Tips for Pruning Crape Myrtles

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"Timing is everything when it comes to pruning a crape myrtle. So when is it too late to prune crape myrtles if you want blooms in the summer? Along with not cutting off next year’s flowers, your pruning goals are to encourage strong new growth and maintain the tree's natural shape. Here’s what you need to know about when to prune your crape myrtle to achieve these results."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

I have experienced crape myrtles respond to pruning with lots of blooms

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Grow Your Own Plants From A Sweet Potato

 

Photo source:  This Is My Garden

"Did you know that you can grow and plant your own sweet potato plants by starting slips from an existing sweet potato? Not only is it possible, but it’s a great, inexpensive way to grow healthy and strong sweet potato plants!"  Comment from This Is My Garden

Great information if you want to grow sweet potato plants.

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Things You Should Never Do To Your Lawn In Winter

 

Photo source:  Southern Living

"Gardeners can become antsy during the winter when there are fewer opportunities to get their hands in the dirt or put all those tools in the shed to use. It's even harder in the South, where winter temperatures are relatively mild and it can feel like April in December. Luckily, there is still plenty of work to do to keep your garden and lawn in shape. Just be sure you're doing what's best for the grass. Here are 7 things you should never do to your lawn in the winter."  Comment from Southern Living

I'm ready to pull all my grass out.  Seriously!

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Growing Onions from Seed Successfully

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"Growing onions from seed takes a bit more planning than planting onion sets, but it has a lot of perks. Not only are onion seeds more affordable than onion sets, but you can also grow a wider variety of onions from seed since some types are never sold in set form. No matter where you live or the varieties you choose, these simple tips will help you plant and grow a successful harvest of onion bulbs from a handful of tiny seeds."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

I have onion seeds ready to plant and I'm happy to have found this article.

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Leafy Greens to Start from Seed Now for an Earlier Spring Harvest

 

Photo Source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"Can’t wait to enjoy fresh food from your garden? With these cold-hardy leafy greens, you may not have to. While tomatoes, melons, and cucumbers are warm-season crops that only grow during hot weather, many of leafy greens tolerate chilly days and can be started very early in the season. Whether you’re starting them indoors or direct sowing them in your garden, here are 10 leafy greens to start now for an early harvest, plus seed sowing tips to get the growing season off to a good start."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

Timing is everything in gardening!

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DIY Terrarium: A Woodland Version

 

Photo source:  House of Hawthorne

"House plants have made a huge resurgence in home decor trends in the last few years (did they ever really go away?) and terrariums are an easy way to get the look without a lot of fuss!"  Comment from House of Hawthornes

Love terrariums, but never had one and I don't know why.  Maybe this year?

Click here to go to the House of Hawthornes project page.

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Raised Garden Bed Ideas

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"From rustic to modern, the raised garden bed ideas for growing vegetables and flowers are nearly endless. Although plenty of kits you can buy and assemble are available, you can also opt for DIY raised garden beds using upcycled or repurposed materials. Building your own raised bed lets you customize the design and get creative with materials. Depending on the look you’re going for, you can use logs, brick, or even metal for a modern style. Here are some raised garden bed ideas that don’t require an engineering degree to build or advanced gardening skills to maintain."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

So many great ideas!  Check out this article for tips and inspiration.

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Mandevilla Care in Pots

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"Growing mandevillas as outdoor perennials is out of the question if you live where winters are cold, but growing them in containers for the summer is within reach for everyone. Whether you choose a vining or a mounding variety, mandevilla care in pots is easy enough when you know what these beautiful flowering plants require. Use the following tips to grow mandevilla plants in containers and you'll enjoy plenty of bright, tropical blooms."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

Mandevillas are beautiful!  

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When to Start Your Herb Seeds Indoors for the Quickest Spring Harvest

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"Successfully growing herbs from seeds is all about getting the timing right. Knowing when to start herbs from seed ensures your plants are ready to be transplanted when the weather warms up. By starting herb seeds indoors, you’ll get a head start on the growing season outdoors, which shortens the time between planting and harvesting. Some of the herbs grow so fast that they will be ready for a spring harvest.

Herbs vary greatly in their growth rate, so how long it takes to grow herbs from seed varies. Whether you want to plant annual, perennial, or seasonal herbs, we'll tell you when to start herbs from seed, when to transplant the herb seedlings into your garden, and which herb seeds to better direct sow."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

Timing is important!

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Vegetables That Thrive in Containers

 

Photo source:  Martha Stewart

"Dreaming of an abundant vegetable garden but worried that limited outdoor space could decrease your harvest? Well, there's good news: your patio garden can still produce an impressive amount of food if you choose vegetable plants that thrive in containers. Ahead, we spoke with experts to find a dozen superstar vegetables well-suited to container life."  Comment from Martha Stewart.com

I love container gardening and would like to learn more about the different vegetables that grow well in containers.

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