Category Archives: getting started

New House, New Baby, New Garden

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Tracy

In about a week, (Give or take a week) I am going to be giving birth.  This prompted the nesting instinct in my husband, and as a result, we are now living in a new house. Which means that there … Continue reading →

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Hay, Straw or Pine Straw?

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Tracy

I’ve written a few articles recently for magazines about starting a straw bale garden. Since then, I’ve received questions about substitutions, such as hay or even pine straw.  Because of this, I wanted to go into the differences between hay, straw, pine … Continue reading →

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Cheap, Easy Seed Starter Pot Ideas

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Tracy

It’s not quite spring yet, but already I’m getting ready to start cold-hearty seedlings for my early spring “winter” garden. In the past, I’ve gone out and bought those tiny little peat pots with the compressed pellets. But this year … Continue reading →

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Winter Got You Down? Try Growing Grass Indoors

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Tracy

January always gets me down. With the bustle and festivities of Christmas behind me and spring a blip on the horizon, I always feel a bit of Seasonal Affective Disorder this time of year. However, there are so many ways … Continue reading →

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January is time to order Cherry Tomato Seeds, Ugly Tomato Seeds and Heirloom Tomato Seeds from Seed Catalogs

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Tracy

The holidays are over and the decorations are once again in the attic. If you are staring out the window in between watering your houseplants and dreaming about spring, the time has come to check the mailbox. Right now is … Continue reading →

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Starting African Violet Cuttings

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Tracy

If you want to grow your own African violet, you can get one started from a single leaf of an existing plant. Select a healthy leaf from the center of the plant and snap it free of the crown. Make … Continue reading →

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Fairy Gardens – Little Wonders in Containers

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Tracy

If you have younger kids in your home and you love container gardens, one good way to give them the gardening bug is to help them plant a fairy garden. A fairy garden is a miniature garden setting planted in … Continue reading →

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Combination Planters – A high-Impact Solution to No Space

Posted on June 3, 2011 by Tracy

If you are a container gardener like the kind that I used to be, you may have limited space to garden in. As a result, your balcony or patio may be crowded with bottles, jars and flower pots. One great … Continue reading →

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Planting a Night Garden

Posted on May 30, 2011 by Tracy

When I first graduated college, I took a job as a staff newspaper photographer. The hours were variable and 12 hour days were not unusual. During this time period, it was often too dark for me to enjoy my patio … Continue reading →

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Mulch For Potted Plants

Posted on May 26, 2011 by Tracy

In an in-ground garden, mulch is an indispensable tool. Mulch helps prevent water from evaporating and cuts down on weeding by choking out weeds before they can take root. But in containers, mulch should be approached very carefully. The wrong … Continue reading →

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