As the Japanase gardening technique of 'kokedama' grows in popularity, we take a look at displays by some of the movement's leading designers.
A shapely Italian terracotta planter with an attractive bell-shaped design. The campana planter is a beautiful, 'small' (by my standards) pot. Nicely presented, the name associated to the design derives from the Latin word campāna translating to bell. Thomas says: ''One of my best-selling pots and with no surprise. This small/mid size planter is perfect for showing off your prized blooms. It's what I refer to as a 'presentation pot'; The form really lends itself to sharing what's above. Small lillies, agapanthus & bulbs look great in these. Raise your planter with the scroll plinth or the less-formal wedge design.'' Hand-finished and made from quality Galestro clay in the heart of Tuscany. Frost hardy to -20°C. Read more about the process below.
Compost is a nitrogen- and carbon-rich soil amendment made from decomposing leaves, plant...
We don't like to bring the "boring" aspect of plant care to our top four, but this soil is so great we just had to. Rosy Soil is the perfect soil for your houseplants. Most potting soils are full of non-sustainable peat and coco-coir-based media, and are prone to fungus gnats. Rosy soil is different, made of Biochar, this growing medium promotes proper air circulation in the soil, which leads to happy healthy roots. 100% Organic, this potting mix boosts aeration and reduces transplant shock. 🌿 NUTRIENT DENSE: Enhance soil aeration, drainage, and nutrient uptake to foster flourishing houseplants, herbs, and flowers. 🌱 RESEALABLE: Thoughtfully packaged in plant-based, resealable bags, this mix caters to the convenience of indoor plant parents with perfectly sized portions. 🌍 SUSTAINABLE: Their organic blend, featuring biochar, vegan compost, mycorrhizal fungi, and pine bark fines, is eco-friendly and free from peat and synthetic additives. 🌱 LIVING SOIL: Fortified with beneficial fungi and microbes, this mix supports healthy root development and lush foliage, creating a thriving environment for your beloved plants. Ingredients: Biochar is a horticultural charcoal that holds onto oxygen and nutrients while also storing microbes and carbon in the soil. Worm Castings are nutrient-rich organic matter produced by worms that provide plants with essential nutrients. Mycorrhizae are beneficial microorganisms that form a symbiotic relationship with plant roots, allowing the plants to absorb more nutrients. Sand has large grain size, coarse texture, and high silica content to support soil drainage. Pine Bark Fines are a byproduct of the mulch industry which enhance soil structure and improve aeration. Compost helps reduce waste in landfills by turning green waste and wood waste into a useful source of nutrients for plants. Size: 8 Quart
Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening A weekly GardenZeus article series to help gardeners succeed in Southern California’s unique climates and growing conditions. Post 7: Mudpies and Fizz: Easy Home Tests for Soil pH GardenZeus receives commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Concerned that your soil pH may be high or low? Use these […]
A team led by Stanford archaeologists has discovered a rare statuette of a woman made at Çatalhöyük, a Neolithic site in central Turkey, around 8,000 years ago.
Sharpened nose for easier cutting.
Plant with a purpose. This charming butterfly shaped raised garden bed can be used to create an attractive nectar oasis for butterflies travelling through your region. The included seed mat includes both host and nectar plants to support Monarch's and other butterfly species. Use as a stand-alone garden or in conjunction with our Monarch Migration Station Butterfly House to help draw butterflies inside. Each modular kit includes eight 1 in. Classic Sienna curved composite boards and eight 1 in. screw-on stacking brackets. The insulating open-channel boards trap air, providing insulation to your soil. Keeps soil warmer in the Spring and Fall, and cooler in the Summer, so you can grow for an extended period. Stacking brackets allow you to install the additional layers of your garden just by inserting the stakes into the brackets below. Our patented screw-on brackets simply slide onto each end of a board and fasten securely. Brackets pivot 270°, allowing endless design options. For example, with the boards and joints in your kit you could reconfigure your Butterfly Pollinator garden into 32 ft. of serpentine or wavy garden border. As your garden needs and expertise grow you can add on to your modular raised bed any time by purchasing additional 1 in. kits, boards and anchor or stacking brackets to stack or extend your garden. Straight 1 in. boards are also available to incorporate into your design."}},"base-catalog-100588412":{"__typename":"BaseProduct Classic Sienna composite boards feature textured wood-grain finish that blends into any environment Low maintenance - unlike cedar, boards will not rot, warp, splinter or fade Food grade safe composite boards are made from 38% HDPE plastic and 62% certified sustainably sourced wood fibers Easy to install
[Biohabitat’s floating habitat mattresses made of 100% recycled plastic bottles, seen here filled with soil and plants by a team of volunteers and ready for deployment as experimental land ma…
The majority of plants can handle soil that is near a neutral pH, but some are really picky and they will let you know before long if you don’t give them the soil environment that they need.&…
Nepenthes Pitcher Plant Potting Mix From Scratch: This is a visual guide to creating a potting mix for a Nepenthes pitcher plant.See step 6 for pictures 6 months later and 20 days after repotting.Original photos.
Soil-based probiotics have been praised, speculated about, and scorned. But not all are made equal. Here’s which ones are safe and which ones to avoid.
Let the hard lessons learned by some of the country’s top professional landscapers help you grow your own personal paradise.
In this article we go through the list of building materials used during the medieval times from the lowly cottage to the grand cathedrals of the time
*NEW PACKAGING* We don't like to bring the "boring" aspect of plant care to our top four, but this soil is so great we just had to. Rosy Soil is the perfect soil for your houseplants. Most potting soils are full of non-sustainable peat and coco-coir-based media, and are prone to fungus gnats. Rosy soil is different, made of Biochar, this growing medium promotes proper air circulation in the soil, which leads to happy healthy roots. 100% Organic, this potting mix is perfect for houseplants, herbs and flowers. 🌿 NUTRIENT DENSE: Enhance soil aeration, drainage, and nutrient uptake to foster flourishing houseplants, herbs, and flowers. 🌱 RESEALABLE: Thoughtfully packaged in plant-based, resealable bags, this mix caters to the convenience of indoor plant parents with perfectly sized portions. 🌍 SUSTAINABLE: Their organic blend, featuring biochar, vegan compost, mycorrhizal fungi, and pine bark fines, is eco-friendly and free from peat and synthetic additives. 🌱 LIVING SOIL: Fortified with beneficial fungi and microbes, this mix supports healthy root development and lush foliage, creating a thriving environment for your beloved plants. Size: 4 Quart
Use a Raised Bed Anywhere with Mini Grow Bed Liners Liners let you install Grow Beds on any hard surface Holds soil and prevents it from washing out Made from long-lasting, double-layer polypropylene fabric Sized to fit our Mini Grow Beds and similarly sized raised beds Sized to fit our Mini Grow Beds, these liners keep soil contained so you can install beds on a patio, paved area or concrete slab — any hard surface — without soil washing out and making a mess. They prevent weeds from infiltrating beds set on the lawn, too. Made from patented, double-layer polypropylene fabric that allows water to drain.
The majority of plants can handle soil that is near a neutral pH, but some are really picky and they will let you know before long if you don’t give them the soil environment that they need.&…
Recently I had the good fortune to meet up with Jasmine Whyte and Sangye Christianson, who together are the permaculture tour-de-force
Making your own soil can be more cost effective, way less likely to carry bug larvae or bacteria and you will always know exactly what is going into the mix
Providing a privacy screen at the front of Duff and Donna Ever's house is a narrow band of trees and shrubs. Underneath the tall evergreens is a path that meanders through a woodland garden. On the outer edge of the woodland garden, there is a low stone wall that runs along the edge of the lawn. Donna tells me that: "The area along the walls get full sun. It is filled with spring blooming plants and bulbs- a lot of them ephemerals. Azaleas and low growing rhododendrons share this space. In mid-summer, the daylilies take over followed by asters in fall." "Initially we planned only to garden along the stone wall, but once again, we got carried away. We made paths which twist and turn around the rocks and through the trees. We limbed-up the old native hemlocks to let in more light and then added Rhododendrons, Magnolias, Pieris, Viburnum and hydrangea. Lady slippers, Trilliums, Anemone and Arisaema are some of the perennials that share this space." "We have planted some primulas in the damp pockets throughout this garden. A clump of Lilium canadensis is doing well, fingers crossed. Old stumps are left to become planting pockets for ferns." "With the exception of a yearly mulch of shredded leaves, this garden requires little maintenance." The soft mauve flower is Creeping Moss Phlox 'Emerald Blue'. The orange buds are an azalea which Donna tells me is a cross made by a friend. Grey foliage and the black flower buds of a Dianthus contrast beautifully with the golden foliage of Barberry 'Golden Nugget' Dwarf Crested Iris, Iris cristata 'Pale Blue' Dwarf Crested Iris, Iris cristata: has pale mauve-blue flowers with gold-crested falls. In the right location, this iris will spread quickly to form a dense colony. Iris cristata prefers light shade and moist soil, but it can be grown in dry shade as well. If grown in a sunny spot, the soil needs to consistently moist for this iris to flourish. Height: 15-30 cm (6-12 inches). USDA zones: 3-9. Gentiana acaulis Donna:" The blue color is electric. This is an easy to grow spring bloomer. I've been spreading little bits of it all over the gardens. It likes bright light and the moist, well-drained soil all the gardening books talk about;-)" Lady Slipper Orchid, Cypripedium 'Gisela' Donna: "This plant came from Fraser's Thimble Farm. It is the case of "the wants" every time I look at their catalogue. We grow several Cypripediums and I am always happy to see their noses poking out of the ground in early spring." Throughout Duff and Donna's garden, there are bird feeders and birdhouses. I asked Donna to tell me about their obvious love of birds: "The birdhouses serve a double purpose. The chickadees nest in them and it is great fun watching them raise their little ones. We string wire from four corners of the birdhouse to the bottom of the post. This provides support for a clematis...." Clematis macropetala 'Bluebird' "You can always garden-up should you run out of room at ground level. The chickadees don't seem to mind. We feed the birds year round. We have hummers, nuthatches, a variety of finches, jays, woodpeckers, flickers and mourning doves. Nothing exotic, but the garden is always full of birds." Clematis macropetala 'Bluebird': has nodding, bell-shaped, purply-blue semi-double flowers. This is a Group 1 Clematis that blooms in spring on the growth of the previous season. 'Bluebird' requires 4 to 6 hours of sun each day. Height: 8-10 ft. USDA Zones: 4-8. "Duff made the benches, the arbours, the obelisks, the birdhouse, the chairs, the fences, the deck, all the stone wall, the troughs and the patio. I have been asked if he can be cloned:-)" Primula "There are two yellow magnolias near the shed. The one closest to the shed is M. Yellow Lantern and the other one is M. Hattie Carthan." "In spring this garden is full of Crocus, Chionodoxa, Hellebores, Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Along the front of the border is Geranium'Kashmeri White'. Then it is poppies and alliums. Summer blooms are lilies and dark-leafed Chocolate Eupatorium. Yes, we do have lily beetles, but I hand pick them off. I can't imagine the garden without lilies. Later it is Echinacea, Phlox and Purple Dome Aster." "Duff made the chairs 20 years ago. They were unfinished cedar and for years they were a weathered shade of grey. The yellow paint has given them a few more years... The coffee cups tell it all. It is a great place to sit and watch the birds in the birdbath." Cleo the cat surveys her kingdom Donna says that she and Duff did not intend to garden along the lakeshore. They removed some of the more scruffy spruce and maples to open up a view to the lake and then called it a day. This woodland area became the spot that they dumped surplus plant material that resulted from plant division as well as plants that had for one reason or another fallen out of favour. When Donna and Duff finally ran out of room in the rest of the garden, they turned their attention to their "dumping ground". Donna: "To date, we have not amended the soil. We have just planted among the roots and the rocks. We have a central path leading to the lake and this year Duff put in steps and two boardwalks so it is easier to walk around and enjoy this wild garden." Donna: "Just when you think spring will never arrive Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigolds) fill the bogs. The bees are even happier than I am to see the yellow flowers. The blossoms hum with bees." "Primulas have also done well. We started with three Primula Japonica, gifts from a gardening friend, and now there are three hundred or more- all self-seeded. They fill my heart with joy." Lysichiton (Skunk cabbage) both white and the yellow form also like the moist conditions found here. Siberian iris, Sweet Woodruff, Filipendula and Darmera peltata all grow well in this area." Marsh Marigold (left) and Candelabra Primula, Primula japonica (right) Marsh Marigold, Caltha palustris: is a North American native wildflower that can be found on the banks of streams and in other boggy locations. It grows best in moist, fertile soil. Marsh Marigold has rounded leaves and yellow buttercup-like flowers in spring. It sometimes goes dormant in the heat of summer. Full sun or part shade. Height:15-30 cm (6-12 inches), Spread: 25-30 cm (10-12 inches). USDA zones: 2-9 In the foreground left is a rhododendron, in a curve sweeping to the right is a line of Solomon's Seal, Polygonatum. Behind the Solomon's Seal is pink Candelabra Primula, Primula japonica. Here's a link to Part 3. Missed part 1? Here's a link.
One thing that can be said for sort of tedious gardening tasks such as weeding or moving mass quantities of soil is that it gives you a lot of time to think. And over the last several weekends of working in the oval circle garden I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on the mistakes […]
Take your cyclamen care to the next level as we show you how to guarantee uplifting winter blooms and seasonal beauty for years to come.
among the new methods that we’ve implemented at work, one of the best changes made has been the switch to soil blocks over plug flats. soils blocks have some major advantages – they a…
There are many ways to increase humidity for your plants. Some houseplants just do not get enough humidity sitting in your home.
With linen warp and hemp weft. Available in three all-natural colours: the ecru of unfinished fabric, the white obtained from bleached unfinished fabric and natural, the result of mixing the two. The innate intensity of rough materials. Very strong, its name references karstic soil. Suitable for upholstery.
This Do-It-Yourself guide will give you the tools and insight you need to make the stylish DIY planters that perfectly suit your lifestyle and decor.
We don't like to bring the "boring" aspect of plant care to our top four, but this soil is so great we just had to. Rosy Soil is the perfect soil for your houseplants. Most potting soils are full of non-sustainable peat and coco-coir-based media, and are prone to fungus gnats. Rosy soil is different, made of Biochar, this growing medium promotes proper air circulation in the soil, which leads to happy healthy roots. 100% Organic, this potting mix boosts aeration and reduces transplant shock. 🌿 NUTRIENT DENSE: Enhance soil aeration, drainage, and nutrient uptake to foster flourishing houseplants, herbs, and flowers. 🌱 RESEALABLE: Thoughtfully packaged in plant-based, resealable bags, this mix caters to the convenience of indoor plant parents with perfectly sized portions. 🌍 SUSTAINABLE: Their organic blend, featuring biochar, vegan compost, mycorrhizal fungi, and pine bark fines, is eco-friendly and free from peat and synthetic additives. 🌱 LIVING SOIL: Fortified with beneficial fungi and microbes, this mix supports healthy root development and lush foliage, creating a thriving environment for your beloved plants. Ingredients: Biochar is a horticultural charcoal that holds onto oxygen and nutrients while also storing microbes and carbon in the soil. Worm Castings are nutrient-rich organic matter produced by worms that provide plants with essential nutrients. Mycorrhizae are beneficial microorganisms that form a symbiotic relationship with plant roots, allowing the plants to absorb more nutrients. Sand has large grain size, coarse texture, and high silica content to support soil drainage. Pine Bark Fines are a byproduct of the mulch industry which enhance soil structure and improve aeration. Compost helps reduce waste in landfills by turning green waste and wood waste into a useful source of nutrients for plants. Size: 8 Quart
Heavy clay soil can be frustrating. Follow this 6-step plan to improve soil so you can garden with ease and grow crops that thrive.
Make your own homemade potting soil mix. Ingredients that provide bulk, aeration, water rention & nutrients. Based on Eliot Coleman's soil block recipe.
Whether it's on your balcony or in your tiny concrete backyard, it's easier than you think to develop a green thumb in a big city.
Compost, whether you buy it or make it yourself makes tremendous mulch. Organic mulch, such as that derived from compost, has all the usual benefits in addition
Dutch biodesigner Bob Hendrikx has designed a coffin made of mushroom—a "living cocoon" that will turn corpses into super compost.
Ditch boring pots for gorgeous containers! Learn drainage, materials, and styling tips to level up your potted flowers.
Mulching your garden can feel like a difficult task, but there's a hack to make it much easier. An expert shares how to make mulching a simple endeavor.
