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How To: Top dress your roses

Top dressing is important for roses. Add one or two inches of good organic matter in and around the plants, taking care not to disturb the roots. Lori likes a material that is well composted, something with a lot of different sized particles, a product with a little nutrient charge included. Something with phosphorous, nitrogen, even some bone meal as well as some iron is good, since these ingredients tend to green the leaves. Top dressing will keep Roses looking good year after year.

How To: Recognize poison ivy

Poison Ivy and Poison Oak are a problem throughout the United States. The resin on the leaves is what bothers us, causing acute dermatitis (a bad rash). If you happen to come in contact with it, quickly wash with hot soapy water, that should at least reduce the amount of irritation. Poison Ivy has three leaves and a little bit of red where the leaf merges with the stem. There is a new product made especially for eradicating Poison Ivy and tough brush. To use this product, spray the leaves tho...

How To: Grow orchids

Although most of us can't grow Mangoes or Avocados or some of the other plants we're looked at, most everyone can grow or enjoy Orchids. Today they're readily available and there are thousands of species and it's believed there are thousands that have yet to be been discovered. Considering the way they're propagated today and the many places they're sold there is no reason we all shouldn't be growing Orchids. Karen had a fear of growing Orchids, thinking they were difficult to grow. She recei...

How To: Cut back ornamental grass

Adrian Higgins is the extraordinary garden writer for the Washington Post and shares with us his tip for cutting back ornamental grass. Spring is late in Washington this year which is good because we haven't gotten around to cutting back our grasses. This is a vital late winter chore because if it isn't done before new growth emerges, cutting could damage the new growth. Different people have different techniques depending on the grass and tool. Adrian doesn't like to use pruners for this tas...

How To: Keep flowered edges neat using an edger

If you have a beautiful Annual flower bed or a formal bed with lawn on one side you'll want a clean edge between the two. It not only looks nice but keeps weeds from encroaching into the bed helping reduce maintenance. There are several ways to create a nice edge to your beds. You can use a shovel, digging a line bit by bit but that gets hard on the back. Available materials for edging include, plastic edging and metal strips and wooden edging pieces. The wooden edges can be linked together b...

How To: Get rid of moles in the yard

Moles can be a problem. You can identify Moles as a problem if when you stick your finger down a hole you can feel a tunnel. There is a safe way to rid your lawn of Moles without harming other pests, insects, pets or family. Castor Oil produces an odor that Moles don't like. Get it in granular or liquid form, sprinkle it around the area. You'll see more Mole activity in the first few days because they'll get agitated but quickly they'll move somewhere else. Don't use a castor oil from a groce...

How To: Treat weeds

Weeds are the bain of a gardeners existence. Many people reach for something and spray. There are many cultural things that can be tried before spraying. Cutting the grass correctly and ensuring good drainage will go a long way towards preventing weeds. If water is puddling on top of the soil you know you're going to have to do something, some drainage tiles, bringing in more soil to level it out, somehow improve the drainage. With conditions like this you will not only have problems with wee...

How To: Use epsom salts as a fertilizer for roses

here are lots of products for fertilizing Roses and Roses need fertilizing for the best blooms. A household product that works well is Epsom Salt. The Magnesium Sulfate in Epsom Salts is great for Roses. All you do is take a half cup of Epsom Salt Crystals and sprinkle it around the Rose, once in the Spring and once in the Fall. That will be enough when you water it in to get those blooms going. The only thing to be concerned about is if you have high magnesium levels in your soil. It is alwa...

How To: Get rid of mosquitos

Water gardens are great but Mosquitoes like them too. To help control Mosquitoes a safe and effective remedy is Mosquito dunks. When placed in the water they are attractive to Mosquitoes, but they contain a bacteria. The Mosquitoes feed on it, it gets into their gut and kills them. The dunk is safe for pets, for fish that might be in the water, for wildlife and for humans. Just leave the dunks in the water, they will last about 30 days in a pond this size. Normally use 1 in 100 square feet or...

How To: Fertilize roses with coffee grounds

The Sun Sprite Rose has a nice fragrance but you want to keep it healthy by fertilizing it. Roses are heavy feeders so Charlie suggests adding compost in the Spring, really building up the soil, maybe put in some time release fertilizer pellets, then use regular Rose food to keep the Roses really looking good. Another home remedy involves fertilizing with coffee grounds. Coffee grounds sprinkled around Roses about a quarter of an inch to half an inch thick will help Roses grow and bloom bette...

How To: Care for the lawn in the fall

Fall is a great time to fertilize your lawn, especially cool season grasses like Bluegrass and Tall Fescue. By fertilizing in the fall you're building up the root system but because it's cool the top won't grow as well so you won't need to mow as much. Before spreading your fertilizer you want to top dress with compost. Compost is a great additive for the lawn, especially if you sprinkle a quarter to a half inch layer on top of the lawn. It will work its way down and when down there will feed...

How To: Build a retaining wall

Form, function and finesse transform seemingly simple stacked retaining walls into works of art and true engineering marvels. We'll show you how to make “rock stars” out of slabs of stone that hold soil from sliding down slippery slopes. Build a retaining wall.

How To: Prune bush roses in winter

Steve Redman shows how to prune bush roses in the winter. Roses need pruning to ensure healthy bushes in the following seasons. Tools and equipment are listed and used simply by Steve in this great video. Prune bush roses in winter.

How To: Make a winter hanging basket

Video shows how to make a winter hanging basket. Using a wire basket, compost, silas natural fiber, violets, tulip bulbs, trailing ivy, a water can, newspaper, fertilizer and a small saucer, the video breaks down the easy steps to construct your basket. Watch video for best results. Make a winter hanging basket.

How To: Test soil pH

Video shows how to test soil for pH levels. Testing the soil shows how acidic or how alkaline soil is. Some plants grow better in acidic soil or alkaline soil. Using a pH tester allows to determine which plants you want to use in your soil. Test soil pH.

How To: Plant a rose bush

Rob Scott shows us how to plant a rose bush. Roses should be planted in late autumn or early spring. Start by preparing the rose, then the soil, and add fertilizer to the soil. Watch video for best results. Plant a rose bush.

How To: Build a flagstone patio and walkway

Many people tend to focus on decorating and tidying up their house, often forgetting to care for their patio. This makes little sense to us because the doorway and patio is the first thing all your guests will see as they enter your house. So spruce your patio up by building a patio and walkway out of flagstone.

How To: Build a stone patio

Stone patios offer you that perfect balance of beauty and function. They're super sturdy, strong, and can take quite the beating from rain, snow, and everyday wear and tear without getting marred. So if you're considering installing a stone patio in your front yard, save some money by doing it yourself.

How To: Prepare a flower bed

Preparing ground for a garden bed entails some hard labor, but it truly is a labor of love. This video shows you how to take a piece of lawn and convert it into a garden bed. But before we do that, we have to decide on a location. If the area receives more than six hours of sunlight a day, it's going to be a sun-loving garden. If the area receives less than six hours of sunlight a day, it's a shade garden. In our case, we're going to be building a shade garden.

How To: Install perfect pathway lights

Looking for a front-yard upgrade that'll have visitors beating a well-lit path to your door? The answer is an easy to install pathway lighting set. Too often, we're forced to choose between form and function. But when it comes to the route that leads to your front door, you can have it both ways: a pathway lighting system that combines the safety and security of good exterior illumination along with decorative elements that enhance your landscaping. Even though you might not have any experien...

How To: Build a rock garden

Rock gardens are a great way to add color and texture to your lawn. Learn how to build a rock garden in your yard. Common goal is to add interest to your yard. You will need rocks, top soil and plants. If you don't know what type of plants talk to your nurseyman at the garden center.