Home and Garden

Air drying herbs is not only the easiest and least expensive way to dry fresh herbs, but this slow drying process also doesn't deplete the herbs of their oils. This process works best with herbs that don't have a high moisture content, like Bay, Dill...

Air drying herbs is not only the easiest and least...

When you’re lucky enough to have an abundant harvest or to live close enough to farms to take advantage of farmer’s markets, you’ll want to put every last tomato and peach to good use. Preserving the harvest can let you enjoy the fruits of your labor...

When you’re lucky enough to have an abundant harve...

Vegetable gardens may close down for the winter in cold climates, but that doesn't mean we can't still enjoy the vegetables we grew. Many vegetables will keep for months in cold storage, if you can provide the right conditions. Choose your vegetables...

Vegetable gardens may close down for the winter in...

Trying to manipulate a sequence of bloom in the garden is part art, part science and a good part luck. Weather, grazing animals, and flowers that don't follow the calender can create lulls where no plants seem to be in peak performance. There are a f...

Trying to manipulate a sequence of bloom in the ga...

Pruning rose bushes is intimidating to many gardeners, but actually very good for the plants. Becoming an accomplished rose pruner takes time and practice, but keep in mind that it is very hard to kill a rose with bad pruning. While there is a great ...

Pruning rose bushes is intimidating to many garden...

Definition: A biennial is a plant that requires two growing seasons to complete its life cycle. During the first growing season it produces mainly foliage. In it's second year it will flower and set seed, often early in the season. Parsley is a bienn...

Definition: A biennial is a plant that requires tw...

Definition: A true annual is a plant that completes its life cycle in one year. This means it goes from seed to seed and then dies off, during the course of one growing season. The whole mission of an annual is to produce seed and propagate. That's w...

Definition: A true annual is a plant that complete...

All roses need some attention going into winter. Winter weather in zones 6 and below can really challenge rose bushes, particularly the hybrid teas. Shrub roses are hardier and can pretty much fend for themselves, but the hybrid teas and other modern...

All roses need some attention going into winter. W...

Roses have acquired the reputation of being fussy plants. We’ve all heard that to grow beautiful roses requires chemicals and systemics. Is it possible to grow roses organically? Of course. After all, roses can survive for many years without any atte...

Roses have acquired the reputation of being fussy ...

Any gardener who has grown roses knows that sooner or later you are going to encounter a problem or two. But growing roses isn't as difficult as you might have heard. Choosing the right type of rose and giving it the care that it needs are common sen...

Any gardener who has grown roses knows that sooner...

Little tips and tricks here and there can make gardening easier. Master gardener Paul James offers suggestions to help solve some of your gardening problems: Shoveling is hard work, but it's often even harder when clay soil sticks to the shovel, for...

Little tips and tricks here and there can make gar...

1. To remove the salt deposits that form on clay pots, combine equal parts white vinegar, rubbing alcohol and water in a spray bottle. Apply the mixture to the pot and scrub with a plastic brush. Let the pot dry before you plant anything in it. 2. To...

1. To remove the salt deposits that form on clay p...

4 LESSONS LEARNED 1. One thing in, one thing out. Make sure that materials fit into their designated bins. If a container is overflowing, something's gotta go. 2. Clean up nightly. Always put your materials away, even if you haven't finished your pro...

4 LESSONS LEARNED 1. One thing in, one thing out. ...

Create a SpaceMany days you'll find Phyllis Stanko happily tending the flowers that bloom year-round in her Fullerton, CA, garden. But until recently, whenever she felt like getting her hands in the dirt, she couldn't just grab her tools and go to wo...

Create a SpaceMany days you'll find Phyllis Stanko...

Why spend hours you don’t really have trying to organize your home when you can accomplish the same goal in a fraction of the time? You can get an amazing amount done in as little as 30, 15, 10 or even five minutes. So, when you’re short on time but ...

Why spend hours you don’t really have trying to or...

The more mountainous those piles of mail become and the more crowded your countertops get, the more exhausting decluttering your home can seem. But if you divide it into pieces, it won't be nearly as daunting. Here, your week-by-week plan for a clutt...

The more mountainous those piles of mail become an...

The term 'mint' comes from the Greek word 'Minthe', the name of a Greek nymph. It is said that Minthe was attracted to Hades, the God of the Underworld. Hades' consort Persephone was jealous of Minthe and tried to trample her to death. However, Hades...

The term 'mint' comes from the Greek word 'Minthe'...

Shrubs, when planted in a row, resemble a wall or solid mass, which is given the name of 'hedges'. Hedges extend an artistic excellence to any place, making it look wonderful and magnificent. Planting hedges is an easy task, but requires constant att...

Shrubs, when planted in a row, resemble a wall or ...

Whenever you hear of the herb 'chamomile', your thoughts invariably go back to the tasty and nutritious tea that is made from it. Yes, chamomile is a favorite herb for brewing tea. Now, did you know that chamomile is not only an excellent herb, but a...

Whenever you hear of the herb 'chamomile', your th...

Do you want to flaunt a lawn that is green, lustrous and bright? If yes, then be ready to invest some time, a little care, occasional feeding and grooming and dollops of patience. A lustrous lawn makes a yard look good and adds to the overall aesthet...

Do you want to flaunt a lawn that is green, lustro...

What if you had the option of picking your own herbs instead of buying them? You would grab it by both hands, won’t you? Most of us fancy having a kitchen garden and being able to pick up our own fruits of labor from it. However, the “no time” cliché...

What if you had the option of picking your own her...