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As daylight lengthens and temperatures warm, gardeners are always eager to get right into spring planting. If you look past the first flush of spring, however, you can take easy steps early in the season to give your garden a great summer. 10 Spring Steps for a Great Summer Garden It doesn’t matter how large your garden may be, whether you plant in containers, raised beds, small plots, or longer rows, or whether you grow vegetables, fruits, flowers, or herbs. These simple steps can help you prepare your garden in spring so the summer growing season will be easier, healthier,...

Composting can be a great way to recycle organic material, create rich amendments for your landscape and garden, reduce your overall waste, and save money. It takes more than just tossing scraps in a pile and letting them decompose to make the most of your compost, however, but with these thoughtful tricks, you can compost far more effectively and efficiently. Won’t It All Just Decompose Anyway? While any organic material will gradually decompose if left to its own devices – this is exactly what happens to fallen leaves and other debris in the forest or jungle, as well as organic...

With the official first day of spring at hand, March is an exciting month in the garden. While it is important not to rush into gardening too early and put tender seeds or seedlings at risk, it is also important not to miss these first days of warming temperatures, fertile soil and abundant rains. While the exact dates of each task will vary depending on where exactly your garden is and what its needs are, all gardeners should be considering these tasks throughout March. Pruning Evergreens and Removing Wraps In early March as melting begins, burlap wraps or ties that...

Squirrels can be frequent visitors to any yard or garden, but they aren’t always welcome guests. When squirrels become disruptive and destructive, it may be best to take steps to discourage their visits and keep them out of the yard. About Squirrels – And the Problems They Can Cause There are more than 275 species of squirrels found around the world, and they’re found on every continent except Antarctica. All squirrels are members of the animal family Sciurida, closely related to chipmunks and groundhogs. Because they are rodents, their strong front teeth are constantly growing and need to be kept...

The start of a new year is a great time to start new gardening tasks, and savvy gardeners know there is plenty to keep busy with in January, even if the garden may be buried under ice and snow. Whether you are just starting out with a first garden or have years of experience, there is always more to do to improve a garden and be sure it is its beautiful, blooming, bountiful best. In January, gardening means… Recycling the Christmas Tree If you used a cut Christmas tree, add it to a brush pile or chop it up for...