Ideas, Info, Tools & Technology to Create Your Dream Garden
fruits
Labeling Fruit Trees
May 15th
If you want to mark important trees and shrubs, copper labels last forever, and are easy to make.
How To Make Copper Plant LabelsI’m very excited. Last night I made copper labels for all of our fruit trees. All it took was; some 1” labels, which you can buy, but I won them at a gardening event; metal stamping set; wood scrap; and a hammer.
To do the stamping -
- Pick out the letters needed from the stamping kit.
- Place label on scrap wood.
- Align stamp for placement on the label.
- Hit lightly with the hammer.
My Favorite Time Of Spring
May 8th
First hydrangea blossoms opening right now.
Perfect WeatherThis last week has been fantastic. The weather is warm enough to work outside and the humidity is still low. The gardens are bursting into bloom. I have snapdragons, carnations, dianthus, pansies, and petunias already in bloom. The hydrangeas first blossoms opened yesterday. My lilies have buds all over them.
Cornucopia In The MakingThe trees have leafed out. The berry bushes are making berries. The grapes have buds on them. Best of all one of the peach trees we planted two years ago is covered in little peaches. We even have on plum on one More >
Know Your Planting Times
Mar 8th
Plant dormant fruit trees in spring.
Many gardeners know when the last frost date is for their area, so they know better than to plant their tomatoes or annuals before that date. However, many people don’t know that there are a lot of plants that need to be planted before the last frost date.
Sure, if you do vegetable gardening you probably know that peas and spinach need to go in very early, while the ground is still cold. But there are some major food crops that are usually purchased as plants or stock that should be planted while they are still More >
Pruning
Feb 27th
Just a couple days ago I got an email from one of the suppliers I use and they had a video on how to prune your grape vines. After watching the video I realized that I had really messed up with my vines and it would probably take a couple years to get them producing well.
I have a big problem with pruning. I always feel that if the plant has gone to all the work to grow, then who am I to hack them back and try to control them. I’m having to get over this now that we’re putting More >
Long-term Planning For Gardens
Dec 19th
Shade patterns change throughout the year. Keep a log for successful planting.
Maybe you’ve got it on you resolution list to finally do something with the yard. You’ve got some ideas, but aren’t sure exactly which plants will work well for each garden.
The first thing you need to do is know the lay of your land. Which way is north, south, east, and west? How does the house line up with these directions? Where are large trees or shrubs located in relation to the directions? Are the trees/shrubs evergreen or deciduous?
Before you plant anything you need to know what the shade More >
Planting Fruit Trees In Fall
Sep 9th
Now’s a great time to put in an order for bare root fruit trees. If you live someplace where the soil doesn’t freeze until late November or December that’s even better. Putting in fruit trees in the fall can really give them a great start. Instead of having to take off and make leaves and fruit right after planting, they get a whole winter to put down roots.
One thing you need to do with fruit trees planted in the fall, and really any time, is protect the trunk from the sun. In the winter the dark bark can warm up More >
Doing Surgery On Your Plants
Aug 8th
Carefully trimmed trees have created this interesting tree tunnel.
For me, at least, it is always hard to do “surgery” on any of my beloved plants. Even though I know trimming out dead growth, diseased portions, or just for shape is necessary, and good, I always have to apologize to them first.
Lucky for me I don’t have to don surgical scrubs or gloves to do the work. However, having really good sharp tools is just as important for plant “surgery” as people surgery. If you use dull tools you can do more damage than good and even create access for more diseases More >
Focus Plant: Pineapple Tomatillo, Ground Cherrie, etc.
Jul 25th
I was introduced to these little wonders as pineapple tomatillo, also known by quite a few other names one of which is ground cherries. Many people who enjoy Mexican food have had regular tomatillos, especially in salsas. However, the pineapple tomatillo is very different from the regular one. They both have the same husk and shiny round fruit inside, but after that they are quite different.
First off, the pineapple tomatillo is a little bit bigger than a pea. Second, it has a flavor reminiscent of pineapple when fully ripe. Third, it is ripe when it is yellow.
These little morsels are More >
Edible Landscaping
May 30th
Flowering Cabbage & Kale plus Pansies line my entry walk, all are edible
As more and more of us are interested in having good fresh produce in our house, many are turning to growing their own foods. However, if you have a small lot or live in a condominium you may not have room to put in a vegetable garden, berry patch and small orchard. Edible landscaping to the rescue.
What is edible landscaping? It is incorporating edible plants right in among your ornamentals, so they blend in or stand out, depending on your desire. It means that you plant a fruit More >