General Gardening
Grow Better Zinnias with Full Sun
My zinnia flowers grew really tall and thin, and they had really small blooms. What happened?
Using Strawberry Planter Pots
To grow strawberries, herbs or other small plants in a compact and attractive way, consider using strawberry planter pots. A strawberry planter is a terra cotta or plastic container in the shape of an urn that has planting holes scattered along the sides of the pot. It also has a large open section on the top where gardeners can plant strawberries.
Edible Plants for a Shady Garden
Can you recommend any shade-loving plants that will grow in the California Central Coast? We would most like an edible kitchen garden of fruits and veggies, but we are okay with flowers and shrubs. We get full shade to partial shade, but we might get more light after we trim our trees. I was thinking mint, basil and berries. What else loves shade?
19 Spectacular Sights at the 25th Annual Southern California Spring Garden Show
From April 24-27, 2014, South Coast Plaza mall was the home of the 25th Annual Southern California Spring Garden Show. The four-day show featured more than 70 specialty garden vendors offering everything from exotic plants to the latest garden accessories; competition display gardens created by landscape architects, designers and students; garden seminars and book signings; garden projects, crafts and storytellers for kids; and an amazing floral centerpiece designed by Fiesta Parade Floats (a Rose Parade Float creator). The 20-foot-tall floral centerpiece featured California Golden Poppies and Southern California birds convening around a birdbath in a garden. The sculpture was decorated entirely with plant materials, including flower petals, seaweed, coconut, onion and seeds. Speakers included John Gidding, an architect, interior designer and HGTV's Curb Appeal co-host; Johanna Silver, Associate Garden Editor at Sunset magazine; and Pat Welsh, an Emmy award-winning garden writer and author.
10 Tips for Healthy Container Plants: Part 1
1. Do not overwater. Probably the biggest mistake that new container gardeners make is overwatering their container plants. Watering too much is more often worse for plants than not providing enough water. When plant roots are submersed in water for too long, they don’t get enough oxygen and the roots rot. Overwatering can also cause mushrooms and fungus in the container's soil, which will attract fungus gnats in your balcony garden. Learn more about watering>>
