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By -Georgia Lund- Gardeners are always anxious to get outside and play in the dirt after a long, cold winter indoors. As soon as the weather warms up and the ground thaws, it’s time to get your garden ready for spring. Grab those gardening tools and head outdoors to make preparations for the upcoming growing season. Garden Clean UpThe first order of business is clean up the garden. Fall and winter leave behind a variety of debris on the garden, and spring is the ideal clean up time. Remove twigs,...

By -Georgia Lund- Growing fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit is not something that only those with acreage can do; gardening can be done without a yard of any size. Container gardening is a way to have fresh food during the summer without using much outdoor space. The only things needed are containers, soil, the sun and a few seeds or plants. Select Containers Any container will work for growing plants if it’s deep enough, can hold soil and has bottom drainage holes. Select containers that are 10-12 inches deep and...

Gardening in January doesn’t seem natural, but there’s much to be done during this cold, dreary month if you want a productive garden this summer. Now that the Holiday season is over, it’s time to start getting ready for the gardening season with these tips for January gardening. Planning Browse through the seeds catalogs and do some plant research online so you can select the right flower and vegetable plants to grow in your garden. Check hardiness zones for each plant, plus their sun, water and food needs. This information...

By -Georgia Lund-  Houseplants offer several benefits besides just looking pretty. Houseplants help purify the air so you can breathe better, living greenery helps reduce stress, and colorful blooms help us feel optimistic. There’s a wide array of houseplants to choose from, including these easy-care exotic plants that are sure to brighten up your interior living space as well as your mood. Moth Orchid Dainty-looking and easy to grow, the moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) will thrive in a room that receives high-to-medium natural light. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy,...

  By -Georgia Lund- The most obvious winter pet danger is the risk of hypothermia. Even though most household pets do have fur coats, it’s not enough to protect them from below freezing temperatures. But hypothermia is not the only winter danger to protect your pet against. Frozen Water Bowl Prevent outdoor water bowls from freezing by relocating them to an enclosed area where the temperature remains above freezing and drinking water won't turn into a chunk of ice. Water bowl heaters can be purchased to keep the pet's water...

By -Georgia Lund-  Gardeners are like any other group of enthusiasts; we have certain tools they use regularly, some are used on occasion and many tools sitting in the shed collecting dust. Gardeners are by nature practical people and want useful stuff for the task at hand. We want to grow our own food and flowers and need practical tools to get the job done efficiently with minimal effort. The stuff I use in the garden is basic and reliable, but it gets the job done. Knee Pads Knees pads,...

By -Georgia Lund- The fallen leaves are typically quickly raked up and discarded so the landscape can have a well-kept appearance. This is such a waste of a valuable natural resource that can increase food production. We see leaves as a means of shade in the summer and colorful beauty in the fall, but their value extends even further. Fallen leaves can help transform barren soil into fertile, productive soil that can support plant growth and produce food.Organic Soil AmendmentThe leaves from one large tree have the ability to produce...

By -Georgia Lund-  After a long summer of bloom production, perennials are ready for a winter nap. Getting them ready for bed is just a matter of cleaning them up and covering them up. Even though the plants go dormant during the cooling temperatures of fall, there is still a lot of activity going on underneath the soil in the perennial’s roots. A little fall preparation will keep your perennials active and healthy for many blooming seasons to come. Cut BackAfter the first killing frost in late fall, cut back...

By -Georgia Lund-  A bird feeder placed in the right location and kept full brings pleasure to both the bird and bird watcher. However, if the feeder is not properly cleaned and cared for it can harbor diseases that eating birds will contact which will cause them more harm than good. Use these care and maintenance tips to prevent hungry birds from catching the easily transmitted diseases like trichomoniasis, salmonellosis, aspergillosis and avian pox.  Regular Washing Feeders should be emptied and washed every two weeks. Remove all old seed and...

By -Georgia Lund- Everyone is familiar with round, orange pumpkins used to make Jack-O-Lanterns and pumpkin pies in the fall, but not all pumpkins look like that. Some types are white, some have bumps, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Here are some of the more distinct types of pumpkins and their characteristics so you’ll be able to choose the right type for your fall usage needs.Pumpkin Terms Carvability: Refers to how easy the skin is to carve with a knife or other sharp tool. The tougher the...