How to repot a plant
I love repotting day — the day when every plant in my house that needs a new pot gets one. Someday I’ll have a little potting bench, where it’ll be …
Outdoor watering dos and don’ts
Topping my to-do list every day these mid-summer months: Water outdoor plants! (In fact, I’ll likely water a second time, this super-sunny July day.) Here are a few dos and …
Deadheading flowers — Why, when, and how to deadhead
Deadheading flowers is one of my favorite gardening tasks. It keeps me in touch with all the plants, it instantly tidies them up, and it indulges my love of productive …
How to clean a birdbath — and keep it clean
Oh my goodness, the birds love our birdbath! It’s nothing fancy, just an old cement bath that has the benefit of being near a wooded area. In our previous home, …
Reel lawn mower — AKA cylinder mower or manual push mower
Today I’m going to talk about a yard-maintenance workhorse that’s practically care free. That might seem like an odd choice for a blog about taking care of things, but in …
How to plant and care for knockout roses
Once upon a time, roses were considered difficult to grow. Many were disease-prone, or heat intolerant, or cold sensitive, or bug magnets. I admit to killing my share of rose …
Hanging flower baskets — How to keep your hanging flower baskets pretty throughout the summer
There’s something so charming about hanging flower baskets! A single one can brighten an otherwise sad shed or usher guests to a welcoming front door. Several can transform a porch …
How to take care of your garden hoses so they last, unkinked!
My garden hose might be the hardest working item in the garden (besides me, of course). I always have lots of flowerpots, which need frequent watering, and right now there …
Cut flowers — How to preserve cut flowers for longer-lasting arrangements
During the winter months, I have a small budget dedicated to cut flowers. (In the summer months I mostly grow my own.) Were that budget bigger, I’d have a vase …
How to dry flowers and leaves — Four methods
Anyone who knows me knows that I adore flowers. (My 7-year-old granddaughter conscientiously includes them in every drawing she does for me.) Tended in the garden or wild in the …