So you’ve watched a ton of HGTV on your directstartv.com satellite and you’re learning more and more about growing your own vegetables. Here are a few of our tips for what you should plant now to see results by fall…
Herbs: Basil, parsley and tarragon grow well into the autumn and they’re relatively hearty for the novice gardener. Make sure to water every day if they’re in the heat and give them plenty of sunlight, too.
Onions: If you’ve got a relatively deep garden try (more…)

If you are looking for creative ways to fence off the garden, there is no need to go far. A lot of creative ideas can be found at yard sales and flea markets for a very minimal cost. Recycled items such as old barn wood can make the most attractive and unique borders for your garden area. Different sized and colored stone can make a beautiful difference to your average looking garden. If you live near a lake or a creek, these stones might be available to you for free.I was looking for more information and found it here. You simply pick out the (more…)

The essence of compost is that it recycles “green” materials, mostly kitchen or garden refuse. Compost is a vital part of a gardener’s repertoire, as compost goes into the soil to nurture the next generation of crop or ornamental plants.

Items that can be composted are fruit and vegetable leavings, coffee grinds, newspaper or cardboard, prunings, hay or dry grass, dead leaves. Things that shouldn’t be used for compost are meat or grease, coal ash, and cuttings from diseased plants or weeds.Want more? Click here/tag

The gardener should first buy or make a compost bin. These can come in many forms, (more…)

The best way to discourage weeds is by not letting them grow in the first place. Bare patches of earth in the garden should be covered either with wanted ground covers, or mulch. A plot should be thoroughly cleared of weeds before it’s planted. Weeding should be started in early spring, before the weeds set seed. Weeding regularly will also help to control weeds.

Mulching smothers weeds. Sheet mulch or landscape fabric is a long lasting and effective mulch. The weeds in the plot should be pulled and the soil prepared, then the sheet should be laid down.Never heard of this before? Get up to speed here. The (more…)

Going Green. Almost everywhere you go, that phrase is plastered somewhere. How about in your home? Today’s home buyers want green solutions to their energy costs. They also want environmentally friendly products. If your home doesn’t have any of this, fear not. There are easy way to make your home more “green” without spending too much money.

One of the simplest things you can do is switch out every one of your light bulbs. Currently on the market, there are two energy saved light bulbs. There is (more…)

Curb appeal is everything when you are trying to sell your home. Many home buyers decide against seeing the inside of a home for sale if the outside is not taken care of and maintained.

When you are sprucing up your exterior be sure that you also pay attention to your patio furniture. You can easily give your old patio furniture a modern look. A well maintained and modern patio is inviting and can help you sell your home. The best (more…)

Home owners and renters desiring to increase the curb appeal or simply enhance their living spaces can get great mileage out of using recycled items for small-space gardening. Constraints on space might prohibit plowing and growing a large garden, and in urban areas growing space might be confined to porches, curbs, stoops or windowsills. Nonetheless, tracking down some old items for re-purposing can be a fun, creative way to beautify the surroundings.

Planters can be made from almost anything that will hold soil and water.Get more information here. http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/crosspost/10-planters-container-gardens-for-beginners-146814 Old shoes, buckets, pails, vases, boxes, anything that will hold soil and (more…)