thought for a summer day. However, if the cucumbers you planted the past season did not perform as expected, keeping cool about them may not be so easy.
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Asparagus Plant Care After CuttingAs the cutting season for asparagus comes to an end, it is time to evaluate the productivity of the planting and determine what needs to be done to improve or maintain vigor. -
Growing Citrus: Oranges and Lemon in the WindowOrange and lemon plants may be used as unusual and attractive houseplants for a bright, sunny window. -
Fast Growing Trees Need Special CareA question often asked is, What is a good fast growing shade tree? -
Try Easy to Grow Dracaenas IndoorsTry easy to grow dracaenas indoors for a fairly large indoor plant that is relatively easy to grow, try one of the dracaenas. -
Try to Plant Grafting for a Gardening ChallengeThe art of growing one plant on another is called grafting.
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Lawn Maintenance: Beware Bump Damage to TreesThe Average home lawn may be mowed about 30 times during the spring, summer and fall, with more or less mowing depending on weather conditions or personal preference in lawn appearance.
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To Plant or Not to Plant RhododendronsWhether to plant rhododendrons is often a question. Undoubtedly rhododendrons are one of our most beautiful ornamental evergreen plants.
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The Right Time to Harvest and Store OnionsThe culture and use of onions date back as far as written records exist, and probably far beyond. -
Growing Iris Plants in the SummerThe iris is not only one of the easiest flowering perennials to grow but also one with a long history.
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Amaryllis Bulbs Need a Second ChanceThe amaryllis, often grown in pots for blooms in late winter or early spring, produces spectacular flowers.
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The Right Time to Prune Spring Flowering ShrubsMost spring-flowering shrubs may be pruned shortly after flowering has finished. If needed pruning is done now, there is ample time for new growth to develop that can flower next season. -
How to Preserve Plant Foliage for Winter ArrangementsDuring the hot days of August it is time to give thought to preserving both flowers and foliage for winter arrangements. -
When Houseplants Grow Too TallThere comes a time when plants that have been growing well become too tall for their location. Some lose lower leaves. The upper, portion of the plant is often attractive, but the excess height or a bare stem make it unsuitable for indoor decoration.
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How Seeds Germinate Early Under Proper ConditionsNothing seems easier than placing seeds in a pot of some growing material, covering them, watering them, and then watching them grow. -
Whether or Not to Save GeraniumsWhether to save or not to save geraniums is sometimes the question.
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See Red with Your New Annual FlowersThose who like to plan a flower garden in red, or red shades, have an advantage. New Flower introductions this year include quite a few reds. -
Chlorosis - Yellow Plant Leaves May Be Heat DamagedChlorosis is a common plant problem. It refers to yellowing of plant leaves that should normally be green, the amount of yellowing, or pattern of yellowing, can vary depending on type of plant or cause.
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Fruit Tree Care: Fruit Trees Experience June DropAbundant flowering on fruit trees in some localities has resulted in both heavy fruit set as well as abundant immature fruit drip. This phenomena is sometimes called "June drop." -
Shade Patterns in LandscapeAs we add or subtract plants in the landscape around our homes, we often forget one of the special qualities these plants provide: shade.
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Kill Crabgrass NowCrabgrass, or finger grass, stands almost unchallenged as the most obnoxious, most tenacious, and most hated weed of lawn and garden.
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Keep Roses Blooming All SummerThe free flowering characteristics that we take for granted in our modern roses did not always exist.
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Birches Adorn Many Home GroundsWhite birches are among the most popular landscape trees in the northern and eastern United States.
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Pin Oak: Popular Shade Tree"Mighty oaks from tiny acorns grow" could easily have been referring to the pin oak.
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Blossom-End Rot Strikes AgainAn abrupt increase in inquiries concerning blackened dead spots on the bottom of tomatoes have substantiated the return of this perennial tomato problem.
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Planning a Home Fruit GardenJanuary mail brings to many gardeners the latest seed and nursery catalogs.
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Growing Mushrooms at HomeMushrooms seem to grow so easily outdoors that gardeners often wonder if it might be grown at home more cheaply than they can be bought. Unfortunately this is untrue, because there is hardly any other crop that is as exacting in its needs as the mushroom.
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Add Dianthus to the Flower GardenDianthus are close relatives of the florist's carnation, and many of them contain the same delicate fragrance.
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Give Houseplants a Late Winter GroomingBefore the rush to spring gardening begins, take a little time to check over houseplants for a late winter grooming that will carry them through the spring when there may be less time to devote to them.
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Shrubs Complete the Home LandscapeThe home landscape may be etched in lawn, trees, walls, fences, walks, and drives, but shrubs fill out the design and make the picture complete.
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Landscaping with Fruit TreesRising food costs have not only increased interest in home vegetable gardening but have stirred an added interest for planting fruit trees in the home landscape.
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Enjoy Dahlias in Your GardenFor some of the most spectacular flowers in the garden, choose dahlias. The dahlia, a native of Guatemala and Mexico has been hybridized into thousands of varieties in many sizes and forms.
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Planning Tulip Beds for Longer BloomingTulips, native to Southern Europe and the warm regions of Asia, were brought to Vienna from Constantinople, capital of Turkey in the 16th Century.
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The Hosta PlantsHostas, also known as plantain lilies, provide excellent ground cover for shaded areas under trees or shrubs or in northern exposures.
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Gardening Tips on Growing StrawberriesWhen the strawberry harvest is completed, it's time to begin preparing the plants for next year's crop. -
Lawn Care TipsAlthough a dense stand of grass in the lawn is the best means of weed control, there may be times when thin or dead spots appear and weeds take hold. Where thin spots exist, weed seeds are quick to germinate.
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Houseplant Care: Fertilizing HouseplantsOne goal in growing houseplants is to provide their roots with a good home. Proper soil and watering provide this home, but improper fertilization is one of the easiest ways to ruin it.
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Soil Conditions and Plant GrowthMany home landscapes have at least one problem spot. It may be too wet, too dry, too shady, too steep or a combination of these conditions. -
Houseplant Care: Tipburn Plagues HouseplantsAn annoying condition that develops on some houseplants is called tipburn.
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Outdoor Plants in WinterDuring the fall, many plants we have used in the summer flower garden put on a spectacular show.
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Water Necessary for Plant SurvivalThe garden plant in full sun may agree with Shakespeare when he said, "Sometimes too hot the eye of heaven shines."
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Shrubs Brighten Summer LandscapeShrubs that flower during the heat of July, August and September are a definite asset and an easy way to have color in the home landscape. The list of these types of shrubs is not a long one, but these plants should not be overlooked.
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Fall is Peony Planting TimeSeptember and October are the best months for peony planting.
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Growing Tulip BulbsThe tulip was introduced into Spain from Turkey in 1554. From there it spread rapidly, and by the end of the 1500's had been carried throughout most of Europe.
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Growing Plants from SeedSeeds planted too early become too leggy or large. If planted too late the small, weak seedlings may not survive their shift to the outdoors. Weak transplants, if they survive, will have delayed and reduced production of food or flowers.
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Garden Planting: Harvesting VegetablesHere are a few ways to determine the proper harvest times of some common garden vegetables.
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May is Peony TimeMay is peony time. A good time to observe peonies in gardens of friends, neighbors, or in public gardens to select varieties for late summer planting.
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Taking Care of Indoor Flowering PlantsDuring the fall many of the flowering plants in the garden put on one last spectacular show.
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Red Raspberries Well Suited to Home GardensRed raspberries are one of the best "small fruits" for the home garden. They require relatively little care and are a good source of Vitamin C. -
Garden Planters: Exhibit Garden Bounty at the FairWith summer and fall come county and state fairs. The gardener with a bountiful harvest may turn his thoughts toward winning prizes with the best of his flowers, vegetables or fruits.
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High Humidity Helps HouseplantsBeautiful houseplants are a definite asset to indoor decoration.
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Guide for Harvesting VegetablesGood eating depends on good quality, and good quality depends on timely harvest and proper storage.
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Dry Flower for Winter BeautyA dried flower in August or September may not compete with the beauty of its fresh counterpart in the garden. However, during the snowy days of winter it suddenly becomes a pleasant remind of our summer garden. -
Correct Soil PH in FillpH is a lot more than a way to start a sentence without a capital letter. It is a means of expressing the acidity or alkalinity of substances around us.
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Check Left-Over Seed SupplyWhen the first seed catalogs arrive, we know that spring is not far behind.
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Boys and Girls in the Tomato PatchThe saying, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," may be true, but when naming plant varieties another name might mean that no one would buy it. -
Pick a Pair of Edible SunflowersThere are about 60 kinds of plants we commonly call sunflowers, which belong to the plant genus known as "Helianthus". Only two of these 60 are important to the gardener.
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Pruning the Old Apple TreeAn old, neglected tree is seldom in condition to produce acceptable fruit. However, unless the tree is very old and in extremely poor condition, proper pruning may help it again produce more than just shade.
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Currants and Gooseberries Not Popular RelativesCurrants and gooseberries are two related plants that have not gained wide popularity in the United States.
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Ornamental Grasses Need Little CareOrnamental grasses are one of the most neglected groups of plants that may be used in the garden or landscape.
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Celery Flavors Thanksgiving DinnerThe scent of chopped celery is a familiar one in many homes during preparations for Thanksgiving dinners. -
Winterize Hybrid RosesHybrid tea, floribunda, and grandiflora roses need some type of protection during most winters for best performance next season.
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Garden Tips: Leftover Seeds Best DiscardedAs new seed catalogs arrive, we know it's important to make plans for the 2009 garden.
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Helleborus: Christmas Rose is UniqueThe Christmas rose is a unique garden plant that has been surrounded by legend and superstition dating into antiquity.
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Garden Tips: Starting Transplants IndoorsSeeds are started indoors for two basic reasons: They are difficult to germinate directly outdoors or, they will flower or produce a crop much more quickly in the garden.
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Containers Add Variety to LandscapeOutdoor planters, porch boxes, hanging baskets, window boxes, pots and tubs have long been used to add variety and color to outdoor landscapes.
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Chrysanthemums Reach Peak Beauty in OctoberOctober might be called the month of the chrysanthemum. No other garden flower has so much to offer in October.
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Lawn Care Tips and Weed ControlAmong the many weeds that become pests in the lawn are a few known as winter annuals. These weeds are just beginning to wake up and establish themselves as major pests of the spring lawn. -
Ground Covers for Dry PlacesHome landscapes may have areas where the soil often seems excessively dry, plants are difficult to grow, and even the lawn may do poorly. For such a location select a ground cover plant adapted to dry conditions. -
Flowers and Herbs for Late Summer SeedingIn the garden of late summer, we often find seedlings that have developed from seeds dropped earlier by spring flowering plants. Seedlings survive the winter, grow rapidly in the spring, and produce their major splash of color in May or early June. -
Azaleas Are Colorful Garden PlantsAzaleas are one of our most colorful garden shrubs. They are generally associated with the beautiful gardens of the south in early spring. -
Give Vine Crops an Early StartVine crops, such as cucumber, cantaloupe, and watermelon, germinate poorly and grow slowly outdoors when the soil is still cool.
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Plant Onions in Early GardenOnions produce their best growth during cool weather. Prompt planting in early spring is essential for developing good size and quality in the bulbs. -
First Plants in the Spring GardenBegin the spring vegetable garden at March with the most hardy types. The earliest planting may include lettuce, onions, radishes, spinach, and peas.
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Weed Control Improves ProductionWeeds are one of the most destructive forces at work in the vegetable garden. They reduce productivity, harbor insects and promote disease.
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Bicolored Flowers Add Garden InterestSome of the most unique and dramatic flowers we can add to the garden are those that have sharply contrasting colors within a single petal.
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Gardeners Face Tomato Fruit ProblemsNothing is more disappointing to a gardener than watching a beautiful crop of tomatoes grow and develop only to have them rot just as they begin to ripen. -
Hardy Asters Add Fall ColorIn fields, fence rows, and along the highway wild asters are colorful in the late fall. -
Vegetable Variety Names Hold Hidden MeaningsImmediately behind the names of some vegetables, especially newer varieties, we often find letter designations.
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How to Pick Vegetables at Peak FlavorNothing can be more disappointing to the new gardener than a crop that is too tough, too bitter, too starchy, too seedy or just too bad. -
Stop Tomato Blossom - End Rot Before it StartsIn July and August some tomatoes may suddenly develop dried, blackened spots on their lower surface (blossom-end). The problem is commonly known as blossom-end rot.
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Harvest Time for Winter Squash and PumpkinsAmong the longest lasting products from the home vegetable garden are winter squash and pumpkins. With proper harvesting and storage conditions, some of these can be kept and eaten until time to plant the new garden next spring. -
Don't Kill Plants with KindnessFall is an excellent time to add new trees and shrubs to the home landscape. It is also a good time to check growth of previously planted trees and shrubs to determine what adjustments may need to be made in their care.
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Grow Begonias from SeedFor many years begonias have been popular houseplants. However, today there is increasing use of them as garden plants, for they have much to offer.
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Gladiolus and Dahlia - Popular Summer Flowering BulbsFlowering garden plants that are not hardy in our climate, but have some type of storage bulb or root which must be dug and stored for the winter, are called summer flowering bulbs. Among the most popular of these are the gladiolus and dahlia.
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Fertilizer Ratio Guide UseThe home gardener with many different landscape plants, finds it practically impossible to meet the specific fertility needs of each.
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Cactus House PlantsThe cactus makes an interesting and sturdy house plant. The succulent bodies of cacti help them readily adapt to trying conditions and enable them to tolerate neglect.
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Perennials Take Garden SpotlightFrom July until about mid-August is the preferred time for starting perennials for next year's garden.
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Good Plants for Hanging BasketsHanging baskets with foliage plants or with colorful blooms have increased in popularity in recent years. They add touches of color or greenery to porches, patios, balconies and outdoor areas.
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The Norfolk Island Pine TreeSeveral houseplants have leaves that look like needles of evergreens outdoors and can double as a small tree for decorating during the holiday season. The most popular of houseplants in this category is the Norfolk Island pine.
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Heavy Rains Can Lower Garden FertilityFrequent heavy rains can result in a reduction of soil fertility.
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Starting Seeds Can Be Easier Than EverStarting flower and vegetable seeds indoors has never been easier. Many types of containers, media, and media mixes are now readily available from nurseries, garden centers, and mail order seed and nursery catalogs.
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Chrysanthemums: Popular for ThanksgivingAlthough chrysanthemums reach their flowering peak in the garden during October, their beauty and durability makes them a useful Thanksgiving decoration.
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Store Vegetables for After-Season UseHigh interest in home vegetable gardening this past summer has left many people with crops they would like to save for use during fall and winter.
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Move House Plants Back to NatureTake advantage of summer weather to build up your houseplants. Any plants that have become weakened indoors during the past winter will benefit from being closer to nature.
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Interplanting Saves Garden SpaceWhen the garden is first planted, and during the early spring, the space between rows of vegetables may seem a tremendous waste of good soil.
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Powdery Mildew Attacks Many Garden PlantsIn late summer and fall, a very common garden disease, powdery mildew, begins to appear on many plants.
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Garden Soils May Need LimeNew gardeners often ask: Should I lime the soil for my vegetable garden? No one can look at a soil and determine how much, if any, lime is needed.
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Summer Care of DahliasDahlias are summer and fall flowers that are at their best when temperatures are cool, moisture is adequate and soils are fertile.
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The Fall Flower GardenTo add color and interest to a bare spot where summer annuals have been taken out, plan a grouping of fall-flowering bulbs.
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Tips on Planting a Vegetable GardenHeavy rains, flooding and extended periods of cool temperatures can reduce and delay garden planting.
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Sweet Potatoes Make Gardening EasyFew vegetables are as easy to grow as the sweet potato, and few vegetables serve as many uses.
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Flower Garden Tips: Water Becomes Prime Need of CamelliasWater perhaps is the most important single factor in the growth and development of a camellia. For without water it is impossible to maintain ideal, or even good growing conditions.
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Home Garden Tips & Techniques - Taking Quick ActionThe old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" can well apply to the vegetable or flower garden in the middle of year. -
Tomato Types: Garden VarietiesNot too long ago, tomato varieties were selected for their fruit size, shape, quality or color. Then, with the introduction of some disease resistances, gardeners had another factor to consider.
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Chinese Cabbage Makes Unusual Fall CropThe word "cabbage" is an Anglicized form of a French word that means "head." -
Home Gardening: Revitalize Your LawnThe average homeowner grows more grass plants than anything else on his/her home grounds.
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Have a Hanging GardenYou can make your own hanging gardens by joining the national swing to hanging baskets.
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Understanding Fertilizer: What's in the Bag?During spring gardening, many of us will use some type of fertilizer on lawns, flower beds, or vegetable gardens.
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Attack Peach Problems EarlyPeach trees have attractive flowers in spring, and almost all varieties are self fruitful.
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Hollyhocks, Hibiscus and MarshmallowsMost gardeners are familiar with hollyhocks and hibiscus, but few of them realize that these plants are close relatives of marshmallows.
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After Bloom Care of Spring BulbsAs tulips, daffodils, and other spring flowering bulbs complete their colorful displays for another season, we tend to forget about them. -
Dahlia Reach Flowering Peak in FallAlthough the chrysanthemum is undoubtedly the king of fall flowers, the dahlia also reaches its peak in the fall. -
Multiply Plants in MidsummerDuring the middle of the summer, when gardening chores are well under control, we may want to try multiplying some of our favorite plants.
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Plant Care: How to Avoid Bitter CucumbersDuring the summer, one of the gardening disappointments gardeners sometimes face are bitter cucumbers. -
How to Revitalize Garden ChrysanthemumsWith the beauty of spring flowers still at hand, it is difficult to turn attention to plants that give fall bloom. However, if your garden contains chrysanthemums, now is the time to dig, divide, multiply and rework them.
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The Original Japanese GardenEuropean and American approach to gardens is to provide trees and shrubs as a background for flowering plants, and a garden without color would be almost unthinkable.
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Fall Planting: Sow Hardy Annuals in FallFew people think of planting a flower garden in fall, but there are some annuals that can be seeded before.
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Time to Plant Summer VegetablesExcessive rains can prevent or reduce the planting of many early vegetables such as lettuce onions, radishes and peas. When weather conditions are good, we can begin to plant the summer garden.
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Mint Plants: Using Mints to Cool Hot DaysA garden plant that can help keep you cool on hot summer days is the mint. There are mint sauces, jellies, and vinegars.
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Decorating with Easter FlowersNo other holiday brings with it as many beautiful flowering potted plant as Easter. -
Controlling Garden Fertility with SidedressThe term "sidedressing" means exactly what it says - placing fertilizer along the side of a plant or row of plants to help add needed fertility as the season progresses.
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How to Keep Birds in Your GardenBirds add life to the garden during winter when leaves are gone, grass is brown and not a flower is in sight. Their activity and color keep the garden interesting while they eat weed seeds or insects in hiding. -
Garden Leaves - The Leftover PlantsTurn leftover plants of corn, beans, lettuce, and other garden vegetables into compost.
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Gardening: Try Vegetables from Foreign LandsIn recent years gardeners have shown greater interest in growing and tasting vegetables from other lands. Oriental vegetables have become particularly popular.
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Preparing for a Spring GardenWhen it may seem too early to start preparing the soil for the garden it is not. Abundant rains in spring often make soil preparation difficult. Therefore, we must take advantage of short periods when the soil is workable.
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Summer Vegetable GardenWhen planting the summer garden, warm soil is important for good germination of many seeds.
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Garden Vegetable SeedsThe cost of seeds is a small part of the total cost of gardening when compared to fertilizer, pest control or labor. The use of fresh seeds of outstanding varieties is a worthwhile investment.
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Gardening with New Vegetable VarietiesGardeners often feel quite content with the tried and true vegetable varieties they have been growing. However, improvements are constantly being made.
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Growing Beans in Your Vegetable GardenConsider planting beans in your vegetable garden this year. Beans mature their crop in a very short period of time. It will take from 50 to 60 days from planting until you can harvest a crop of snap beans.
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Container Garden Saves Time, Space, but Yields PlentyDo you yearn for the taste of home-grown vegetables but lack a backyard garden plot? Not to worry. Almost any vegetable that can be grown in a garden can be grown in a container.
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Improve Your Garden SoilIf your garden soil has produced less than expected in spite of irrigation and fertilization, this may be a good time to evaluate its physical properties, have it tested, and begin a program of improvement.
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Moving Transplants into the GardenMoving vegetable or flower plants outdoors into the garden can be very rewarding. In a short time a bare plot of ground becomes an attractive garden with promise of earlier flowers or earlier produce than we might have expected from sowing seeds.
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Cold Frames Provide Gardening BenefitsAs outdoor gardening activities slow for another season, we may have time to consider the addition of a helpful garden structure - the cold frame. -
Controlling Those Nasty Garden PestsNot all garden pests are insects. If you remember your biology classes you will recall one of the distinguishing features of adult insects is they have six legs. -
Growing Squash - Garden Squash TypesSquash has become popular in home vegetable gardens. The squash is a native to the Americas, most originating in Mexico and Central America.
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Lawn Care: Soil Analysis and TreatmentIn preparing to establish a lawn, keep in mind it is a long-term investment. Good seed bed preparation is essential in maintaining a vigorous, well-kept lawn. -
Lawn Care Tips - How to Lay SodThe availability and cost of sod has led to a new dimension in establishing lawns. Sodding is simply the transplanting of living grass. -
When Testing Light Conditions, Your Plants Can Go to PotGardening in pots and tubs, baskets and boxes, is becoming more popular with each year. It's not surprising, considering how well this style of gardening fits with the lifestyle of many potential home gardeners with limited space.
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Into the Heap: Debunking Myths of CompostingA lot of gardeners, and not just beginners, get so hung up on what shouldn't go into the compost heap or how much work it's going to be to turn it that they miss out on one of life's great miracles: making something out of nothing.
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Growing Chili: Chili HistoryChili is America's gift to the world of spices. It is a native of tropical regions of the Americas, growing as a wild perennial from South America north into Mexico.
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Scale Insects Are Harmful to Fruit, Nut, Shade TreesScale insects are among the most destructive pests of a wide variety of plants, including most ornamental, fruit and nut trees. Some two thousand species of these tiny insects exist, each having its own characteristic appearance. -
Fall Gardening - Turnip Root VegetablesAlong with turnips, most crops that are part of a fall garden are well adapted to cool weather and are often part of the spring garden.
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Gardening GlossaryA glossary of garden terms with which gardeners should become acquainted.
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Garden Soil Preparation - Types of SoilTo produce a successful crop, gardeners must possess an understanding of the soil, its origin, characteristics and capabilities.
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Texas Garden Weed: Annoying NutgrassNutgrass annoys more people than any other weed in Texas. It competes with desirable plantings and gives an unkept appearance. Nutgrass actually is a sedge and over 50 species occur in the State of Texas, most of them are perennials.
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Gardening Tips on Cicada Damage, Busy Bagworms, Crabgrass Problems and MoreImportance of taking care of your garden and knowing how to handle: Cicada damage, Busy Bagworms, Crabgrass problems and more...
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Growing a Garden Takes Experience and DiggingIf you have nearly a season of gardening under your belt, you've probably learned a good bit about how your garden grows. -
Grow a Vegetable Garden Almost AnywhereA large number of gardeners are producing vegetables among their already established landscapes. Many vegetable plants are ornamental and for economic reasons the gardener should look at vegetables in a different light.
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Growing Beans in Your Home GardenBeans are one of the best vegetables for the home garden. Whether you plant a large or small garden there should be room for beans. -
How to Plan a Small Vegetable GardenThe vegetable garden is no longer reserved only for the home in the country with abundant land. Small vegetable gardens are now popular for the small backyard, balcony or other limited space.
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Garden Ideas: The Rock GardenWalking in the autumn woods, along streams, or by roadsides may lead to gathering interesting rocks. After In assortment of rocks has been accumulated, a rock garden is a way of putting them to use.
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Importance of Soil Tests for New GardensWhen a new area is prepared for planting, a soil test is a valuable tool for developing proper fertility and acidity levels.
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Gardening Catalogs Are a Valuable BargainFrom ageratum to zinnia, from asparagus to watermelon, and from apple to strawberry, gardening catalogs contain a wealth of information and pictures for making gardening plans or just pleasant dreaming. -
Creating a Container GardenYou, hopeful, hapless gardener, live in an apartment with little yard space to do anything, much less garden. Or so you think! It isn't necessarily how much space you have, but what you do with it.
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Post Season Utilities by Fallen LeavesIf the beauty of fall color is past, and leaves have become a nuisance as they blow from yard to yard. Do yourself and your neighbors a favor by putting the leaves to work.