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Grow Hydrangeas the Easy Way

by Farima Alavi May 14, 2013 5 Comments

It’s hydrangea season, and it seems like everybody around you (including Grant) has gotten the hang of growing this beautiful flowering shrub. If you’re feeling overwhelmed (I know I can’t be the only one!) — don’t panic. HGTVGardens.com has come up with a little cheat sheet to help you on your way. They’ve made it easy to pick the right type of hydrangea for your climate and how to care for it.

Nikko Blue Hydrangea

Give it a try, and let us know how you’ve successfully grown hydrangeas this season.

Enter HGTVGardens.com’s Pic of the Week Contest

by Farima Alavi April 16, 2013 2 Comments

Now that spring is finally here, have you been working on your garden? With so many options, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. I used to walk around my neighborhood admiring other gardens, but my yearning days are over. If you haven’t checked out HGTVGardens.com, now’s the time. You can rest assured that you’re picking the right plants for your climate with the easy-to-use plant finder, and you can search the thousands of how-tos to help you grow your favorite flowers and vegetables.

China Aster

While you’re browsing the site, create a profile and share your favorite gardening photos and tips. Once you sign up, you can enter the Editors’ Pic of the Week for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card! What are you waiting for? It’s time to show off all your hard work!

Sign Up for the HGTVGardens Newsletter>>

Daily Delight: Enchanting Treehouse in the City

by Grant Dudley February 20, 2013 7 Comments

If you haven’t heard (where have you been?), HGTV Gardens launched yesterday with a new website. It’s all anyone in the office can talk about (it’s that good!). And so, I’ve been flipping through the site all morning — and look what I’ve come across. This three-room treehouse strung together with wooden bridges is a secret hideaway in the middle of Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood. Fascinating, right?

It sort of reminds me of the hugely popular Hobbit Houses post I did back in December.

A House on High: Image courtesy of Ben Rollins

Treehouse Inside: Look at the Stunning Interiors >>

Daily Delight: Vintage Storefront Greenhouse

by Grant Dudley October 2, 2012 4 Comments

This vintage storefront greenhouse comes complete with reclaimed windows, wood flooring and a wood back wall. Each window is latched with a barrel bolt and the windows all have box supports to hold them open for ventilation.

Etsy User :: Schuan Carpenter

Each greenhouse is unique. Designs are not finalized until materials have been procured. The final design is based on what materials are available at the time of purchase.

Daily Delight: Bottle Trees

by Grant Dudley July 2, 2012 11 Comments

What is the history of bottle trees? Best I can tell (don’t quote me on this), their origin dates back hundreds of years. Evidently, it was believed that evil spirits would be drawn to the shiny bottles and become trapped inside. Folks would place bottles on trees around their home to keep evil from getting in the house.

Now, I don’t know about all that — but, I do know that today they are used as decorative art in gardens and landscaping. BottleTree.com has made having one super easy. They provide the “tree” and colorful bottles and ship everything straight to your house. They’re both stunning and unique.

Bottle Tree

Do you know more about bottle trees? Tell me below. And, let me know if you actually have one of these “evil catchers.”

Daily Delight: Vegetable Garden Rock Labels

by Farima Alavi June 21, 2012 6 Comments

Until now, I didn’t think there was a nice way to seamlessly incorporate a label into your garden. But take a look at these vegetable-inspired rock markers by Repeat Crafter Me. I have to admit they’re pretty adorable.

Vegetable Garden Labels

I like the idea of re-purposing rocks and using supplies you’ve probably already got on hand to create labels for your vegetables. They would even make a great indoor project to try with your kids on a steamy day like today.

What vegetables are you growing this summer?

Hydrangea Pride + The Secret to My Success

by Grant Dudley June 20, 2012 16 Comments

My mother taught me never to boast. “No one wants to hear all of that,” she’d say. Well, Mom, look away, because I’m about to brag.

Everyone, look at my hydrangeas! Yes, they’re mine! If you know me, you know what a triumph this is. Finally, after years of heartache and struggle, I, Grant Dudley, have had hydrangea success!

Hydrangeas

The prettiest of all the blooms.

Hydrangeas

Yes, this is real. I didn’t doctor the photo.

Hydrangeas

New blooms are popping up daily!

I’ll tell you the truth, these plants are a sight for my sore eyes. I have been plagued with ugly, sickly and distressed hydrangeas for at least four years now.

“What made the difference this year?” you say. Well, I’m glad you asked.

Intervention. Yes, plain and simple intervention. This spring I stayed on top of the plants before they could take a nasty turn. I watered them faithfully (with a little vinegar here and there), pruned back the branches, pulled off questionable leaves and most importantly, treated the bushes with a fungicide (I now know a fungus has been the problem all along).

So, today, on this first day of summer, I proudly write here and say “Take that ugly hydrangeas!” There’s a new sheriff in town.

Have you ever turned a dud of a plant or flower into a blooming beauty? Let me know!

Oh, and I’m sorry Mom.

HGTV How-To: Make Seed Tape (It Saves Time and Seeds!)

by Kayla Kitts March 20, 2012 20 Comments

Today’s officially the first day of spring and I’m completely and utterly…speechless. Why? Because here in Knoxville, Tenn., where HGTV headquarters are located, we skipped winter. No snow days, no brutal freezes, just some typical cold weather. Don’t get me wrong, I’m certainly not complaining, just a little shocked that my favorite season is actually here! If you’re ready to welcome spring with open arms, then we have a project that will get you in the mood for all the gardening you’ll be doing in just a few weeks.

With this seed tape project you can create the perfect arrangement and plant seeds exactly where you want them. This is a great way to get the little ones involved in the garden, too. Find out how:

seed tape spring gardening

Measure out a length of toilet paper, determine the spacing of your planting row and cut lengthwise accordingly. Consult the seed packet to determine how far apart the seeds should be planted, and then use a marker to mark the seed spacing on the paper. Add a dab of all-purpose glue on each mark. Pour the seeds on a plate and separate. Use tweezers to pick up an individual seed and place on each drop of glue.

seed tape spring gardening

Once all the seeds have been placed and the glue has dried, roll the seed tape onto a toilet paper roll. Store the rolled seed tapes in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to plant.

seed tape spring gardening

If your containers are ready, you can plant your seed tape immediately. To plant the seed tape, simply lay it on the soil surface and cover with garden soil according to the depth recommended by the seed packet. Firm the soil, and then water with a fine nozzle, like that on a watering can. Get the Full Step-by-Step Instructions Here >>

Need some more ideas for fun projects you can do with the whole family? Head over to the HGTV Family Gardening Club. Plus, score some free expert gardening tips and top-notch plant advice at HGTV’s brand new gardening site HGTV Gardens.

Is anyone else ready to welcome spring? What garden projects are you planning this season? Tell us below!

Featured

House Diaries: Spring Surprises

by Liz Gray February 24, 2012 22 Comments

Some surprises you get with a new house can be less than positive. They can range from annoying (Surprise! The sellers left a giant oil painting of a quarterback in the attic.) to slightly more horrifying (Oh look, the faucet suddenly has no water pressure!), but luckily, there are lots of good surprises too.

Good surprise exhibit A: Discovering the new-to-us garden. Since the yard thinks its spring (It was 70 degrees yesterday…in February.), each day we’re seeing new bits of green shooting out of the ground. And almost every day, a different flower pops out. Of course, as gardening novices, we have to run to a flower book (or to the all-knowing HGTV gardening editor, Marie) to identify most of them.

Everything from crocuses…

Freshly-sprouted purple crocuses

…to daffodils…

Yellow daffodils, after the rain

…to rambling vinca. And more is popping up every day!

Vinca major

Read Liz’s previous House Diaries posts here and follow her home inspiration board on Pinterest.

What surprised you most (good or bad) about your first house? Tell me in the comments below.

Daily Delight: Icosahedron Terrarium

by Briana Mowrey February 18, 2012 5 Comments

Terrariums have been enjoying a renaissance for quite a while now, but I’m not sick of them yet. (Perhaps that’s because, as a confirmed plant serial killer, they may be the only shot I have at keeping anything green alive.) Even if you’re feeling terrarium fatigue, this icosahedron Terra terrarium by Fort Standard should revive you.

This nifty terrarium has a few things going for it that many others don’t: cool shape, rustic Hard Maple wood, its own tripod stand and…it spins! And I love the Japanese Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree inside. Its graceful curves are even more pronounced when juxtaposed with the lines and angles of the geometric container. OH, gosh. That just reminded me of the worst math teacher joke of all time. Here, I’ll rephrase it for you. What did the Bonsai inside the icosahedron terrarium say? “Gee, I’m a tree.” (Get it?)

[Via: M Stetson]