Self-Watering spike

I half expected these things not to work and out plants would be dead after returning from a holiday vacation. Surprisingly, as simple as these are they worked great. Plants kept with constant moisture. Now we leave them in all the time and just refill the vases. Someone should make a tank that can clip on the outside of the pot. Only note is that you need to fill the ceramic plug completely full with water and immerse the tubes to ensure the capillary action works to pull water into the spike.

How to grow basil

When to Plant : Plant The crowns in early-mid spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. Keep the asparagus patch free of weeds, especially for the first couple of years.

Watering : Water frequently as crowns get established. After a few years, supplemental water should be required only during periods of drought.

How to Grow Asparagus

When to Plant : Plant The crowns in early-mid spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. Keep the asparagus patch free of weeds, especially for the first couple of years.

Watering : Water frequently as crowns get established. After a few years, supplemental water should be required only during periods of drought.

Wood Pallet Project

If you do this in your backyard remember to be careful you may need to ad reinforcements underneath. Pallets aren't made to be walked on just to hold evenly distributed weight.

The Best Way To Grow Corn

When to Plant : Extremely frost sensitive, corn planted in soils cooler than 55 degrees (65 for super-sweet varieties) fails to germinate or has very poor germination. Direct-sow only after night temperatures are consistently in the 50s. Plant in blocks of at least 3 rows, at least 3 feet long apiece, to ensure best pollination. Hand-pollinate by gently shaking plants toward one another if you cannot devote this much space.

Use toilet paper rolls to start your plants

Use toilet paper rolls to start your plants. When ready to plant, stick the whole roll in the ground. The roll will decompose.

greenhouses made from plastic bottles

2-Liter Soda Bottles have several great uses! If you cut the bottom off, you can use them to cover seedlings like mini greenhouses. They also protect them from frost, wind, and strong rain.

How to Build a Patio

Most patios take time, and days of effort, to build. But a small, detached patio like the one pictured here comes together quickly with minimal effort.

Think of the possible uses for this circle of bricks. You can tuck it into a perennial border. Or place it in a remote corner of your garden, where you can linger at day's end over a glass of wine, or on Sunday morning with a latte while perusing the papers.

the basics of herbs

You can get the materials from : amazon

How to rose Plant Diseases and Pests

Disease and Insect Pests
Roses are susceptible to a number of disease and insect pests. Roses may survive without a basic pest control program, but they may not be very attractive. A pest control program starts with proper site selection, good soil preparation, good drainage, proper spacing, cultivar selection, and plant maintenance. These all foster healthy roses that are better able to withstand the pressure of disease and insects.

Make A Butterfly Island Bed

Gardens come alive when butterflies visit. They’re fun to watch, and they’re fascinating for kids, who can learn how butterflies transform from eggs to caterpillars, and from pupas to adults. A raised butterfly island bed will attract these winged guests to your property. Keep a camera and garden journal handy to observe them, or just sit back and enjoy the colorful show.

How to Plant a Beer Garden

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

You can get the materials from : amazon

How To Make a Planter Box From wood

This 3½-foot-tall box, is an especially easy project, taking only a few hours to build. Just buy a ready-made redwood window box at the nursery and attach sturdy legs. Then all you have to do is fill it with soil and plant.

Easy Way To Build a Small Greenhouse

This is a portable greenhouse, good to start seeds or small vegetables  (basil, parsley, salad, cilantro...). it's really fast and easy to built, and super economic and ecologic, I made mine all out of scraps and in little more than an hour.

Window bird house

Great idea! How exceiting to be able to watch birds build their nest and hatch their babies right from my own window. Love the simple yet sturdy construction. The natural wood can be left as is, or finished if desired. The instructions gave ideas for placement, and it stuck easily to my window with very secure suction cups.

Easy garden watering

 The whole system only took about 30 minutes to install. I had never dealt with any plumbing at all before and it was extremely easy. The snap nozzle at the end of the hose is great and quick if I need to use the other end of the hose for something else. It's great!
You can get the Snip-n-Drip Soaker System from amazon.

Plastic Bottle Hanging Planter Vase

Plastic Bottle Hanging Planter Vase

Rhubarb leaf stepping stones

How To Do:

Cut a piece of plastic at least 6" larger than the leaf you are using as a form.
Place plastic on hard surface.
Lay rhubarb leaf down with its vein side facing up.
Follow package direction for mixing concrete.
Use a trowel or gloved hands to put concrete mix on leaf.
Keep concrete about ½" from the edge of the leaf.
Make sure your concrete is at least 1" thick
Cut some wire about 2" smaller than your leaf.
Place the wire on the concrete and pat it down (gloved hands work best and it’s fun)
Put another layer of concrete on top of the wire 1-1½" thick.
Gently pull the plastic up around the leaf.
Prop the whole thing in place with sand or dirt if needed.
Cover top loosely with another layer of plastic.

Beautiful Concrete Garden Furniture

Concrete and Nature united design/development of garden furniture

Natural water gardens

As anyone who has snorkeled can attest, the cool aquamarine light underwater casts an enchanted glow on everything in its domain. Perhaps this explains the allure of water gardens. Small freshwater gardens are fun to create and simple to care for. And all you need are a few floating or submerged greens in a vintage aquarium, an apothecary jar, or a sleek glass cylinder.

Starry String Lights

An absolutely magical lighting feature. Truly like floating stars since the wires almost disappear. My visiting friends couldn't keep their hands off them.
The best lighting string I ever bought and since I ordered them from Amazon the selection, service and delivery couldn't be faster. I love them.

How to make a potato barrel using chicken wire

Step 1 : is to make a barrel shape out of chicken wire or metal fencing (which we already had on hand). Just cut to size and use wire to hold it in shape.
Step 2 : line the sides with bird netting to keep the soil in.
Step 3 : placed a good amount of straw as a bottom layer. On top of the straw goes a layer of compost.
Step 4 : Next cut up some seed potatoes, making sure there is an eye in each piece.
Step 5 : Place them around the edge of the barrel with the eyes facing outward.
Step 6 : add layers of Straw on top, then compost, then potato eyes, and repeat till you get to the top. The top layer can have eyes planted all through the center because they can grow straight up. Now keep it watered, watch it grow, and when the foliage dies just dump the whole thing over and dig for buried potato treasure.

Pole Bean Hideaway

What a cute and cleaver idea! Clear around the planting area, for productive growth of the beans. Greate hideaway for kids in the yard, leave the grass in the center.

How To Plant a Winter Hanging Basket

Before You Plant
Stand the basket on a wide pot to keep it stable during preparation. Then add a specially made basket liner.

Cut Out Planting Holes
Lay a circle of plastic bag over the bottom of the liner to act as a reservoir. Cut out a few evenly spaced crosses around the sides of the liner.

DIY Concrete Ladybug


DIY Concrete Ladybug amazon

Diy Garden Trinkets


I saw this in a garden in San Francisco and I decided I wanted one! This is a really easy 3 step instructable.
collect some stones long and thin, and one bigger.
glue the little stones perpendicular to the big one, like in the photo.
make 2 little dots on each stone with white waterproof paint
this thing look really nice in the garden
amazon

How to grow boxwood from cuttings

Boxwood is very easy to propagate. In the spring, take stem cuttings, 6 inches in length, and remove the lower inch of leaves. For best effect, group five to seven stems together, as pictured, to resemble an entire plant. Plunge this group into soil that has been amended with copious quantities of peat moss or leaf mold. Pack the soil firmly around the stems. Keep the cuttings moist, and you will have new, rooted plants in about six weeks.

Diy Garden Planter & Birds Bath

I shared yesterday that I was working on a diy garden project that was for the birds! Our Lowes Creative Ideas Network challenge this month was to create a diy bird feeder or birdbath. After Matt’s failed attempt at creating a bird feeder, I just went ahead and purchased a cute feeder from Lowes. However, I had this fun idea to create a planter and bird bath in one and today I’ll show you how to make your own!
1  8″ tall terracotta pot for the base