123 Garden Guide

Story List

Diagnosis Chart   Professor Mel -- 4/8/04

Check out this simple to use chart to help figure our what's ailing your plant ...<more>

Bulb Planting Guide   Ednie Flower Bulb -- 3/31/04

Our bulb planting guide is based on 4 generations of bulb buying and planting experience. Follow these simple steps and guidelines for success with your bulbs. ...<more>

Flowering Bulbs for Georgia Gardens   University of Georgia -- 3/28/04

A wide variety of bulbs grow well in Georgia. Most are grown for their flowers and some for their foliage. They are grown as pot plants, in shrub borders, naturalistic plantings and in mass displays. Bulbs offer a certain magic to the landscape virtually ...<more>

Georgia Hardiness Zones   University of Georgia -- 3/28/04

Hardiness Zones chart for Georgia ...<more>

Care of Holiday and Gift Plants   University of Georgia -- 3/28/04

Flowering and foliage plants make welcome gifts. How long they remain attractive may be directly related to the care they are given. Careful handling is also an important factor that may a ...<more>

Amaryllis Fact Sheet   University of Georgia -- 3/28/04

The large, bell-shaped or lily-like flowers of the amaryllis and its hybrids make excellent garden subjects and pot plants. They can be grown as garden plants from Macon southward in Georgia. In these areas, they are used in beds, borders and for specimen ...<more>

Planting and Care Guide for Amaryllis   Professor Mel -- 3/27/04

Of all flowering bulbs, amaryllis are the easiest to bring to bloom. This can be accomplished indoors or out, and over an extended period of time. The amaryllis originated in South America's tropical regions and has ...<more>

Green Thumb Tips   Windsor Farms Garden -- 3/27/04

To most gardeners annuals mean flowers, and lots of them in every conceivable shape, color and size. There are many flowering plants for garden use, but as a group, none is so willing to grow, easy to take care of or inexpensive as the annuals. ...<more>

Garden Projects for Kids   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

Butterfly Feeders ...<more>

Summertime Acrtivities Should Include Fertilizing   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(ARA) - Summertime means picnics, fishing, sunbathing and playing in your yard -- not to mention, fertilizing your lawn. Grass grows throughout the season and is in continuous need of nutrients. During the summer, plants have a difficult time taking in ...<more>

Five Simple Spring Projects for Splendid Summer Yards   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(ARA) - April showers bring May flowers -- but not without some diligent preparation from homeowners. In order to get your yard and garden up to par for the warm months of summer, spring is the perfect opportunity to start on a few projects. By getting ...<more>

The Secret to a Healthy Lawn   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(ARA) - Most of us think that when it comes to our lawns, the more moisture the better. But too much of anything, even water, can be bad for your grass. The key to a healthy lawn is to give it the right balance of water along with other nutrients. ...<more>

A Healthy Lawn Is a Friend to Environment    -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - We all want to leave behind a cleaner environment for the generations that will follow us. To this end, did you know that healthy, well-maintained lawns have both direct and indirect benefits for the environment? ...<more>

For Best Results, Feed Your Lawn Twice in Fall   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - Over the years, many folks who fed their lawn for the first time ever in fall have told me, "I can't believe the difference in my lawn!" ...<more>

Aurtumn is Best Time to Plant Your Grass Seeds   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - If summer's heat and wear and tear left bare spots in your lawn, don't fret. Late summer/early fall is the best time of year to plant grass seed. ...<more>

Improve Your Lawn With a New Spreader   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - Even the best lawn products can't deliver the results they should unless they are applied evenly and accurately by a quality lawn spreader that is in good working order. That's because inferior spreaders often leave gaps in the coverage, places wh ...<more>

Keep Your Lawn Greener, While Making the Air Cleaner   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - Air pollution comes from many sources. One of the smallest is exhaust and fuel emissions from gasoline-powered engines - the kind used in lawnmowers, riding tractors, string trimmers, tillers, and other types of outdoor power equipment. Another co ...<more>

Lawns Help to Improve Warter Quality   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - Water quality gets a boost from a common plant we see everyday - the grass plant. According to experts, a well-managed lawn is a natural water filter. ...<more>

Who Pushes the Oldest Reel Mower in America?   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - Still cutting the grass somewhere in America is the push-type, Indiana-made "reel" lawn mower that may be almost 100 years old. ...<more>

Proper Lawn Care Reduces Harmful Emissions by 3296   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) -- Engine manufacturers are developing lawn mower engines that produce far less air pollution than older models. ...<more>

Healthy Grass Helps Keep Weeds at Bay   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - "Help ... the weeds are winning the battle in my lawn." ...<more>

Watering How-to's for Lawns, Flowers and Container Plants   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - It's a little known fact, but water comprises 70 percent to 90 percent of a healthy plant. During warm weather, the water quickly evaporates through a plant's leaves, making it imperative to replenish the lost water. ...<more>

Two Feedings in the Fall Yield Dramatic Results   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - Did you know that a lawn fed twice in the fall will be the first to green up in the spring? ...<more>

Do You Know Your Sprinklers?   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - Homeowners in the market for a sprinkler may be surprised by the number of choices available today. In fact, two or more types of sprinklers may be needed to achieve appropriate coverage. ...<more>

Bored With Your Yard? Try These Do-it-Yourself Ideas   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - Move over living room, the back yard is taking over. Homeowners are bringing the indoors out as they turn their backyards into the perfect places to work, rest or play, with redwood decks, gazebos and even spas. ...<more>

Want a Healthy Lawn? Stop Those Grubs!   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - How can you tell when grubs invade your lawn? ...<more>

How to Select a Riding Mower or Tractor   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - Riding mowers, lawn tractors and garden tractors are engineered to mow lawns of different sizes, designs and terrain, as well as perform other landscaping and gardening tasks. ...<more>

Lawn Mower and Tractor Maintenance Tips   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - Proper maintenance at the start of the grass-cutting season and throughout the summer helps keep lawn mowers and tractors running their best. This can translate into a great-looking lawn all season long. ...<more>

Tips to Keep Weeds Out Of Your Lawn   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

According to The Lawn Institute, homeowners may realize up to a 15 percent increase in property value from a well-maintained lawn and landscape. But weeds can really make a lawn look bad. They not only reduce curb appeal, they rob the lawn of nourishment ...<more>

Be Ready for Summer Challenges to Your Lawn   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - The dog days of summer can be tough on lawns. The intense heat and sporadic rainfall are not friendly to grass plants. And they are ideal for insects that attack lawns and cause them to thin and turn brown, such as sod webworms and chinch bugs. ...<more>

How to Rid Your Lawn of Pesky Crabgrass Seeds   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - Crabgrass is a low-down sneak. ...<more>

'Help! My Neighbor's Lawn Is Better Than Mine'   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - What's the big secret? Why do some lawns always seem to look better than others? Chances are, if you stop to ask your neighborhood lawn guru, you will discover three keys to lawn success. ...<more>

Autumn Care Brings Lush Laws   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - Fall may bring a reprieve from mowing grass, but there's still other lawn work to be done. Autumn is the best time to fertilize for a healthy, lush and green lawn in the spring. ...<more>

How to Start and Run a Landscape Maintenance Business   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

Own your business, own your job, own your life. ...<more>

The Pocket Gopher: What do you do when the gopher's are everywhere   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

Pocket gophers (Tomomys spp.), so named for their fur lined cheek pouches located outside the mouth on each side of the face, are burrowing rodents. They are a serious and difficult to control pest for both the Agricultural and Landscape Industries, as we ...<more>

Your Plants and Your Wallet will Love Rainwater   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(ARA) - Avid gardeners spend a good part of the winter planning what they will plant in the spring. Even casual gardeners invest plenty of time and money in their plants. Regular watering is one key to a successful garden. So what’s a gardener to do when ...<more>

Secrets of a Great Garden Revealed   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(ARA) - The real secret to a great garden is so obvious that many people look right past it: great plants. Master gardeners know that not all plants are created equal. Put the right plant in the right place and an outstanding garden can be as easy as suns ...<more>

Outdoor lighting:How to Enjoy Your Yard on Those Warm, Summer Nights   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(ARA) - The use of outdoor lighting to enhance the home landscape has come a long way from its earliest uses -- when solar-powered pathway lights sprouted like so many planted seedlings in neighborhoods across America. ...<more>

The Magic of Annual Vines   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

For the cost of a packet of seeds, you can quickly create a show stopping garden accent or a living hideaway for children, hide a rusty chain link fence or an unsightly garage wall, and turn an ordinary balcony into a private garden. Started from seeds, a ...<more>

Growing and Harvesting Rose Hips   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

Roses can do more than grace our landscapes and floral designs. Like its cousins the apple, pear, peach and cherry, roses produce a fruit. Rose Hips are a valuable source of vitamin C, containing as much as 20 times more vitamin C than oranges. They are a ...<more>

Attracting Birds to the Garden   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

A gardener's relationship with birds is one of mutual benefit. The gardener provides for a few of the birds basic needs, and the birds help to keep down the insect population while treating us to an unending source of entertainment. Birds take their role ...<more>

Rock Gardens   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

If your property has a slope dotted with interesting or weathered rock formations, you have an ideal spot for a rock garden. If nature hasn't provided you with the ideal location, all you need is a few loads of topsoil and some rocks. If you must bring in ...<more>

Miniature Roses   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

Don't let the delicate appearance fool you! These little gems are hardy enough to grow outdoors in zones 6-10 without winter protection, and with a good cover of mulch they will survive winters as far north as zone 4. Miniature roses are surprisingly e ...<more>

Summer Heathers   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

Heathers are low-growing, shrub-like perennials that blossom into a sea of color. They look great planted with dwarf conifers, especially when a variety of shapes, colors and textures are used. Interplant late flowering varieties with deciduous plants tha ...<more>

How much sun does your garden really need?   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

Vegetables prefer a full day of sun, but if you live in a shady suburb you don't have to give up the idea of growing vegetables. Here are some minimum sunlight requirements: ...<more>

Planting Trees and Shrubs   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

If you're planting new trees and shrubs this spring, don't spoil them by enriching the soil with organic matter. A hole full of compost and soft organic matter is a comfortable area for the roots, and they aren't likely to spread into the surrounding soil ...<more>

Using Manure In The Garden   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

Animal manure is not only a good fertilizer, but also helps to condition the soil. Here are some guidelines for using manure in the garden: ...<more>

Dormant Oil Spray   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

Dormant oil is a nontoxic spray to control sucking and chewing insects in the egg stage before they can do any damage. Use dormant oil on trees, shrubs and evergreens in early spring while they are still dormant, before buds develop. You can buy the spray ...<more>

How to Keep Trees and Shrubs Strong and Healthy   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - Homeowners spend more than $1.5 billion each year buying new trees and shrubs for their homes. Enhancing the beauty and value of the property is the main reason behind those purchases. But there are other benefits: ...<more>

Seven Tips for Living Life In an Earth-friendly Way   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - Today, there are real and alarming signs that our planet is in trouble. But just as we can collectively harm the environment, we also can help each other improve it. ...<more>

Tame Your Wildflower Garden   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

(NUI) - Is your enthusiasm for wildflowers dampened by planting challenges? If so, here are seven sure steps to success: ...<more>

How to Protect Your Family From Poison Ivy   NewsUsa -- 3/25/04

>* Learn to Recognize Poisonous Plants: Poison Ivy plants have three shiny, pointy leaflets on each stem, Poison Oak plants have three or more shiny, velvety leaflets and grow to be two to six feet tall, Poison Sumac grows to be five to 15 feet tall, with ...<more>

Build a Great Foundation For Your Lawn   NewsUsa -- 3/23/04

(NUI) - Proper fertilization helps provide the foundation for a thick, healthy turf that not only looks better but also is better able to resist insects, disease and weeds. ...<more>

Special Lawn Problems   Professor Mel -- 3/22/04

Think you have a tough lawn? This guide covers three tough areas: shade lawns, steep slopes, and moss. ...<more>

Soil PH   Professor Mel -- 3/22/04

The soil pH is a reading taken from a scale that measures the hydrogen ion concentration of the soil medium. The scale consists of 14 divisions from 1 to 14, with the value 7 being neutral. Values below 7 are said to be acid while those above 7 are ter ...<more>

Deer Resistant Plants   Professor Mel -- 3/22/04

Tired of the deer getting the better of your plants? Well, here's a great reference guide of deer resistant plants. ...<more>

Benefits of Composting   Professor Mel -- 3/22/04

There are many benefits of composting organic matter and then incorporating the remaining humus into the soil. When organic matter is composted, it reduces large amounts of farm, household, lawn, and garden waste into a rich humus instead of the waste b ...<more>

Powdery Mildew   Professor Mel -- 3/22/04

There are numerous diseases that fall under the general description of powdery mildew. Since most of these have similar habits and similar management practices apply, they will be treated together here. Houseplants that are commonly infected by powdery ...<more>

Harvesting Suggestions for Vegetables   Professor Mel -- 3/22/04

For everything from asparagus, beans, and beets to tomatoes, turnips, and watermelon, these tips will help you improve your harvest. ...<more>

Dividing and Transplanting Perennials   Professor Mel -- 3/22/04

Get acquainted you with the appropriate times and best methods of transplanting popular perennials. Most perennials grow larger every year, usually by spreading through underground stems or roots, and may need to be divided after 3 or 4 years. When flo ...<more>

Caring for Your Hardy Mums   Professor Mel -- 3/22/04

Mums are hardy perennials. With just a few easy steps, you can get your Mums to come back bigger and more beautiful year after year! ...<more>

Fall Bulb Planting Tips   Professor Mel -- 3/22/04

Follow these tips for a wonderful flower garden! ...<more>

Watering: The Most Important Thing to Do Right    -- 3/22/04

The best time to water is in the early morning hours. Plants use the least amount of water at night and the most during the day. Also, plants photosynthesize at night and need air to do so. The other ...<more>

Organically Managing Insects in the Garden   Professor Mel -- 3/22/04

Insects are a fact of life in the garden. With the following techniques, you can keep these creatures from spoiling your harvest. Insects are a fact of life in the garden. With the following techniques, you can keep these creatures from spoiling your h ...<more>

Caring for Your Landscape   Professor Mel -- 3/22/04

Once your new landscape has been completed, become familiar with your site and each plant and their specific needs. Once you have mastered this it will be easier for you to care for your plants and recognize any problems once they occur. ...<more>

General Planting Tips   Professor Mel -- 3/22/04

Many gardeners believe they should never plant trees, shrubs or evergreens in summer. Simply put, that's just NOT TRUE! While conditions are usually easier for planting in spring or fall, summer is also a great time of year to plant! All it takes Is fo ...<more>

Spring Time Lawn Care   Professor Mel -- 3/22/04

A little work on your lawn in the spring will save time and money and will reward you all year long. ...<more>

Soil Preparation for Annuals and Perennials   Professor Mel -- 3/22/04

Annuals and perennials prefer an evenly moist, loamy, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. ...<more>

Steps for a Successful Lawn   Professor Mel -- 3/22/04

A well-drained, loamy soil with neutral pH(7.0 is best). If you are unsure of your soil's pH just bring in a soil sample to any of our locations for free testing to determine if you will need to add lime and how much you will need. To take a sample of ...<more>

Groundcover Fact Sheet   Professor Mel -- 3/22/04

The world would be a boring, dusty place without groundcovers. Here's a quick reference fact sheet about ground covers. ...<more>

Seeds Are Alive   Professor Mel -- 3/22/04

Moisture and warmth encourage seeds to germinate. There are seeds that require special needs in order to germinate. It is important to follow the specific recommendations for a high success rate. ...<more>

How-To Guide for Water Gardening   Ramsey Press -- 3/22/04

One of the most popular and exciting new trends in gardening today is water gardening. You don't need either an estate or a gardener to ...<more>

How-To Plant Plants for Life   Ramsey Press -- 3/22/04

There is no more satisfying experience than to plant trees, shrubs, and flowers and to care for them until they become beautiful growing thi ...<more>

How-To Guide for Planting and Caring for Herbs   Ramsey Press -- 3/22/04

Herbs are among the easiest of plants to grow and enjoy. A herb garden, even in a single pot on a patio or window sill can yield more fun and make ...<more>

How-To Guide for Christmas Decorating   Ramsey Press -- 3/22/04

Celebrating Christmas with a tree, wreaths, and special plants can make the season more enjoyable and meaningful for the whole family. Here are some ways to be sure that your decorating goes smoothly and quickly and t ...<more>

How-To Guide to Bird Feeding   Ramsey Press -- 3/22/04

From gulls that follow in the wake of ships to crows that stay close behind the plow, birds have been a natural companion of man for ages. ...<more>

How-To Guide for Planning and Caring for your Lawn   Ramsey Press -- 3/22/04

Some green grass is essential to most yards. Lawns cool our neighborhoods, replenish our oxygen supply, prevent soil erosion, filter dust and pollen from the air, purify water, build topsoil, reduce sunlight glare, and ...<more>

How-To Guide for Buying and Caring for House Plants   Ramsey Press -- 3/22/04

Whether your house or apartment is large or small, traditional or modern, you can make it more pleasant and attractive with house plants. Notice how ma ...<more>

How-To Guide for Cut Flowers   Ramsey Press -- 3/22/04

Appreciation of flowers is associated with a high culture in society and we are heartened to see more Americans are buying and growing more plants and flowers. All the artificial ...<more>

How-To Guide for Planting Bulbs   Ramsey Press -- 3/22/04

Planted the right way and at the right time, bulbs are some of the least demanding members of the garden, yet their color and foliage make a major c ...<more>

How-To Guide for Planting and Caring for Annuals and Perennials   Ramsey Press -- 3/21/04

If landscaping begins with contouring and grading the yard, and planting shrubs and trees, it is certainly brought to a beautiful finish with blooming plants. ...<more>

Oh, deer....   Gracie -- 4/13/01

Sometimes, I get into these silly games with myself. I wonder if I should be spending more money on deer repellants then I do on the plants I'm protecting. Then I justify by figuring what a great deal I had made in acquiring the plant - bargain shopper ...<more>

SPRING ?!?!   Gracie -- 4/5/01

Here it is the first week of April and we are still taking tiny baby steps into spring. I did hear a weather report this morning stating that we will feel 70 degrees in a few short days. My gosh, I hope they are right. Though it has been in the 50's an ...<more>

Stretching the Season   Gracie -- 3/21/01

Last week, I had the great fortune to drive from Connecticut to Virginia Beach in a 13 passenger van with 15 year old female soccer players and their very enthusiastic parents. ...<more>

Looking for Spring   Gracie -- 3/4/01

After cleaning the clutter throughout the house, it's always nice to reward my efforts with some fresh flowers. The flower shops seem to be overflowing with choices. Especially nice are the cut tulips, daffodils and lilies. These seem to be the sweetes ...<more>

Valentine's to Mardi Gras   Gracie -- 2/20/01

The best time to hang your roses for drying is when they look their best. When they have opened to their fullest and are still standing upright, that is the best time to pull them out of the vase, clip off the bottom couple of inches of wet stems, and tie ...<more>

What seeds to start?   Gracie -- 1/18/01

On these cold winter days, it’s always exciting to start planning your garden. ...<more>

Beautiful, snowy New England   Gracie -- 1/16/01

Well, it sure does look pretty in New England this January. We have had plenty of snow. Everything is well insulated. I love the snow and I’m glad it’s protecting all my perennial and shrub plantings from the fall. ...<more>

tis the season to be jolly!   Gracie -- 12/11/00

So, are you having fun yet?! ...<more>

Omigosh!   Gracie -- 11/24/00

OMIGOSH! (I've been reading my daughter's Archie comics) We are just stepping into one of the biggest decorating season's of the year!! ...<more>

Fall Chores   Gracie -- 10/29/00

The weather has been very nice this fall. It's so much easier to get the leaves raked, bulbs planted, lawn reseeded, and the perennials cleaned up on a gorgeous sunshiney day instead of having the wind whipping thru or freezing rain slapping at you. ...<more>

acorn n. The fruit of the oak,a one-seeded nut.   Gracie -- 10/19/00

While I was out checking out various garden centers, I came across the "mother" of all acorns. It's huge - about 2 feet long and 18 inches wide - and made of fiberglass. I fell in love with it and acquired it. I should mention at this time, that squirr ...<more>

Glorious October   Gracie -- 10/1/00

Today had to be one of the finest days ever. The air was perfect. No chill and no heat. Perfect. ...<more>

Autumn, already??   Gracie -- 9/23/00

I have always said that I could never leave Connecticut. The change of season is timed perfect - just when you get so tired of one season, the next one rolls around. I am not really feeling that right now. We've kind of missed summer this year. ...<more>

It's raining, it's pouring,...   Gracie -- 9/1/00

It's simply amazing how things change from year to year , here in New England. ...<more>

The White Squirrel   Gracie -- 7/9/00

My girls were playing nicely (and not so nicely) outside-when all of a sudden they came tearing inside and crying, "The white squirrel is back and a gray squirrel is fighting it!" ...<more>

Summer Fun!!   Gracie -- 7/8/00

The season has really been quite enjoyable. ...<more>

School's out for the summer!!!   Gracie -- 6/21/00

The kids are finally done with school. Graduations, dance recitals, and soccer games are over. The weather is warm and summer is officially here. ...<more>

A little More Clean Up, A lot More Planting!   Gracie -- 6/6/00

We got some absolutely gorgeous days _ blue skies and warm sunshine. It was time to get serious about the gardens. However, a ten minute tornado whipped through the Danbury area changing everyone's weekend plans. ...<more>

Planting and weeding, weeding and planting!   Gracie -- 5/21/00

May 15th is considered to be the last frost date here. Sure enough we had some extremely cold temperatures that night. We have also had what seems to be non-stop rain these past few days. Will we ever see the sun again?! I know I have to be careful about ...<more>

Baby Geese!   Gracie -- 5/6/00

Have you noticed the yellow-green bits of fuzz around the Canadian geese lately?!! The little goslings are being born!!! ...<more>

Spring is coming...really!   Gracie -- 4/27/00

As cold and rainy as March and April have been, I truly believe this is more "normal" a spring than we've been having in this area. As uncomfortable as it may be for all of us, it really is ideal for your perennial flowers, trees and shrubs. ...<more>

SWEET SURPRISES EVERYWHERE!   Gracie -- 4/13/00

ISN'T SPRING JUST GREAT?!?!! ...<more>

H-M-M-M HEMLOCKS   Gracie -- 4/1/00

If you are in the Northeast and you have Hemlocks, you are probably familiar with woolly adelgid by now. ...<more>

Warm Sun with a Cold Wind   Gracie -- 3/27/00

We had an absolutely gorgeous weekend for working outside! ...<more>

Springing Up!   Gracie -- 3/15/00

My daughters have kept me busy watching soccer games and Irish dance performances for St. Patrick's Day. But now. . . ...<more>

Mardi Gras Season!   Gracie -- 3/5/00

Quite the Mardi Gras celebration! ...<more>

Birds Chirping!   Gracie -- 2/24/00

It has been great waking up to the sounds of birds chirping this past week! ...<more>

Forcing Spring!   Gracie -- 2/10/00

Just before the temps got really cold this winter, I came across a mixed bag of bulbs that I had never gotten around to planting. I quickly grabbed a shovel but the ground was already rock hard. ...<more>

Ya' Gotta Move Those Shrubs Ma'am!   Gracie -- 1/26/00

A few weeks ago, a customer called me up all in a panic. As a result of some plumbing problems, she was told that her new shrub border would have to be dug up. What a shame... Fortunately, at this time, plants are in their dormant state here in New Engla ...<more>

A New Year!   Gracie -- 1/9/00

So it's a new year - a new beginning and we are all reasonably safe! ...<more>

Navy and Copper   Gracie -- 12/16/99

Working and decorating a Christmas shop, encourages me to do "theme" trees at home as well. We have had a southwestern tree complete with chili lights and barbed wire musical instruments; last year we lost someone so special, we decorated an angel tree in ...<more>

Chartreuse and Purple   Gracie -- 12/6/99

Now for some real fun! ...<more>

The Bare Stoop   Gracie -- 11/16/99

The nights have gotten frigid enough to take it's toll on my pansies. The next warm day, when they perk up again, I will pull the pansies out of my pots and hanging baskets and put them in the ground - maybe they will winter over! There have been winters ...<more>

Warming up for Winter   Gracie -- 11/8/99

I am very grateful. After years of being forced to rake leaves, my kids understood how much more work was involved in raking heavy wet leaves versus dry leaves. So, (with a little encouragement from me) they got them all raked up before our last heavy rai ...<more>

Edging and Mulching   Gracie -- 10/24/99

Now that the leaves are getting raked up, the frost-burned annuals yanked out, and the bulbs planted, I like to edge and mulch the gardens for a finishing touch before winter. ...<more>

Sights of Autumn   Gracie -- 10/15/99

This is such a wonderful time of year to drive around Connecticut. ...<more>

Harvesting vines, flowers & herbs for drying, and hot peppers!   Gracie -- 10/1/99

I am happy to see that the vine that attacked my huge old lilac tree this summer is a bittersweet vine. I was having major guilt over not making the time to get rid of the vine and thrilled to see it that it was in fact, this beautiful ornamental. ...<more>

The Column After the Storm....   Gracie -- 9/19/99

It's amazing how in one month's time we can be begging for rain and then end up terrified of it. I hope everyone has survived. I guess it helps to know we are not alone. I imagine there are many of us who are sleeping well at nig ...<more>

Composting...    -- 9/9/99

I like to start by getting my smaller bulbs planted first. This time of year, I really don't like to go out to the garden unless I have bulbs or perennials with me. It seems while I'm cleaning, there is always room for a little s ...<more>

Sharing With Friends...   Gracie -- 9/1/99

I pushed aside my curtains and was face to face with a hummingbird! I'd never seen one straight on before. I don't know who startled who. I think she was going after the red verbena or the fragrant stock in my window box. What a ...<more>

Notes from my yard...   Gracie -- 8/23/99

What an interesting season this drought has brought us. With so many in our community having wells, the drought has brought concern to everyone. I am so grateful to have a rainbarrel. My old whiskey ba ...<more>

Some Simple Steps Toward Gentle Gardening   NewsUsa --

(NUI) - What can be done easily at home, and is actually good for you and the environment? Gardening, of course. More than ever, gardeners are interested in gardening naturally, without the uncertainty of synthetic substances. ...<more>

Treated Wood Popular For Use In Garden   NewsUsa --

(NUI) - Avid vegetable gardeners well know what distinctive, understated borders railroad ties or landscape timbers make. Aesthetically pleasing, inexpensive and practical, treated wood borders have become very popular among the green-thumb crowd. ...<more>

Spruce Up Your Home With Fall Container Gardening   NewsUsa --

(NUI) - Are your poppies or petunias looking a little peaked? It might be time to add some fall blossoms to your garden. ...<more>

Gardening Success Begins With the Right Basic Tools   NewsUsa --

(NUI) - Homeowners commonly ask what tools to buy for do-it-yourself gardening and landscaping projects. The lawn and garden specialists at Sears suggest the following assortment of Craftsman tools which are appropriate for gardeners of any skill level. ...<more>

How to Turn Your Patio Into a Garden Showplace   NewsUsa --

(NUI) - Indoor or outdoor container gardening is one of the fastest-growing gardening activities in the United States. In fact, more than 23 million households are growing plants in containers. ...<more>

How to Choose the Right Soil   NewsUsa --

(NUI) - Adding the right ingredients to help give your container and garden plants that extra spurt of nutrition is one of the most important things gardeners can do. ...<more>

Let Your Plants Go to Pot   NewsUsa --

>(NUI) - Just like a child's foot needs new shoes as it grows, so does your potted plant or flower. The good news is you still have a chance to allow your container garden to flourish and mature by repotting. ...<more>

How to Cultivate Some Diversity in Your Garden   NewsUsa --

NUI) - "How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockleshells and pretty maids all in a row." ...<more>

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