Hot Gardening How-Tos

How To: Transplant Papaya Trees

Papaya trees are very vulnerable to transplantation shock. Seedlings tend to recover slowly and poorly after replanting in a new location under a sunny sky. Many internet articles advise that papaya trees should be transplanted without injury to their root systems. Keeping the root systems intact is next to impossible if the papaya seedlings are too close to each other. However, you would be surprised to learn how a papaya tree with serverely broken root systems can survive a transplantation ...

How To: Grow dry beans in your home garden using soup beans

Did you know that you can grow beans in your garden just by buying ordinary packs of soup beans at your local grocery? Once you start growing beans, you can keep growing them for a lifetime--just keep the seeds around. Soon beans will be sprouting in your garden every year!

How To: Plant carpet roses in a container

If you're looking for a way to add more flowers to your garden, but are out of space, then try using a container. Containers are perfect for holding one or several different types of flowers. Roses can also be grown in containers as well.

How To: Fertilize your vegetable garden with composted manure

If you're working on creating the healthiest, most fertile vegetable garden possible, you might want to consider adding composted cow manure to your soil. Not only is composting great for your garden, it's easy. So easy, in fact, that a complete overview can be presented in just over a minute's time. For specifics, and to get started using fertilizer in your own home garden, watch this helpful gardener's guide.

How To: Style an old yamadori bonsai

The previous owner chose this view. The trunk is naturally hollow. Dead wood is coming toward us. Branches are coming to the back so we will have to do some manipulation. The two parts of deadwood play together in an interesting dance. The piece of deadwood can be improved and the branches can be moved more to this side of the tree as a front. This is what we'll go with. (Using various tools, the bark is removed from the left side deadwood). Height has been added to the branches. Lots of torn...

How To: Get rid of indoor gnats

Indoor gnats, which are also known as fungus gnats, are not only annoying. Their larvae feed on plant stems and roots and can cause considerable damage to seedlings and small plants. Luckily, you can get rid of these obnoxious little pests without using harsh chemicals.

How To: Make a simple wooden bonsai pot

In this how-to video, you will learn how to make a wooden bonsai pot. You will need pressure treated wood made of all weather oak. You will also need a strain brush and nails. Assorted plastic bins will also be needed. Drill holes into the bottom of the plastic bin. Next, cut it to size. Cut the pieces of wood to the correct size and then line and tape them up. Next, nail the wooden pieces together. Now, place two pieces of wood on the bottom for legs. This allows air to flow beneath the pot....

How To: Inflate a wheelbarrow tire

Wheelbarrow tires are a pain to inflate. They are tubeless, the rim hardly holds a seal, and they just fight with you every step of the way. This how-to video shows you how to use an adjustable strap to inflate a tubeless wheelbarrow tire.

How To: Get Rid of Plant-Eating Pests Using 100% Natural Solutions from Your Home and Garden

Navigating through row after row of plants, my tiny fingers would reach into the leaves to pluck all the vile little creatures from their homes and deposit them into a can of gasoline. Potato bug duty, my least favorite gardening chore. Growing up, my family had a small garden every year. And every year, I was recruited to help plant, maintain, and eventually harvest the vegetables from it. There were some tasks I didn't mind, but the ones I hated most usually involved bugs (have you ever see...

How To: Save Your Tomatoes From Rats And Rot

Every summer my husband and I plant a tomato plant. We do this to enjoy the plump red tomatoes right off of the vine.

How To: Do simple bonsai styling

Graham Potter of Kaizen Bonsai shows Bonsai beginners how to make interesting trees from relatively available materials. He first details the history of the specific tree he will be working on. He points out that this specific specimen has small, compact foliage, branches that support itself, craggy bark, and a nice taper in the trunk. He begins to shape the tree by cutting the small amounts of foliage that are dead or weak as well as the foliage grows beneath the branches. He then uses hand ...

How To: Fertilize your curry leaf plant properly

In this quick tip episode from Show Me the Curry, you will learn how to keep your curry leaf plant fertilized properly so you can make the most of it. Keep your leaves fresh and tasty longer with this helpful hint.

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: Easily make a hydroponic garden using a pvc pipe

If you live in a small apartment or condo unit, you have a very small amount of space to grow or enjoy plants. If you're looking for a good solution to adding some green to a balcony or window seal, this video may be for you. In this tutorial, you'll find out how to easily make a hydroponic garden using a pvc pipe. Check it out, good luck, and enjoy!

How To: Use self-watering plant containers

This video from Garden Time show a few of the different types of self-watering enclosures for plants and how to use them.

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: 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 a flower carpet rose for the spring

Even though flower carpet roses aren't as susceptible to disease as are other rose species, you'll still need to care for them to ensure that they stay healthy. In this horticultural how-to, Dave, of Growing Wisdom, will tell you how to see to it that your flower carpet roses have a healthy summer and fall.

How To: Tie up your ornamental grasses for the winter

Dave explains how to tie up ornamental grasses to prepare them for winter and ensure they add interest to the winter garden. Make your ornamental grasses the focal point of your winter garden with the tips from this video.

How To: Repot a plant into a larger container

This video from Lowe's shows you how to successfully repot a plant into a larger container. You will know it is time to repot your plant when the roots are visible on the surface, or when they start growing through the drainage hole. If you need to repot one of your plants into a larger container, simply follow these steps: You will need a clean pot that is no more than two sizes larger than the old one. Place a wire mesh or pieces of broken clay pot over the drainage hole. Add a layer of pot...

How To: Pick out an ornamental grass for landscape

This video shows us several types of ornamental grass that can be used in landscape projects. Although none of these grasses are appropriate for use in lawns, they are great options for those who are concerned about water conservation. Ricegrass is a bunch grass with long stems and silver heads. It is a cool-season grass and will go dormant in hot weather. Little Bluestem grows quickly in the Spring and is known for its variety of colors including blue, green, and yellow. Giant Sacaton is a g...

How To: Grow your own sweet potatoes year round

Sweet potatoes are a popular side dish, especially around the holidays. Save some money and start growing sweet potatoes at home. Not only will they be cheaper, but you'll be able to enjoy them year round.

How To: Hand pollinate hellebores

Carol Klein explains how to hand-pollinate hellebores and guides you through the process, offering practical tips and advice.

How To: Germinate Japanese maple tree seeds

Seeking to attain germination rates as high as 98%? Japanese-Maple.com's Ken Alston shares the little-known nursery secret to germinate Japanese maple tree seeds using resealable zipper storage bags and a standard refrigerator.

How To: Prune a Bramley apple tree

The Bramley is a large, heavy-cropping cooking apple popular for baking, making apple sauce and other apple dishes. In this two-part how-to series, Stephen Hayes of Fruitwise Heritage Apples demonstrates how to properly prune a Bramley apple tree and other apple trees with a similar habit of growth. Watch this instructional video to learn how to prune your own triploid and tip-bearing trees.

How To: Distinguish different types of bulbs

In this tutorial, Scott Atkinson shows us how to identify different types of bulbs. Common types of bulbs are: tulip, daffodil and lily. These are most easily identified but there are many that appear in flowers. A core looks similar to a bulb but it is a solid tissue and doesn't have an leaves, just a hard core with a protective covering. There is also tubers which are what potatoes and other foods grow from. These cause eyes to form and create different types of things to grow. You will now...

How To: Repair cracked plant pots

You don't have to throw away those broken pots and re-pot the plants inside. In this gardening tutorial, Martin Fish from Garden News shows viewers how to repair cracked pots. With this the tips from this how to video you can save money on plant pots.

How To: Prune a rose tree (standard)

If you'd like to have a rose tree, or rose 'standard' as opposed to a rose bush, this video will show you what to do. You'll need some pruning shears and of course, a rose bush. This video is really helpful in instructing what to look for when you're trimming, and what branches to take and leave in order to avoid your rose treasure getting a disease. A rose tree by any other name would smell the same, but it would be called a rose standard. FYI.

How To: Identify and control the pine tip moth

This is a tutorial for controlling the Pine tip moth. Identifying and controlling the pine tip moth consists of studying the small plants of pine. The attacks on pine trees is caused by Nantucket pine tree moth found along the Rio Grande Valley as far north as Espanola, it has spread to South Arizona and California by importing grafts from Mexico. The moths are 3/8 inch long reddish brown to grey in color. They attack the main stem of the baby plant and the pines instead of growing vertical g...

How To: Grow potatoes in a 5 gallon bucket

In this video you will learn how to get your potato plant growing using a 5 gallon bucket. Start by taking your 5 gallon bucket and drilling a series of small holes at the bottom for draining. Next line the bottom of your bucket with about 2 inches of rocks to help with drainage and top with a layer of weed block and a couple inches of soil. Now your bucket is ready to add a budded potato. To make your potatoes bud out simply leave them in a bag and place them in the dark for about a month un...

How To: Build a hydroponic growing system for your plants

In this tutorial, learn a great, fast way to get your plants growing. This hydroponic system will keep your plants happy and healthy for much longer than old fashioned planting.

How To: Graft a watermelon plant for propagation

This how-to video provides very detailed, useful information on propagation. Watch this instructional video for tips on grafting a watermelon plant. For horticulture and how-to video enthusiasts.

How To: Bonsai a garden shrub

Turn a garden shrub into a beautiful Bonsai Tree.

How To: Build your own hydroponics system

In this tutorial, we learn how to build your own hydroponics system. To do this, you will need: square line rain gutter, 6x end caps, 3x gutter running outlet, 1x small pond pump, 2 meters pond pump tubing, timber for framework, large plastic container, and gutter leaf guard. When you start, you will need to measure out how tall your pump will need to be, then build the framework to surround it. Then, grab all your gutter parts and put them together. Once you do this, start to set up all the ...

How To: Disbud dahlias by the Dahlia Guy

The Dahlia Guy is going to explain the importance of disbudding dahlias. He explains that when you disbud a dahlia it allows the main flower to blossom to its fullest potential. When you don't disbud, the other buds that grow out of the flower can stunt the growth of the main flower. Now, when you disbud you want to locate the main flower of the group (3 buds usually, sometimes 2) and then just pull out the buds that are growing next to it. There is no true right or wrong way to disbud so any...

How To: Water Phalaenopsis orchids

This video shows the viewer how to correctly water Phalaenopsis orchids. According to the video these are the type of orchids that most people have in their homes. The instructions are to water your orchid with Luke-warm water once every 7-10 days, or as often as is needed. The creator, Dave Epstein, also suggests adding 1/4 strength plant food to the water. He also recommends checking the medium that the orchid is planted in to judge whether watering is necessary. For more information on how...

How To: Pot a king fern

Potted king ferns are a beautiful way to decorate your home. In this tutorial, landscape gardener and ex-NRL Max Brown demonstrates how to pot a king fern and gives us tips on pot plants with the help of his dog Alfie. Pot a king fern.

How To: Identify tree damage from a natural gas leak

In this how-to video, you will learn how to indicate if tree damage has occurred due to a natural gas leak. In this example, a Mexican Elder tree has been damaged by the gas leak. You can tell by the brown leaves. The plastic around the soil has trapped the gas in the soil, cutting off the oxygen from the tree. The Indian Hawthorne in this example has also been damaged. There is some foliage burn on the leaves. The bush will have to be trimmed back in order to save it. There are several plant...

How To: Plant 100 tulip bulbs in 50 minutes

This video shows that it is possible to plant 100 tulip bulbs in less than 50 minutes, and it is easier and less expensive than you think.

How To: Kill gnats

In this video, Sbirdboi will explain how you can get rid of a gnat infestation. First, you must identify what kind of gnats they are, as this determines the best ways in dealing with them. He will explain three common types of gnats, their habits and where they tend to lay their eggs. After teaching you about the kinds of gnats, you will learn what steps to take to kill the gnats, and prevent them from coming back. You will also learn tips of ways you can attract gnats and subsequently kill t...