Every tree needs a little TLC now and then, and winter is the perfect time to give your apple trees some attention. Think of it as a spa day for your trees! The first step is to remove any unproductive wood that might be causing problems. It’s easy to prune an overgrow tree if you follow these seven steps in sequence. I hope you find this helpful. Step #1: Remove Unproductive Wood that Attracts Problems Start by taking out any dead, damaged or diseased branches. Dead wood is usually pretty … [Read more...] about Learning the Art of Pruning Fruit Trees in Seven Steps
Ken Lain
Nature’s Night Owls: Stunning Plants that Love the Dark
Adding plants is my favorite way to add life to any room. Having plants indoors makes everything feel lighter, brighter and more alive. Houseplants add color and texture, purify the air and look nice. Basements and dark corners challenge houseplants through winter. Many plants like it dark, and the short winter days only make them happier. Here’s the list and their best care. The Biology of Low-Light Indoor Plants Large leaves are designed to soak up more light. Others have a waxy outer layer … [Read more...] about Nature’s Night Owls: Stunning Plants that Love the Dark
Green Therapy: How Houseplants Secretly Improve Your Life
It turns out that houseplants do more than just add a pop of greenery to a room – they provide a range of physical and mental benefits, too. Biophilia refers to the innate tendency of human beings to seek out connections with nature and other living things. According to this philosophy, humans are more disconnected from nature than ever before, which may help to explain the increasing popularity of decorating with and caring for houseplants. While the benefits of being exposed to nature are … [Read more...] about Green Therapy: How Houseplants Secretly Improve Your Life
Nine Houseplants that Make a Kitchen Statement
Houseplants are a quick and easy way to spruce up your decor. When it comes to the kitchen, growing plants indoors has some practical applications. The right plants purify inside air, add splashes of color and provide fresh produce. These nine houseplants are the ideal place to start in your kitchen. African Violets Saintpaulia, is the perfect houseplant substitute for those who enjoy cut flowers in the kitchen! Happy African Violets flower nearly year-round and come in a multitude of … [Read more...] about Nine Houseplants that Make a Kitchen Statement
Beyond Pumpkin Spice: Fall Tips for a Lush Landscape
Autumn gardening is a great time to look back on garden successes and disappointments. There’s still plenty of time to do some garden maintenance. Fall gardening takes advantage of cooler temperatures and fewer weeds and insects. Putting the garden to bed is not as hectic as waking it up in the spring. You’ll have time to really see how your plants are doing. Here are some tasks to do now, to make next year’s garden brighter and better. Enrich garden beds with Watters Barnyard Manure. … [Read more...] about Beyond Pumpkin Spice: Fall Tips for a Lush Landscape
Top Ten Berries for Container Gardens
Those new to gardening are surprised at the bountiful crops berry plants produce. Local berry bushes are even more consistent fruit bearers than fruit trees and are easier to grow. Simply plant them into the ground where at least six hours of bright, hot sun are guaranteed, add them to the drip system with your other trees and shrubs, and wait for the berry harvest! Even more impressive is that berry plants don’t need to be in the ground at all. Containers are a great way to enjoy berry bushes … [Read more...] about Top Ten Berries for Container Gardens
Exploring the Best Four-Season Trees for Any Landscape
Trees are where your landscape value is. Plant them right and your home value grows; get trees wrong, and they take over, lift patios and driveways, hide beautiful architecture and more. Think of trees and the four seasons. Begin with trees that announce spring by blooming, then have trees that offer summer shade, autumn reds and gold, ending with visual interest through winter. The goal is not simply to collect specimens in the yard but rather to have at least one model tree per season that … [Read more...] about Exploring the Best Four-Season Trees for Any Landscape
Tips and Tricks for New Mountain Gardeners
Many have gardened in places where the soil is rich, its pH perfectly balanced and the climate blessed with consistent rainfall, gentle sun and plant coddling humidity. If you have dug a hole in the ground, you know mountain gardening presents the opposite of such ideal conditions. My words are limited here, but they’re enough that I can sketch out the big picture of mountain gardening. The local USDA garden zone is 7 with a definite influence from zone 8. This defines our area as mild but with … [Read more...] about Tips and Tricks for New Mountain Gardeners
How to Harvest Herbs and Double Their Growth
You may have heard that herbs thrive on neglect. While it is true that growing these flavorful plants is pretty easy, you definitely want to pay attention to your herb garden. Once they are in the ground and growing, most herbs are quickly ready for harvesting, unlike most other vegetables that need time to ripen and mature. The key to keeping herbs growing is to harvest often. Leaves are the parts of popular herbs most often used in cooking. Cutting them back a bit throughout the growing … [Read more...] about How to Harvest Herbs and Double Their Growth
Hummingbirds Fly to These Eight Flowers Every Time
Lisa and I sat in the front courtyard, watching the antics of “our” hummingbirds. They were enjoying water from the fountains and sipping nectar from the 30+ pots of flowers. We enjoyed one unique, unexpected benefit: The birds are equally happy sharing the landscape with us! The flowers, birds, sparkling water and fresh air combined for a romantic getaway in our front yard. Hummingbirds are the easiest to attract to the yard. We don’t have feeders, as we never want our birds to become an … [Read more...] about Hummingbirds Fly to These Eight Flowers Every Time