Mom and I have been doing multi-daily garden tours for the past two weeks. The rock garden is always the last stop on the tour.

This is a photo from last summer.

Friday, when we arrived at our final stop, we talked about how at this time of year, the rock garden resembles nothing more than a pile of rocks. Saturday we went to a local garden center and made a few purchases to try to remedy the situation.

continue reading "Rock Garden Re-Construction"

Last year the rabbits, squirrels, groundhogs, skunks, etc. had a blast chowing down, digging, transplanting, uprooting, and generally wreaking havoc in my gardens. This year I’m trying a new method of critter control. It’s not all that pretty, but so far it’s definitely been effective.

After planting my spring-blooming bulbs in the fall, I covered them with chicken wire to keep the squirrels from digging them up. Now I’m re-using that same chicken wire to keep annoying (and hungry) critters from munching on my perennials while they’re getting started. The sheets of chicken wire have been transformed into wire boxes.

I used a square galvanized planter as a form.

continue reading "A New Method of Critter Control"

Mid-March is the start of the spring “planting season” for those who like to propagate garden plants indoors.

Containers

Plastic trays with small pots that fit inside are a common choice for seed starting. Most trays come with clear plastic lids to conserve moisture. I thought these small paper pots were an interesting alternative to the plastic pots. They are no longer available through Gardener’s Supply Co., but if you’d like to make your own paper pots, watch this instructional video at Dave’s Garden. Another option would be to use a collection of plastic yogurt cups or margerine tubs that can be recycled after your seedlings have been transplanted outdoors. Punch holes in the bottoms to allow excess water to drain, cover the drainage holes with a bit of newspaper or a coffee filter so you don’t lose your soil, and set them on a plastic tray. Covering with a plastic bag will create a greenhouse effect. Whichever pots you use, make sure they are very clean. Scrub thoroughly with a solution of 1 part liquid household bleach to 9 parts water.

continue reading "Indoor Seed Starting / Plant Propagation"

Does anyone have any extra cd cases kicking around? Maybe you’ve lost the cds, but you’ve somehow managed to keep the empty cases? If that’s the case then this green gardening idea might appeal to you. Re-use and recycle those emply cd cases by turning them into a garden cloche.

A cloche works like a mini greenhouse by offering climate control to help get new seedlings of to a good start. With this version of a garden cloche made from recycled cd cases, the warm rays of the sun can shine through the open top and the clear sides to warm the surrounding soil. To protect fragile young plants from the danger of frost, simply close the lid.

The two green thumbs of 2greenthumbsup.com added a couple of new gardens and a few new items to their existing gardens in 2007. We (okay, I) have a weakness for garden plants on sale. My mom, the other green thumb, has a little more self control, but can be persuaded, cajoled, heckled, and pressured into making the odd purchase. She’s a planner and I’m a bit more spontaneous - together we make an awesome gardening team.

continue reading "2007 - The Garden In Review"

Nothing brightens up a dreary day like seeing the bright red flash of a cardinal in the evergreen hedge or hearing a cheery “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” when you pick up the mail.

We can encourage our feathered friends to stick around for the winter or stop while they are passing through by helping out with their basic needs - shelter, water and food.

Shrubs, evergreen trees and bushes along with any perennials or grasses that were left standing in your garden, will provide food and also safe shelter from winter storms. If the winter birds can find their own food most of the time, they may need help only when there has been heavy snow or ice.

Keep in mind that if you start to feed the birds, they may expect you to continue.

There are some elaborate and expensive bird feeders available, as well as heated birdbaths, but the only feeders I have used are simple ones. They are easy to use and are fun for kids to try, too.

continue reading "Birds in Winter"

There are two things that I take with me practically everywhere I go - my digital camera and my garden shears. Last weekend the garden shears saw a lot of action. While visiting at a friend’s home in the country, I harvested a ton of greenery, red dogwood branches and grapevine. My car smelled like Christmas all the way home! The plan - do something with the baskets that have been hanging empty on my front porch for the past year.

I may be slow, but I am most certainly sure. Those hanging baskets are now heaped full with three different types of evergreen branches, highlighted with some lovely red dogwood, and thanks to our weather yesterday, a little dusting of snow.

Here’s a picture of one completed Christmas / winter-themed hanging arrangement (including snow):

continue reading "DIY Inexpensive Outdoor Christmas Decor"

It’s been a crazy weather week here in Ontario, Canada - one day bright and sunny, one day raining and now we have snow! It’s a good thing I finally got around to building the shrub frames I talked about way back in Essential Fall Yard & Garden Maintenance. Yes, I put on my little carpenter’s hat, hauled out the table saw, the cut-off saw, and the cordless drill and took total advantage of that one bright and sunny day earlier this week.

Here are the fruits of my labor!

continue reading "Winter Shrub Frames - An Easy DIY Project"

We’re barely out of fall gardening and already we’re longing for spring. Forcing bulbs into blooming indoors is a pleasant way for gardeners to keep their hands in the dirt and survive the long winter while waiting for spring. (Why not start a pot for someone on your Christmas gift list?)

Choose any of the spring flowering bulbs - tulip, narcissus, crocus, muscari or hyacinth. Pick flowers that will not grow too tall for a windowsill or a table arrangement.

Here’s how to force bulbs indoors:

continue reading "Forcing Bulbs Indoors"

Pruning shrubs, bushes and vines is easiest after the fall winds have blown all the leaves off. Use your hand prunersto cut out some of those overcrowded or overgrown branches. But wait, don’t just toss those pieces of shrubs and vines in the garbage or on the compost pile - recycle and reuse your trimmings.

continue reading "Recyle Shrub & Vine Trimmings"