Categories
Soil & Fertilizer

How to Make Banana Peel Tea for Plants

I know what you’re thinking, but banana peel tea isn’t some new trendy thing that you’ll find in a cafe alongside classics like Assam or Earl Grey. Although there are some folks who swear that it’s a great drink to induce a restful night of sleep, I’m happy with my chamomile.  This isn’t about me, […]

Categories
Vegetable Gardening

How to Celebrate Naked Gardening Day

The first Saturday in May is a special day for nature-loving gardeners. Since 2007, the day has been celebrated as World Naked Gardening Day. The holiday itself began in 2005, but for those first two years, the day was celebrated in September. And in spots like New Zealand, the date shifted to accommodate the season. […]

Categories
Composting

The Best Plants for Straw Bale Gardening

To talk about the best plants for straw bale gardening, it’s probably important to clarify what straw bale gardening is exactly. The short version is that you can grow vegetables in straw bales just as you would in a raised bed or large container. It’s a popular option in areas where the soil is contaminated or simply not conducive to growing plants.

Categories
Growing Fruits & Berries

How to Grow Figs in Any Climate

A versatile and delicious fruit (that is also an excellent source of fiber), it’s no wonder why so many people want to learn how to grow figs. In their native environments, fig trees will produce year-round, feeding scores of animal and insect species. Domesticated, fig trees have become a staple in fruit tree gardening. No […]

Categories
Growing Fruits & Berries

7 Tips for Cloning Fruit Trees to Expand Your Orchard for Free

When I hear the word “clone” I either think of Dolly the sheep or binge-watching Battlestar Gallactica. But cloning fruit trees is neither of those things and it shouldn’t be feared. In fact, farmers and gardeners have been cloning fruit trees for centuries as an easy way to jumpstart a fruit tree’s life. Sure, you can try to grow a fruit tree from seed, but after they germinate, the seedling will likely be disappointing in comparison to the parent tree.

Categories
Garden Design

What’s the Charles Dowding Multi-Sowing Seeds Method?

Tell me, fellow gardener… if you buy a square of onion sprouts at the gardening supply shack, do you plant each little tiny bulb one by one, or do you bunch them? When you plant carrots, do you space your seeds apart, or do you just sprinkle and see what happens?

Categories
Garden Tools

12 Cool Gardening Tools and Gifts for the Plant Lover in Your Life

Gift-giving for the plant-lover in your life can be tricky, especially if you think they already have everything they need. Imagine your loved one opening a holiday or birthday gift with excitement and anticipation, only to unveil a 20lb bag of potting soil. Sure, it’ll be useful, but it doesn’t exactly have the wow-factor you may be looking for. I’ve put together a list of 5 cool gardening tools for the plant-lover in your life that I think are thoughtful, unique, and useful. (And are NOT a bag of dirt!)

Categories
Pests & Diseases

How to Make an Invisible Deer Fence for Garden Protection

I love deer. They’re beautiful, graceful, serene animals. I also hate deer. They eat the apples from my tree, munch on my kale, and eat my strawberries. How do I reconcile these feelings? Invisible deer fence, of course! If you’re new to the idea of an invisible deer fence, it’s not the work of wizards […]

Categories
Watering & Irrigation

How to Set Timers for Sprinklers in a Vegetable Garden

One thing about gardening is that there are lots of gadgets that can help you grow a better garden. At least that’s the sales pitch. Some of them, I’m not too sure how they made it off the drawing board. Others, like timers for sprinklers, can be really helpful. But like any gadget, they only help you if you use the right one in the right way.

Categories
Garden Tools

The Best Weeding Tool for Your Vegetable Garden

Okay, maybe it’s a bit tongue in cheek to say that the best weeding tool for your vegetable garden is a goat. But did you know that some office parks and building managers actually hire goats to clear fields? It’s true. And is there anything cuter than a baby goat? Maybe, but I wouldn’t bet a lot of money on it.