'Gardening Basics' Category

Hold the tool in a vise to sharpen a garden-tool blade. Use a coarse file or a second-cut file to reestablish the bevel along the cutting edge. To create a sharp digging edge use a smooth file or a sharpening stone. Keep the file angle consistent and the pressure uniform. Stroke in one direction only. [...] Read More

Disease or pest infestation can cause plants to look sickly even if they are fertilized and watered well. Prevent the problem from occurring, or nip it in the bud, by following these procedures. [...] Read More

The ABC’s of good gardening are pretty simple: Start with the right plant in the right spot, give it the soil it loves and water it needs, and then keep watch for any pests or diseases that might attack it, so that you can nip them in the bud. [...] Read More

Ground covers require less maintenance than a lawn. Use these plants in areas that receive little traffic. Nearly any low-growing, spreading plant can be used for ground cover. The thicker and more vigorously a ground cover grows, the less you will need to weed the area and the less watering or other care it will need. [...] Read More

Choose a variety of plants to form an ensemble rather than buying piece-meal and hoping that they will look good together. Most successful gardens will have the following: foundation plants of trees and shrubs as well as other trees and shrubs, a ground cover, some perennials, annuals and vines. [...] Read More