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Gardening Advice
Help kids grow! Get them outside in the garden for hands-on learning experiences. Here are activities and tips on how to set up a garden with kids in mind鈥攑lus, how to plant a school garden!Being outside gives kids time to cut loose and burn off some steam. Your garden can serve as an outdoor classroom for showing your kids how and where we get our food while connecting them to nature and鈥
Need a fence to keep animals out of your garden? Build the fence to fit the animal鈥攂e it deer, rabbit, or groundhog! We鈥檒l explain what type of fence you need, how high it should be, and other tips to protect your vegetables from being eaten.In the poem Mending Wall, Robert Frost said, 鈥淕ood fences make good neighbors,鈥 but they also make good gardens.Know Your EnemyFrost also鈥
Ever dealt with the frustration of seeing blossoms fall off your vegetable plants because they have not been pollinated? Attract native bees! Here鈥檚 our list of flowers which are packed with the nectar, food, and pollen that these pollinating bees are after.Without our pollinating bees, most vegetables wouldn鈥檛 grow and flowering plants wouldn鈥檛 survive. Bees are important to our whole鈥
It鈥檚 tick season from May through summertime. If you and your pets go outside, it鈥檚 important to be aware of ticks! Be clear on what a tick (and tick bite) looks like, Lyme disease symptoms, how to prevent tick bites, and how to remove ticks鈥攑lus, what to do with a removed tick!What Are Ticks?Ticks are small bloodsucking parasites. Although people assume ticks are insects, they are鈥
Zinnias have bright colors, strong stems, and long vase life. It鈥檚 not too late to start seeds in June. Sprinkle them in full sun and you鈥檒l have seedlings in days! Discover different types of zinnias from short to tall, from single color to bi-color.While there are many flowers that may be more elegant in the summer garden, zinnias rank high in 鈥渉appiness factor鈥 with their cheerful,鈥
What is the Chelsea chop? A new hairdo, dance craze, or fancy cut of meat? Nope, it鈥檚 just a pruning technique. By cutting back perennials in early summer, you can get better blooms, over a longer period, and stop your plants from becoming leggy! Here鈥檚 how it鈥檚 done.The Chelsea ChopThe name 鈥淐helsea chop鈥 comes from the Brits because they do it around the time of the annual Chelsea鈥
Grow a garden that looks鈥攁nd tastes鈥攇reat by mixing flowers with herbs and vegetables! It鈥檚 only been in recent times that we have developed this urge to separate ornamentals from edibles. Discover what we call 鈥渆dible landscaping鈥 to make your yard more of a livable retreat.What is Edible Landscaping?Edible landscaping incorporates fruit-bearing plants, culinary herbs, vegetables, and鈥
While tomatoes aren鈥檛 necessarily hard to grow, some knowledge is required to avoid common pitfalls. You鈥檒l soon notice that tomatoes aren鈥檛 a plant you can leave to grow on its own; it does best with a bit of intervention! We鈥檒l run through 10 tips and tricks for growing trouble-free tomatoes.1. Choose the Right VarietyIt may seem obvious, but the varieties you grow need to be suited鈥
Which perennial flowers bloom all summer? Whether you live in the South, Northeast, Midwest, or West, see our list of perennials to plant for colorful flowers from summer to fall. Perennials That Bloom All SummerNonstop bloom is easy to create just by planting the right varieties for your location. Try some of these regional favorites and enjoy season-long brilliant color. Most of鈥
Think you don鈥檛 have room to grow your own crispy cucumbers for summer salads? Think again! They will grow just fine in a big pot and, in some cases, will do even better than if planted in the garden. Container growing gives you more control over the conditions. You can place the pot where it will get the most sun and where it will be convenient for you to water and keep an eye on, such鈥
Get ready for summertime fun and relaxation! Here are 10 ideas for creating a backyard oasis that is cozy and inviting so that your outdoor space is your happy place!1. Define the space you wish to improve. Think of it as an outdoor room. Are you going to add a deck or terrace or patio? It can be constructed with wood, composite lumber, brick, stone, or concrete pavers.
A simple鈥
Stagger your bean plantings for a continual harvest all summer. In fact, it鈥檚 possible to get high yields and keep them coming till frost. And there are so many wonderful varieties of green beans to try. Here are some of my favorites.Whether you prefer bush varieties or pole beans, they will mature in 50 to 65 days from seeding and keep you supplied with a delicious and nutritious鈥
