Fall planting is awesome. Experienced gardeners know that fall is a great season for planting. The dreams of colorful spring gardens begin with the fall planting of bulbs, perennials and shrubs. In the autumn, it’s starting to get cool outside. The cooler temperatures make it much more appealing to be outdoors planting. Plus, your list of garden tasks is probably shorter than in the spring. Best of all, the soil is still warm enough for plant roots to thrive. They will grow and get established until the ground freezes. In addition, fall plant sales are the best. Many garden centers offer deep discounts because they don’t want to overwinter plants. Take advantage of these deals with fall planting. Autumn is a great time to add new plants to your yard and garden that will delight you come spring. “Fall planting gives spring-blooming bulbs and perennials a chance to get established in your garden before winter,” says Greg Niewold, owner of Power Planter. “And when you want new … [Read more...] about Fall Planting for Spring Flowers
Natural Insect Control Uses Mother Nature
Natural insect control has gone mainstream. An increasing number of homeowners, gardeners and homesteaders are teaming up with Mother Nature to kill and control insect pests. Using natural insect control can take many forms. But natural insect control typically involves encouraging Mother Nature to fight insects by using organic and environmentally friendly control methods. The growing interest in less chemically intensive, natural and organic living has resulted in a dramatic increase in eco-friendly product choices. The products below prove that you can kill insect pests without resorting to using harsh chemicals. Mother Nature’s mosquito control uses BTI to kill mosquitoes Homeowners looking for an effective way to control pesky, disease-spreading mosquitoes don’t have to resort to harmful chemicals. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in pools of standing water. That's why the first step in controlling mosquitoes is to eliminate standing water wherever possible. In warm weather, … [Read more...] about Natural Insect Control Uses Mother Nature
Why I Love to Pull Weeds
I love to pull weeds. And I’m not afraid to admit it. Some of you will judge me. I can hear it already. “You love to pull weeds? You must be insane. That’s what Roundup is for.” Well, there’s no better way to remove weeds from a garden than to pull the weeds out, roots and all. I will save the discussion of using poisons in the yard where kids and pets play for another story. But even if you agree with my anti-poison bias, you still might think I’m crazy for enjoying the process of removing weeds. What Are You, Crazy? No. I am not crazy. Unless being an avid gardener makes me crazy. But I still think pulling weeds is awesome. What’s so awesome about going out into the yard and pulling weeds? Here’s my list of Top 5 Reasons Why I Love to Pull Weeds. Reason 1: I love to pull weeds because I love to dig in the dirt. There’s something wonderful about digging in the dirt. Just ask a scientist. Digging in the dirt stirs up the microbes in the soil. When you inhale … [Read more...] about Why I Love to Pull Weeds
Why Mineral Buildup in Household Pipes Can Reduce Water Pressure Over Time
There is nothing quite like a weak, pathetic shower spray to ruin your morning. Or, a dishwasher that sounds like it’s struggling for hours just to fill up. Or a really slow faucet. These aren't just little daily nuisances. They’re the first real warning signs that the pipes inside your walls are starting to look like clogged arteries. Over the years, calcium and magnesium hitch a ride in your water. Eventually these minerals set up camp, slowly narrowing the path inside your copper or PEX pipes. As a result, your once-strong water pressure is a thing of the past. Regular pipe flushing and maintenance is the most effective way to remove these calcium deposits and restore the high-pressure flow modern appliances and luxury fixtures require to function properly. Understanding the Mechanics of Scale Accumulation Think of hard water as the villain in your plumbing, dragging along heavy loads of dissolved magnesium and calcium. When hard water sits in your pipes or heater, the … [Read more...] about Why Mineral Buildup in Household Pipes Can Reduce Water Pressure Over Time
Best Gardening Gifts for the Holidays
Here's the Home Garden and Homestead list of the Best Gardening Gifts for the Holidays The holiday season may be the most wonderful time of the year, but the holidays bring their own stresses. What gifts do you buy for everyone on your holiday shopping list? Don't worry, We've got you covered--at least for the gardeners on your gift list. Here are our choices for the best gardening gifts for the holidays for all of the "green thumb gardeners" on your list! Editor's Note: Click on the photos in this story to buy any of these best gardening gifts for the holidays. Changshou Kumquat Tree Produces Edible Fruit Changshou Kumquat is a rare and hard-to-find plant that produces large juicy fruit. Fragrant white flowers bloom from May to September, and the fruit ripens year-round. Changshou’s pear-shaped fruit is larger than other kumquat tree varieties. Each delicious fruit usually has five or six segments inside the sweet, thin skin. Kumquats are among the hardiest … [Read more...] about Best Gardening Gifts for the Holidays
