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Pruning Hellebores – Tips for Lenten Rose Maintenance
Pruning hellebores will keep your Lenten rose looking its best all year long. Hellebores are a long blooming perennial plant that needs very little in the way of maintenance but it does get a bit ragged looking at times of the year. The flowers are so pretty and resemble wild roses that have opened up. […]
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Hosta Cat and Mouse – Miniature Dwarf Hosta – Perfect for Rock Gardens
This miniature hosta is called Hosta Cat and Mouse. Its small size makes it the perfect choice for those who don’t have a lot of room to garden. A recent trip around the JR Raulston Arboretum provided me with a magnificent look at their collection of hostas. I have a large collection of hostas in […]
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Shallots vs Onions – What is the Difference? and How to Use Them
This guide to shallots vs onions will answer not only this question but will also show how shallots are different from other onion types. There are many onion varieties so it’s easy to get confused about them. A common question that I get asked is “are shallots and onions the same?” Shallots are somewhat of a trendy vegetable […]
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Sage Plant Care – How to Plant, Grow and Harvest Garden Sage
These tips for sage plant care will help you get the most out of this popular garden herb plant. Garden sage is a culinary herb that is often used around the holidays to flavor your stuffing, but I use it all year round as a flavor component for chicken dishes. Sage is not just for […]
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Osiria Rose Care – How to Take Care of Osiria Rose Bushes
Find out why you might have trouble with this pretty rose that took the internet by storm a few years ago with these Osiria Rose care tips. The two toned color of the rose is highly desirable, but the rose is finicky at best. Photos of this hybrid tea rose with a lovely white center […]
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Hosta Yellow Splash Rim – Plant this Rapid Grower in Shade Gardens
This quick growing hosta plant is called Hosta ‘Yellow Splash Rim’. It is easy to see where the common name comes from by looking at the colorful leaf margins of the plant. I recently toured the JR Raulston Arboretum and had a great time looking at their shade garden which included many hosta plants. I […]
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Bear’s Paw Succulent – Cotyledon Tomentosa
Cotyledon tomentosa is tender succulent that is a lot of fun to grow. It is easy to see where the common name of bear’s paw succulent came from. Those chubby leaves look just like tiny bear’s paws! Each of the leaves are soft and fuzzy with a puffy look and have tiny “teeth” at the edges. […]
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Forsythia Shrub – Tips for Planting, Growing and Pruning Forsythia Plants
A forsythia shrub is one of the first harbingers of spring. Who can resist those cherry yellow blooms that appear about the time that the daffodils poke their heads up? These shrubs can be used as a stand alone plant in the middle of your lawn and can also be used as a forsythia hedge to […]
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How to Get Rid of Ticks in The Yard – Steps to a Tick Free Garden
These tips show how to get rid of ticks in the yard as well as a few natural treatment options. Summer is a time for being in the outdoors. But ticks also love the warm temperatures and can be bothersome in your yard and garden. Ticks are a nuisance and can be dangerous as well, […]
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Hosta Kiyosumiensis – The Mountain Hosta from Japan
Hosta Kiyosumiensis is a dappled leaf hosta also known as the Mountain Hosta. It is native to Japan. About Hosta Kiyosumiensis The name of this hosta comes from our version of the name of Mount Kiyosumi-yama, a small mountain in Japan with views of Tokyo Bay. The plant grows on this Mountain. In the northern […]
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How to Grow Sedum Morganianum – Growing the Donkey Tail Succulent (with Photos!)
Get some tips for how to grow sedum morganianum to make sure that you keep your succulent super healthy. The donkey tail succulent is a lovely plump trailing plant that is great in containers. Succulents like sedum are drought smart plants that are super easy to grow and make fantastic houseplants. Be sure to check […]
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Transplanting Forsythia – Tips for Moving Forsythia Bushes or Shrubs
Transplanting forsythia is a good idea if the perennial has overgrown the original planting area. This task needs some care. These tips for moving forsythia bushes will help with the project. Forsythia shrubs are hardy bushes that are easy to grow and a real show stopper in early spring when their yellow flowers tell us […]
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Growing Aeonium Haworthii – Kiwi Verde Succulent
Aeonium haworthii – Kiwi Verde is a showy succulent that has spoon shaped leaves with showy tips and color. It has a rosette shape that is very delicate and popular. This pretty succulent is also known by several names – Kiwi Verde, or simply Aeonium Kiwi. Succulents like aeonium are drought smart plants that are super easy to […]
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Tips for Buying Succulents – Where to Find Succulents for Sale
Confused about what to look for when buying succulents? This guide will walk you through the process and give tips on what to look for and what to avoid. Succulents are drought smart plants that are super easy to grow and make fantastic houseplants. Be sure to check out my tips for how to care […]
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Growing Pansies – How to Grow and Care For Pansy Flowers
Winter is coming to an end for many of us and the first signs of spring are everywhere. Growing pansies is a good way to bridge the change of seasons with one plant. They love the cool weather and are readily available at garden centers right now. The botanical name for the garden pansy plant […]
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Shoe Planters – Recycled Footwear makes a Great Garden Planter
Some of the most interesting planters and those that recycle items used for other purposes. These unique boot and shoe planters make great use of old shoes and boots. Some have seen their better day and some look like new but all showcase indoor plants in new and unusual ways. Do you have some old shoes […]
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DIY Hose Guides – Easy Recycled Garden Project – Decorative Yard Art
These DIY hose guides are made out of short pieces of rebar with small plastic orange golf balls. They keep my hose out of the nearby vegetable garden and act as a decorative look to the garden as well. Do you have something special that you use for hose guides? I do now, thanks to […]
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Sunflower Quotes – 20 Best Sunflower Sayings with Images
Join me in saying goodbye to my daughter, as she moves away, with these sunflower quotes and sayings as well as gorgeous photos of sunflowers that will bring a smile to your face. My daughter Jess loves sunflowers. The first year I started my garden island beds, I made sure to plant them in all […]
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The Gardening Cook on Social Media – [Facebook – Pinterest – Twitter]
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Join The Gardening Cook on social media. I have profiles on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter to share my content and that of others on my social media pages. The Gardening Cook on Social Media Social media is a large part of marketing for most websites now. Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram are all a good way to spread the word about […]
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Get Your Garden Ready for Spring – 25 Early Spring Garden Tips & Checklist
April 14 is National Gardening Day. That means it is time to start thinking about ways to get your garden ready with these spring garden tips. Winter is hard on a garden and spring brings with it a host of tasks that need taking care of. With spring right around the corner and daylight savings soon […]
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Heuchera Plant Care – Growing Coral Bells for a Shade Garden
Heuchera is a Native American perennial plant that is found all over the country. It is more commonly known as Coral Bells and comes in many shades of purple, rose, green and variegated varieties. The plant makes a wonderful display in any shade garden and, although it does flower, it is grown more for the […]
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Bonsai Garden – Bonsai Tree Care – Small Trees – Big Impact!
Gardeners often use the term “bring the outdoors inside” when they refer to indoor plants. Take this term to another level with a bonsai garden. Read on for bonsai tree care tips and more info about this fascinating topic. These mini trees are spectacular in form, have a big impact, and can be grown both […]
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Types of Peas – Tips for Growing Garden Peas – Snow Sugar Snap English Peas
Sweet green peas are a very versatile vegetable. There are several types of peas to choose from. Peas are one of the first vegetables to mature in the spring and can be used in all sorts of recipes. For me, vegetable gardening means growing lots of peas. Anyone who knows me well, is aware that my […]
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Cold Hardy Vegetables Give you a head Start on Spring
These Cold Hardy Vegetables are perfect for the cool weather of early spring and good one to think about planting soon. Many of us have very cold temperatures going on right now but it’s never too early to plan ahead for vegetable gardening. With spring right around the corner and daylight savings on the horizon, […]
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Forcing Forsythia Indoors – How to Force Forsythia Blooms
I love anything that gives me a jump start on spring. Forcing forsythia indoors lets me have the showy yellow flowers of the well known harbinger of spring – forsythia bushes . They are great to enjoy indoors well before they give you their cheery spring greeting outside. Luckily, it is very easy to force […]
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Winter House Plant Care – Taking Care of Indoor Plants During the Winter
This guide to winter house plant care will give you tips for taking care of indoor plants during the winter months. Indoor plants are pretty easy to grow during the spring and summer but have a few extra requirements during the cold weather. Most indoor plants will benefit from being placed outside in a shady […]