Overwintering perennials and shrubs in containers

 

Photo Source: Proven Winners

Many would like to overwinter their container plants for use again the next year, especially if they are on a tight budget.

Kerry Meyer at Proven Winners has written a very informative article on overwintering perennials and shrubs in containers.  Topics include what to do with potted plants at the end of the season, choosing the best plants for overwintering, choosing a container, care considerations, and overwintering marginally hardy plants.

Click here to go to the article.  Thank  you Kerry.

Here is a video to go with the article.

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Why is my poinsettia losing leaves?

 

Photo source:  Rural Sprout

Poinsettias are beautiful when they are blooming, but it is distressing if they start losing their leaves.

Tracey at Rural Sprout gives us the reasons why and the solutions in her article.  Click here to go to the article.

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Grow Ginger As A Houseplant – And Have Fresh Ginger All Year Long

 

Photo Source:  ThisIsMyGarden.com

This article had me wondering if I could use my spiral ginger roots for use in the kitchen.  When I did a little research I discovered that I can.  That is good news since they grow like weeds in my yard year after year.  So I guess this article is for all types of gingers.  Good news.  I will try using my roots for cooking.

Click here to read Jim and Mary's article from ThisIsMyGarden.com to read more about growing ginger as a houseplant.

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Late fall is the most important time to mulch your flowerbeds

 

Photo Source: Old World Garden Farms

Mulching is something I do all the time and didn't know that Fall is the best time according to Old World Garden Farms.

Click here to go to the article to get interesting information on mulching.

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Grow vegetables from kitchen scraps

 

A great way to save money is to grow your own vegetables, but Cari at Homesteading in Ohio takes an extra step to save money by using kitchen scraps.

I have grown green onions from scrap very easily and look forward to using some of her techniques to grow more vegetables from scrap.

Her article is very informative with many tips to start saving money by kitchen scrap gardening.

Click here to go to the article.

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Composting Autumn Leaves

 

This is a repost from many years ago . . .

Leaf mulch made from the leaves of my oak trees make an excellent mulch for acid-loving plants like hibiscus. My method is ridiculously easy . . . rake the leaves and place in a garbage bag (shredding the leaves is recommended, but not necessary), water the leaves before sealing the bag . . . and let it sit. The back of my storage sheds were the perfect spot to line them up and let them "age" . . . if you have the room, it is an excellent use of those leaves.


Leaves are also an excellent source for the compost pile, if you have one. The following is an article on the process of adding leaves to the pile . . .

This article is a repost from eHow


Think about shredding leaves before you compost them. Shredded leaves are much easier to turn in a compost pile. These leaves will also break down much faster than whole leaves. You don't need to shred leaves, but it's easily done by running over them with a lawn mover.


Add your leaves to your compost pile. You should try to bury the new compost material deep into the pile, just like you do when you add any new material to it. Covering the leaves will help the compost pile turn into soil quickly.


See if you need to add manure or a supplement to your compost. If you have a new compost pile, a supplement like bone meal or manure can help speed the compost process. These materials are rich in nitrogen, which is essential for the natural composting process.


Turn your compost pile every 4 or 5 days. Using a manure fork, mix the compost so that the material that was on the top is now shifted into the middle of the pile. Also try to bring some of the compost from the bottom up to the top of the pile. Turning is much easier when the leaves are shredded before they are put into the pile.


Consider putting a tarp over your compost pile during the late autumn and winter. This tarp will help keep heat in the compost pile and keep moisture out of it. You'll still need to turn the pile every week.




TIPS AND WARNINGS:


There's really no limit on how many leaves you can put in a compost pile. If you want to add all the leaves in your yard, you'll really need to shred them first and add a nitrogen supplement to them to be sure that they all turn into compost.


Save some of the shredded leaves to insulate your perennials during winter. Shredded leaves can also be saved and used as mulch in the spring.


Add a tall wire fence around your compost pile. You need to keep animals like skunks and raccoons out of your compost pile. A fence is especially important if you are putting food scraps in your pile.

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Overwintering Coleus

 

Coleus is one of my favorite plants.  I love to buy mixed variety seeds to get a great burst of color.  Then I save the seeds from my favorite colors.  That is the cheap way I grow my collection and get my favorite colors.

My featured article covers how to overwintering your coleus and everything else you want to know about the coleus plant.  In my zone 9B garden, I don't have to worry about winter too much.  For the occasional frost, I move the plants in containers in my carport where they are protected.  My loss of plants is minimal unless we get an unusually cold winter.  Then I just cover or move them.

Click here to go to the article from the blog This Is My Garden. 

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May Gardening Guide - Florida

 

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Vegetables you should not grow together

 

If you are wondering what combinations of vegetables you should not grow together, click here for an article that will tell you.

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March Gardening Guide - Florida

 

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Water Fountain Maintenance

 

Click here for an excellent article on water fountain maintenance.

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What Happens When a Seed Germinates

 

Spring has sprung in Central Florida.  As I opened the door to go outside this morning, the humidity hit me in the face.  WOW it went from winter to spring really fast.  Last week we were experiencing lows in the 40's with no humidity and now we are in high humidity with mid 80's during the day.

All that prompted me to head to Amazon and buy some seeds.  Coleus and zinnias to begin with to bring some color into my boring property.  We bought tomato and pepper seeds last year, but The Captain got sick and was in the hospital months before he passed away.  Now I am left with finding ways to bring some pleasure and joy into my life.  The color in the garden will do it for me so I can sit outside again as I used to enjoy nature.

So I have turned my attention to gardening on the internet.  What I found today is an excellent article all about seed germination.  Growing from seed is one of my favorite garden tasks.  It is so satisfying!

Click here to go to the article.

I look forward to new posts on my new adventures this spring!

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DIY Bubble Fountain

 

I would be totally happy with this fountain.

It utilizes easy to find components and looks easy enough for me to put together.

The sound of a water fountain is so soothing and relaxing.  Gotta put one together this year!

Click here to go to the article.  Other examples are shown for inspiration.

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All About Poison Ivy

 

Someone working in my yard told me I have poison ivy growing in my yard.  Just my luck, he would not touch it to clear it out.  So I decided to do some research.  I don't know if I should trust this guy or not . . . better to be educated on the subject before I go any further.

I found this informative article and thought I would share it with you guys.

Source: diyideacenter.com

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DIY Birdseed Bells

 

One of my greatest joys is to sit outside and enjoy nature.  

My favorite thing is to feed the birds and watch them interact with each other.  They are especially silly around the bird bath.

These birdseed bells seem to be something I can enjoy watching the birds with.  They are also something that would be fairly easy to keep away from the squirrels.

Click here for the article.

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DIY Plant Sprays For Indoor & Outdoor Pests

 

As an organic gardener, I prefer to use homemade sprays so I know what it is made with.  

Click here for some DIY sprays.

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How To Save Coleus Plants This Fall

 

Coleus grows as an annual in most climates, but is actually a perennial as long as you protect it from frosts.  

Click here for the article.

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Hydrangea tips

 

Do you love growing hydrangeas?

Click here for some great tips on seasonal care.

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DIY Project - Cinder Block Fence With 4x4's

 

What a genius way to put up a simple fence!

Click here for instructions on how to make this fence.

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Growing Bougainvillea

 

Bougainvillea is one of my favorites!  Many years ago, I grew them from a few cuttings and they became beautiful, large and lush.  If you can grow them in your zone, don't hesitate, grow them.

I found a very informative article on everything you need to know about this gorgeous plant.   Click here for the article on bougainvillea.

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Growing Houseplants - Tips for Newbies

 

If you are thinking about growing plants indoors, click here for an awesome article that will give you all the information you need to get started.

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Best Heat Tolerant Flowers

A big waste of time is blindly buying flowers to grow in your garden that will end up wilting in the heat.  Knowledge is important for a beginning gardener in your climate.

Click here for an excellent article on this topic . . . it will prevent lots of disappointment after so much hard work.

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Grow Trees in Containers

There are so many benefits to growing trees in containers. For one thing, they are so easy to move around and I love them for my carport jungle.

Click here for the article from Garden Therapy.

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Low Light Houseplants

Although these plants are considered houseplants, they thrive  outdoors in my Zone 9 climate.

Click here for an excellent article on everything you need to know about growing low light plants.

The photo comes from the article.

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Garden Path Inspiration

If you need some inspiration for a new garden path or two, I found the perfect article that includes many links to tutorials for some some awesome paths!

Click here to go to the article!

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Bouganvillea Container Gardening

I never thought of growing bougainvillea in containers . . . great idea!

Click here to go to an article with great information on soil mixes and everything else you need to know.

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Light up your garden

There is nothing like enjoying the relaxation of being outdoors at night.  

My favorite method of lighting up the dark environment is with a fire pit.  There are so many ways to lighten up your garden at night.  Need some inspiration?

Click here for an awesome article with lots of ideas, inspiration and information.  GardenChannel.com is the source for my photo and the article.

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