There are over 20,000 bee species in the world, with about 4,000 of them occurring in North America. Certainly some types of bees are more common than others, depending on where you live and the type of plants you grow. From the tiniest sweat bee to the largest carpenter bee, the diversity of bees found in our yards and gardens is pretty incredible. Today, I’d like to introduce you to several kinds of bees I commonly find in my own backyard.
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Types of basil to grow in your garden and containers
Did you know there are many types of basil you can grow in your garden? While strolling through the paths of my own raised bed vegetable garden, I realized that I had planted at least one type of basil in every single bed. There was Genovese basil, lemon basil, Thai basil, Greek basil, and a handful of cultivars of sweet basil. I guess it’s fair to say that I’m a big fan of basil! Keep reading to learn more about the many basil varieties available to grow in gardens and containers.
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How to clean a bird bath for your garden’s feathered friends
One of the joys of looking out my patio door or quietly sitting on my back deck is when I see birds frolicking in my bird bath. They’ll splash about and then perch on the edge, fluffing and preening their bedraggled feathers. Birds also drink from the birdbath. Filling the birdbath with fresh water is part of my plant-watering routine. However in the heat of summer, that bird bath can become a cesspool of germs. That’s why it’s important to know how to clean a bird bath.
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6 steps to growing a healthy tomato garden
Once you’ve got your tomato garden planted, it may seem like it’s time to take a step back, relax, and watch your plants grow and produce a bumper crop of tasty tomatoes. However, a little ongoing care and maintenance can mean the difference between productive, healthy plants and a disappointing yield. Here are our six essential steps to growing a tomato garden.
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Cabbage worm identification and organic control
Imported cabbage worms (Pieris rapae, syn. Artogeia rapae) can wreak havoc in a vegetable garden, especially on collards, cabbage, radish, kohlrabi, rutabaga, mustard greens, broccoli, and other members of the brassica family. If left unchecked, they’ll consume the leaves, stems, and even the flower buds of all members of this plant family. Thankfully, cabbage worm control isn’t difficult, if you arm yourself with the information you need to tackle these common garden pests.
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Growing strawberries in pots and hanging baskets
Growing strawberries in pots and hanging baskets is an easy way to enjoy super-sweet fruits all summer long. I keep a pot of strawberries on my sunny back deck as well as a few baskets in my polytunnel so I can graze as I putter in the garden. But why grow in containers? Why not plant them right in the garden? Strawberry plants are compact and perfect for tucking in small spaces like pots, planters, and baskets. Growing in pots is also a good way to foil pests like slugs that seem to know just when a strawberry is most sweet. Plus, strawberries grown in containers are generally less prone to bacterial and fungal diseases.
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