My Kaboodle

Best Plants for Cleaning Indoor Air

All indoor plants will improve the quality of the air you breathe, but some are better than others. Here is a list of...

See more

(03/05/09) All indoor plants will improve the quality of the air you breathe, but some are better than others. Here is a list of some of them: * areca palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) * lady palm (Raphis excelsa) * rubber plant (Ficus robusta) * English ivy (Hedera helix) * dragon tree (Dracaena marginata * Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) * peace lily (Spathiphyllum) * poinsettia (euphorbia pulcherrima) * florist chrysanthemums * philodendrons * Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) * spider plant (Chlorophytum)See less

Recycling a little junk mail -...

After posting new photos of the seedlings, some were asking about the newspaper pots I use. They are completely free...

See more

(04/14/09) After posting new photos of the seedlings, some were asking about the newspaper pots I use. They are completely free (aside from the soil we buy to fill them with although one could use their own soil and compost) because I use papers that come to our house every week for free. We get an insane amount of junk mail here. About two inches thick every week. A lot of it is slick fliers which can’t be used but about 30 pages is just local newspapers. That’s 30 pots a week. I have been making my own newspaper pots for about a year now. If I didn’t want to make myself so insane, I might just make a few throughout the year. Then I could store them up for planting time. Instead I wait until the time comes and make about 10-20 pots a night. It really does get monotonous and boring. But sometimes I can talk Stefan into doing the first part of the folding (in half three times) and then I do the rest. I store them in groups of 10, using of the pots to hold 9 folded pots. This keeps them from...See less

backyard paradise: Outdoor Spaces...

Clematis: The Official Website

(05/23/07) Learn how to grow beautiful clematis that will bloom year after yearSee less

DIY: Planting Your Garden Box

* Move your box to the area you want to permanently place it. Since the area in my yard was on a slight incline, I had...

See more

(06/11/08) * Move your box to the area you want to permanently place it. Since the area in my yard was on a slight incline, I had to dig the box in further on one side than on the other. In any case, you're going to want to dig a perimeter trench for the box, and then place it in the trench. * Use a level to make sure that your box is sitting evenly. * You can stand on the four corners and jump up and down a bit to make sure it's anchored well, too. * Now, break the soil that you dug out of the trenches and use it to stuff into the sides of the box to fill in any holes. * Then, use a pitchfork or shovel to dig up and turn over the grass and soil inside the box.See less

House plants: ABCs of growing...

By Paula Szilard, Master Gardener, Colorado State University, Extension, Arapahoe County September 24, 2001 | Now that...

See more

(07/08/07) By Paula Szilard, Master Gardener, Colorado State University, Extension, Arapahoe County September 24, 2001 | Now that the growing season is almost over, gardeners can focus their attention inward and beautify interior landscapes with tropical plants that make the cold Colorado winters more bearable. These plants humidify the air and clean it of gaseous pollutants, such as formaldehyde, ammonia and certain chemical solvents. A few even flower virtually nonstop all winter! Begin by bringing some of your favorite garden plants inside. Plants grown as annuals - geraniums, abutilons and semperflorens begonias - can be grown indoors, as can the plectranthus (Swedish Ivy relatives) and spikes (dracaenas) used in patio pots. If placed in a bright south, east or west window, geraniums, abutilons and begonias will bloom almost all winter. Geranium leaves will yellow and wither when abruptly placed indoors; this, however, is temporary. To avoid bringing in tobacco budworm, examine plants...See less

How to: Keep birds from tomatoes

The tomato plants are getting huge and so begins Varmint Patrol 2008. For squirrels, well, the dog is on point to deal...

See more

(12/08/08) The tomato plants are getting huge and so begins Varmint Patrol 2008. For squirrels, well, the dog is on point to deal with squirrels. She does a pretty good job of it even if I do lose the occasional beefsteak to some fence-to-plant squirrel acrobatic successes. So for squirrels I have to rely on the whole predator vs. prey thing and hope my domesticated predator wins. Birds are a different story. They just yell at and dive-bomb the dog, returning to smugly peck away at my most succulent tomatoes. I’m sure they sit on the roof and laugh at me when I go to pick a nice ripe specimen only to find the entire back side all beaked away. Gah! So my parents, hearing me lament over this last summer, suggested this solution by which they swear. Apparently to keep birds from eating the fruit off your tomato vines, you can hang red Christmas ball ornaments around the plants early in the season. The birds peck them, find them to be hard and pingy and assume the same will be the case with other red...See less

How to: Prune Large Tree Branches

Step One Make the first cut, which prevents the bark from tearing when the branch comes off. Make a cut a few inches...

See more

(03/14/09) Step One Make the first cut, which prevents the bark from tearing when the branch comes off. Make a cut a few inches deep on the underside of the branch several inches away from the main trunk. Make all cuts so the saw moves away from you. Step Two Make a second cut on the top of the branch, an inch or less out from the first cut. Cut all the way through or until the branch falls away. Step Three Make the final cut. Remove the stub you've just created, but don't cut exactly flush with the trunk. The cut should slope slightly outwards to create a collar, which heals better. There's no need to apply any wound dressings. Research has found trees heal as well or better without them.See less

How to: Start a Lawn from Seed

The least expensive way to start a lawn is by seed. And as long as the area is relatively flat, starting a lawn with...

See more

(03/14/09) The least expensive way to start a lawn is by seed. And as long as the area is relatively flat, starting a lawn with seed is a snap. The biggest task is preparing the site, making sure the soil is of good quality. Choose your grass carefully. Different types of grass perform better in some parts of the country than others (depending on sunlight, exposure and geographic location). Read the package carefully for information on which grass to choose for your yard.See less

Learn2Grow

Gardening Tips, Plant Database, Lawn Care. Learn2Grow helps gardeners of all abilities become better gardeners. Find...

See more

(09/18/08) Gardening Tips, Plant Database, Lawn Care. Learn2Grow helps gardeners of all abilities become better gardeners. Find Gardening Guides, solutions to your gardening problems, great gardening projects, gardening inspirations and online gardening courses.See less

Lilacs: Care and maintenance (forum...

The best way to propagate your lilac is to dig up the shoots that come up and move those with roots attached. They also...

See more

(04/26/08) The best way to propagate your lilac is to dig up the shoots that come up and move those with roots attached. They also replace the ones that become old and less productive. Those are pruned to the ground. : There are several reasons why lilacs stop blooming or blooming well. Look at these sites for info on that.See less

Lilacs: How to Prune Lilacs

For the absolutely perfectly shaped lilac bush, you need to prune them each year. Pruning lilacs is a very important...

See more

(04/26/08) For the absolutely perfectly shaped lilac bush, you need to prune them each year. Pruning lilacs is a very important part of growing and caring for Lilacs. While some varieties only grow 4 to 8 feet, others can reach up to 30 feet tall. Most will grow in excess of 10 feet. Pruning will not only help with shape and appearance, but also impact plant health and vigor and the profusion of flowers. There are right and wrong ways to prune a lilac bush. There is also a right and a wrong time. Most importantly, prune or trim back your bush immediately after they are done blooming. Make sure to remove the spent bloom with your clippers. This will keep the plant from growing seeds and encourage creation of next year's buds. Next year's flower bud develops early, even though you may not see it. I have seen inexperienced gardeners trim the tops several inches back. While it looked a whole lot nicer, they loped off the next year's flowers with one pass of the hedge trimmer. By the way, we do not...See less

Lilacs: INTERNATIONAL LILAC SOCIETY

Bonjour Lilac Aficionados, I am Nicole Jordan, president of the International Lilac Society. Born in Bordeaux, France, I...

See more

(06/29/07) Bonjour Lilac Aficionados, I am Nicole Jordan, president of the International Lilac Society. Born in Bordeaux, France, I came here in 1959 and settled in Virginia with my husband. I joined ILS a long time ago and became a life member. I love lilacs, that goes without saying; we planted them in our four acre garden. Every Spring I waited for the first blooms and went around smelling their sweet perfume and declaring to everyone present, "it smells like France". Yes, mes amis, it does smell like France in springtime when the hedgerows of my childhood were full of lilacs swaying in the gentle winds and filling the air with their fragrance. In Virginia lilacs can be found on old plantations, old farms, and old neighborhoods. Often planted next to the house, they have grown tall and the blooms are sparse. They seem forlorn to me but they are survivers and have perservered. Time has passed since the original gardeners planted them and waited with trepidation for those first blooms. We all...See less

Methods: Propagate Trees and Shrubs...

Released 03 June 1999 If you'd like to have a few more of those prized lilac shrubs in your yard, now's the time to put...

See more

(04/26/08) Released 03 June 1999 If you'd like to have a few more of those prized lilac shrubs in your yard, now's the time to put your green thumb to work. Many ornamental shrubs and trees easily can be propagated by stem cuttings. Cuttings taken from the succulent, new growth that occurred this spring also are referred to as softwood cuttings. These cuttings usually root easier and faster than cuttings taken from harder wood later in the season. However, softwood cuttings do wilt more readily and thus require close attention to water and relative humidity. Make cuts just below a node, the area where the leaf joins the stem. A 4-6 inch length is ideal. Remove the lower leaves and insert the cut ends into a moist rooting media such as vermiculite, perlite or potting mix. Placing cuttings directly into water is not recommended because it deprives the developing roots of oxygen. The resulting root system is weak and spindly and does not adapt well to a soil environment. Relative humidity can be...See less

Petunias: how to collect and save...

I save petunia seeds all the time, it's very easy. After the flower dies and falls off keep an eye on the calyx it...

See more

(08/04/08) I save petunia seeds all the time, it's very easy. After the flower dies and falls off keep an eye on the calyx it swells with seeds then it turns brown and splits open. If you pick it off before it splits and put it in an open container you'll get all the seeds. For me it's easier to do late in the summer to early fall when the plant gets a little leggy and there are alot more seed pods. I know that the wave petunias are very easy, they even reseed themselves if you let the plants die where they are planted. RoxanneSee less

Planning: 10 Most Easy-to-Grow...

The following is a top 10 list of easy-to-grow vegetables and their recommended varieties. * Carrot. Plant seeds several...

See more

(05/27/08) The following is a top 10 list of easy-to-grow vegetables and their recommended varieties. * Carrot. Plant seeds several times throughout the growing season, early spring into fall for a continuous harvest. Soil should be loose and deep. Varieties: ‘Nantes,’ ‘Chantenay,’ ‘Touchon,’ ‘Short n’ Sweet’. * Cucumber. Wait until warm weather to plant seeds. Varieties: ‘Sweet Success,’ ‘Fanfare,’ ‘Lemon’. * Green Beans. Plant seeds after frost danger. Bush types are easier to manage, but pole types are more productive in an equal space (because they’re taller!). Varieties: ‘Blue Lake,’ ‘Contender,’, ‘Kentucky Wonder’. * Lettuce. Plant seeds as soon as soil can be worked -- hot weather ruins the plants. Varieties: ‘Black Seeded Simpson,’ ‘Buttercrunch,’ ‘Deer Tongue,’ ‘Nevada’. * Onion. Timing the planting of seeds or the miniature onion bulbs called sets can be tricky. Also consider mail-order onion seedlings. Check locally for availability. * Peas. Sow seeds early in spring as soon as you can...See less

Planning: 5 foods it's cheaper to...

If grocery prices have you thinking about cutting costs with a garden, you may be on the right track. But be careful...

See more

(06/04/08) If grocery prices have you thinking about cutting costs with a garden, you may be on the right track. But be careful what you plant; a garden could raise your food costs.See less

Planning: Lowe's Garden Planner

If your outdoor inspiration needs a little help, here is the tool you need. Use Lowe's Landscape and Garden Planner to...

See more

(03/12/08) If your outdoor inspiration needs a little help, here is the tool you need. Use Lowe's Landscape and Garden Planner to help build the yard of your dreams. With our design tool, garden and landscape planning are as easy as clicking and dragging.See less

Rain Gardens: Discover Rain Gardens

(05/21/08) A Kansas City, Missouri, initiative provides inspiration for cleaner, greener community landscapes.See less

Rain Gardens: It's easy to create a...

It's easy to create a beautiful, functional rain garden! Deep-rooted plants and the sunken profile of rain gardens...

See more

(05/21/08) It's easy to create a beautiful, functional rain garden! Deep-rooted plants and the sunken profile of rain gardens help infiltrate stormwater runoff and reduce erosion. And rain gardens can be as beautiful as they are functional. In fact, many of our most beautiful regional plants need the type of regular moisture found in a rain garden to thrive.See less

Shrubs: Removing Shrubs

Expert: William J Wood Date: 9/28/2006 Subject: Removing Shrubs Question I recently moved into a new home and have these...

See more

(04/08/08) Expert: William J Wood Date: 9/28/2006 Subject: Removing Shrubs Question I recently moved into a new home and have these large evergreen shrubs in front of my home. I am wanting to get rid of them and put something that would give the home more curb appeal. How do I go about removing these? They are fairly close to my foundation and don't want to do any damage to that. I have no desire to replant them anywhere on the property. Thank you for your help! AnnaSee less

Strawberries: How to Grow...

Pots and cans are the perfect space-saving containers in which to grow this favorite fruit. The potting process is quite...

See more

(05/27/08) Pots and cans are the perfect space-saving containers in which to grow this favorite fruit. The potting process is quite simple and takes only minutes. If you feed and water the plants regularly, you’ll have juicy strawberries for the picking all summer long.See less

Tomatoes: Growing Tomatoes...

At first glance, this might look like an unusual way to grow tomatoes. But Jim Appleby from Iowa has discovered several...

See more

(05/10/07) At first glance, this might look like an unusual way to grow tomatoes. But Jim Appleby from Iowa has discovered several benefits to hanging his tomatoes in buckets. First, the air can circulate better so the plants have almost no disease problems. Second, the fruit doesn’t rot as quickly as that on the ground. And finally, some critters that eat tomatoes have trouble getting to the ripening fruit. To make the upside-down containers, Jim used 5-gallon buckets with tight-fitting lids. He recycled his from a restaurant, but says you can find them many places, such as paint or hardware stores. Jim scrubs each bucket out with soapy water and makes sure the handle is attached securely. He cuts a 2-inch or larger diameter hole in the center of the lid and one in the bottom of the bucket. To make the holes, he uses a drill with a hole saw bit (an attachment for cutting a door to install the doorknob). With the bucket standing upright and the lid off, Jim covers the hole in the bottom with a...See less

Tomatoes: Homegrown Tomatoes

Tomatoes offer a lot to home gardeners. The first thing that comes to mind is the healthy and delicious fruit. Tomatoes...

See more

(05/10/07) Tomatoes offer a lot to home gardeners. The first thing that comes to mind is the healthy and delicious fruit. Tomatoes are a source of vitamin C, vitamin A (from beta carotene) and lycopene (shown to be beneficial in reducing the risk of prostate cancer). Tomatoes are juicier grown at home - some of the juiciest varieties can't be shipped by commercial growers without damage. They are relatively easy to grow. Four or five plants will produce enough tomatoes for a normal-sized family. There seem to be as many opinions about growing tomatoes as there are varieties. Keeping that in mind, we are providing some general ideas intended to help you make the most of your tomato gardening efforts this year. Lowe's is happy to provide this information as a service to you.See less

Tomatoes: How to Stake Tomato...

There are several advantages to staking tomatoes. Since the plants grow upward rather than outward, they are forced to...

See more

(05/27/08) There are several advantages to staking tomatoes. Since the plants grow upward rather than outward, they are forced to produce more pounds of tomatoes from a given area of ground than unstaked plants. The fruits of a staked tomato plant ripen earlier and are larger (though fewer) than fruits of the same variety trained to a sprawling habit.See less

Tree Planting

Choosing a tree should be a well thought-out decision. Tree planting can be a significant investment in money and time....

See more

(09/05/08) Choosing a tree should be a well thought-out decision. Tree planting can be a significant investment in money and time. Proper selection can provide you with years of enjoyment as well as significantly increase the value of your property. An inappropriate tree for your property can be a constant maintenance problem or even a hazard. Before you buy, take advantage of the abundant references on gardening at local libraries, universities, arboretums, parks where trees are identified, native plant and gardening clubs, and nurseries. Some questions to consider in selecting a tree include: * What purpose will this tree serve? Trees can serve numerous landscape functions including beautification, screening of sights and sounds, shade and energy conservation, and wildlife habitat. * Is the species appropriate for your area? Reliable nurseries will not sell plant material that is not suitable for your area. However, some mass marketers have trees and shrubs that are not winter hardy in the area...See less

Braveheart Lettuce - Burpee

NEW Extra-large romaine with solid full hearts rich green to the core. The extra-large heads of this hearty new romaine...

See more

(12/31/08) NEW Extra-large romaine with solid full hearts rich green to the core. The extra-large heads of this hearty new romaine form solid, full hearts that are rich green to the core. Save loads of money and make no waste growing Braveheart, as every smooth green leaf, whether loose outer or tight inner, is mild and tasty. Added disease resistance ensures growing success in every garden. 70 Days.See less

Bush Bean Heavyweight II

Customer Favorite Delicious and productive. We've added improved disease reistance. Like the original, Heavyweight II is...

See more

(01/29/09) Customer Favorite Delicious and productive. We've added improved disease reistance. Like the original, Heavyweight II is the most productive bush bean we have ever seen. Stocky plants are only 18" tall and produce huge handfuls of sweet tender pods fully 8" long. Ready to harvest in about 53 days.See less

Watermelon Snack Pack Hybrid

NEW Our first true “personal size” watermelon! Burpee Exclusive. Our first true “personal size” watermelon — weighing in...

See more

(12/31/08) NEW Our first true “personal size” watermelon! Burpee Exclusive. Our first true “personal size” watermelon — weighing in at only 3-4 pounds! The seedless fruit is about the size and shape of a large cantaloupe, fitting easily in one hand. Each melon has a very thin, dark green outer rind and crisp, bright red flesh. Its highly portable, leaves no waste, and boasts an intensely sweet, juicy flavor. Check the prices of one of these fruits in the market and you’ll be scrambling to plant early for all-season harvests. Sow with enclosed pollinator seed. 75 days.See less

Gardenia jasminoides 'Radicans'...

Growth Rate: Rapid to moderate | Size: Height 1 to 2 feet; spread of 2 to 3 feet | Site Requirements: Sun to partial...

See more

(05/22/09) Growth Rate: Rapid to moderate | Size: Height 1 to 2 feet; spread of 2 to 3 feet | Site Requirements: Sun to partial shade; well-drained acidic soilSee less