For most gardeners the colder months bring a bit of rest, but they also bring their own share of garden-related chores. From houseplant care and fruit tree pruning, to tool sharpening and seed starting, there are lots of things to be done over the coming weeks. I’d like to add one more important task to your winter to-do list: Clean out and spruce-up ‘used’ bird houses and nest boxes. Here are five quick tips for proper bird house maintenance.
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A quick boxwood wreath
When it comes to the holidays, I’m all about using my garden to provide me with greenery, branches, berries, pinecones and other tidbits for my decorating. Admittedly, I’m not super crafty, but even I can make a quick boxwood wreath with clippings from my boxwood hedge.
I consider this wreath quite rustic because I wasn’t concerned with forming a perfect circle or trimming the boxwood to a smooth, clipped finish. I’m thrilled with the end result and the best part is that this project only took me 30 minutes from start to finish. Stylish and simple!
How to care for paperwhites: Tips to nurture your planted bulbs until they bloom
Paperwhite flowers, alongside amaryllis, are generally associated with the holiday season in our northern climate. Paperwhite bulbs will start to appear in stores and garden centers in mid to late fall—sometimes pre-planted, sometimes ready for you to take home and create your own arrangement. They are a daffodil cousin (Narcissus papyraceus) adapted to the mild climate of the Mediterranean region. Some love their fragrance, while others don’t at all. I suppose it’s the olfactory equivalent of cilantro! If you do decide to plant some of these easy-to-grow bulbs, I’m going to explain how to care for paperwhites until they bloom.
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Deck your halls with boughs of boxwood and other nature finds
Once the fall gardening season winds down, grocery stores and garden centers tend to really pull out all the stops for the holidays. You’ll find tables of greenery – pine, cedar, spruce, magnolia, and more! – and other accessories to adorn containers, garlands, wreaths, and other holiday décor. But don’t be afraid to experiment with the diversity of materials you can find in your own yard and garden. You never know what amazing beauty awaits! Here you will find some ideas from Tara, Jessica, and Niki that will hopefully inspire you to head out to your garden and gather some gorgeous natural materials for your holiday embellishments.
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Edible sunflower microgreens
Looking for something to satisfy your green thumb AND fill your belly with fresh veggies this winter? Look no further than sunflower microgreens! Graced with a nutty flavor and a crunchy texture, sunflower microgreens are nothing short of awesome in sandwiches, soups, salads, scrambled eggs, and wraps. Both the leaves and the stems are edible. In this gardener’s opinion, sunflower shoots are the finest of all the microgreens. I’ll be starting a batch of my own later this week and continue growing them all winter long. It’s easy, fun, and a great project for kids.
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A simple winter mulch = easy winter harvesting
Protecting root and stem crops with a thick, insulating blanket of winter mulch is the easiest – and cheapest – way to stretch your homegrown harvest into January and February. You don’t need to buy or build any structures like cold frames or mini hoop tunnels, and you can typically source your mulching material for free by using chopped leaves or straw. It’s a technique I talk about in my books, The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener and Growing Under Cover: Techniques for a More Productive, Weather-Resistant, Pest-Free Vegetable Garden.
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