Dwarf Citrus Fruit Trees

Thanks to a grant from Highmark we were able to order dwarf citrus trees. We got a dwarf orange tree, a dwarf lime tree, a dwarf lemon tree, a dwarf clementine tree and a dwarf pineapple plant. Dwarf citrus trees will produce regular size fruits but will not grow to be bigger than 8 feet tall. That means we can move them indoors over the winter so they will survive.

Dwarf Citrus Fruit Trees

Snipping off the “suckers” from a tomato bush will help the plant to focus its power on the rising fruits instead of the leafs, Growing better, healthier fruit.

Clipping any branches off at the bottom of the tomato plant that is reaching the ground helps to ward off insects and mostly disease, such as blights and wilts.

Cut and Come Again Lettuce Sampler

The red or green lobed leaves of the oakleaf types are pillars of the looseleaf establishment. There are at least half-a-dozen varieties of each color commonly found in seed catalogs. ‘Oakleaf’ is the original old standby that yields crisp, tender, light green leaves and keeps going through moderate heat. Although it has deeply lobed leaves, ‘Salad Bowl’ is not a true oakleaf. But it is an All-America Selections winner that produces rosettes of delicate lime-green leaves and also has good heat tolerance.

Straw Bale Gardening

Using the above guide, I watered the transplants daily with my metal watering can. This allowed me to concentrate the water to the area where the transplant was put in. I also watered the bale area around the plants, to keep the whole straw bale moist. I set up the drip system in my garden a couple weeks after the transplants were planted, and had a dripper placed at each transplant's base.

Rosemary Infused Olive Oil

How to use the rosemary oil/any kind of infused oil?

1 : drizzled over pasta and potatoes
2 : as salad dressing
3 : drizzled on soup
4 : brushed on bread while making bruschetta/toasts/sandwich
5 : in dips for breads or spreads
6 : for marinating fish or chicken
7 : braising and grilling vegetables
8 : makes the most wonderful homemade gift

Pots And Stones With A Little Moss

We live in a home just outside of Toronto and are fortunate enough to have a fairly decent sized yard. Over the spring, I constructed a nice little rock garden in the corner of my property. Not to toot my own horn but I think that I did a fairly good job. The only problem was that I bought the stones from a rock quarry and they were clean which gave the structure a very “new” look where I was looking for more of a Stonehenge/Easter Island look.

gardening Vertical with a pallet

As we have seen in previous posts, recycled pallets are perfect to create interesting vertical gardens, ideal as decorative elements in gardens and outdoor terraces. In this example, Diyshowoff found, we can see a clever way to create a mobile vertical garden which allows us to easily move our garden depending on the needs of the moment. An interesting idea, flexible convinced us.

Plant A Garden Barrel For Your Zone

If you’re short on gardening space–or you have room, but your soil is less than perfect– plant a garden barrel instead. It’s a great way to grow beautiful flowers or fresh veggies and herbs, whether you place it in your yard or on a patio or deck.

Use a whisky garden barrel with a drainage hole, or make a few holes in the bottom with a drill, and fill the barrel with good planting mix. Tip: put the barrel where you want it before adding soil, plants, and water, or it will be too heavy to move later.

Make A Raised Garden Bed

You know something is easy to make when the directions say “just add water.” Making a raised garden bed from a kit is almost that easy, since you only add dirt, plants, and then water. Raised garden bed kits come in a variety of sizes, so you can choose a bed that will fit into your available space and hold as many plants as you want to grow.

Smart watering tips for Summer

Homeowners devote as much as 60% of their home’s water to maintain lawns and landscapes. Much of it is wasted or lost to runoff, so a bit of smart planning can go a long way toward reducing both your environmental impact and your water bill.

Make Your Own Pumpkin Keg

What better way to serve a pumpkin beer – and a host of other fall beers and beverages – than in your own homemade pumpkin keg.  No fancy brewing equipment or extreme sanitation methods required…I promise!

 came up with this great tutorial for creating your Halloween party masterpiece.

Plant a Beer Garden

Brew up this clever container garden featuring plants used in the beer-making process.

Plant a Beer Garden : amzon

Jardin Vertical Usando Un Palé

Ya habíamos visto aquí otros interesantes ejemplos para realizar pequeños jardines verticales, pero nunca está de más ver otro buen ejemplo. Con una grapadora o con pequeños clavos añades una tela de arpillera en la parte interior de las tablas, luego recubres el palé con una tela impermeable dejando libre el hueco superior para poder rellenarlo con turba como puedes ver en las imágenes, ahora sólo te queda plantar y esperar. Simple y muy ingenioso.

Je mange et je cultive #avocat

Je mange et je cultive aujourd’hui un avocat ! Pour éviter de jeter le noyau, on lui donne une seconde vie et c’est bien ce qu’il va se passer dans quelques jours, puisque ce noyau une fois planté, va te donner un très bel arbuste et pourquoi pas dans plusieurs mois des avocats à déguster !

A Rope Covered Tire Planter with Tripod Legs

Hey there everyone!  Earth day is coming up on April 22nd, which means it’s the time of year when people start thinking of ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.  I love the challenge of coming up with ways to reduce waste.  If you don’t believe me, you should see my scrap wood pile.  I hate the idea of throwing it away when there could be a great project just begging to be built!  Luckily, I was able to use some of that scrap wood for this awesome project!

How to Make Stepping Stones - with a Cake Pan

You don’t need a fancy schmancy mold to make garden stepping stones; all you need is a non-stick cake pan! And you won’t even ruin the pan!

I stumbled on a new – and EASIER way to make mosaic stepping stones; it’s called the indirect method and it involves contact paper. I think these would make awesome favors or gifts for a garden wedding. Just get your maids together on a Saturday afternoon and have a stepping stone party. They’re inexpensive to make – and they don’t require much skill.

recycle unused golf balls make a cute decoration for your garden

Painting golf balls to look like ladybugs is easy so it’s a great project to do with kids. As long as they already have good control of their hands, they can definitely make their own beautiful golf ball ladybugs. Just don’t forget to where an appropriate mask when you’re spray painting the golf balls!

The featured golf ball ladybugs here are an example of the basic way to make this cute decor idea. But you can be more creative. Use other recyclable materials such as old wire hangers and empty plastic bottles to create the legs and wings!

Grass Bed Offers a Cozy Green Oasis

Many people love to relax by lying on the grass and taking in the warm sunshine. But what if your yard is made of concrete? With this obstacle in mind, Jason Hodges, a landscape gardener on the Australian TV show Better Homes & Gardens, has come up with a clever solution. He demonstrates how to bring some green onto the pavement by building a grass day bed. Complete with pillows and a headboard, the lounger offers a great place to soak up some sun and read a good book.

Growing Rose From Cutting

My neighbour has a row of roses, which he took as cuttings. I asked how he took them. He simply plunges the cuttings into the ground. But his secret of success is the humble potato! Before planting cuttings, he pushes the bottom end into a small potato, which he believes keeps the cuttings moist as they develop roots. It sounds crazy, but his row of allotment roses is proof it works. Via : Taking rose cuttings

Pink flowers and white roses

Seventy comments in the comments thread!  Really?
I’m shocked.  I’m in awe.  And, most importantly, I’m truly ~ and deeply ~ grateful!  I wish I could hug each and every one of you.  So here’s my virtual hug …
And you were honest.  Brutally so, just like I asked you to be …
And while I recognize ~ and it was confirmed ~ that so many of you that stop by here are crafty types, you recognize that not everyone else is …

How to grow celery from celery

Granted, this may not be the way to solve the world’s hunger problems, but it’s a fun experiment.

Take the base from a stalk of celery, rinse it off, and put it in a shallow cup or jar of warm water on a window sill. Change the water daily and keep an eye on it to see if any regrowth begins. As you can see from the photos below, there were significant signs of regrowth within five days.

Brick edging for your flower beds

If you want a maintenance-free way to prevent your lawn from encroaching on your flower beds. And don't have to worry again about mulch or decorative stone in your flower bed working its way into your lawn. Here are the steps you can take to achieve this attractive and fairly inexpensive border.

Travertine Marble and Resin Merge to Create Tables

Designer Alexandre Chapelin of LA Table designed this intriguing series of three tables he refers to as Lagoon Tables. Each table is formed from a carved travertine base to which he adheres a special resin that forms volumes of water that appear to slice through each piece. The tables are undoubtedly influenced by Chapelin’s immediate surroundings on the small Caribbean island of Saint Martin where his studio is based. You can see more of his work here. (via Colossal Submissions)

How To Glow table

Really light up your next dinner party with a table that glows in the dark!

Photoluminescent (glow) powder mixed with clear casting resin fills the naturally formed voids in Pecky Cypress hardwood, creating a unique and stunning table. The glow powder charges up in sunlight and emits a cool blue glow when in partial or complete darkness.

Create a Stylish Patio with Large Poured Concrete Pavers

Here, Nicole takes us through all the steps that were involved in creating her paver and gravel patio.
Poured Concrete Pavers and Gravel Patio
The most challenging part of our recent patio makeover for the The Home Depot Patio Style Challenge, was building the cement paver patio. I always wanted large pavers to anchor the outdoor space, and I knew making them ourselves would be a doozie. But I also knew that creating poured concrete pacers would be the most cost effective approach.

Plastic swimming pool with a deck of wood

The deck was built with a double row of posts and beams for the floor joists and you can see the mitered pattern we planned for the floor. All the boards were screwed on the ends to try to minimize warping of the treated wood. We used the pool during the build process and had a lot of parties there before the deck was completed. After the deck was done, the railing was made to match the railing I made for the deck off the kitchen which I don’t have any pictures of anywhere.

How To Build a Flower Tower

Add architectural beauty to your landscape with this simple project. This flower tower adds a beautiful, unusual touch to any garden or patio.

Growing a Spring Bulb Garden Indoors

You will need :

bulbs (used here: amaryllis, Paperwhite, pre-chilled daffodils)
containers, with and without drainage holes
potting soil
water
Grow a gorgeous wintertime bouquet just in time for the holidays! For this project you'll simply plop a few bulbs into a container and add water. Let your kids help choose the perfect colors and decorate the pot to give as a holiday gift to a favorite teacher. They'll love watching the sprouts emerge. Start new bulbs every 10 days for a continuous supply of fresh-as-spring flowers all winter long.

Preserved Lemons with Rosemary

Preserved lemons are a classic Moroccan condiment often used to flavor stews and sauces. Boiling the lemons softens them more quickly than soaking them in a salty solution alone, cutting your soaking time to around three days. Keep in mind that lemons with thinner skins will take less time to soften. Thinly slice or chop preserved lemons (both rind and flesh), and add to fish, lamb, or chicken recipes. They also give a big flavor boost to tuna, lobster, and pasta salads. Remember to taste before seasoning the dish with any additional salt.

How to grow basil

Planting Basil : Although basil grows best outdoors, it can be grown indoors in a pot and, like most herbs, will do best on an equator-facing windowsill. It should be kept away from extremely cold drafts, and grows best in strong sunlight, therefore a greenhouse or row cover is ideal if available. They can, however, be grown even in a basement, under fluorescent lights

Watering : Ensure that your basil plants receive approximately 1 1/2 inches of water per week.

Soil : Basically any fertile soil will grow Basil.

Gardening on a Budget

There are lots of other savings to be made – containers are one.  Keep all your empty margarine tubs, yogurt pots, egg boxes, and the cardboard from toilet and kitchen rolls – they can all be used for seed sowing.  Plastic fruit punnets and meat packaging from supermarkets also make excellent containers or lids to cover your seedlings early in the year, as are one litre pop bottles – when cut in half they make excellent mini-greenhouses for your plants.  I also use florists buckets, when I can find them; cut the bottoms off, stand on the soil, and fill with compost to use for deep rooted veg such as carrots and parsnips.

Propagating Basil from Cutting

Propagating Basil from Cutting : amazon

self watering transplant pots

Keep seedlings growing strong until it's time to plant in the garden
Supplies consistent moisture for healthy transplants
Reusable year after year

Your seeds have germinated nicely, your plants are doing great, and it's time to repot. Here's how to ensure that seedlings thrive at this crucial stage: transplant into these pots that water themselves! The system includes a 1/2-gallon reservoir tray, a capillary mat that wicks water up to plants, transport tray(s) for carrying pots, and your choice of 40 round 2" pots, 18 round 3" pots, 18 square 3-1/2" pots or 12 round 4" pots.

How To Natural Stone Paths

A wonderful garden has not to be a large garden, sumptuous or located in a beautiful landscape. It would be perfect, but a lovely garden must be, primarily, arranged and clean. Then, there aresome other aspects that must be considered: furniture, space, accessories… The paths from natural stones are preferred landscapers with delicate tastes. The paths from of sand, gravel or crack will be one hundred percent natural and organic. The magic of this material has demonstration: imagine a red geranium grown at the edge of any with white marble pebbles and you will realize the result

Marvelous mailboxes in the gardening

You’ve got mail!  Get inspired next time you see an old discarded mailbox at a Flea Market or a yard sale.  Many folks have heard the idea for using an old mailbox to store some garden gloves or pruners, but these beauties have been taken a step further!  They’re  some of the best ideas from Flea Market Gardening.  A marvelous mailbox can be at home in your garden and be useful and decorative,…even charmingly rusty like this one from Darcy Franco.

Flea Market Ladder

I paid $15.00 for the old rickety ladder from the local indoor flea market.  I love it!  Today, I added  mums to all the pots and a few bird houses- and Voila!  A Flea Market Styled flower planter!  My sister, Connie gave me the wagon wheel to top it off!  I have a little Cherub hidden on the bottom rung.  Here is the before picture.

Planting a vegetable garden in pots

Before you begin figure out the best placement for your garden, observe your yard at different times throughout the day: The ideal location gets at least six hours of sunlight. Nearly all vegetables will grow better in full sunlight than in shade, but some crops (lettuces, mustard greens) can tolerate more shade than others (onions, tomatoes).

Collect and Prepare Butternut Squash Seeds

To begin with - if you get a selection - select the most important, healthiest specimen that you just will notice, discarding something that's showing signs of malady.

When it involves gathering squash seeds, you want to wait till the fruit is ripe and prepared for ingestion. To air the safe aspect you'll be able to leave them inside on a heat sill for day or 2 to permit the seeds to develop additional.
Once you're happy that the squash is prepared, cut it open, scoop the seeds out into a sieve and rinse them below a running cold faucet. this may withdraw most of the fibrous, jelly like coating that covers them – this can be there to stop germination whereas they're still within the fruit.

10 Bug Repelling Plants Your Backyard Needs

Here are 10 bug repelling plants to try. And not only will these ward off unwanted critters, but you can use the herbs to make your next cookout even tastier!

1. Petunias

These bright-colored beauties are often planted to repel squash bugs, beetles and aphids. They need a sunny spot, so try them near your vegetable garden or in a window box.