Nannette Richford

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Garden Guides uses a knowledgeable team of editors, writers, and experts to create all our content. We dive deep into the ever-evolving conversations surrounding gardening and landscaping, striving to deliver the most current and helpful tips, strengthened by expert insight and tutorials from our talented team.

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Stories By Nannette Richford

  • Produce
    Produce By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    How Can I Tell If I Am Over Watering Or Under Watering My Tomato Plants?

    How Can I Tell If I Am Over Watering or Under Watering My Tomato Plants?. Whether to call a tomato a vegetable or a fruit may be a point of contention among gardeners, but it makes no difference in the care of the plant. These tender perennials are grown as annuals and adorn backyards and front steps across the U.S., earning them the honor of the best-loved garden vegetable---or fruit, if you prefer. With proper care, tomato plants produce an abundant crop of juicy, ripe tomatoes bursting with flavor.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    Planting Iris Bulbs In Spring

    Planting Iris Bulbs in Spring. Irises bloom in early summer adding a splash of color to perennial beds before many other flowers are in bloom. Grown from underground rhizomes, often incorrectly referred to as bulbs, irises are typically planted in late summer or early fall. However, rhizomes planted in the spring often bloom in middle to late summer and return in the spring. Regardless of when they are planted, preparing the soil properly in a sunny location is necessary.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    How Does A Rose Bush Reproduce?

    How Does a Rose Bush Reproduce?. Roses reproduce naturally both by seed formation and via suckers that sprout near the base of the bush. The suckers will produce blooms that are identical to the original. Seeds, however, may produce a plant and bloom that vary from the original plant. Roses can be reproduced manually by stem cuttings. Stem cutting will produce a clone of the original rose bush.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    Air Freshener Made From Mint From The Garden

    Air Freshener Made From Mint From the Garden. Homegrown mint provides an uplifting fragrance, suitable for scenting the home. Fragrances vary among mints, ranging from spicy cinnamon to invigorating citrus. Also available in delicate apple and warm chocolate, mint can enhance potpourri or you can use it alone to add fragrance to the home. Although you can put sprigs of fresh mint in vases to add fragrance, drying mint leaves for later use as air fresheners allows you to savor the scent of mint all year.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    The Best Way To Mark Out A Planting Area

    The Best Way to Mark Out a Planting Area. A well-designed garden not only looks good, it provides adequate access to the gardener for plant care, weeding and harvesting. For vegetable gardens, this often means square or rectangular planting areas that allow for tilling the soil between rows or walkways for the gardener. Laying out the area requires measuring and marking the dimensions before establishing the garden plot.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    How To Make Liquid Horse Manure Fertilizer

    How to Make Liquid Horse Manure Fertilizer. Many gardeners create a liquid fertilizer from composted horse manure. This concoction, affectionately referred to as manure tea, provides an ample supply of liquid fertilizer for watering vegetables and flowers in home gardens. Although there are many recipes for manure tea (with slight variations), all are basically the same and provide quick nutrients for growing plants. With a supply of composted horse manure and fresh water, you can make manure tea for all your gardening needs.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    How To Revive Petunias

    How to Revive Petunias. Petunias (Petunia x hybrida) bloom prolifically from spring until fall, creating a splash of bright color in container gardens and raised beds. These tender plants are grown as annuals in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 12. The tubular blooms range in color from pure white to deep shades of red, pink and purple, attracting hummingbirds to the garden. Although petunias prefer at least five or six hours of direct sunlight a day, they sometimes get scraggly and cease blooming in mid-summer when the weather is hot and dry. Fortunately, petunias revive quickly when given the right care.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    How To Propagate The Blanket Flower

    How to Propagate the Blanket Flower. Yellow daisy-like petals with a red centers characterize the blanket flower (Gaillardia). These hardy perennials thrive in both North and South America and are cold hardy to USDA Zone 4. With more than a dozen species (including some annual varieties), this vibrant flower earns its name from typical Native America blankets of red and yellow. Perennial varieties thrive for years and should be lifted and propagated through root division every 3 to 5 years to keep plants healthy and produce new plantings.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    How To Clean Plant Leaves With Dish-Washing Fluid

    How to Clean Plant Leaves With Dish-Washing Fluid. Whether you have houseplants, container plants on the patio, plants grown for their beauty, vegetables to produce food for you family -- or all of these -- there are times when foliage needs washing. Dust and grime inside or pollen and dust on outside plants build up on the surface of the leaves over time, detracting from the plants' appearance and reducing their ability to perform photosynthesis. Keeping your plants clean improves their health and beauty. Although they can be cleaned with plain water, using dish soap provides the added benefit of working as an mild insecticide.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    How Long Do Apple Trees Live?

    How Long Do Apple Trees Live?. Most apple trees live for 35 years and produce the best fruit between 10 and 30 years. Some varieties have been known to live 100 years or more.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    How To Cut Dead Leaves From Peace Lilies

    How to Cut Dead Leaves From Peace Lilies. Native to the tropical regions of Central and South America, the peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is grown as a houseplant for its attractive foliage and unusual blooms. With hundreds of species, this plant grows to heights of 1 to 4 feet depending on the cultivar. Foliage varies from deep green to variegated varieties. Blooms held above the foliage feature a showy white or pink spathe or bract that encloses the actual flower. The bract folds gracefully over the flower creating the illusion of a hood. This relatively carefree houseplant requires weekly watering. Lack of water results in brown or dying leaves.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    What Vegetables Have The Shortest Growing Seasons?

    What Vegetables Have the Shortest Growing Seasons?. The length of the growing season is a major contributing factor to determine which vegetables grow successfully in your area. Extending the season with row covers or plant protectors provides a few weeks of growing time to either end of the season, but choosing short-season vegetables is necessary for optimum growth and production in many areas.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    How To Deadhead The Blanket Flower

    How to Deadhead the Blanket Flower. Deadheading involves removing old or faded blossoms from a plant. As far as a plant is concerned, its only purpose is to produce blooms, that in turn produce seeds to insure the survival of the species. Deadheading blooms before seeds form, tricks the plant into thinking it has not accomplished its goal of reproducing. The blanket flower is no exception. Deadheading blanket flower blossoms sends a flush of new blooms and may extend the blooming period for weeks.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    What Are The Vegetables That Grow Underground?

    What are the Vegetables That Grow Underground?. When you think of fresh garden vegetables, you probably think of green, leafy salads topped with slices of juicy red tomatoes, diced peppers and crisp young cucumbers. Although these above-ground vegetables supply fruit brimming with flavor and bursting with color, many less showy vegetables grow beneath the ground and add variety and texture to your meals.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    How To Grow Peace Lilies In Water

    How to Grow Peace Lilies in Water. Growing peace lilies in a Betta vase with water makes an attractive display of foliage without the hassles of potting soil and plant pots. Although it is not recommended that you grow Betta fish in the water with peace lilies (because the environment is not generally suitable to sustain healthy fish) they are often sold together for this purpose. Whether you choose to add the Betta or simply grow your peace lily in a vase of water with decorative stones, peace lilies are well adapted to growing in water without soil.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    Hibiscus Plant Diseases

    Hibiscus Plant Diseases. Hibiscus is an ornamental shrub that grows to heights of 8 feet and spreads to a width of 4 feet. This showy shrub produces an abundance of 4-inch blooms in shades of pink, red, yellow, violet and blue. Its extended blooming time lasts from July to September, adding a splash of color to any landscape.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    How To Dry Grasses

    How to Dry Grasses. Ornamental grasses are magnificent in dried flower arrangements and are a wonderful addition to nature crafts. Growing your own grasses will provide you will an abundant supply to meet your decorating needs. Before you can use them, you will need to dry them first. Follow these steps to dry your own ornamental grass.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    How To Clean Outdoor Plants

    How to Clean Outdoor Plants. Plants add color and contrast to your yard or patio creating a comfortable atmosphere and a relaxing nook for reading or simply soaking in the sun. Keeping outdoor plants clean not only improves the appearance of your yard, it helps to keep plants healthy. The techniques used to clean plants depend on the type of plants and the gardening space they occupy.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    How To Grow Ambrosia Muskmelon

    How to Grow Ambrosia Muskmelon. Ambrosia muskmelon, more commonly referred to as cantaloupe, is a hybrid melon bred for its sweet juicy flesh and heavy aroma. These 6-inch melons mature in 86 days and produce abundant fruits. Although muskmelons (Cucumis melo reticulatus) and cantaloupes (Cucumis melo cantaloupensis) are two different plants, the names are used interchangeably in the United States, with muskmelon seedlings or seeds labeled as cantaloupe. Some sources include both names.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    How To Take Care Of Pink Splash Plants

    How to Take Care of Pink Splash Plants. They say that polka dots never go out of style and that is certainly true with pink polka dot plant--also referred to as the pink splash plant. This tender perennial is native to tropical regions of Madagascar and is grown as an annual in many parts of the U.S. As a houseplant, its pink and green foliage provide color throughout the year. It thrives under normal household conditions and requires little care other than watering and an occasional pinch to control wayward stems.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    Growing Pontiac Red Potatoes

    Growing Pontiac Red Potatoes. Red Pontiac potatoes are round, thin-skinned red potatoes with deep-set eyes. Grown for their delicate flavor as a "new potato," Pontiacs maintain their shape when boiled in the skin and seldom burst or crumble. Their firm texture makes them ideal for "new potato hash"--the New England equivalent of home fries. Planted in early spring, "new potatoes" are ready in July and mature potatoes are ready to harvest in late summer or early fall.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    How To Line A Raised Bed Garden

    How to Line a Raised Bed Garden. How you make your raised garden bed determines whether it requires a liner. Beds created over a cultivated area where plant roots are allowed to penetrate existing soil do not require a liner. Those placed on top of the existing soil, usually because the soil is unsuitable for growing, and filled with a soil mixture that serves as the sole bed for the plants require a liner, or barrier, between the existing soil and the soil mixture in the raised bed to prevent weeds and invasive plants from growing into the raised bed.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    How To Transplant Wild Rose Bushes

    How to Transplant Wild Rose Bushes. Fluffy pink roses found near abandoned homesteads are often referred to as wild roses. According to American Meadows, true wild roses contain only five petals--typically in light to medium pink. Some varieties may be red or pale yellow. Roses with more than five petals indicate the rose is a cultivated variety that has naturalized when settlers moved on. Adding wild roses to your landscape creates a profusion of color and fragrance in early summer.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    How To Transplant Bromeliad Plants

    How to Transplant Bromeliad Plants. Native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America, terrestrial bromeliads are grown for their brilliant foliage and waxy green leaves. According to the Bromeliad Society International, the pineapple is the most well-known of over 3,000 species of bromeliads. In the wild, the cup-shaped reservoir created by the rosette of leaves holds water, creating a mini ecosystem. Small creatures and insects live and die in the water, furnishing the plant with vital nutrients. In the home, bromeliads provide exotic foliage and create a tropical atmosphere.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    Western Red Lily Facts

    Western Red Lily Facts. The western red lily (Lilium philadelphicum andinum), also known as wood lily or prairie lily, is a perennial lily that grows wild throughout the Midwestern United States. This delightful wild flower is a protected species in many areas and can be found in Eastern states along power line right-of-ways where brush clearing is maintained.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022

    How To Care For Swedish Ivy

    How to Care for Swedish Ivy. Swedish ivy is a misnomer, as this delightful vining plant is neither Swedish in origin, nor is it a true ivy. Native to Africa and Australia, Swedish ivy thrives in bright light and high humidity but is not overly sensitive to normal household conditions. As a vining plant, it makes an attractive hanging basket with its shiny green leaves with scalloped edges. This easy-to-grow plant produces abundant lush green foliage with delicate white blooms, and Swedish ivy creates atmosphere and brings a bit of nature inside during long winter months.

    By Nannette Richford November 4th, 2022 Read More