Fall Garden

Out back I have set aside some space for a few raised beds for my vegetable garden. After I very fruitful summer crop (I had about 30 massive cucumbers from a single plant) I have begun all of my fall crops. There is mainly winter squash varieties as well as beets, carrots, broccoli, pole beans, and 2 different types of peppers. Thankfully even in October, the chances of a freeze are slim. I hope my returns will be as good, if not better, as this summer.

Gardenia Propagation

Being a child of the south, I adore gardenias. Their simple yet beautiful blooms and that fragrance! When Jonny and I moved into our new home one of the house warming gifts we received from my parents were two small gardenia plants. (My mom knows me too well.) Since then, those plants have more than tripled in size and they bloom like crazy twice a year. I keep them green and happy by adding a tablespoon of Epson salts to the soil every month or so. This will help with any yellowing. Now on to propagation: First, you will want to cut about 2 inches of the newest growth from one of the branches. These leaves will be a lighter green than the more hardy leaves. Next, remove any lower leaves from the stem and put the whole thing into a small cup or pot with potting soil. This cup/pot needs to have a way to draw up the water from below so if possible, use something that has holes (or you can add them). Some people say to add a growth hormone but I have never had any issues with just using soil. Now you will need to cover this cup with a plastic bottle that fits somewhat snugly against the cup you have the gardenia in. It doesn't have to fit exact just enough for a greenhouse effect to take place. In the photo below I have cut the bottom off of a orange juice container. Works like a charm. Place the plant in a window sill or somewhere it will get a decent amount of indirect light for a couple of hours a day. The room should also be warmer than 70 degrees. Finally, wait and water, and wait, and water. You want to make sure the roots have formed and are properly hydrating the plant. This takes a least a couple of weeks. I typically remove the bottle and see if the leaves wilt after a day. If they don't, you can move your new gardenia plant outdoors! I have never lost a plant using this method and I plan to test it out on other plants. The thought of not spending a dime on such wonderful plants is beyond exciting.

First Post!

The very basic goal for this blog is to share my experiences (good and bad) in the art of DIY gardening/landscaping. I will by no means, ever consider myself anything other than amateur gardener. My boyfriend and I moved into our first house about a year ago and while the inside of the house was beautifully renovated, nothing was done to the outside. Even before we signed the contract, I had paint colors and ideal plants I wanted to add. No one bothered to mention the incredible amount of time and physical labor it would take to get this mess of a landscape manageable. Not to mention the cost!!! Seeing that it has been a year since we moved in, I will let this blog post serve as a little review of everything we have done thus far. Our house prior to move in. A typical 60s split level with wood siding and recycled brick.

Our first major project was painting the exterior. We pressure cleaned EVERYTHING to make a clean surface for the paint to adhere to. We borrowed my Dad's industrial paint strayer and over a long weekend had everything but the window trim painted. (Notice in this pic the railings to the front door have started to come down.

Our next big project was adding a front deck and planters to the house. The planters are actually gutters for the roof that we added drainage holes to. They have worked perfectly for about 8 months (and 2 sets of annuals). You can also see the finished railing to the front door. We wanted something less bulky than what was there before.

Finally, our next big project, which is on going, is to remove the overgrown ivy from the hill and replace it with perennial shrubs. This has proven to be the most difficult and labor intensive aspect of our plan. After 3 Sundays of work, we are about 75% of the way done. I am keeping my fingers crossed we will be done next Sunday.