Think orchids are just for those with green thumbs and garden aprons filled with gadgets and secret instructions? Think again. Now there are no-fear orchids for everyone that will reward you with fabulous blooms for months on end. “Orchids are really easy to grow,” says Justin W. Hancock, editor of Better Homes & Gardens online [...]

From hardy hybrids to stylish, smart gardens, spring 2010 promises exciting new plants and products for garden lovers everywhere. “People want easy plants and products that are attractive and good for the environment and perform well in their gardens,” says Susan McCoy, garden writer and trend spotter. “And that’s what the new plants and products [...]

(ARA) – At a time when “green” is the color of thoughtful lifestyles, gardening practices are going greener, too. Some gardens awash in the biggest, brightest, newest flowers are sadly lifeless, lacking the buzz of the bees, the fluttering of butterflies and the zip of hummingbirds. To make these creatures welcome, gardeners need to go [...]

(ARA) – Americans craving authenticity and fretting over a bleak economy have reinvigorated the trend to grow-it-yourself (GIY). From blueberries to houseplants, GIY is the new mantra as folks turn “back to the future” to simplify their lives while gardening for the greener good. “It’s a resurgence of gardening for the greater good — for [...]

(ARA) – The catalogues are starting to pile up and the list of landscape improvements grows longer each day. Don’t let this overwhelm or discourage you. Instead spend a bit of time planning now for better results in your garden. You will be amazed how much fun you can have while achieving your landscape goals [...]

(ARA) – If you invest a bit of time now, you can ensure a bountiful harvest and a beautiful landscape to make this your best gardening season yet. Preparing a strong spring foundation means new plantings are better able to survive the heat, drought and pest attacks of summer. “Start your garden off right by [...]

Locals take note–this weekend is the Sacramento Home & Garden Show at Cal Expo. The Show runs March 6 through 8, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Door Prizes include: Tickets to California Musical Theatre: Frost/Nixon Gift Certificate to Cabo’s Mexican [...]

Whether you live where it rains or where it pours, there’s a great, easy way you can conserve water for garden use. Where I live (Calif.) that’s a very big deal, as we Californians head into a third consecutive drought year. Rain “harvesting” isn’t a new concept, but let’s just say this oldie is a [...]

Winter is tough on plants, which are often exposed to hard wind, rain and freezing temperatures, not to mention snow. Luckily, there are ways to protect the pants in your garden and yard from frost. When the temperature drops to freezing, or 32 degrees, frost damage can be minimal and only affect a leaf or [...]

Believe it or not, winter is the perfect time to prune fruit trees. According to certified arborist Michael Farmer, who resides in Sacramento, Calif., pruning fruit trees in the early Spring allows wounds to heal, and also allows you to see the buds to avoid. Fruit tree pruning is beneficial in that it promotes fruit [...]