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We didn’t hold much hope for it, because after we lopped off the top, all that was left was a crazy array of lateral branches radiating out from what was left of the center trunk. I don’t know if we’re cursed or what, but we’ve had two trees exhibit a strange, disfiguring phenomenon wherein the top part of the trunk — the “leader” — has died, taking with it numerous scaffold branches and leaving an unsightly, shortened trunk surrounded by perfectly healthy branches....

I was, unfortunately, not blessed with the virtue of patience. Learning to be patient is one of the biggest lessons that I’ve gained from gardening. However, as a Zone 5b gardener, my patience is constantly being tested. Table of Contents When we moved to Illinois, I joked to my husband that it feels like winter starts in October and ends in April. After living here for a few years, I can attest that perpetual winter is no joking matter!...

While going on vacation is one of the best parts of summer, it also means not tending to our gardens for days and even a few weeks at a time. I recently went away on a week-long trip during which there were several thunderstorms. When I came back, I saw many of my tomatoes had split from the rain. Along with the rain came a fruit fly infestation, like a veritable storm of them....

In addition to being popular in the kitchen, the horseradish plant has its fans — and a history — in the medicinal plant world, too. Armoracia rusticana While it’s quite possible you’ve tasted horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) and appreciated its sinus-clearing and deliciously flavorful bite, has it ever occurred to you to grow it? How fun would it be to mix up a batch of Bloody Mary drinks for your brunch guests, using your own homegrown horseradish?...

This cultivar is grown in a similar way to other varieties of kale, but I’ll provide the details for growing ‘Red Russian’ below. Brassica napus subsp. pabularia ‘Red Russian’ If you’re looking for a sweet and tender variety of kale for your garden, look no further than ‘Red Russian.’ This heirloom variety has large leaves that are softer than other varieties, making it a welcome change from fall greens that require lots of cooking....

The large number of plants in this genus also means the options are wide open, in terms of selecting the right salvia for your garden. Salvia spp. Salvia, a genus of plants in the mint (Lamiaceae) family with nearly a thousand members, is known for its toughness. Heat tolerant, chill tolerant, drought tolerant, impervious to pests and disease, deer resistant — salvia takes a lickin’ and keeps on blooming beautifully....

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Always searching for a natural treatment to help alleviate pesky migraines? The answer may be found in feverfew, a plant with a famous history of soothing stubborn headaches. An ancient medicinal, this perennial herb has made a resurgence in modern herb gardens for its useful therapeutic properties, particularly as a migraine remedy, as well as for its attractive daisy-like flowers that conveniently repel pests....

For the past few years, cucumbers, squash, and zucchini have wilted in my garden – no matter what. My best guess is that my soil is infected with a virus, be it phytophthera or some other crippling condition. Since then, I have planned to build a raised bed for cucurbits, which would give me some fresh soil to try growing them again. Well, I finally got around to it! I built a raised bed out of dog-eared cedar fence posts and pressure treated 2x2s....

If you want to add a gorgeous, charming pink tree to your driveway, look no further than the Okame cherry tree. This incredible species of Prunus is one of the most striking of the flowering tree category, with pops of color brigher than you’re likely to see in a tree of any kind. Table of Contents Even when the Okame flowering cherry tree isn’t blooming, it makes a beautiful addition to your garden, thanks to its green leaves with strong orange tints in its fall color display....

1. DIY Teapot Wind Chimes For this easy wind chime DIY, the supplies will come from your kitchen: a teapot, small plate, serving and a few teaspoons. For the directions, click here. Also, check out these wind chime ideas. 2. Teapot Fountain DIY Install a colossal teapot fountain unit in your garden with the instructions available at Hometalk. If surrounded by flowers and plants, it’ll double up its beauty. Also Read: Container Water Fountain Ideas...

That’s why many experts today choose to call beneficial relationships among plants “intercropping,” “polyculture,” or “plant association” rather than referring to companion planting. Companion planting is one of those garden practices that many of us engage in despite there being a lack of solid evidence supporting the technique in many cases. That’s not to say there isn’t any benefit to companion planting, just that it hasn’t been thoroughly studied and quantified, and the practice is often imbued with mythical qualities....

Here’s everything you can expect to learn: If you have a pothos plant, then you know already that they are pretty darn prolific. Maybe even too prolific. You turn your back and suddenly, there are vines draping down to the floor and crawling across your bookshelves… That’s when you’ve gotta take matters into your own hands and break out those pruners. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

Table of Contents If you’re reading this post, chances are you’ve got an old pallet that isn’t being used at all. I had one too, and I knew there was SOMETHING I could do with it…but what? With a little creative thinking (and Googling), I came up with a cool idea for a vertical pallet garden that cost me under $30 to build! It should grow about 12 heads of lettuce and 12 bunches of spinach, which helps me hit my goal to grow 80% of the the greens I eat....

If you are removing leaves from your aloe vera plant for medicinal or topical use, there’s a good chance that you might end up damaging it–imprecise trimming will also make it look unattractive. So, is there a way to do it correctly? Yes! Find out How to Cut an Aloe Vera Plant Without Killing it in this post. Can you eat an Aloe Vera plant? Find out here How to Cut an Aloe Vera Plant The secret of cutting aloe vera cleanly is–always remove leaves from the bottom of the plant and cut close to the plant’s main stem....

If you’re tired of the basic microgreen crops, like radishes and sunflowers, we have a lesser-known herb that you can learn how to grow. Known for its tangy flavor, sorrel makes an exciting microgreen! Not only that, but sorrel microgreens are pretty basic to grow. With this crop, you can liven up your kitchen with minimal effort. Table of Contents Sorrel plant is a lesser-known garden herb that’s commonly used in France....

Some may prefer to grow onions from sets because they are widely available and it’s easier. However, planting onions from seed can give you the best results if you know the tricks to do it right. Pick The Right Type of Onion You should make sure that you choose the onion type which suits your garden conditions (soil, climate, etc.). There are three different types of onion for you to choose from:...

Olives are rich in nutrients and good for overall health. They are mostly seen with martinis and in salads. But are olives good for dogs? Let’s find out! Can Dogs Eat Olives? The simple answer to that question is, “Yes, dogs can eat olives.” Olives do not contain any toxins that’ll harm dogs. In fact, the nutrients present in olives make them a healthy snack for your pups. So giving plain olives to your dogs every now and then won’t cause any trouble....

Leaf composting is one of the smartest things you can do for your garden. If you haven’t gotten into it yet, or don’t know where to start, this is for you. Get ready to know everything you’ll ever want to know about how to compost leaves so that your leaves decay quickly and turn into beautiful, rich compost! Listen to this post on the Epic Gardening Podcast Subscribe to the Epic Gardening Podcast on iTunes...

And let’s not forget the marvelous fragrance, which is light and fruity. In fact, they smell so lovely that sometimes I’m tempted to bring one to my mouth and take a bite. Snapdragons make me happy. The presence of their cheery blossoms in the garden means the best weather has arrived and will continue for months to come – just like those colorful flowers. Of course, we can’t forget the child-like thrill of pinching the sides to make the “mouth” of the flower open....

I’ll get down to the nitty-gritty shortly. First, here’s a quick overview of what I’ll cover: Growing vegetables from seed always feels like a magical feat, and carrots are no exception. Once you grow your own, there’s no going back. And once your seedlings are coming along nicely, you’ll want to make sure you know how and when to best harvest these tasty Umbellifers. You have a few options as to when you can pick these veggies, but when it comes to how you pick them, you want to make sure you follow our recommended procedures....