Smart Garden

Container Gardening Mistakes  Good soil is key to success in any garden, but it's especially important in containers because your plants are growing in a restricted environment. So don't be tempted by expensive, off-brand potting soil that will do more harm than good to your plants. Remember, almost any soil can be labeled "potting soil," so read the label before you buy. A good quality potting soil should drain well, provide plant nutrients, and retain moisture during dry periods. Also, it should be sterile without weeds or disease organisms. A good bet is a potting mix based on aged organic compost mixed with sphagnum moss, vermiculite, or perlite. Do not use soil directly from your garden. Even the best topsoil in the world dries out too quickly for container use. Mistake No. 2: Choosing the wrong pot There are almost unlimited pots and containers to choose from. However, you should avoid drainage holes at the bottom so that excess moisture does not bu...

Effective weed control If you keep track of every hour you spend in your garden, you'll find yourself weeding excessively. While the first few weeks of ripping off these intruders can be mildly satisfying, the work quickly wears thin. Even crazier—there are just six simple tricks you can take to get rid of weeds in your garden. what is it Does the garden need weeds? Weeds are nature's cure-all for wounded, destitute places, but weeders and gardeners have different ideas about what to do to make a good recovery. Armed with a better understanding of weeds and the strategies outlined here, you can win every future battle, leaving you more time to enjoy your well-manicured garden. 1. Let the dormant weeds lie Every square inch of your garden contains weed seeds, but only the top inch or two of soil gets enough light to stimulate germination. Tilling brings hidden weed seeds to the surface, so expect weed seeds ready to explode every time you open up a patch of land, li...

How to propagate coleus from leaf cuttings Coleus are hardy only in zones 10 to 11, and most gardeners in North America grow them as annuals. If you've never met a coleus plant you didn't like, you'll definitely want to learn how to grow them year after year. Propagating new plants from plants you admire is a simple process. Check out the simple steps below to learn how to take your own coleus cuttings. Step 1: Take a coleus leaf cutting Take a cutting from a mature coleus plant: Look for stems that are 4 to 6 inches long. Cut with pruners or scissors just above a leaf tip, where the leaves leave the sides of the stem (where you cut, the plant will make two stems from the old spot and bushy the plant. ) Don't make the pieces too big; They don't root well or - if they do - become tall and thin instead of compact. Step 2: Remove the extra leaves Remove the lower leaves, leaving the top set of four leaves. Any part of the cutting below the surface of the w...

Get rid of snails Protect your plants from these slimy guys! Here are our simple, non-toxic options to get rid of slugs in your garden. Strolling through the garden, you may find your hostas look like Swiss cheese. Who could have committed such a crime? Likely culprit: snails. These slender, coarse-toothed scoundrels prefer moist, shady conditions and lush new growth. These globes of goo are hard on hostas, but they're not desirable—you can find them on other plants, too. I've battled a lot of slugs in the garden gate test garden and have a few control tips to share. Of course, you can use slug bait. Most of today's baits are not as toxic as older formulations. But I stick to non-toxic options as much as I can. These four low-impact techniques do a good job of keeping slugs away from my most prized plants, and none of these methods harm beneficial insects, pets, or people. Read on, then get out into the garden to rid your garden of these slimy pests! Traps Inst...

Petunias Blooming All Summer 1. Make sure they get enough sun Petunias need at least 6 hours of full sun per day. The sun provides energy so your petunias can grow and bloom. If your petunias get less than six hours of light a day, moving them to a sunnier location will encourage more blooms. Your petunias probably thrived early in the season because lots of sunlight came through the bare overhead trees. But once these trees are fully leafed out, your flowers will end up in too much shade. 2. Water well Keep the soil constantly moist, but not soggy. In summer, petunias in pots need water every day, sometimes even twice a day, but those growing in the ground can go longer between waterings. Using a drip system, you never forget to water. If you notice your hanging baskets or containers wilting on a hot summer day, water! Soak your petunias thoroughly until the water below drains. It also helps to grow petunias with other plants with similar water needs. 3. Fertilize regular...

Water Your Summer Garden As Mother Nature turns up the heat in your garden, make sure you're watering your plants properly. Good watering habits help make the most of every precious drop. Here are 13 tips to help your plants survive the summer heat: 1. Test the soil with your finger. Poke a few inches down near the stem to check the root zone. You can also use a soil moisture meter like this 3-in-1 moisture, pH, and sunlight intensity tester. Even if the surface looks dry, there may be moisture underneath. If not, get the tube! 2. Watering in the morning is best. This allows water to soak up water before it evaporates from hot and dry air, allows leaves to dry out after splashing, and allows plants to absorb moisture during the heat of the day. The afternoon is second best, making sure the foliage dries before nightfall. Avoid watering in the day's heat, as water evaporates too quickly, and overspray on leaves can burn them. 3. Watering wand, long neck irrigation, ...

 An ever-challenging landscape Learn how this Kansas gardener transformed his challenging landscape with structural conifers, regenerative annuals, and a beautiful rain garden that helps control erosion. Changes in the garden and adapting to change When Joyce and John Householder moved into their Kansas home in 1988, they didn't inherit a garden—mostly grass and a few bushes. But with a lot of hard work, Joyce transforms this blank slate into the ultimate relief from everyday life. He prefers a relaxed approach to gardening and allows plants to grow where they want, creating beds and borders full of life and color. Learn about the challenges he faced and walk through this unique and resilient garden. For an added bonus, you can take a virtual tour of the gardens with Joyce in the Talk & Tour video above! Build a structure with retaining walls Enlisting the help of neighbors and friends, the couple tore out existing junipers (Juniperus communis) and railroad ties an...

 Hanging basket  growing tips Hanging basket gardens are a great way to add some flowers to the garden at eye level. Check out 5 beautiful planting ideas to add some color this summer Hanging basket plant inspiration A hanging basket is one of the easiest ways to put color at eye level if nothing else. It will decorate a structure like a porch or a pergola in an instant and connect it more closely to your garden. A shepherd's hook and hanging basket are all it takes to create vertical interest in any bed or border. Watch how I created a monochromatic hanging basket in the video above along with my helpful planting tips below. Scroll on to discover 4 more must-try plant combinations for your hanging basket planters! Monochrome white hanging basket Hanging Basket Planting How-To Start with your largest focal plant and place it in the basket. In this case, I positioned the petunia first. Add plants like verbena, sedum, and sweet potato vine found here. Drape some bra...

Effective Use of Vegetable Garden Fertilizers Fertilizers boost plant health and help grow a bigger harvest of leafy greens, juicy tomatoes, and other vegetables. But with all the choices on the market today, choosing the right fertilizers for vegetable gardens can be difficult. When you finally decide on a product, figuring out how to use the fertilizer can be even more confusing. Whether you have a conventional or organic garden, the tips in this simple guide will help you choose and use the best vegetable garden fertilizer. 1. Do a soil test. Before applying fertilizers to your garden, it is always a good idea to test your soil. Soil testing can be done at home with a test kit, or you can send a soil sample to your local Cooperative Extension office for more accurate results. These tests will tell you what nutrients your soil is lacking, so you can choose the best fertilizer for your vegetable garden. 2. Create a schedule. Different plants have different fertilizer need...

Living walls A green wall can be either climbers, wall shrubs or trained fruits, or a more complex mechanized system, using all manner of high-tech gizmos from hydroponic mats to automated irrigation systems. At home in small quantities, specially designed blocks or bags filled with compost are ideal. They are easy to handle and quick to install (see How to Build a Living Wall). Maintenance is also very simple. Importantly, always choose plants with the orientation of the wall in mind, as climates can vary greatly. Care for plants as you would any other container plant. Plants for living walls Prostrate, low-growing shrubs, ferns, perennials, and grasses can all be grown on living walls, as long as they don't have invasive tendencies. Add fruits and vegetables for a display that's good enough to eat! Annuals, perennials, and grasses Sunny walls (more than half a day of summer sun) Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Ehgeron karuinskianus (Mexican fleabane) Euphorbia myrsin...