For new gardeners, those hanging baskets can be a little overwhelming.  On one hand, everyone would love to have a hanging basket or two, or three, but for many, that is a big investment to make on a basket.  of course, anyone can make a hanging basket for a lower price but as a new gardener, it can be a little daunting and most are left with the certainty that they would never be able to produce the same effects as the garden center.

But that is not true and even new gardener’s can create a beautiful hanging basket. All they need to do is follow this step by step how to guide.

What you need:

• Large bucket
• Wire Basket:  You can pick these up at craft and garden stores.  They don’t have a solid bottom but instead have a wire frame instead.
• Peat Moss:  If you don’t want to use peat moss, you can use black plastic instead.
• Potting Soil
• Plants
• Watering Can
• Gardening Gloves:  This is important if you are using peat moss but using gardening gloves will protect your hands for all your gardening projects.

Directions:

1. Place the hanging basket frame into the large bucket so it is resting on the top. This is to provide you with a workspace so the basket doesn’t shift as you work.
2. Take the peat moss and line the bottom and sides of the frame.  If you are using the black plastic, simply line the basket with the plastic.  Do not trim the excess plastic until later.
3. Using the potting soil, fill half of the hanging basket.  Make sure that you fix the plastic so it is not bunching at the sides and the bottom.  You will want as clean a surface as possible.
4. At this point, you can either fill the basket with flowers or you can have planting holes in the sides of your basket.  To do the latter, simply cut a small hole in the peat moss or plastic and carefully insert the roots of a plant through the holes.  Make sure you pack the soil around the roots to prevent slipping and to ensure the best growth for the plant.
5. Once you are done with the side plantings, fill the top of the basket with your plants.  You do not need to dig down into the soil to do this, simply arrange the plants and that is it.
6. After the plants are in place, take more potting soil and fill in around the plants.
7. Pack the potting soil down and bring the level of potting soil to just below the rim of the hanging basket.
8. Trim away the excess black plastic so it is even with the rim.
9. Repack any of the soil that may have come lose when you were trimming and make sure that the soil is firm around the plants.  Add more potting soil if you need to to ensure that the plants are in firm soil.
10. Water the hanging basket and then hang it in the place where you would like it to go.

And once you are done, you will see how easy it can be to create your very own hanging baskets.  The only problem you will probably have is making too many.

Sirena Van Schaik

Hanging Basket on Light Post Credit: © Tektite | Dreamstime.com

Hanging Basket Photo Credit: © Ulga | Dreamstime.com

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Squirrels can be a pretty big pest when it comes to a backyard garden. They have been known to dig up flower beds, chew on wires and hoses and make nests in all the wrong places, including barbeques.  They create their fair share of damage and there are tons of products on the market that claim they can deal with squirrels.

Before I go into how to save your pots and flower boxes from your neighborhood squirrels, I would like to mention first that you shouldn’t waste your money on the number of deterrents out there.  Many companies will recommend noise emitters and smells, such as mothballs, that should deter the squirrels from digging in an area but the main problem with these is the fact that a squirrel will learn to work through them.  If you want an example of “If there’s a will, there’s a way,” you don’t have to look much farther than a squirrel.

Instead of wasting your money on an expensive spray or noise box, I would recommend driving down to your local home hardware store and picking up a roll of metal screening.  This is a metal screen that has a square grid pattern to it.  There are different grades but it is important to find one that does not have large holes.  If a squirrel can get its paws through the grid, then it is much to small.

Once you get it home, it will be time to start preparing your flower pots.  The first thing you will want to do is carefully measure each flower pot.  Once you have the measurements, take the wire and cut out a piece of screen that will cover the pot from rim to rim.

Mark on the screen where the plant stem is in the pot and then carefully cut out a whole in the center of the screen.  Fit it onto the flower pot.  If the plant is already in, simply cut the screen in half and then fit it around the plant so that there is about a half inch to an inch of space between the stem and the screen.

After you fit the screen into the flower pot, take a bit of soil and sprinkle it over the screen to cover it.  Make sure it is not too deep, about one inch only so the squirrel will hit the screen the moment he starts digging.  Around the edges of the pot and on the cut seam, sink a few rocks into the soil so it holds the screen in place and no amount of digging will move it.

You can screen small flower beds and flower boxes in the same way and when you are done, those squirrels won’t be able to dig in your garden and create a mess of your flower beds and pots.  Of course, knowing squirrels, once they can’t do something, they will find something else to entertain themselves with and you may be faced with a whole new problem.

Sirena Van Schaik

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I am always promoting the need for backyard habitats.  Inviting animals into yard not only provides you with many picturesque scenes but it also provides you with a biological pest control.  In this article, I am going to look at ways to invite animals into your yard and the benefits that those animals will bring.

The Bat Box

Okay, I’m just going to start with this right away.  When most people think of bats, they often think about how icky they can be, yes I said icky.  Now, I’m not a big fan of bats in my house, of which I just had to dispose of two in my basement, but I am a big fan of bats in my backyard.

You may not realize it but bats in your backyard are a valuable pest control that will ensure that your garden is free of many pests like aphids, craneflies and cutworm moths.  In addition, bats will remove most of the mosquitoes in your backyard, which leaves you to enjoy your evenings outside.

When you make a bat box, you want to mount it on a high post at the farthest corner of your yard.  Make sure that it is away from high traffic areas and also away from running water.  Once it is up, all you have to do is sit back and wait.  Eventually a bat will find it and set up shop and once you have one, it won’t be long before you have a colony munching up those pests in your backyard.

The Bird House

Everyone loves having birds in their backyard and they have become the eternal symbol of a peaceful garden.  It is important to invite birds into your garden by using plants that provide habitats and by also adding a few man-made bird houses in the yard.  Make sure that when you set up bird houses that you keep them out of the reach of any maraudering cats, whether you own a cat or not.  Also make sure that you provide them with a few bird feeders and a bird bath to draw a variety of birds into your yard.

Birds, like bats, enjoy eating aphids and they will also help out by picking off grubs, slugs, snails and caterpillars.

The Backyard Pond

Not everyone is going to have a backyard pond but if you have a space for a pond and wouldn’t mind having one, then this is a great feature for any garden. Although it may not seem like it, a backyard pond can be a wonderful habitat for a variety of animals that will enjoy riding your garden of small bugs.  Most backyard ponds can become an oasis for frogs, toads and other lizards, which will feed on slugs and other garden pests.

The last point that I want to mention when I discuss biological pest controls is to allow other creepy crawlies to reside in your yard.  Spiders are an excellent creature to have in your yard and if you see a spider or a spiderweb in an area where it does not interfere with you don’t destroy it, so for instance a spider web across your patio set would have to go.  Another great insect to have in your yard are wasps, although most people don’t feel that way.  Again, if you see a wasp, let it be unless it has a nest where it would interfere with you.

Lastly, and I hate to say this because I hate, and I mean hate, them, is to let any centipedes go when you see them in your garden. They are great little helpers and will eat a variety of insects and beetles that are eating all of your plants.

Once you have all these little oasis’s in your backyard, you will find that you will have many backyard helpers that are more than happy to rid your garden of damaging insects.

Sirena Van Schaik

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To save your nerves and to create your own wonderful blend of rose fertilizer, we have provided you with an excellent rose fertilizer recipe that will make sure your roses are big and bold.

This recipe was actually developed by Morris Arboretum from the University of Pennsylvania

The Ingredients:

• 1 part fish meal
• 1 part alfalfa meal
• 1 part greensand
• 1 part gypsum
• 1/2 part bonemeal

Basically, when you are looking at portions, it depends on how much you are planning to make.  If you are using cups, you can make it 1 cup of fish meal, alfalfa meal, greensand, and gypsum and 1/2 cup of bonemeal.  If you are producing a large amount of rose fertilizer, you could use 10 cups of everything except bonemeal, which takes 5 cups.

Once you have the ingredients measureed out, combine them together and they are ready for use.  To use the fertilizer, simply sprinkle on the soil around the rose and gently rub it into the soil.

When it comes to rose gardening, you have probably heard the term, “Fertilize, fertilize, fertilize.”  In fact, fertilizing your roses is an important part of your rose care and properly fertilizing will ensure that you roses are big, tall and beautiful.

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I have never been a huge fan of Valentine’s Day but I have celebrated my share of them, simply because it was expected of me.  I find now since I had children that I celebrate it a bit more and I make a big deal of giving my children, and oh yeah, my husband, a little gift on Valentine’s morning.  Nothing big but a little reminder that I love them.

For many people, Valentine’s Day gifts are just that, nothing big but a reminder of love none the less.  For that reason, I have compiled a list of small gifts that are filled with tons of love and romance.  And the best thing about this list is that it is perfect for any gardener on your list.

Gift #1: Sew the Seeds of Love

Although not every gardener likes to cultivate from seeds, this is still an excellent gift that will delight anyone.  What you need to do is get a few seed packets, maybe containing a favorite flower, and simply slip it into a cardholder.  It looks much better if you are crafty with cardstock but if you aren’t, simply pick up a CD gift box or a gift card gift box.  Once you have that, decorate it with a favorite poem or a simply saying that says, “My love continues to grow with each year.”

Gift # 2: Flowers are Forever

Okay, maybe they aren’t forever, exactly, but what is wrong with going with the old standby on Valentine’s Day.  If you think about it, there is nothing wrong with it; however, I would recommend that you up the ante just a bit with flowers.  Instead of picking up a dozen red roses, why not pick up some flowering plants that can be transplanted into the ground come spring.  If it is much too cold to pick up flowers, purchase a gift card, or make your own, for a shopping spree at a favorite greenhouse once the weather warms up.

Gift #3: Grow together

Now this is similar to the seeds and in a way it is like giving flowers but why not give a seed starter kit.  This is great for Valentine’s day since many seeds will need to be started in February or March.  Add a nice bow to the kit and maybe a note that says, “May our love continue to grow.”

Gift #4: Pampered in a Tea Garden

Another great gift idea is to simply pick up a garden pot and fill it with little goodies such as hand lotions, ornaments, and candy…don’t forget the candy.  When your spouse is finished with all the stuff inside the pot, she can use the pot itself for a beautiful plant in the summer.  Of course, it might be a good idea to include the plant as well.

Gift #5: Thoughtful Touches

The last gift idea that I would recommend is to simply listen to your significant other.  I’m sure that once you are done listening, you could come up with a few items that are a must have for a garden.  Once you have that little tidbit of information, why not go out and purchase the item for Valentine’s Day.  Trust me, she will be overjoyed that you remembered what she wanted that it will be the best Valentine’s Day gift ever.

Sirena Van Schaik

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If you are an avid gardener, or even not so avid, you probably have your own type of fertilizer that you prefer to use and probably something that it has in common with mine is that it is expensive.  It is almost alarming at how expensive a fertilizer can be. Sure, we all want big and beautiful blooms but does it have to be so expensive to create those blooms.  The answer, of course, is no, it doesn’t need to be that expensive.

Instead, you can make a number of fertilizers using everyday items that you find at home.  Not only is it more inexpensive, reusing, and recycling the materials around your home is a great way to be a “green” gardener.

Tip #1:  It’s all in the grounds

The first time I heard this being suggested, I was a little surprised.  After all, doesn’t coffee stunt growth, I mean, that is what happened to me.  Fortunately for my plants, coffee works as a great fertilizer for gardens and instead of throwing your leftover coffee away, why not save it for your garden.  With this fertilizer, you actually don’t use the grounds but you use the coffee that is brewed from the grounds.  Once you have a pot of coffee, add it with another 4 pots of water for a 1:4 ratio.  This will give you your fertilizer and you can use it on your plants every other week to see some pretty amazing results.

Tip #2: Apples aren’t just used to keep the doctor away

Okay, maybe it’s not apples exactly but using a homemade fertilizer that has 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and one gallon of water, can add a definite boost to your plants.  This fertilizer is great for house plants and it does an amazing job at boosting those green leaves.

Tip #3: Keep your fish tanks clean

This may seem like a strange tip but if you have a fish tank, your dirty fish tank water works as an excellent fertilizer since it is chalked full of nitrogen, which plants need in their soil.

Tip #4: A little Epsom for you and me

I love having baths and nothing is as nice as a bath with Epsom salts.  It can clean those pours and relax those muscles after you have spent a day out in the garden digging up that new flower bed.  What is even better, a mixture of 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt and 1 gallon of water can really help your tomato plants and other plants that require a higher level of magnesium to thrive.

Tip #5: Get cracking

The last tip that I am going to recommend as a homemade fertilizer is egg shells.  Whenever you make some eggs, save the shells until you have a fair amount. At that point, simply crumble them and then sprinkle them in the soil around your plants.  This provides your soil with much needed calcium carbonate.

And there are a few tips to get you on your way to not only saving a few nickles and dimes but also towards being an organic gardener.

Sirena Van Schaik

photo credit: © Fallsview | Dreamstime.com

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