Hot Gardening Posts

How To: Plant and grow pumpkins

In this how to video, you will learn how to grow pumpkins. First, you must pick an area with plenty of sunshine to place your seeds in. Make sure there is enough room for vine and pumpkin growth, and that the area will not freeze. Build a mound of dirt about three fit in diameter with compost and soil. Next, plant two seeds per mound. Plant them in the middle about 8 inches apart. Cover the seeds with an inch of soil. Give them plenty of water once you have planted them. The pumpkin vines gro...

How To: Select the best mums for your garden

Chrysanthemums are a beautiful flower to have in your garden for color and for picking to take into the house. There are two very important factors with planting mums. One is that you must have the right kind of chrysanthemum and two you must plant it at the proper time. There are two types of mum plants. One is the garden center plant and the other is the mail order plant. Scott, on the video, recommends the mail order plant. The garden center plant will only last one season where the mail o...

How To: Grow your own vineyard

This video explains some important things you need to know if you are thinking about growing your own vineyard. First, think about the types of grapes you want to grow, depending on whether you want to make raisins, grape juice, jelly or wine. Talk to your extension agent to find out which grapes work best for your purpose. It's important to thin out the crop and not have too many leaves on the vines, or too many grapes, because a good balance will send the sunlight and nutrients to the plant...

How To: Plant and grow basil plants

This is how to plant and grow basil. First pick out a pot with a drain hole. Put some crushed cans in it. Fill it with dirt. The dirt should be part potting soil, part compost, and part normal dirt. Take off the peat moss pot the plant is in, break up the roots, and set your basil in the pot. Then put your dirt all around the plant, making sure it has good drainage, then pack it. Don't forget to put in your sign so you know what plant it is later. Then put a mixture of root starter and miracl...

How To: Water seedlings from the bottom up

This Survival Podcast teaches how to water seedings from the bottom up. After you have transfered your plants to new pots, preferably sterilized bins, you put holes in the bottom of the pots. If they are too high, the watering technique will not work. The plants in the pot are placed into a larger bucket. You just add water to the outter bin and allow the plants to "draw up" the moisture through the soil. You want to make sure not to add too much water or the plants will "over-draw". About on...

How To: Care for clematis

Scott from Spring Hill Nursery gives advice on caring for clematis, a beautiful plant that is easy to grow. Clematis blooms in late summer or early fall, and thrives in almost any conditions. It does fine in either full sun or a partly shaded location, but you should use mulch around the roots to keep them cool.

How To: Build a raised garden bed for sustainable living

Having a raised garden bed is great in the city because you can fill it with good soil and create a healthy environment for your plants. Install a hoop house made from PVC pipe. To build the raised bed, use 2x10x8 lumper. Predrill the holes at the corners to make it easier to assemble. Butt the ends together and use exterior deck screws to assemble it. If you want the raised bed higher, build another box the same size and stack them. Fasten a wire screen onto the underside of the frame to ke...

How To: Grow pineapple almost anywhere

In this tutorial, we learn how to grow pineapple almost anywhere. First, buy a pineapple and cut the top off of it. Let the top of this dry out for around a week. Now, pull off all the dried up dead stuff from the bottom of the pineapple head. You will now need a large pot with soil and you will dig a hole in it. In that hole, place your pineapple head inside of it and place dirt around it, but not covering the leaves of the top of the pineapple. Now, water your pineapple and let it grow. Alt...

How To: Grow and juice wheatgrass

In this Home & Garden video tutorial you will learn how to grow and juice wheatgrass. Take wheat seed in a bucket, add little bit of compost and wet it with water. Take a tray, make few holes in the bottom, put newspaper, fill the tray with compost up to halfway, spread the wheat seeds and cover the tray with newspaper. After a day or two, remove the paper and put the sprouts in shade. Wait for 8 – 10 days and the wheat grass is ready. Then cut it with love with scissors, wash it thoroughly...

How To: Grow pineapples using the fruit crown

In this video Jack in the Net shows how to grow your own pineapple using just the crown. Find a nice firm, strong pineapple with no brown leaves. With a very sharp knife, cut straight through about an inch down from the crown. Then trim the flesh all the way around, leaving only the solid round core in the middle, being careful not to cut into the crown. The roots will grow off of the crown so all the fruit needs to be removed.

How To: Use an old tree log garden planter

In this how to video, you will learn how to use an old tree log as a planter for your plants. To do this, you must have an old tree log. The trick is to create and make the holes bigger in the log. Some of the holes may be too deep, so you must place netting to hold the soil back. The netting will last as long as the log. To make the holes bigger, use a hammer and chisel to shape it. Drilling and burning does not work as well as hammers. Placing the plants in and watering it will cause the lo...

How To: Grow pineapple by planting the top

In this video, our author, ofenjen, shows us how to slice and plant a pineapple. First, find a pineapple: please don't get one too green or too yellow as they aren't ripe properly. Twist off the top of the pineapple with your dominant hand.

How To: Deal with spindly seedlings

The Survival Podcasting present how to handle leggy or spindly seedlings that have grown too fast. Potted swiss chard seedlings are used as examples. The seedlings are growing well but are a bit floppy or spindly. This happens because the warmth from being started indoors encouraged their fast growth but since there is not enough light for them, they started reaching for the light. A `head space` is developed between the root and the leaves that makes the seedling flop over. A simple trick to...

How To: Care for hibiscus plants

In this video, we learn how to take care of hibiscus plants. These can grow anywhere from 3-10 feet tall, so make sure to take care of these! Some extra steps to help are to: plant these in a well drained area and water it, let it drain and water it again. During the winter, mulch the flowers and it will survive. Make sure you pinch the flowers that are dead to keep your plant looking gorgeous and make sure you trim any dead branches that make the tree look dead. Doing these small steps will ...

How To: Divide hosta

In this Home & Garden video tutorial you will learn how to divide hosta. Hostas are one of the best plants for your garden. They grow very fast. Hence, you have to divide them to keep them healthy. The best time to do this is either early spring or during fall. Take a flat shovel and dig a hole about 3-5 inches around the base of the plant and then pull it out. You can use a big knife, your hands or even the shovel to divide the bunch of plants. Move the foliage a bit so that you can see the ...

How To: Choose plants that love shade with Lowe's

If you have a shady yard, you can still have a colorful garden. You just need to pick the right plants that do well in the shade. Caladium is a leafy plant with bright colored red, pink and green leaves. They do not tolerate cold weather and should be brought in over winter. Impatiens are popular annual flowers that grow in the shade. They look nice planted around the base of a tree or in containers. The flowers come in shades of pink, coral, white and red. Fuchsia is a beautiful flowering pl...

How To: Care for hydrangeas

Scott from Spring Hill Nursery with Step by Step Gardening teaches you some basics about hydrangea plants. He talks about how to take care of the plants, how to ensure blooming, and some planting considerations. Hydrangea plants need at least five hours a day in order to bloom so they should not be planted in very shady locations. The blooms can be pink, blue, green, or white, depending on the variety and soil conditions. The blooms can be used in bouquets, or dried for use in crafts. The pla...

How To: Plant bulbs

Scott from Spring Hill Nursery with Step by Step Gardening talks about planting fall bulbs. Planting bulbs is very easy. You just need a shovel, good soil, and lots of water. The bulbs he plants are tulips bulbs, lily bulbs, glad corms, and iris rhizomes. All of these must be planted in the fall to bloom in the spring. It's easiest to dig one big hole - about 6-8" deep - and plant all of your bulbs at once. A random pattern yields a natural look. Once you've placed your bulbs, put about 2"-3"...

How To: Process southwestern desert plants for eating

In this video, Ruth Greenhouse teaches us how to process native plants for eating. The Mesquite desert plant is a great fuel as well as good for beans in the summer months. One way to use the beans is to pick the dry beans when they are ripe (they will be tan) and you can grind the pod into a fine powder, which will make a flour that is healthy. You can mix this flour with water and it can be a healthy beverage. It can also be added to cookies and breads to make them sweeter. Another plant is...

How To: Make ground-plantable paper pots for seedlings

This video demonstrates how to fold a newspaper seedling container using a simple origami method. This is a free idea that incorporates recycling. Not only do these paper containers stand up well to moisture, they also will break down in the soil if you place it directly into your garden. Begin by using one half sheet of black and white newspaper. Lay it out length wise and fold it in half from top to bottom. Then fold it left to right. Next turn the paper so it is horizontal with the open si...

How To: Plant garlic in your garden for a plentiful harvest

David Epstein provides tips and shows garlic lovers how to plant garlic in their very own garden. It is best to grow garlic in the fall season from the months of September to November when the temperatures are cooler. Some people grow garlic in the spring, but it’s been found that growing garlic in the fall time will give a better crop. To begin, gather some plantable garlic bulbs making sure that you find ones that are either organic or from a seed catalog. At all cost, avoid conventional ...

How To: Prepare soil for planting irises

Southwest Yard and Garden shows viewers how to prepare the soil in order to plant Irises. You can see if your oil needs to be prepared because it would look like it need nutrients. Irises deplete the oil they are in so you need to restore their nutrients to the soil. First, you should get your soil tested to see what nutrient should be added to the soil. First loosen the soil. Next, add in the nutrients. Start with alfalfa pellets to add Nitrogen. Add a little bit of sand to loosen soil - don...

How To: Grow soilless weatgrass

The video takes you through steps on how to grow wheatgrass without the hassle of using soil. Before using this method, prepare a batch of sprouted wheatgrass. It’s advised that you should let the seeds sprout in a jar for two to three days for best results. When the wheatgrass is ready, place two or three layers of paper napkins on a large, flat try. Moisten the paper towels but don’t over-flood it. Then take your jar of wheatgrass and evenly spread the seeds on top of the paper towels. ...

How To: Build & maintain a worm composting farm

Looking to make a worm composting bin? Look no further. This video vermiculture how-to will see to it that you know everything you need to know to start your own worm-assisted compost process. For more information, including detailed instructions on setting up your own worm composting bin to generate fertile soil for your home garden, watch this free gardener's guide.

How To: Vertical mulch a tree

This video will show you how to take good care of your trees by feeding the roots with verticle mulching. Drill holes in the soil about 15" deep, and put in compost and nutrient materials. Use an auger to drill several 3" holes around the tree. It works best when you moisten the soil first. Use a spade and trowel to fill the holes with the compost and nutrient mixture. You can also use a spading fork to break the soil, sprinkle the mixture on, and the mixture will fall into the cracks in the...

How To: Rabbit proof a garden

Small creatures like rabbits can be a large problem for gardeners when they begin to feed on garden plants. John White shares some tips on how to keep rabbits from ruining your plants. Rabbits will feed on almost anything, especially when they’re starving, so it’s hard to rabbit-proof everything. However, you can still try to save the plants that are most prone to dying with rabbits and rodents in the area. For instance, if you just planted a young tree, you can put netting around it with...

How To: Make compost in your backyard

In this how to video, you will learn how to make your own compost heap. Compost is nature's own living fertilizer. It can be purchased at stores, but you can also make it yourself. This can be started in any weather and at any time of the year. Tree trimmings, grass clippings, food scraps, coffee grounds, saw dust, and even dryer lint can be used for compost. Any mix can be used. The critical ingredient is oxygen. Coarse and soft mixes should be used. Water is also important. You want living ...

How To: Grow your own grass with Roger L Davis

If you want to grow your own grass you should first get some hard winter wheat berry or grass seeds to begin to grow. You should sprout your seeds by measuring out 1 pound of seed that will be grown in a 17 x 17 inch tray. Fill a jar with a mixture of water and a solution for ocean minerals and 1 lbs of grass seeds and let them sprout. This will expand in the jar. This should take about 12 hours. Now, drain the water from the seeds, let this dry for 6 -8 hours, rinse the seed. Now, put half a...

How To: Revive an orchid

Orchids are amazing flowers to grow, but you have to do it just right. If your orchid is starting to wilt or is no longer growing properly, check out this tutorial and get useful tips on how to revive it. In this video, Tom and Joani Maccubbin show you the best ways to re-pot and clean up orchids to keep them living for years. So, before you add this lovely flower to your garden or home decor, make sure you check out this advice, so you can enjoy them for a long, long time.

How To: Care for a Cymbidium Orchid

Cymbidium orchids are beautiful flowers. They are perfect decorations for spring time, Easter and many other occasions. If you are thinking of using these lovely flowers around your home or garden, check out this tutorial and learn how to care for them properly so that they last a long time.

How To: Plant a hardy mum

Spring Hill Nurseries shows viewers how to plant Chrysanthemums, or hardy mums, in this video. The mums should be planted in early spring. First, choose a place to plant. You should choose an area that has a lot of direct sunlight. You should also plant in an area that has good soil for growing plants. If this is impossible, mix some compost with the soil in the spot you wish to plant in. If you are planting more than one mum, make sure you have enough room to space them two feet apart.

How To: Prepare & lay pavers in a multi-level adjoining area

The Gardening Guru demonstrates how to prepare and lay pavers in a multi-level adjoining area. First, get a garden stake use it to measure the evenness of the terrain and to set the height. Put the leveling tool on top of the pavers to even out the dirt. Then, lift out the rails. Once the rails are removed, you can then set the pavers directly on the dirt. If you prepare your area correctly, you will save a lot of time when you execute the actual project. This technique is useful when dealing...

How To: Grow tomatoes indoors

Contrary to what you may have heard, small tomato plants can be easily grown indoors given the right conditions. This free video home gardener's guide will see that you know everything you need to know to start growing your very own small tomatoes in your home or apartment.

How To: Preserve home-grown herbs

Growing your own herbs is easy. So easy, in fact, that you may soon find that you have more than you know what to do with. In this home gardener's guide, Melinda Myers discusses how to store herbs that you've harvested from your home garden.