Hot Gardening Posts
How To: Prune tomatoes and train tomatoes up a string
Don't let that tomato plant go too wild! This how-to video shows how to transform a wily tomato plant into a well-pruned plant. This video also shows how to train the plant to grow up a string. Start eating better tomatoes, even in a smaller space.
How To: Mist houseplants
This video demonstrates how to mist your plants and to keep insects away. Plants that like high humidity will benefit the most from misting. Use an empty spray bottle that already has a mister. Clean the bottle well and spray a few times to get residual material from the tube. The best time to mist is in the morning, but you should mist at least once a day. Using a humidifier along with the misting process in the winter will make your plants happy.
How To: Grow blue corn
Blue corn is a special variety of corn which can be differentiated by the majority of the corn species by looking at the unusual top growth of the corn. It is a hybrid and grows very uniformly throughout. Now take a corn from the field and peel it off. You shall notice that it has a blue color corns. Blue color corns are hard from outside but they are very soft and tender in the middle. You can use these blue corns in making commercial products like blue corn chips, tortillas, and atole ’,‘ c...
How To: Identify problems with heat scorch on roses
John White and Rosemary Maddox address garden problems concerning heat and sun damage on their plants. Rosemary grows tomatoes that grow healthily, but are dry and cracked at the top. John identifies the problem as an excessive exposure to heat and sunlight, and recommends putting a netting over the plants to filter and moderate the sunlight. Rosemary also has a similar problem with her roses. The leaves on her rose plants become yellow and brown and eventually die off. John calls it "heat sc...
How To: Graft an Adenium plant for propagation
This three part how to video sequence shows you a how to graft an Adenium plant. Watch, do some stem cutting and start growing beautiful plants for your garden.
How To: Make hedge trimming easier on yourself
In this video, you'll learn some neat methods for making hedge trimming an easier chore. Save yourself the back ache and follow the steps in this video. Easier maintenance always begins with the proper tools. Lay down a drop cloth to avoid debris, and make sure you remove wayward branches. Doing the hedge trimming will be a snap from now on!
How To: Care for Mexican elder tree
In this video from nmsuaces we learn how to care for the Mexican elder tree. This is a widely used tree but it is not a good windbreak tree. It could have limb breakage. It's native to northern Mexico and southern California and is found in New Mexico. The sprouts on the tree need to be broken off the sides of the tree otherwise they are taking energy away from the rest of the tree. When it goes through its dormancy, you need to keep dead wood out of it. It needs a water source near it but it...
How To: Grow lavender provence in a container
We know that spring seems ions away, but if you're a gardener then it's time to begin thinking about what flowers you'll be planting to bloom during the spring. If you don't have much garden space but would love a very fragrant bloom, check out this video to learn how to grow lavendr provence in a container.
How To: Identify willow tree damage caused by a borer
Weeping willows, globe willows, corkscrew willow, cotton wood are all prone to bores than other diseases. They grow in fertile soil with lots of moisture. Never treat tree chemical. Prune as necessary, take out dead diseased limbs, water and fertilize regular. This ensures the tree lasts longer and that the tree is less attractive to insects. Where tomatoes are concerned to avoid sunburn ensure that they are slightly covered with the folding of the plant. High salt level of water or chemicals...
How To: Choose the right tree for New Mexico gardens
Curtis Smith, Extension Horticulturist, and Jeff Hart of the Albuquerque Parks Department discuss the types of trees that grow in Albuquerque.
How To: Build a unique terraced garden
In this episode of Southwest Yard and Garden Curtis Smith shows you how to turn a steep slope into a usable garden. By building walls along the slope using serpentine designs he shows you how to obtain a compromise of both strength and artistic design. Starting with a good concrete footer and rebar you can construct a retaining wall strong enough to hold the weight of the slope. Materials such as wood and railroad ties can be used but may not stand the test of time as the weight of the soil c...
How To: Prune tomatoes for stronger plants
Pruning tomatoes, though not required, will create stronger vines, which produce larger, fuller tomatoes during the growing season. Trim back a tomato plant in the winter with instructions from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening. No need to go crazy, even trimming the plant down by a third will give you a bigger, better tomato. Follow along with the tips in this gardening video and learn how to prune a tomato plant.
How To: Help seeds grow faster by nicking them
Most seeds have a thick outer shell meant to protect the soft inner seed. 'Nicking' is a gardening technique to remove the outer shell so the seed will germinate faster in your garden after planting. You can use water, sandpaper, a nail file or even sulfuric acid to nick your seeds.
How To: Prune roses in the spring
In this video, we learn how to prune roses in the spring. When you prune the roses, you want to cut the branches with shears at the bottom of the plant. Cut any of the dead parts that you see before the flowers start to grow back. If you see any short stubs that haven't and won't grow out, trim those off as well. Leave any healthy branches to keep growing, but trim the tops of them. When you finish, you should end with just a few branches left that are ready for the new growing season. Remove...
How To: Grow an olive tree in a container
Patti Moreno, the Garden Girl, describes how to grow an olive tree in a patio container garden. She will be able to bring the trees indoors for the fall and winter. If the sapling comes in a 4-inch pot, plant it in a 10-inch container. If your container does not already have drainage holes, use a hammer and nail to poke holes in the container bottom. Put a layer of crushed stone in the bottom of the container for drainage. Fill the container with organic soil and a trowel full of organic fert...
How To: Build a tomato cage
A piece of concrete reinforcement wire is cut and separated by a bow cutter at about 4 feet. The wires on one side of the separated section is bent in the form of a hook to hold the next side. As it would be hooked together to hold a tomato tree in position. It was suggested that rope cover material or material with small holes that can absorb sunlight be placed around the cage and held together with a clothes pin. Doing so would prevent bug plant, frost bite, curly top viruses , squash plant...
How To: Prune plants
Learn how to cut back plants in your garden effectively to encourage new growth and remove dead and diseased branches. Follow this Howcast guide to learn how to prune plants.
How To: Plant cactus in containers
Cactus can do very well in containers if attention is paid to several things. One, use terracotta, it breathes well. Also, make sure there is a hole in the bottom because the soil shouldn't be sitting in water. And importantly use a Cactus soil mix, a mix that has a lot of sand, a lot of perlite. Although most plants don't thrive in mixes with a lot of sand, because it dries too fast, Cactus requires this condition. In fact, over watering is the number one way to kill a Cactus. To place the C...
How To: Trim your rose bushes
Starting a rose garden? Modern Mom is here to help. Learn from gardening expert Melinda Myers how to properly trim rose bushes after the winter to promote new growth in the spring. Prune brown, dried up rose branches and keep your garden fresh and fast growing.
How To: Identify problems with pecans & pruning grapevines
Master Gardener Rosamarie Maddox asks John White, Doña Ana County Extension Agent, about problems facing her pecans, grapevines, and native shrubs. An unidentified insect found on her pecan tree is identified by John White as a Twice Stabbed Ladybug. This ladybug is a useful insect that often over-winters on the tree and helps takes care of the aphid problems faced by pecans. Pink fuzzy coating on pecan nuts is also brought up. The coating is normal for pecan and contains bitter tannin. Too m...
How To: Care for African violets
African violets make great household plants. Learn how to grow and care for African violets in this free gardening video series.
How To: Transplant cabbage from seed bed to a harvesting area
Tom Cole shows how to transplant cabbage from a seed bed to a harvesting area. Tom uses a pitch fork to carefully remove the cabbage from the seed bed. He then plants the cabbage into the harvesting area and waters the plants. Watch video for best results. This also works with cauliflower and broccoli. Transplant cabbage from seed bed to a harvesting area.
How To: Turn over soil
Turning over your soil mixes the nutrients and makes the ground more suitable for planting. Watch this video to learn how to turn over soil.
How To: Design your landscape using Japanese maples
If you're looking for a plant that will add color to your landscape as well as work well in smaller areas, a Japanese maple might be what you need. There are a variety of different maples that exist and each one has their own benefits for being planted in a yard.
How To: Speed Up the Composting Process
Composting is said to be every gardener’s gold, but making compost and getting it ready could take up to a year. Professional growers have discovered that compost activators can help speed up composting quickly…sometimes to as little as 30 days!
How To: Make Your Own Whitefly Sticky Trap
This is a cheap and easy way to make a sticky fly trap that can catch tons of whiteflies. Get a can of Tanglefoot’s Tangle-Trap Sticky Coating. I stored this in the greenhouse which may not have been a great idea, as you can see by the amount of rust there is on the can.
How To: Get rid of pesky winter moths
Winter moths (operophtera brumata) can be a nuisance to your trees during early spring time. The biggest concern is the larva, which is a caterpillar/inch-worm feed on the budding leaves of deciduous trees and you won't really notice it until your leaves are at their full size. A good way to get rid of the moths is with a bacterium called, BT (bacillus thuringiensis)or Spinosad a derivative of a bacterium. If you have really big trees, you may need to get an arborist to treat your trees.
How To: Top or stop dahlias by the Dahlia Guy
In return, this allows the it to become more fuller and have more blossoms. This is done due to the fact that dahlias tend to grow in only one branch. One can top or stop dahlias by cutting the main stem just a couple of inches from the top. One can also use there fingers to snip off the top of the branch. Topping or stopping dahlias can be done upon planting them but also when you dead head later in the summer.
How To: Make seashell-covered terra cotta pots for summer
Shell-covered pots are such beautiful decorations for the summer, bringing the beach into (or directly outside of) your home even if you live inland. They add a gorgeously breezy oceanic touch to your plants.
How To: Prune an olive bonsai tree
This video explains how to prune an olive bonsai tree properly. the olive tree used in the video is an europaea tree bought from an exclusive bonsai tree company. The way the tree is pruned are by cutting the tree so that that it has an upward shape to stimulate vertical growth. It is explained that a process known as "cut and grown" are used with the olive tree because it makes the tree grow much faster and produce more fruit. Any branches or leaves that are unnecessary to the vertical growt...
How To: Prune tomato plants
Pruning tomatoes is one of the easiest and most beneficial things you can do to increase fruit size and help lessen the chances of disease. The basic method of pruning is to remove the suckers from the leaf axils of the tomato plant. If you remove the suckers you will have larger, sweeter, and healthier tomatoes. If you leave them you will get more tomatoes, but the plant is more susceptible to disease and other health issues. This how to video gives you pruning tips and tricks so you can hav...
How To: Read a Lowe's plant care tag
This quick video tutorial from Lowe's will show you how to properly read a plant's care tag. Every Lowe's plant has its own Care Tag, and by reading the tag you will earn how to care for your individual plants. Each tag also comes with a number which you can type in at lowes.com/plants. Here you will find more detailed information about your plants. The tags also come in different colors, and these also have a meaning, for example purple tags represent plants that are good in low light condit...
How To: Build an aeroponic fogger for your hydroponic system
In this gardening tutorial, you'll find instructions for building an aeroponic fogger, or mister, for a hydroponic growing system. Nutrified fog is accepted by the roots at a much faster rate than nutrients from spray or soak system. So I modified my Aerospray system to have both nutrifog and timed sprays. To learn more about this method for constructing an aeroponic fogger, take a look!
How To: Get Rid of Stink Bugs Without Using Pesticides
Halyomorpha halys, squash bug, shield bug ... What's in a name? A pest is a pest and the brown marmorated stink bug is a pest par excellence. Though some home gardeners are content to use insecticides, you'll find that it's generally easier to work with nature than against it. And let's face it: trading noxious bugs for noxious chemicals isn't much of a victory. Particularly if you're growing food.
How To: Divide and re-pot onions and herbs
How to divide and re-pot onions and herbs
How To: Make a humidity tray
This video tells you about humidity trays and how they are good for tropical plants like orchids. The tray consists of gravel or small stones and water in the tray. You have to have enough gravel to keep the plant out of the water. This video also discusses ways on how to make sure the humidity tray doesn't scratch your furniture. After watching this video you will have gained some insight into keeping and maintaining tropical plants as well as ferns.
How To: Aerate your soil using a broadfork
Aerating your soil is an essential part of gardening, but it can be long and back-breaking work. In this episode of Growing Wisdom, Dave Epstein will teach you how to use a broadfork to aerate your soil. Using a broadfork, you can aerate the soil without damaging the soil's ecology.
How To: Rid your garden of white fly
One of the ironies of gardening is that often some of the smallest pests can create the biggest nuisance. White flies can drain the life out of your plants. You can see the evidence of white fly damage in the lack of vigor in the plant and the discoloration of the leaves. Before they were a rich green and now they've turned a sickly yellow. Learn how to get rid of these pesky white flies with this gardening tutorial.
How To: Make a clay pot look like an antique
One way for a middle-aged person to look better than ever is to sit on a patio surrounded by well-aged pots. Flaking, lichen-covered clay pots give the impression that they’ve been around a lot longer than you have. And because antiqued pots look expensive, everyone will think that your investments are doing well and your children have moved out. There are three methods of giving your pots the beauty of antiquity. Two of these techniques take minutes, and the other one takes months.
How To: Harvest Lophophora peyote pups from grafted scions
Lophophora harvest. This video is a quick demonstration on how I harvest Lophophora pups from grafted lophophora stock. When harvesting lophophora make sure of the following: Its spring or summer; You place your pups in a dry shady spot to heal; Also dust the mom and pups with sulfur to prevent rot.