At this time of year, many of us bring home cyclamens and poinsettias or nurture amaryllis bulbs to produce spectacular blooms for the holidays. Entering those plant names in the search box to the right will lead you to lots…

Encourage your child or grandchild to develop an interest in gardening by having them grow a plant from a seed.  Place 3 toothpicks evenly around an avocado seed and suspend it in a jar of water so that the bottom…

A living Christmas tree needs time to adapt to the indoor environment.  Put your tree in a sheltered, cool spot such as your garage for a few days before bringing it into the warm, indoor environment.  Don’t keep it indoors…

  If cyclamens are given their preferred conditions – cool and bright indirect light – they can bloom for several months.  Keep them evenly moist by watering from the bottom.  Watering from the top could result in the crown rotting. …

Before storing your clay pots for the winter, give them a good scrubbing to remove all loose soil.  Then soak them for about half an hour in a solution of water and vinegar (1 cup of vinegar to 3 cups…

It is time to stop feeding your houseplants or, at the very least, feed sparingly using fertilizer that is diluted by at least half. The short daylight hours and resulting lower light conditions slow down a plant’s metabolism and the…

Young conifer trees and shrubs as well as rhododendrons need protection from the drying effects of winter winds and sun.  Build a screen using burlap and fence posts to provide protection from the wind on the windward side and from…

Overnight temperatures can vary widely in November. Should frost threaten, put old sheets, dark plastic, or burlap over your tender plants. Just remember to remove them when the temperature rises. This lengthens the season in both flower beds and vegetable…

Rosemary will not survive our cold winters outdoors but can be grown indoors.  Pot it up using an growing medium for containers.  Bring it indoors gradually so that it has time to acclimatize to its new environment – for an…

Young and newly planted trees are vulnerable to both sun-scald and four-legged creatures nibbling on their bark in the winter.  Protect the tender bark by wrapping the trunk with burlap, kraft paper or hardware cloth.  The protection should go from…