Selling a Home in a Troubled Economy

Selling a home in an economic recession is a challenge. Despite the fact that housing prices and mortgage rates are at their lowest levels in years, many potential buyers are sitting on the sidelines, not wanting to take the plunge of purchasing a home in an uncertain economy. What steps can sellers take to increase the chances that their home will be sold?

While homes that need fixing up are often considered great deals, such homes are less appealing to potential buyers when lenders make it difficult to borrow money. After years of lax lending practices, many lenders are now following stringent rules and making borrowing money difficult as a result. While potential buyers may be able to find a home at a low price and a mortgage at a low rate, if they wish to purchase a home that’s a fixer-upper, they may not be able to borrow the money to make the needed repairs. This could dissuade many people from buying homes that need work.

By making minor repairs and upgrades to their home themselves, sellers may be able to attract more buyers and have a better chance of selling their home. First impressions matter, and curbside appeal is a major factor in real estate. Thus, one the front yard is the first place a seller should focus on to improve their home’s appeal. A garden hose reel is an inexpensive and effective way to make a yard look more polished by reducing clutter and adding charm. Purchasing a decorative garden hose reel made of weather- and rust-resistant material is a simple and lasting step to improve a yard’s appearance. Other outdoor storage options include storage benches. Storage benches at once provide patio seating and a place to keep garden tools.

If space permits, adding an outbuilding such as a storage shed in the back yard is another option. Storage unit rentals are a growing business because so many people have so many possessions; increasing the amount of storage a home has is a valuable addition that potential buyers will notice. Mounting a second garden hose reel on the side of an outbuilding can make gardening and yard work more convenient by providing easier access to the front and back yards individually. Buyers consider what daily life would be like in each home they consider, and ample storage space and convenience are highly desirable.

In short, selling a home in a recession is never an easy task. But by taking steps to improve the appearance of their home and ensuring that minor repairs and upgrades are taken care of, sellers can improve the chances of their home being sold.

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including garden hose reel and landscaping.

Replanting Your Christmas Memory

What a sad sight it is to see suburban cul-de-sacs and streets post-Christmas, with the “carcasses” of evergreens waiting to go to the landfill. More progressive and forward thinking cities, thankfully, at least, supposedly, deposit these into compostable piles along with the yard and kitchen waste that is regularly collected. Many cities simply toss these once stately, green holiday stalwarts on a pile to be crushed along with last year’s wrapping paper and refuse; piles that grow higher every year, in landfills that are doubling and tripling in size.

A more Earth-conscious alternative for many has emerged from the current trend of “green-mindedness”, namely, replanting that evergreen in lawn or garden, to (hopefully) continue its growth and add beauty and Christmas memories to your home’s landscape for many years to come. This, though not the easiest of tasks, is worthy of the attempt, as the sight of your stately tree will bring joy to your family and visitors alike, as retelling of “that special Christmas when…” goes on indefinitely.

After the holidays have passed, and provided your tree has survived its indoor environment by receiving adequate water to its base, find a place on your lawn where your holiday friend can grow and prosper. Remember of course, that if and when it grows, it will take up more and more space, so choose wisely, as moving it again will probably provide undue stress and harm to your tree. Some of the varieties of Christmas trees that are often replanted successfully are fir, spruce and pine, so choosing one of these trees is highly recommended if your chosen path is replanting instead of disposing after holiday celebrations. Replanting a tree is really only a viable option provided you have made the conscious choice of purchasing a living tree to begin with; one with root ball intact, wrapped in burlap, and readied for replanting. A tree that has been hacked at the base, most probably, will perish over the holidays and will have no hope of growing in the wild. To transition your living tree back to its outdoor climate, it is helpful to place it in a medium-cool, interim resting-place such as a garage or outbuilding. In this manner, your tree can become better acclimated to its new (again) outdoor environment. It is then necessary to dig a hole in your chosen spot, nearly twice as large as the tree’s fragile root ball, and then, carefully lower it into place within. Remove the burlap from the roots and water the roots thoroughly with your hose from the garden hose reel. Recover the tree’s roots with the soil removed, and your tree will be on its way. Watering your tree twice weekly will help ensure it gets adequate moisture for growth; fertilizer can be added as well to provide more nutrients to its soil.

By replanting your Christmas tree, you are making a choice to conserve and recycle, continuing the giving spirit of Christmas and “transplanting” it into your daily landscape.

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including garden hose reel and landscaping.

Tips On Effective and Accurate Bonsai Gardening

Growing beautiful gardens and plants, indoors and out, has long been a passion of homeowners and renters alike. Gardening in containers has brought the world of gardening to those whose space dictates smaller projects, but still the rewards are great, if only, smaller. One type of container gardening that is firmly rooted in the distant past is the Asian art of bonsai. Bonsai gardening is container gardening at its most artistic; a hobby that can inspire relaxation and contemplation, undoubtedly due to its Zen Buddhist origins as well as its meticulous manipulations in miniature requiring much thought and focus. After the initial six months of growth has passed, your bonsai plant is ready and willing to undergo its transformations toward the tree it is being grown to be; knowing how to proceed and having a gentle touch goes a long way towards being successful in bonsai gardening.

Before beginning your plant’s transformations, you should decide by which methods you will attempt to motivate its changes. Classically and more traditionally, bonsai gardeners using the cutting and pruning method attempt to train their plant to twist and turn in natural and unnatural ways, while always keeping Lilliputian size intact. The other method of training your small greenery involves the use of twine or wire to tie the branches in such a way so that the angles and directions of growth are changed, reversed, and extremely affected. Manipulations done with wire should be closely monitored as wire can cut into the delicate outer layer of your branches if left unwatched, causing irreparable damage to your precious bonsai plant. The plant should not be left in full sun exposure or extreme cold while the wires are in place as negative results grow exponentially in these conditions. Bonsai trees are traditionally grown outside so the species used should be hardy in nature and used to more hostile environments, especially if your climate grows cooler in winter. If your apartment has a fire escape with nice and sunny, southern exposure, this would be an ideal place to position your tiny evergreen or conifer. Watering your plant can be applied from your garden hose reel or from a small misting bottle if gardening inside. Care must be taken indoors to not have your plant near a heating register or vent as this could make its branches dry and brittle. Always keep the soil for your bonsai moist, yet never overwatered, as sitting in water can allow for root deterioration and poor health overall.

Achieving the “Zen” middle ground of just right manipulation will be key in keeping your plant healthy as it goes through your motivated changes. This will mostly be trial and error, you will find, but once achieved, your small green bush will be a peaceful and soothing addition to your home or garden décor.

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including garden hose reel and landscaping.

Starting Your Bonsai Out Strongly

Limited space need be no detriment to extreme gardening as Chinese gardeners pioneered and Japanese gardeners have shown through their innovative practice of Bonsai for thousands of years. Chinese gardeners invented Bonsai (literally, tray-plant) in the third century B.C., and its transition to art form is due mainly to developments and continuing practice by Japanese gardeners through the centuries. Bonsai does not refer to any specific species of plant; the artful practice of pruning and shaping can be applied to many varieties of plants, though, of course some work better than others. As a rule, evergreens and conifers respond well to the manipulating and training involved in bonsai, so these types are excellent for a novice to begin with.

Bonsai is container gardening at its most artistic and advanced. The objective is not only for your plant to grow and flourish, but to also be adaptable and grow in a way similar to a particular style and look you have predetermined. If growing your plant outdoors, it is best to choose a hardier species such as pine or spruce. These two trees do very well in cooler weather, and as long as they receive adequate water from your hose reel, they should be easily manipulated in form as well. Indoors, many more options and types of plants exist such as ficus, azaleas, and others. The type of plant you choose should be most hospitable to the environment in which it will be kept. A visit to your local garden and plant store should help you with your ultimate choice. It is extremely beneficial to talk to expert employees at your local shop, especially if you plan to grow your bonsai outdoors, as it is necessary to know the profiles of the plants you are considering in order to make the best choice for your climate and environs. Many plant stores in the United States will provide starts specifically designed for the art of bonsai due the rapid growth and interest in bonsai horticulture. If this is the case, your choice will be made much easier, and you can choose with confidence that your plant will perform exceedingly well in your particular geographical location.

When you get your plant home, pick a location within your house (or outside) where your plant will routinely receive sun exposure. Adding a little moss around the base of your tree will help keep the necessary moisture gleaned from water applications. Making sure the soil is damp and that your plant receives adequate sunlight is truly all that needs to be done for the first six months. Once six months have passed, true creativity and training will begin.

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including hose reel and landscaping.

Bringing the Wild Inside: Growing Jungle Cacti Indoors

Growing houseplants can be a relaxing hobby that can add an organic livelihood to your indoor environment without too much effort or forethought. A beautiful option for indoor growing that is sometimes overlooked is the cactus. While a large variety of cacti exist, they can be subdivided into two large groups, separated by the environment in which they naturally grow. A desert cactus is the type of cactus that comes to mind for most when thinking about cacti, because it is the most familiar. Desert cacti grow in arid, dry areas where water is scarce, and only the hardiest of organisms survive. The other type of cacti and the focus of this article is the less commonly known, jungle cacti, which flourish in rainforests and jungle environments across the globe.

Jungle cacti in the wild are most often found growing on trees or in rocky, craggy areas as they find most of the nutrients they need to survive in these locations. The jungle cactus gets its essential food and nutrients from decomposing leaves and naturally existing components in the air. It is most essential to provide the correct consistency of soil for their roots when growing in your indoor environment. The soil must be extremely well draining as the conditions found in a tree or rocky jungle floor would be, in order to avoid standing water that can be extremely detrimental to the cacti’s root system. Jungle cacti also demand a richer soil than their desert counterpart; imagine how rich the soil in a dense, humid rainforest might be, now replicate it! Fertilizer can be extremely helpful to add the necessary nutrients for your jungle cactus to flourish and grow, so be sure and add some to your soil mixture.

As you would probably imagine, jungle cacti require more water than their desert cousins, due to the naturally occurring conditions of their native environment. Outside growing cacti, in warmer climes of course, can get some of their liquid nourishment from the elements rather than all supplied by you and your garden hose reel. Indoors, a routine needs to be established for watering, with weekly finger checks of the soil necessary to prescribe when water is required. If the soil feels dry when sticking your finger just under the surface, water is needed; if wet to the touch, abstain. Remember that watering your cactus too often can be just as harmful as watering it too little. The last ingredient for healthy jungle cacti growth is sunlight. Whether naturally or artificially supplied, full sunny exposure for half the day, and shade the other half works best for your cactus to bloom and grow.

Undoubtedly, if this is your first foray into cactus growing, it will not be your last. Cacti are a wonderful addition to your indoor decor, complimenting the environment, and coexisting well with whatever other plants you choose to grow in your home.

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including garden hose reel and landscaping.

Showy Decorative Plants

Plants with gorgeous foliage, stunning blooms, and dramatic shapes can add a striking splash of color to your home or office. Growing healthy, showy plants indoors in the winter can help the energy in a place to be more positive and pleasant, and can actually help cure the winter blues. Surprisingly, indoor plants are as easy to care for as their outdoor counter parts. Given the right spot to grow, they thrive just perfectly and a greenhouse isn’t even necessary, as many hardcore gardeners believe. If the air in your home or office is dry, there are a few things you can do to increase the humidity. The first thing that will help is to gather the plants near one another in a group. Next, you can try running a small humidifier near the plants. Also, placing plants on a tray of pebbles filled with water will help. The water level in the tray should be kept just below the bottom of the pots. The water should always be checked when the air is dry, a common occurrence while heating systems are running. Some easy-to-grow plant suggestions to enjoy indoors this winter are described below.

Passionflowers have delightful foliage and bloom multitudes of fascinating flowers all year if given enough light. With hairy green leaves and yellow flowers or delicate pink flowers bearing a subtle fragrance, passionflowers are free flowering (producing blooms all year). They need a bright or moderately bright spot in order for this to happen. Between watering, allow the potting mix to dry slightly, and fertilize your plant in the spring and summer months. To keep the leaves healthy, there should be enough humidity in the air. The vines should be trimmed when they grow too long and lanky. The clippings can be used for cuttings to start others.

Contrary to their name, flowering maples are not related to maples. Actually, they're kin to hollyhocks. These plants bear small, hibiscus-like blooms in shades of red, white, pink, orange, yellow, and even blue. And like the passionflower, if given enough light, will bloom on and off all year. The pretty maple-like leaves are usually dark green. They usually don't need as much water in winter months. During the spring and summer months, fertilize flowering maple plants with a flowering-houseplant fertilizer. To keep them from getting too shrubby or leggy, trim the plants back occasionally. 


Perfect for gardeners who want constant bright indoor color, flamingo lilies will bloom all year, if given enough light. Flamingo lilies are popular with florists. Because of their long-lasting, bright red or pink flowers, they are often used in tropical flower arrangements. Even if the plants don't get enough light to bloom constantly, they still have attractive foliage with shiny, dark-green, heart- or arrow-shaped leaves. During the spring and summer months, fertilize with a flowering-houseplant fertilizer to ensure producing consistent blooming. Give them plenty of humidity all year. 


Giant elephant's ears that many gardeners grow outdoors are too large to be suitable houseplants, but several of the smaller species are spectacular indoors. Many of these plants have very decorative dark green, nearly black leaves highlighted with bright silver veins. This showy foliage attracts attention in all seasons. Elephant's ears grow in moderately bright light, and generally require less water in winter. Fertilize with a houseplant fertilizer through the spring and summer. To keep the leaves looking healthy, give them plenty of humidity all year.

Often overlooked as houseplants, Persian shields are beautiful shrub-like plants, native to areas of southeastern Asia. The plant’s dramatic foliage of wonderful, toothed dark-green leaves painted with tones of silver, pink, and purple on the top and dark burgundy on the undersides will also treat you with small spikes of blue flowers, given the right conditions. Persian shields like a relatively bright spot, good humidity, and light pruning from time to time to keep them from looking too shrubby. As recommended for all these indoor beauties, watering should be done when the potting mix is slightly dry.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking good and healthy.

Nurture Healthy Pollen Production

Without pollen production, most plant and animal life in our gardens would cease to exist. An abundance of healthy, ripe pollen is the rich vein of gold that produces our most popular food crops. Without this garden gold dust there would be no apples, cucumbers, tomatoes or corn. 

Just as distinct as the plants on which they’re found, pollens are wind-transferred (such as corn and ragweed), the bane of hay fever sufferers, and insect-transferred (such as fruit and squash) displayed on showy, scented flowers designed to attract pollinators.

At the heart of blossoms in structures called anthers, atop stalk like stamens is where the pollen grains develop. As pollen ripens and becomes very yellow, the anthers open. Then either the wind or insects transfer the pollen grains, which contain male reproductive cells, to the tips of pistils, the female parts of blossoms. Much like a seed, the pollen germinates there. Each grain of pollen sends a tube down into a pistil to the flower’s ovary, where it fertilizes a seed-producing ovule.

This process needs to take place hundreds, thousands, even millions of times in order to generate a bumper crop of almost anything in a growing season. The life span of a pollen grain is fairly short, ranging from a few hours to a few days. A lot can go wrong along the way. Soil nutrients, moisture levels, weather, and sunlight all influence pollen production. To improve the odds that at least some ripe pollen will land on desirable pistils, plants must produce vast volumes of pollen.

The ideal pollen-germinating temperature for most plants is 65ºF to 75ºF. So if your garden grows at these temperatures most of the time, you are most likely to beat the odds. Germination generally slows or eventually stops when nights drop below 60ºF, days are above 85ºF, or the humidity tops 70 percent. Between five and ten in the morning is when airborne pollen usually peaks. Pollen production can be eccentric, though. Different plants can shed pollen at different times of the day.

To help maximize pollen production and germination in your garden do some simple things: Test your garden soil regularly. Plants need balanced nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium levels for blossom production. Adequate levels of calcium and boron are required for healthy pollen development. A soil test determines what is necessary for improvement. Select plants suited to your climate. In hot-summer regions, some plants stop ripening pollen in July and August. In these regions, choose early-blooming plant varieties that ripen enough pollen to produce good crops before temperatures become too hot.

It will also help to maintain even soil moisture. Providing a consistent amount of water helps plants take in the nutrients that encourage blossom development and healthy pollination. Drought conditions can dramatically reduce pollen production. Take care to water the soil at the plant’s ground level because top watering can wash delicate pollen off flowers and out of the air. To make the task of watering much easier, use a garden hose reel.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking good and healthy.

Artful Touches to Personalize Your Garden

Garden art is any decorative object you place in your landscape. These objects add distinction and personalize your garden that can surprise, delight, and even inspire. What you choose to grow is very personal, of course, but also is limited to what grows in your specific region. Adding these artful touches can make your garden have its special style. Anything from a scarecrow to a large decorative urn can be used to spice up your outdoor décor. You can use flea-market finds, time-honored antiques, or handcrafted objects to help your garden reflect your own personal style.

First, decide on the art’s role. Is the piece of art going to be the center of attention or play a supporting role to the main attraction. For instance some gardener’s may want to display a fountain in the middle of a bed of blooming flowers. A piece of art can help visually organize a garden area and grab attention. When an object is placed at the end of a path it adds perspective and the visitor is drawn into the garden to wander down the path to see it up close and enjoy whatever is planted along the way.

To create a focal point, place a piece of art that’s taller than its surroundings. Or instead of just using a single piece of art, use a collection of items that are similar in color or are of contrasting textures and forms.

To give art added significance, place it in front of a wall trellis covered with ivy or place the object under an arbor. A decorative item positioned in front of a backdrop immediately draws the eye.

Not all garden art serves as a focal point. Some objects can be used as a guide to signal a point of transition or remind the visitor that a turn is coming up or a new area is just around the corner. Decorative objects enhance your garden décor. Colorful containers, sculptures, birdbaths, benches, and arbors support the colors and style of your garden and home. They can be subtle accents that blend or bold attention-getters that sparkle adding interest either way.

The type of art you choose to display sets the tone for your garden. Classic art is the obvious choice for a formal garden. Contemporary objects suggest a more informal, creative style of gardening. Archaeological pieces can be used to suggest the excitement of discovery and exploration. Spiritual and mythical symbols invite visitors to meditate. Try to be consistent in your selection so that your garden defines the style you want to be conveyed.

To enhance your gardening experience, consider designing your own art. You can’t get more personal than this. Your garden decorations tell a story about you. Your garden, the plants you have chosen to spend time caring for and the items within it are your own creative expression.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking good and healthy.

Ants Hold the Key to a Garden’s Health

Did you know that the fate of your garden depends on ants? Most people think of ants as pests, but these complex insects play several important roles in your yard’s ecosystem.

Since many ant species are predators of other insects, the millions of ants in your garden control the amount of caterpillars, beetles, and grasshoppers in your garden. Without ants, these insects would be left unchecked to devour your plants.

Many birds would be less likely to visit your garden if it lacked a healthy ant population. Ants themselves are prey for larger predators. Northern flickers are woodpeckers with a long tongue specializing in lapping up dozens of ants with each flick. In the desert Southwest, horned lizards also feed on ants, sometimes exclusively. Most backyard birds feed their young insects, many being ants.

Ants also make life easier for plants. The tunnels ants make in the soil channel air, water, and organic matter directly to plant roots and loosen the soil, making it easier for roots to grow. The seeds of many plants such as trilliums, violets, Dutchman’s breeches, trout lilies, and datura have fleshy, nutritious extensions called eliaosomes, which lure ants. The ants feed the eliaosomes to their larvae and then disperse the seeds in nutrient-rich heaps outside the colony, where the seeds germinate.

Only a few ant species become nasty pests. Carpenter ants can cause damage in homes by making tunnels through soft, decaying wood to create a nest. Tiny, exotic Argentine ants invade the home by feeding on all sorts of strange items, such as electronic equipment. And the red imported fire ant creates huge mounds and has an extremely painful bite.

In most cases ants are probably providing beneficial services to your garden. Before you start spraying to kill them off, identify the species to determine if it is truly a pest. If poison is your only option, here is an effective method of trapping them that is essentially non-toxic to people and other animals: soak bread in a mixture of 3⁄4 cup water, 1⁄4 cup sugar, and 1 tablespoon borax and put it in a small plastic container with holes in the side.

Ants owe their success to their social nature. Within a colony there’s a complex and efficient division of labor. an Ant colonies can include (depending on the species): foragers, warriors, hunters, nannies, janitors, undertakers, engineers, gardeners, herders, guards, egg-laying queens. Ants communicate via chemical pheromones, which they detect with their antennae. Learning more about these fascinating insects will make you appreciate the role they play in keeping your garden healthy.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking good and healthy.

Watch the Show: Grow a Venus Fly Trap!

Okay, all you “Little Shop of Horrors” fans out there, this article’s for you! Just kidding. Of course many gardeners, musical fans or not, might enjoy the subject of this entry, namely, the Venus Flytrap. The Venus Flytrap is such an amazing plant due to its carnivorous nature. Excitingly, an owner or visitor with a watchful eye can actually view the flytrap in action. Its color and scent it gives off act as a magnet for unsuspecting flying insects. Inside the mouth of the plant, there are several hairs that act as triggers, alerting the green carnivore when touched by a tasty intruder. When a fly or other insect touches two of those hairs, the “jaws” of the plant close, trapping its prey. The Venus Flytrap is indigenous to North and South Carolina in the United States, but with the proper environment, can be grown and admired anywhere.

Flytraps do need a warm and humid climate to thrive and grow, so unless this is true where you live, you will need to grow your plant indoors instead of out. A controlled environment like a terrarium will suffice, and is necessary to begin growing a flytrap even if transferring it outdoors at a later time. When outdoors, your garden hose reel can supply the necessary water, but indoors, a checking of the soil by touch, and often will be necessary. Also, tap water is extremely harmful to the finicky flytrap, so if outside, attach your hose to a rain barrel that collects the rain water as it falls to be administered later to your flytrap. Indoors, bottled water will work sufficiently or take some from your outdoor rain barrel or other rain-capturing receptacle for later use. Transferring your purchased plant from its pot to your terrarium or outside spot if climate permits, is very much like transferring any other houseplant. You must make sure to take the entire root system with as little handling or disturbing as possible. A peat moss and sand mixture will work best as the moss absorbs water and the sand drains well. If encased in a terrarium, it will be necessary to spray the soil each day to keep it moist; if outside, it is good to keep a dish of water underneath your Venus, and simply keep that dish filled, and sprinkle water from it daily over the plant soil’s surface. Your flytrap will flower each year because the Venus self-pollinates. As your plant grows and matures, new bulbs with “mouths” will form and can be transferred to new pots or left together, your choice.

You will find the Venus Flytrap to be the most interesting plant you’ve ever grown, and will most likely look to grow more of them, intrigued by their unique nature. If taken care of, your flytrap will live up to a decade and beyond.


About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including garden hose reel and landscaping.

Get Rid of Dandelions? No, Grow Them and Eat Them!

Don’t worry that your neighbors will think you’re crazy. Just tell them that your favorite color is yellow or that you’re a horrible gardener and want some success in growing something. While most all of your neighbors are doing their best to rid their yards of dandelions, you will be the lone pioneer, watering them from your garden hose reel, nurturing their growth, and being the sole beneficiary of their medicinal and nutritious worth, that is, until your neighbors catch on.

My four year old son is simply fascinated (as we all were) and enthralled with the fun of blowing the wispy seeds of dandelions into the air. At first, I would admonish him, beg him to cease, telling him that the seeds would produce weeds and not flowers, that we wanted to remove them from our yard, not propagate them. He could only see that the yellow flowers, to him, were pretty, and couldn’t disagree more with their “weediness”. So I performed some research. I remembered distinctly, being from the South, my grandmother, “Mamaw”, using dandelions in salads, combining it with several other “weeds” to make delicious, hearty, and inexpensive fare for us all. I wondered if that was simply frugal cooking, or if there was actually some nutritional value in these yellow-headed scourges dominating my otherwise lush, green lawn. Surprisingly enough, “Mamaw” knew what she was doing and wasn’t just cutting corners to save some money. Dandelions have long been eaten in salads, and their leaves are actually more nutritious than spinach. The benefits of eating dandelion flowers and leaves or by steeping them in a boiling liquid are astounding. Dandelion is an excellent digestive aid, a relaxant to the body and nervous system; steeping it in a pot would help make an excellent bath time beverage for relaxation and as part of a detoxification routine. Dandelion root has long been used as an effective cleanser of the liver and is often a prime component in herbal supplements for just that reason. The uses of dandelion are many and varied and growing a bed of them is easy, requiring little tending as they are wild growing flowers. So that they don’t infringe upon your lawn and other flowers, make sure they are in a raised bed, alone, in full sunlight. Soil conditions are not to be of concern, so save the nutritious additives for your flowers and plants that need them.

With adequate water, sunlight, and little else, your dandelions will soon flourish. Harvesting them young, before the flower bud fully develops will help them be sweeter for your kitchen concoctions. With the rewards you’ll receive, you’ll never look at a dandelion the same way again. Now that crabgrass is a different story.


About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including garden hose reel and landscaping.

Time To Grow Thyme? Of Course, Always!

Everyone surely is aware of the delicious attributes thyme brings to the dinner table, but besides cooking, thyme has many other uses that help to make it one of the most popular herbs grown by gardeners today. Its edible medicinal properties extend helpfulness into many areas of daily life, and its wondrous scent is intoxicatingly fragrant, making it a wonderful addition as décor, inside and out. Thyme’s hardiness allows it to flourish in many geographical locations, including many in the United States, making it a favorite for gardeners in the Americas. Growing thyme in your garden, inside or out, is an endeavor well worth undertaking.

An extremely attractive attribute of thyme, especially from a grower’s standpoint, is its ability to for the most part take care of itself once it has taken root. Equally happy under paving stones, lining a wispy garden path, or even as part of an entire “lawn” bed, thyme is able to flourish even in harsh, dry climates where water is scarce. Of course, in your garden, water should be plentiful, supplied by your hose reel when the soil feels dry to the touch. Thyme is more easily started in your garden from a start, rather than seed, and many varieties should be present at your local nursery that would grow most hospitably in your area. There are nearly 350 species of thyme, each with different characteristics, including flower color and scent. As thyme is a member of the mint family, some varieties possess a minty scent, while others display scents of rose, lavender, lemon, and even orange. Imagine how delightful an evening stroll down your garden path would be surrounded in the emanating scent of orange or lemon!

Thyme will grow well indoors in containers if the space at your home is limited, and its scent wafting throughout your sunroom, kitchen, and the like will be much appreciated. Keep in mind, if you have space outdoors, that thyme will grow and flourish, even in winter months, so do not shy away from putting it near an outdoor swing, reading nook, or meditation bench, as it is hardy and will provide pleasurable scents all year. To harvest thyme for whatever use you have in mind, simply clip off a bit of the extended sprigs, and you’re good to go. Thyme may be used fresh in cooking or dried as well. Dried thyme is an excellent addition to a hot bath, a digestive aid and throat soother in a cup of warm tea, and can even aid in dandruff treatment and prevention in hair rinses. With so many uses for thyme and its relative ease in growing and tending, there is always time to grow thyme!


About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including hose reel and landscaping.

How to Make the Most of Your Gardening Time

No matter how much we love gardening, most of us would like to spend more time admiring our gardens and less time working in them. Sometimes the weeding and garden chores can make you feel overwhelmed. There are some simple steps you can do to decrease this feeling and let you spend more time relaxing and enjoying your garden.

1. Choosing native plants is always a good way to go. Because these plants have evolved in the same climate as your garden’s, most native plants require less watering, fertilizing, and staking. They have already proven to be hardy among the elements of your region.

2. Vegetables and fruit demand more care than any other group of growing plants. Of course there is nothing that matches the taste of a home-grown vegetable or fruit, but it is a commitment of time to make this happen. Remember when your fruit or vegetable is ready to be harvested, it won’t wait until you are ready to take the time to harvest it, then prepare it for storage. Consider growing a few of your favorite vegetables in large containers. You’ll spend less time planting, weeding, fertilizing, and watering. To help retain moisture and reduce watering time, group large containers together and mix water-retaining crystals into the soil mix before planting.

3. Some perennials are high-maintenance. Replace them with shrubs and small trees. Shrubs do not require dividing or deadheading. They need less watering, and fertilizing than perennials. And it goes without saying that the fewer annuals you have, the better. No need to replace them every year. If you choose a suitable dwarf variety of shrub, you can also reduce the pruning time. Avoid fast-growing hedging plants as your replacement.

4. Do not plant aggressive, quick-growing wonders. These bullies will overtake your garden forcing you to weed them out as they spread and grow over the surrounding plants.

5. If you need to stake tall or fragile plants, plan on doing this early in the season. Stake when the foliage is still emerging so shoots will grow through the supports and conceal the staking. Inexpensive tomato cages support bushy perennials such as delphiniums and yarrows.

6. To encourage healthier plants and reduce your chances of fungal diseases, water early in the day. Plants need water to face the day, but they should be dry before they go into the cooler evening hours. To eliminate the frustrations of dealing with a hose tangling up, get a garden hose reel. Much time can be saved by doing this making the chore easier, too.

7. Master the art of mulching. A properly mulched garden adds organic material to your soil, discourages weeds from germinating and conserves moisture.

8. Use the right tools. Pruning with the wrong tool can take twice as long. Make sure your tools are in good working order. A dull hand pruner makes an unclean cut that can damage branches forcing you to make two or three cuts instead of one.

9. Spend a few minutes once or twice a week walking around your garden checking for insect and disease infestations. They require less aggressive treatment when spotted early. Because insects and diseases are more common when you have rotten vegetables and fruits lying on the ground. Dispose of these immediately and if possible, dispose them off your property to be safe.

10. Do a little weeding every day or every other day. Don’t let it go. You can destroy most young weeds by simply scraping the soil with the side of a hoe or trowel. This takes much less time than picking them out one by one. Pick off the flower heads of annual weeds before they go to seed.

11. Research growing conditions and care requirements before you purchase a plant. If a plant requires high-maintenance and you don’t have time to care for it properly, choose another which thrives with less care.

12. Reduce mowing time by keeping the lawn shape simple. Convert sharp-cornered, linear garden beds into smooth, shallow-curved beds. Avoid island beds or structures in the lawn causing you to mow around them taking more time. To eliminate edge trimming, add a mowing strip. This is a narrow edge of brick or gravel set below the level of the lawn that allows the mower to pass over it with no damage. Hard-to-reach strips of grass between sidewalks and buildings can be replaced with low-maintenance ground covers.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking good and healthy.

Honeysuckle, The Sweetest Climber Imaginable

Some of my fondest summer childhood memories include running and playing in the woods and fields near our home, traipsing along trails and blazing a few of my own with my trusty dog. Of all sense memories, smells can be the longest lasting, and the odiferous sweetness of a southern Tennessee wood and pasture is unforgettable. One of my favorite smells, bar none, has to be the deliciously sweet smell of a wild honeysuckle in full bloom. Smelling that honey to this day, brings back memories of lollygagging through summer afternoons, picking at honeysuckle vines, plucking the fronds from their blooms, and relishing the tastes from the honeyed tube within those blooms. As a homeowner, I am excited to tell you how easy it is to replicate these summer memories by planting and growing honeysuckle vines in your own yard or garden!

There are many varieties of honeysuckle available, with blooms of different colors, but all exude the sweet scent of honey, a fantastic natural air freshener for your garden bower or home entryway. One of the most appealing aspects of the honeysuckle, especially for novice gardeners, is its adaptability and heartiness. While honeysuckle vines prefer well draining soil that is rich in nutrients and possessing a pH between 6 and 7, they are truly adaptable to many environments, including those with full sun exposure and semi-shade. I have found that the southern exposure enjoyed by the front steps and railing of my house have provided my honeysuckle vine an excellent opportunity for growth. A vigorous climber, my vine has been easy to train and continues to wrap its tendrils around and around the railing, even extending up the fascia of the house as well. Tartarian Honeysuckle is the variety I chose for the front of my house, in yellow, and its blooms erupt in late spring and early summer, providing gorgeous colors and wonderful smells all summer and into late fall. The best way to pick and decide on the exact right variety for your taste and geographical location is by making a trip to your local garden supplier. Their expertise will be much appreciated in finding the start that will adjust and prosper best in your yard. Planting a honeysuckle is fairly simple, just remember if there is not room for it to expand, it will make its way, often “bullying” and growing around and through neighboring plants. Watering your honeysuckle daily from your garden hose reel will assure rapid growth and that its roots take hold. Taming and pruning may become necessary, but the beauty and smells provided by your burgeoning honeysuckle vine is well worth any of your efforts!

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including garden hose reel and landscaping.