I went out and thinned my watermelons and cantaloupes today to the three best plants per hill. One entire hill of 'loupes never sprouted at all -- don't know what the deal was there. Next week my husband is going to lay out landscaping fabric around them and put straw mulch out, so the melons will grow on a clean surface ( Read more... )

Two questions, and let me say thank you so much to everyone for your continued help ( Read more... )

I have a garden that's under the eaves on the south side of the house, so it doesn't get any rain, and it bakes in the sun. Consequently, I water it a lot. I don't have a problem with this, except that it splashes mud on the plants and flowers. Once, after mowing the lawn, I decided to spread the grass clippings on the garden. I don't care to use ( Read more... )

I let my garden really get out of hand. With the not-so-good weather and starting a new job, I've neglected simple things like pinching tomato suckers and weeding ( Read more... )

running through my head ( Read more... )

I'm in the process of smothering grass with black plastic to clear space for my garden. It's an isolated patch of grass so once it's dead I shouldn't have to worry about it creeping back in from elsewhere. My initial plan was to cover it for about 3-4 weeks (it's been two weeks by now) then bring in a little dirt to suppliment the existing soil, ( Read more... )

Hello! I have a question about making a garden ready for winter ( Read more... )

ive already started planning for my winter harvest so ive come home with a trunk-load of stuff and now im stuck.

how do i add compost to plants that currently have mulch around them?

ive got two potted plants (heirloom tomatoe and a fig tree) as well as some stuff in the ground - blueberries, lamb's ear and basil, marigolds, etc. with a good layer of ( Read more... )

The former owner of my house decided to kill her lawn, which I applaud because it meant I didn't have to do it! However, when she did it, she also dug up all the topsoil then laid plastic and wood chips over the clay. :( I've removed that and have been slowly trying to get plants to grown back there and build the organics back up. I've let wild/ ( Read more... )

I want to shred this fall's leaves for mulch in my flower beds. But, I do not own any power tools: no rotary lawn mower, no weed-eater, no shredder, etc.

Does anyone know of a way to shred several trees' worth of autumn leaves without the use of some gas or electric powered machine?