Many individuals are familiar with the Arbor Day tradition of planting a tree, but trees can be planted anytime in the spring, summer, and fall season. Planting a tree is a great way of celebrating a special occasion such as a special birthday, anniversary, or creating a living memorial to a loved one.
How to Plant a Tree
The first step to planting a tree can also be the downfall of the process if not done correctly. First, pick the correct tree for the desired location, not the other way around. Things to consider when shopping for trees include hardiness zone, height and spread of tree once the tree matures, sun exposure of the planned area, and soil conditions.
Once a variety of tree has been decide upon, the next choice the gardener will have to make is whether they want to purchase a bare root tree, balled and burlapped tree, or container-grown tree. A bare root tree needs to be planted shortly after purchasing and needs to have moist and fibrous roots. Deciduous seedlings should have roots about the same length as the stem length. Balled and burlapped trees should have a firm root ball especially near the trunk. The root ball should be a good size compared to the size of the tree. Trees sold in containers should have no circling roots and no roots wider than a finger. The soil and roots in the container should be joined tightly together in the container.
Continue reading “Celebrate a Special Day or a Special Person By Planting a Tree”
A garden dedicated to growing vegetables for a stir-fry is not as difficult as one may think. Many of the vegetables used in oriental cooking are what is considered cool-season and some are considered Cole crops. If the garden is planned accordingly, a three-season garden can be designed in certain areas.
Get your garden ready for spring at the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show starting this Wednesday, March 23rd through Sunday, March 27th. This year, the event explores the theme “Life in the California Garden” with a special focus on greener living through vegetable gardening, local vegetation, and the scrumptious local food products that epitomize California culture.
Playing games outside in the summer has been an old standby for many youth growing up before the invention of the Internet and electronic games. A great way of reintroducing backyard games to the youth of today is to create a living game board.
Mint is a very beautiful and fragrant herb that has a nasty habit. This habit is it is very invasive. It spreads through runners under the ground and through stem cuttings. The best approach when it comes to mint is to control it by a barrier placed in the ground, growing it in a container or creating a system that incorporates the best of both worlds. The later approach that is referred to is to grow it in the ground in a simple but stylish way. This is accomplished by making your own mint container.
Every animal lover knows how important it is to keep the family cat happy. Many cats enjoy playing with cat toys and scratch posts but they really enjoy a little nip of catnip. To provide a constant supply of catnip, why not grow your own.
Most of us have grown accustomed to smoking with our favorite wood, but for something truly different, I highly recommend the Asian technique of 
Nothing beats a soothing cup of herbal tea in the morning as a non-caffeinated pick me up or at night as a bedtime treat. What makes herbal tea even better is that it is easy to grow and helps keep an individual living a Locavore lifestyle.
Smoking has long been used as a preservation method for food. However, it is the flavor it brings, rather than the acidic protection it offers that has made smoked meat a treat the world over.