Green Gardening | Green Thumb Garden

Archive for the ‘Green Gardening’ Category

How GREEN Are Your Branches?

Go Green this year for the holidays with a living Christmas tree.

The freshest Christmas tree that you will ever enjoy is one that is still living. It can be a wonderful family tradition to purchase a living tree to appreciate over the holidays and then plant it into your landscape where you can admire it and recall all the wonderful memories associated with it for years to come. Caring for a living Christmas tree is fairly easy and only take a little extra care to ensure that it survives long enough to be planted in the yard. In this article, you will learn exactly what it takes to care for your living Christmas tree.
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Natural Aphid Control

Did you know that Ladybugs love to snack on Aphids?

But what are aphids? Aphids are small, pear-shaped insects that can reproduce so rapidly, you can have an infestation on your hands within a few weeks.
They can be green, black, brown, yellow, or pink and feed by sucking the sap from plants. When doing so, they secrete a substance called honeydew which is sticky and sweet. This attracts ants and can also result in black fungus.
All in all, aphids can spell disaster to your hard work. There are many ways to save your garden, including pesticides. But we offer some natural, creative solutions to rid your garden from these destructive little insects. read more »

What to Plant in Your Herb Garden

Herbs can be a simple and rewarding addition to your garden.

Grown in containers or within your outdoor garden, herbs have many practical uses in your home. Typically used for flavoring food, herbs can also be used to treat illnesses and to fragrance your home.
Here are five types of herbs that will make a flavorful addition to your garden.

Basil

Basil is an annual herb with a flavor that is warm and spicy. This herb can be used as a base in pestos or as an accent with meat and fish. Any tomato dish can also benefit from a sprinkle of fresh basil.
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Preparing for the First Frost

For a gardener, the winter is a time to stop, rest, and plan for the next season.

To keep your work from being ruined this winter, take these steps to prepare your garden for the cold.

Learn what you need to do to survive winter’s cooler temps.

Cleaning up Old Vegetation

Time to break out the rake. Cleaning up old vegetation and dead weeds will remove spores and eggs from pests that could harm your garden with disease.
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10 Composting Tips

Composting isn’t just about creating nutrient rich soil for your garden.

It’s also about reducing our waste that ends up in landfills. Anyone can start composting even if it is on a small scale like those that live in apartments or condos can use compost for their potted plants. Every little bit helps. Composting isn’t an exact science, but there are certain components, tips and tricks that avid composters use to create the best end results possible. Below are 10 helpful tips to get you on your way to successful composting.
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Helpful Vegetable Gardening Tips

A vegetable garden is a wonderful addition to your yard.

It’s rewarding to watch you plants grow and produce ripe, ready-to-eat vegetables. Many find the time that they spend nurturing their vegetable gardens as a form of meditation or relaxation after a long day of work. While others get a sense of accomplishment and joy from watching the fruit of their efforts prosper. Either way you look at it, one positive effect that growing your own fruits and vegetables has is on your wallet; by not paying high prices for quality vegetables just to see them spoil in the fridge before you have a chance to eat them.

Although there are many rewards to growing your own vegetable garden, it can be very depressing and discouraging to see your garden wither from disease or pests. Listed below are some tips to help you overcome some of the common pitfalls of growing your own vegetables.
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Organic Pest Control

Why use scary chemicals when there are so many terrific, safe organic pest control solutions?

When used or stored incorrectly, common chemical pesticides can be a risk to your and your family’s health. Chemical pesticides also kill beneficial insects which could help your garden to thrive. Furthermore, they can eventually find their way into our water sources and contaminate our drinking water.

Unfortunately, many of the basic organic pest control methods such as companion planting just can’t keep the large number of insects and other pests that may attack garden plants under control.
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