Sommer Leigh

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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.

As we cover many fields of expertise, we make it a priority to ensure every beat remains fresh and comprehensive. Additional information on our editorial process available here.

Stories By Sommer Leigh

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    Trees
    Trees By Sommer Leigh November 4th, 2022

    How To Use Hedge Apples To Control Spiders

    How to Use Hedge Apples to Control Spiders. Hedge apples are the fruit of the Osage orange tree, which is native to southern Oklahoma and northern Texas. Hedge apples are not poisonous, but they are an effective repellent against insects and spiders. Using hedge apples to control your spider population is an easy, chemical-free pest-control option. If you do not have access to a hedge apple tree, the fruit can be purchased at grocery stores and farmers' markets.

    By Sommer Leigh November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Sommer Leigh November 4th, 2022

    How To Feed Sugar Water To Plants

    How to Feed Sugar Water to Plants. Water is crucial to the life of the plant--without water a plant will die. Water is only of one of the components necessary in the life of a plant. The other two components required are air and soil. The combination of air, water and soil initiate a process called photosynthesis in which sugar is produced and used to feed the plant. Speeding up the process of photosynthesis by adding sugar to their water can help your plants grow faster. While sugar is beneficial to the growth of the plant, too much can be harmful so care must be taken in how much sugar is given to the plant.

    By Sommer Leigh November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Sommer Leigh November 3rd, 2022

    How To Dry & Save Frangipani Flowers

    How to Dry & Save Frangipani Flowers. The frangipani flower, a flower also referred to as plumeria, is a tropical flower most often grown in the Caribbean and Mexico. In Hawaii, these flowers are sometimes grown to be used in making leis. Frangipani flowers come in shades of pink, white and red and are very fragrant. Like any flower, frangipani flowers can be dried, allowing you to enjoy their beauty all year long. Drying flowers is a pretty simple process.

    By Sommer Leigh November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Sommer Leigh November 3rd, 2022

    How To Manage Gray Clay Soils

    How to Manage Gray Clay Soils. Gray clay soils are characterized by shallow topsoil, are prone to compaction and have poor drainage. These soils can be either acidic or alkaline. Gray clay soils are full of various nutrients, but many plants have a hard time establishing their root systems in these dense soils and often become waterlogged. To successfully grow most plants, you need to amend such soil and improve its consistency so that you create a fertile growing medium.

    By Sommer Leigh November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Sommer Leigh November 3rd, 2022

    What Are 4 Types Of Soil?

    What Are 4 Types of Soil?. Soil is the first layer of the surface of the Earth. It is made up of rocks, plants and animal matter that have decayed and weathered to form a thin layer of soil. Soil is one of the most important elements in gardening, with the others being water and sun. Soil is classified by its texture and the proportion of sand, silt or clay it contains. Texture refers specifically to soil particle size as opposed to the organic matter contained in the soil. There are four main types of soil with each one offering its own benefits and weaknesses in the health of your garden.

    By Sommer Leigh November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Sommer Leigh November 3rd, 2022

    How To Grow German Johnson Tomatoes

    How to Grow German Johnson Tomatoes. 'German Johnson,' a large beefsteak-type heirloom tomato, typically produces fruits over a pound in size that are pink with low-acid content, The producers of 'German Johnsons' proclaim it as one of the parents of the fabled Radiator Charlie's 'Mortgage Lifter' tomato, a popular, heirloom variety tomato created by a man during the Great Depression, who later paid off his mortgage with the profits from this tomato's seed sales. As with all tomatoes, wait to plant this variety in the ground until all chance of frost has passed.

    By Sommer Leigh November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Sommer Leigh November 3rd, 2022

    Chemicals To Use To Kill Fescue

    Chemicals to Use to Kill Fescue. Often you'll notice the presence of fescue in your lawn because of its clump-like and tough texture that's difficult to mow down. Common in pastures, where it's less noticeable, fescue looks like a wide-bladed grass. Most homeowners prefer to rid their lawn of this grass that looks unsightly against the backdrop of a bluegrass lawn. A few different chemicals, used as active ingredients in herbicides, seem to work most effectively against fescue.

    By Sommer Leigh November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Sommer Leigh November 3rd, 2022

    Alternatives To Weed & Feed

    Alternatives to Weed & Feed. Grow a healthy lawn without the use of toxic weed killers and fertilizers. Weed and feed products are harmful to the environment, to your family's health and to the beneficial organisms--earthworms, bacteria and fungi--found in your yard's soil. Use these natural methods to keep your lawn weed-free and healthy.

    By Sommer Leigh November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Structures
    Structures By Sommer Leigh November 3rd, 2022

    How To Fix A 603 Intex Pool Pump

    How to Fix a 603 Intex Pool Pump. Intex outlines a few ways you can fix your 603 pool pump, if you notice leaking, if water starts to flow through the pump slowly or if air becomes trapped in the pump housing or inlet hose. These are common problems that Intex recommends most pool owners can fix on their own. If you experience problems outside of these, contact Intex directly before performing any further repairs. The company can provide more direction on how specifically to fix the pump and may even recommend replacing the unit entirely.

    By Sommer Leigh November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Sommer Leigh November 3rd, 2022

    Ortho Lawn Sprayer Instructions

    Ortho Lawn Sprayer Instructions. Ortho's 2-gallon lawn spray can be used for a variety of chemical application uses including weed control, insect control, deck or patio applications, removing wallpaper, sealing concrete and appling cleaners and disinfectants. Basic instructions for using the device are similar no matter what chemical is being applied, but you should always follow the specific instructions for the chemical you are using, including proper safety precautions.

    By Sommer Leigh November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Sommer Leigh November 3rd, 2022

    How To Freeze Spring Bulbs

    How to Freeze Spring Bulbs. Freezing spring bulbs for a period of time forces the bulbs to bloom. This process, called forcing, allows a gardener to choose when their bulbs blooms instead of having to wait for bulbs to naturally bloom. Forcing is usually done in the fall or winter. Not all bulbs can be forced--garden centers can give advice on what bulbs are suitable for forcing. Some varieties that can be forced include crocus, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and lily of the valley.

    By Sommer Leigh November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Sommer Leigh September 6th, 2022

    Most Disease-Resistant Tomato Plants

    Most Disease-Resistant Tomato Plants. The hundreds of tomatoes available to gardeners base their distinction on several factors, including disease resistance. Common diseases that infect tomatoes include verticillium and fusarium wilts that spread through the soil causing yellow leaves, wilt and death. Other diseases include tobacco mosaic virus, alternaria stem canker and gray leaf spot, all of which spread by various measures and cause blemishes, lesions, discolorations and often death. Some varieties of tomatoes prove more successful in disease resistance than others.

    By Sommer Leigh September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Sommer Leigh September 6th, 2022

    How To Kill Aspen Trees

    How to Kill Aspen Trees. The aspen tree, commonly known as quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), grows 40 to 70 feet high with a white trunk that spans 1 to 2 feet in diameter. These large trees, which are challenging to remove because of their large size, pose another removal challenge due to their reproduction abilities. Aspens naturally sprout to spread throughout an area quickly, especially after tree is weakened by removal. When cutting down an aspen, it's important to kill its root system or it will continue to send up sprouts.

    By Sommer Leigh September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Sommer Leigh September 6th, 2022

    Weed & Feed Tips

    Weed & Feed Tips. Weed and feed products, typically named as such, go by other names including turf builder with weed control. Manufacturers of these products including Scotts, Sta-Green and Vigoro claim weed and feed kills as many as 175 weeds, including dandelions, chickweed, knotweed, thistle and many broadleaf weeds. It also encourages greening, increases the lawn's ability to absorb water and nutrients and extends nitrogen feeding. Use a few application tips for the best results.

    By Sommer Leigh September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Sommer Leigh September 6th, 2022

    How To Bring A House Plant Back To Life

    How to Bring a House Plant Back to Life. Keeping houseplants alive doesn't have to be difficult.To bring a dying houseplant back to life, know your plant's requirements and address any preventive care that you may be neglecting. Pay careful attention to plant tags to determine its light and other care needs. Many indoor plants thrive in humid, indirect light conditions as they originate from the tropics, advises the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service.

    By Sommer Leigh September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Sommer Leigh September 6th, 2022

    What Vegetables Can I Grow In A Topsy Turvy

    What Vegetables Can I Grow in a Topsy Turvy. The Topsy Turvy, an upside-down tomato planter, can grow a range of vegetables beyond tomatoes. "Time" magazine rated the product as one of the picks for the Best Inventions of 2005. This inventive growing container eliminates the need to cage tomato plants, and protects plants from diseases and bugs in soil by growing the plants suspended upside down. Plant vegetable plants as you would a tomato plant, receiving the same results as if growing tomatoes.

    By Sommer Leigh September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Sommer Leigh September 6th, 2022

    How To Preserve Dried Flowers

    How to Preserve Dried Flowers. Preserving flowers is often necessary to keep flowers from special occasions or even just to lengthen the life of flowers so you can enjoy them all year long. You can also use dried flowers in craft projects or to make scented sachets--herbs and flowers placed in small bags or pillows. Preserving dried flowers is a simple process, requiring only time, a place to hang your flower bouquet and the patience to wait until your dried flowers are finishing drying.

    By Sommer Leigh September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Sommer Leigh September 6th, 2022

    How To Garden In Black Clay Soil In Texas

    How to Garden in Black Clay Soil in Texas. The soil in many areas of Texas is the heavy black clay variety. While these clay soils retain moisture and are nutrient rich, clay also drains slowly and compacts, making it difficult for most plants to thrive. Some trees and shrubs thrive in clay soil, but most annuals, perennials and vegetables struggle to establish their root system in this soil. The National Gardening Association recommends adding organic matter to these soils to improve drainage and lighten the soil. The end result will be a brown, rich soil that any plant will love.

    By Sommer Leigh September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Sommer Leigh March 24th, 2022

    How To Make Clay Soil Plantable & Fertile

    How to Make Clay Soil Plantable & Fertile. Blame clay soil for your inability to grow anything in its compacted form. While clay has its advantages--it retains nutrients and moisture--few plants can break their roots through the compacted mud. Fortunately, you can improve the texture and fertility of clay soil by adding amendments. Blend amendments and clay soil together to create a rich, loose soil any plant will thrive in.

    By Sommer Leigh March 24th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Sommer Leigh March 23rd, 2022

    How To Use A Plant Pot With A Removable Drain Plug

    How to Use a Plant Pot With a Removable Drain Plug. Plant pots come in a wide range of colors, styles and drainage options. While some pots contain no drainage holes, others contain many holes or just one hole on the bottom. Another option is the removable drain plug. Removable drain plugs give you the option of drainage if needed, but it can also be sealed to contain any materials in the pot. If you using the drain, it is necessary to take some extra steps to contain any potting material inside the pot.

    By Sommer Leigh March 23rd, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Sommer Leigh March 23rd, 2022

    How To Make Mulch Dye

    How to Make Mulch Dye. Dye mulch a range of colors, including shades of gold, red, brown and black, when you make mulch dye. Colored mulches have a range of uses, beyond decorative, including absorbing the sun to heat animal pens. Colored mulches, through reflective properties, even benefit how plants grow, taste and smell, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

    By Sommer Leigh March 23rd, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Sommer Leigh November 20th, 2021

    How To Dye Roses Black

    How to Dye Roses Black. Rose varieties are grown in a range of colors, yet one of the colors unable to be grown is black. Those interested in displaying black roses have one option: dyeing. Best results come from using white roses--they more easily show the change in color. Use a commercial dye and a hydration pretreatment--a chemical that maximizes water and solution uptake--available through a florist. Using anything other than a dye specifically made for this purpose may not produce ideal results.

    By Sommer Leigh November 20th, 2021 Read More