We often associate pine cones with the holiday season, but did you know that these little woody seeds can also be used in your garden? Depending on the conifer tree of origin, pine cones can come in different shapes and sizes, all of which can be of good use in the garden – from adding…
Sweet or hot, peppers are a true garden treat. They’re perfect for salsa, and who doesn’t love that? You can crunch them raw, toss them over a grill, or add them to your chicken salad – the options! And don’t get me started on those jalapenos and habaneros! The great news is that whether you’re…
A fruit patch has always been a dream of mine, and I thought long and hard about what to plant. Apple trees and strawberry patches seemed like an obvious choice, so I wanted to go beyond that. I eventually settled on raspberry canes. One of the reasons was the head-spinning prices of these berries in…
If you’re tired of throwing away egg shells after cooking, then you’ll be delighted to discover that eggshells are packed with minerals and nutrients that can be super beneficial to your health and the environment. Not only are they a great source of minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, but they can also be used…
Did you know that you can grow your own non-toxic cleaning products? No, I’m not talking about herbs, it’s loofah sponges! I know it sounds like something you’d see in a cartoon, but I swear they’re the real thing. And just like their synthetic counterparts, these loofahs will absorb just the right amount of product…
Summer is just around the corner, and nothing screams ‘summertime’ like a fresh, juicy strawberry. It’s just pure enjoyment biting into a homegrown strawberry on a hot summer day and savoring its sweet flavor. Luckily, you don’t have to be a gardening expert to grow your own delicious strawberries. Whether you have acres of land…
If you are looking for a way to boost your health and add some zest to your meals, all you have to do is get yourself some ginger. Ginger is a famous plant that has been used for centuries for medicinal and culinary purposes. Not only can ginger help lower blood sugar levels, improve brain…
The world of plants is full of surprises, which is one of the main reasons I decided to pursue this career in the first place. I have to admit that cooking isn’t really my thing – I prefer eating! But when it comes to plants you use in cooking, that’s my master skill! “Are peppers…
Did you know that tomatoes grow better with friends? If you grow other plants near your tomatoes, they can benefit in many ways, including controlling pests, enhancing growth, and improving the taste of their buddies. In gardening, we refer to this method as companion planting; it sounds pretty simple but there’s more to it than…
Positive Bloom is an Amazon Associate and we earn from qualifying purchases through these links at no extra cost to you. If you’re looking for a way to maximize your rhubarb harvest, the easiest method for getting a bountiful yield is selecting the right type of fertilizer. The hardest thing when it comes to fertilizers…
There are so many lemon varieties out there that I understand the difficulty of choosing the right one. You can choose one that produces lemons with a tart or sweeter flavor, green or yellow ones, smooth or wrinkly, etc., and the list goes on! Below you will find 31 popular and unique lemon varieties you…
Pumpkins are vining plants, so it’s not surprising that you can grow them on a trellis. However, seeing jack-o-lanterns hanging in the air isn’t an everyday thing, so it poses the question of how to do it. It’s simple! Choose your pumpkin, preferably one with smaller fruit, add the trellis to the planting site, plant…
Tiny yellow blossoms can beautifully decorate so many things, such as flower beds, rock gardens, and borders. But they don’t look quite as good on lawns. When you notice dandelions or black-eyed Susans sprouting all over your grass, the natural thought is to get rid of them so you can maintain that traditional lawn look….
A well-maintained lawn adds to the beauty of a home and a healthy and inviting outdoor space. But how do we keep it that way? Well, two common tools that play a significant role in keeping lawns clean and healthy are sweepers and baggers. They have different functions and characteristics but the same purpose. That’s…
Love is everywhere! If you take a look at various plants, trees, or flowers, you’ll notice that many of them actually have heart-shaped leaves. What better way to spruce up your garden than to grow these romantic trees with heart-shaped leaves? What’s also amazing is that most of these love trees produce unique-looking flowers that…
If you are planning to grow your own pineapples, then you must get familiar with the pineapple growing stages first. In gardening, it’s always important to know how plants look throughout each growing stage and meet their needs accordingly. Pineapple (Ananas cosmosus) is a tropical fruit that grows in USDA hardiness zones 11 and 12….
Suburbs all over the United States pride themselves on their lawns, and for good reason. Deep-green grasses make an awe-inspiring sight, but there are some things that can prevent us from achieving this. A big problem is weeds. They may look idyllic in a country-side landscape, but once they mar the look of your lawn…
Growing cucumbers is fun and relatively problem free during cultivation. The trickiest part is irrigation, i.e., the frequency and amount of water this veggie needs. In this article, I’ll tell you more about cucumber watering needs and how they differ depending on the plant’s growth stage. It’s also essential to discuss how to recognize a…
Zucchini is a favorite summer veggie, so it’s only natural that we all want to increase its production in our gardens. And my favorite way to do this is by growing zucchini vertically. I know what you’re thinking, but hear me out! You won’t need as much room, it’ll be easier to pick the fruits,…
Maintaining a green lawn might seem like a piece of cake until you hit a rough patch and yellow spots start appearing all over the place. And when this happens, I always get conflicting opinions about which product to use. Since it bothered me that no one could give me a straight answer, I went…
Those looking for inner peace often find the answer in nature. The human race will never fully understand it, and we’ll always be enchanted by its beauty and mysticism. Trees are the largest plant species, and nothing can replace them. They offer us shelter, provide us with food and oxygen, and play a major role…
The very thought of transplanting crepe myrtle trees can be unpleasant, but with the right guidance, it’s easier than it sounds. There are several reasons why you might need to transplant your myrtle. Sometimes we transplant for aesthetic reasons. However, occasionally it is unavoidable. For example, if the root system is restricted, light exposure is…
It would be great if we planted our trees and never had to move them. Sometimes we transplant because of aesthetics, but sometimes we don’t have a choice. If you are transplanting for aesthetic reasons, you need to know the best time to transplant crepe myrtle. I’ll also explain when transplantation is obligatory and how…
If you just planted new grass seeds, you were probably expecting one thing: to have a beautiful lawn. Little did you know that you were also helping the environment tremendously! You might be wondering how. Does grass produce oxygen and absorb toxic pollutants? Well, yes and no. Just like any other plant, grass also needs…
Cultivating plants in grow bags has become very popular lately, and the popularity only seems to be growing. Manufacturers constantly release new types, and growers are simply crazy about them. However, nothing is perfect in the world of gardening, so you should definitely look at both sides before purchasing these bags. To help you make…
With over 10,000 different ant species out there, it’s pretty normal to see them in your garden. These little creatures are hard workers and good for improving soil aeration and drainage. Still, there is another side to the ant infestation story – an abundant ant population can harm plant roots and leaves. They are also…
Choosing the best hydro system might be a bit difficult, especially if you’re only just starting out with this type of farming. To help you out, we decided to describe six different types of hydroponic systems so that you can choose the best one for your needs. The main hydro setups include deep water culture…
There are many landscaping designs gardeners like to implement, such as placing a bench behind some pampas grass, building a small pond or fountain, or making a centerpiece out of trees. Today we’ll talk about the last option and present a couple of tips and tricks for landscaping around trees with rocks. And since this…
Hydroponic farming seems to be the number one topic in the gardening world nowadays. Science is clear on this one; hydroponic farming is advantageous and about to experience a boom in commercial and indoor growing. But is this way of cultivation really suitable for everyone? To help you decide, I’ll share my thoughts on the…
As you may already know, there are plenty of good insects in your garden that can actually benefit your fruit and vegetables. However, there are also some bad insects that can harm your precious little plants. So, how can you distinguish good insects from the bad ones? First of all, you have to be able…
Many plants require certain amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are macronutrients essential for their growth, root development, flowering, etc. Phosphorus, the base element for this article, affects flowering and fruiting, proper plant growth, photosynthesis, etc., so it’s not surprising that many species require additional amounts of this mineral. Therefore, we decided to bring…
Who doesn’t like shooting stars?! If you are a gardener looking for a plant that resembles shooting stars, I have the perfect option for you. Meet the Starburst bush, a breathtaking tree that will make your landscape prettier than ever. This is a pretty uncommon type of tree, so you might be the first one…
Eggshells are an excellent source of calcium and phosphorus for all your plants, so don’t throw them away! They can adsorb (adhere gas to their surface) phosphorus from the water, and you can use them as an alternative to phosphorus rich fertilizers. However, calcination is sometimes not possible for small-scale growers since you need temperatures…
Garlic is one of those veggies that you either love or hate. The taste of garlic is truly unique, but people mainly don’t eat it because of the smell. One thing is for certain; this Allium species is one of the most frequently grown in home gardens. For those gardeners out there who want to…
Gardening is exciting because there are always some novelty methods that you can use to grow your fruits and veggies. If you want to try non traditional gardening techniques to yield better crops, I would highly recommend hydroponics. There are a lot of benefits that come with it. You won’t have to worry about pesky…
Cabbage is a vegetable packed with vitamin C and antioxidants, which is why we should all incorporate it into our diets. Of course, buying these veggies can sometimes be quite expensive, especially if you go to a farmer’s market and opt for organic ones. But there’s a solution to this – growing your own! Growing…
Palm trees look absolutely fantastic whether they’re grown indoors or outdoors. We are all kinda used to tall varieties with recognizable woody trunks, but today I’m going to tell you about a palm variety that really stands out; the Licuala grandis, an uncommon palm species with an exquisite appearance. This is a dwarfish palm compared…
Artichokes are a famous and healthy vegetable, but there’s more to them than meets the eye. These plants produce breathtaking blossoms if you don’t harvest them, and can transform your plain vegetable garden into a beautiful lot. In this article, we’ll present all there is to know about artichoke flowers: what they are, when they…
Growing vegetables hydroponically has many benefits, and one of the main ones is increased yield. That’s why we constantly look for different veggies to grow this way, starting from herbs, leafy greens, and root vegetables, and eventually moving on to flowers. In hydroponic setups, we grow plants without a traditional potting soil. Instead, the roots…
There are many ornamental grasses that we can incorporate into our landscapes, and one of them is purple pampas grass. This plant has everything a beginner landscaper needs; it’s got color to show off, height to offer you privacy, and is easy to care for. And you can even use it to stabilize places prone…
Owning a herb garden ensures you have fresh and organic herbs whenever you need them, which is why so many growers incorporate at least a small one in their indoor or outdoor settings. But did you know that you can cultivate hydroponic herbs as well? Believe it or not, many gardeners opt for precisely this…
Both centipede and bermuda grass are warm-weather varieties that cannot handle cold temperatures. This makes them perfect for hot climates where they can thrive and bring out the best of your front yard. But how can you decide between the two? To help you work out which one to choose, we’ll discuss the main differences…
If you are a gardener that loves spicy food, then you should definitely learn more about different types of chilli plants that you can grow in your garden! Instead of spending money on all sorts of spices and sauces, you can try and make some from your own chilli plants. Most chilli plants require the…
Yum, yum! Delicious potatoes are probably the most famous veggie cultivated worldwide. Generally speaking, growing potatoes isn’t really challenging, but the first year may be problematic unless you figure out which variety is the most suitable for you, as well as how to plant them. If you’ve followed the experts’ recommendations and harvest time is…
When you go to a grocery store and pick up a large cauliflower head, you probably don’t wonder where it comes from. Or do you? Well, the origin of this vegetable might surprise you. Even though we grow this plant from seeds in the modern day, it doesn’t mean that it has always been the…
Taking care of a new or already established lawn isn’t as easy as many may think. You have to water it constantly, fertilize it, overseed it, top dress it to treat damaged areas, and more. And imagine ants appearing on top of all that! These pesky little insects can do all sorts of things to…
We must be cautious when planting trees in our outdoor gardens. This mainly refers to the type of trees we should grow based on their hardiness. Palm trees are always an excellent choice for gardens due to their low care requirements and stunning appearance. If you live in warmer parts of North Carolina and are…
Aeroponics and hydroponics are both methods of soilless plant growing. However, in aeroponic farming we mist the plant’s roots with nutrients and moisture, while with the hydroponic gardening method we keep plants submerged in nutrient-rich water. There are many other differences between these two systems, such as their price, maintenance, water consumption, yield, and benefits…
When it comes to the ideal growing medium for plants, there are many options. The truth is that some substrates work better than others, while others shouldn’t be used at all. Therefore, it’s essential to know the characteristics of each substrate, as we don’t want to accidentally harm our precious plants. Rockwool for plants is…
Hydroponic gardening is a method of growing plants in a nutrient-rich solution instead of soil. You can grow all sorts of plants in a hydroponic system, from leafy greens and herbs to flowers and fruits. Growers all over the world use it for indoor gardening, in greenhouses, or urban settings. But did you know that…
Maintaining a healthy lawn can sometimes be quite difficult, especially if you live in an area with fast-growing grass types. You will end up mowing your lawn every other weekend, which is much harder if you have a lawn mower that breaks down all the time! This is why investing in a good mower will…
When you spot white fungus balls in soil, you might often think that there is something wrong with your plant. However, not all fungi are harmful to plants. Some fungi are in a symbiotic relationship with plants and help them grow and absorb nutrients. The most important thing is identifying what type of fungi you…
Composting brown materials and kitchen scraps is an environmentally friendly way of producing organic material for your plants and saving some money you would otherwise spend on fertilizers. However, it isn’t as simple as piling up all your garden waste and calling it a day. You have to turn it frequently, add a compost starter,…
Green beans are definitely must-have veggies in the vegetable garden because they are highly nutritious, have numerous health benefits, and they are also relatively easy to grow. Although there are many varieties of beans, they can all be grouped into two types of beans, including bush beans and pole beans. You will grow either pole…
Trailing rosemary is an edible fragrant herb that you can use as a ground cover in your garden. You can also control its bushy appearance by planting it in a pot. It is a perfect addition to many dishes, repels pests, and attracts pollinators and natural predators to keep infestations at bay. Another benefit of…
If you like spearmint and watermint, then you’ll definitely like peppermint. It’s a hybrid between these two species, although it was considered a separate species in the past. Gardeners love growing mint plants due to their low care requirements and, of course, their irresistible aroma. If you are a beginner grower, you may come upon…
When adding plants to our landscape, we must pay attention to certain things like the hardiness zones of the areas we live in, which actually determine the type of plant we should cultivate. Luckily, zone 7 is suitable for the cultivation of many annuals and perennials. If you want to add a tree to your…