Common Ferns
Paul James, host of HGTV's Gardening by the Yard, explains why he's fond of ferns: Ferns are one of the most interesting, versatile and beautiful plant groups in existence today. Among the oldest known plants on the planet, ferns grew in the age ... [... more]
DIYnet |
A Good Time for Plants That Don't Need a Lot of Water
In her vegetable garden she uses newspaper as a mulch. After laying out thick sections, she wets it down and then covers it with straw for a good look. This keeps the weeds down and keeps the soil moist. Don't use glossy color pages, however; the ... [... more]
DIYnet |
Fern Care
I received a large fern as a housewarming gift and I don't want it to die. What do I need to do to keep it alive? The birds-nest fern has much larger, glossy fronds. The new fronds start as tiny "fiddle-heads" in the center of the fern ( A [... more]
DIYnet |
Plants (Abbey Gardens & Cactus)
I received a large fern as a housewarming gift and don't want it to die. What do I need to do to keep it alive? One of the most common and popular ferns is the Boston fern. This is a variety that can be divided with a knife, a handsaw or a ... [... more]
DIYnet |
Festival Exhibit: Growing Plants for Your Health
For centuries people have known about the medicinal properties of many plants. Jessie Mack Burns shares information on the uses of some of them: Aloe vera (aids in healing of minor burns and skin irritations) ( Coneflowers, Chinese milk vetch ... [... more]
DIYnet |
Top-Notch Care for Bedding Plants
As you select bedding plants for your garden, you'll be choosing from three different types -- annuals, biennials and perennials. But regardless of which type you choose, be sure to start with a healthy, quality plant says Disney horticulturist ... [... more]
DIYnet |
Hanging Fern Baskets
Because ferns get so thick once they start growing, they're great for hanging baskets. I like ferns to have a natural look, so I use natural materials to create my own basket instead of using one that's hard-coated or plastic. Line a wire basket ... [... more]
DIYnet |
Heirloom Houseplants
I remember my grandmother's sun porch full of houseplants. I'd love to grow those old houseplants but don't know where to start. Any ideas? ) was used by ladies of a bygone era to keep their clothes smelling fresh during warm weather. It can be ... [... more]
DIYnet |
Topiaries (France exhibit)
Kim Haworth and Eric Williams stand among three juniper topiaries: the natural cone shape (left), the spiral (center) and the poodle-pompon (right). Horticulturist Eric Williams discusses topiary maintenance in this audio clip. Horticulturist ... [... more]
DIYnet |
Bromeliads
I recently recieved a bromeliad as a gift and I'm not sure how to care for it. Can you help? To grow a healthy bromeliad, you must use a well-draining soil. You can buy potting soil that's already mixed with perlite or vermiculite, or mix your ... [... more]
DIYnet |
Geraniums (Germany exhibit)
This geranium, which was propagated from a parent plant, is only five weeks old. Horticulturist Heather Will-Browne talks about geraniums in this audio clip. Kim Haworth and horticulturist Heather Will-Browne take a look at geraniums, the can-do ... [... more]
DIYnet |
Insect Control for Houseplants
Always spray the underside of leaves to get better control of insect pests. Dr. Frank Hale, an insect specialist with the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service, shares tips on battling insects that plague houseplants. Mealybugs, ... [... more]
DIYnet |
