Building your own balcony can seem like a daunting task but with the right materials, tools and a bit of elbow grease, you can have your own outdoor oasis in no time. As someone who just built their first balcony last summer, I want to share what I learned so you can avoid some of … Read more
When your cat is around, it can be hard to keep your plants healthy, to say the least. If your cat is like most, they occasionally enjoy nibbling on your plants. Friskier cats might bat at the plants or attack them to play. Some cats might even try to use a potted plant as their … Read more
As a firewood enthusiast, I’m always on the lookout for logs that will provide maximum heat and burn time. When scrounging or buying wood, one of the first indicators of quality is the color of the freshly split wood. A vibrant yellowish hue when wood is split open often signals a top-shelf hardwood. But not … Read more
Our favourite tree fern, Dicksonia antarctica comes from south-east Australia. They never lose their leaves and grow back on thick, fluffy trunks that can get as tall as 15 feet or more after many years. Their canopy of delicately feathered symmetrical fronds can grow to 12ft across. No wonder then, that theyre called tree ferns. … Read more
Read through our comprehensive Japanese knotweed identification guide below. If you’re still not sure, watch our Identification video, get our Quick Digital ID Guide, or send us your pictures, and we’ll tell you for free if it’s knotweed. Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica syn. Japan’s Fallopia It used to be admired for its beauty, durability, and … Read more
Snake plants are fascinating and hardy indoor house plants. Often included on lists of plants for low-light conditions, these plants also thrive in sunny settings. So, how much light does a snake plant need?. First, identify your snake plant. Is it the sage-green Sansevieria Moonshine or the yellow-bordered Variegated Laurentii Snake Plant? Some types need … Read more
Violets are beautiful spring-blooming flowers that can often be found growing wild in lawns and fields But have you ever wondered how these pretty little flowers are able to spread their seeds and propagate? Violets have developed some clever evolutionary tricks to ensure their seeds get dispersed far and wide Violet Seed Structure Violet seeds … Read more
Growing fruit trees in containers is surprisingly easy, and there are some decided advantages. A small fruit tree in a pot can be moved around on a patio, deck, or courtyard to get the most out of the sun and shade. If your garden soil isn’t great, you can still grow plants that would otherwise … Read more
Mounting air plants (Tillandsia) on wood is really easy and very easy to care for. They don’t need potting soil to grow; instead, they usually attach themselves to a tree and get their food and water from the air (hence the name) and dead things like leaves. They don’t depend on other plants for food, … Read more
3 September 2010, written by Barbara Pleasant When I was about to move my early tomatoes from the garden to the compost pile because they looked sad, I saw something important. I used up all the seeds from our favorite early tomato, the open-pollinated Stupice, this spring, so I had to get more and save … Read more