(WHNT) – Hanging baskets are beautiful – and they make a wonderful gift for Mother’s Day.

(It’s Sunday, May 12!)

To ensure your hanging basket will last through the summer, start with more soil to make sure the plant keeps growing.

George Bennett of Bennett Nurseries says plants in hanging baskets are ‘hungry’.  You need to water them nearly every day, and because of that, the fertilizer will often get used up more quickly.  So, fertilize your hanging baskets more often to account for this.

Bennett suggests you use an acid-producing fertilizer to offset the pH of the water you’ll be giving the plant so often.

Penn Yan, NY — (SBWIRE) — 05/09/2013 — ‘Organic Gardening Tips 101’, an online organization offering detailed tips and resources related to growing of a successful organic garden, today announced the addition of Garden Video Centre on their website. The section would include interesting and informative videos related to all aspects of gardening including designing and developing organic gardens, best ways to grow particular vegetables, details about plant diseases and related prevention and cure, insects that can benefit the garden, latest news related to the field and common mistakes people make while gardening among others.

The site already has more than 45 videos, with the company adding more every day. Speaking on the occasion, a representative of the company said, “The basic idea of adding a garden video center to the site is to provide a user friendly atmosphere that is free of distractions and can help viewers garden with ease. This can lead to living a healthy lifestyle, while consuming home grown organic foods.” She further added, “We would also like to use the section as a medium to make people realize the benefits of an organic lifestyle.”

According to the sources, growing a garden successfully needs a lot more understanding of details including type of soil, techniques to keep it pest free and in turn lead an organic life, and the videos would help viewers understand the details. Phil Nauta, book author, owner, and creator of the Smiling Gardener Academy, an online gardening course once said, “If you want to grow an organic, pest-free garden that’s overflowing with nutrient-dense food and flowers, it’s important to learn how to test soil and how to fertilize.”

The site aims to attract those as well who do not believe in an organic living and the video section is the first step in the direction. Ruth Martin, the president of Organic Gardening Tips 101 added, “Even though there is a lot more recognition today, worldwide, about the health benefits of an organic lifestyle, there are still many individuals who do not even begin to realize the benefits, and have no idea how to grow their own food. We aim to change that.”

About ‘Organic Gardening Tips 101’
Organic Gardening Tips 101 is a website and blog that provides tips and resources to help others learn how to grow a successful organic garden. The company aims to educate individuals on the many health benefits of eating and growing organic foods. A lot of free information is available, as well as video teaching.

Contact Information
Contact Person: Ruth Martin
Email: earthsfriend@organicgardeningtips101.com
Address: Penn Yan, NY
Website: http://organicgardeningtips101.com

My name is Gena Fuqua and I’m the Production Manager at WDBJ7. I’m also a Taurus and avid reader. One thing I’m not is a gardener. So you can imagine my surprise when I was placed in charge of bringing back the WDBJ7 Hometown Garden.

The garden was first built a few years back and was a tremendous hit with the staff. But it started to become a little too much work and slowly became a garden of weeds.

I’m now in the third week of working on the garden. I’ve pulled the weeds, tilled the soil and cut back the enormous rosemary bush that was left behind. Brent Watts helped me plant the seeds in a few greenhouse pod kits and we are now a few days away from putting the first few plants in the ground.

But we don’t want to bring the garden back just for us. We want YOUR help! As I mentioned before, I’m not by any means a gardener. Out of the hundreds of plants I’ve put in the ground — only two butterfly bushes have survived. And let’s face it, those things are basically weeds and you have to really screw up to kill them. I’ve never planted vegetables and have no clue what I’m doing.

WDBJ7’s Hometown Garden is a great way for all you expert gardeners out there to give us tips on all aspects of gardening. We plan on setting up a live streaming camera that you will be able to log on 24/7 on our website. Brent will also have a segment starting in another week or two that will run on Sunday mornings.

So, here’s what we are planting this spring: cucumbers, cabbage, zucchini, eggplants, carrots, peppers, two kinds of watermelon (sugar baby and jubilee) and two kinds of tomatoes (red cherry and big boy hybrid).

I look forward to sharing my new gardening experiences with all of you, and hearing about new tips and tricks to try! Now, time to get back to my “Gardening for Dummies” book!

To send Gena tips and follow her on Twitter, click here. Or you can email her at gfuqua@wdbj7.com.

P. Allen Smith, the award-winning designer and gardening and lifestyle expert, breezed into Charlotte last week for a little-publicized exhibit opening that featured his landscape paintings at Allison Sprock Fine Art (www.allisonsprockfineart.com). The Arkansas native is host of two public television programs, “P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home” and “P. Allen Smith’s Garden to Table,” plus the syndicated show “P. Allen Smith Gardens.”

He’s also the author of nine best-selling books, including the recent cookbook, “Seasonal Recipes from the Garden.”

An intimate group of his fans flocked to the gallery at 600 Queens Road, where they purchased many of his charming, small paintings and clung like flowering vines to every word he spoke in a distinctive Southern accent.

In between sips of red wine and chatting with his admirers, he talked with the Observer about how he became a sought-after professional artist and about what’s hot in gardening and entertaining.

Q. When did you become a professional artist?

I have been painting since I was young. It’s something my mother encouraged me to do. The first time I visited an English country manor, I saw a collection of Turner paintings (by the famous 19th-century British landscape artist) and it was an influence. Painting really helps me. I usually do plein en air paintings inspired by my farm, and I can turn out several a day. It’s a meditation for me in this fast-paced world. I decided to share them after I was approached by Sotheby’s to participate in an exhibit in 2009 titled “The Art of Farming.” I did 18 paintings and almost all of them sold.

Q. Do you have ties to Charlotte?

While I was here I visited the Mint Museum to see a painting in their collection that’s by an ancestor of mine, the landscape artist William Garl Browne, who immigrated to America from England in 1837. It’s meaningful for me that this is an interest that goes back seven generations in my family.

Q. What’s a hot gardening trend?

Container gardening. People tend to mix different plants in containers, but I like for each container to have one variety. To get that mix, I group three containers together. In one container, I like to have something tall. In the middle one, something lush and full, then another container with a cascading plant. I call it having a thriller, a filler and a spiller.

Q. What’s your favorite gardening tip?

Take a piece of fabric you love to the garden store or greenhouse with you. That way you can pick out plants in colors that match what you’re drawn to.

Q. How do you prefer to entertain?

I like people to be relaxed and feel at home. I usually entertain in small groups and we cook together. I like for everyone to get a glass of wine and we go into the garden and walk around and sometimes pick what we’re going to eat. Many times after dinner we’ll gather around a bonfire with live music. I love good bluegrass music.

New Research

Researcher at the Tel Aviv University in Israel may have found a way to diagnose schizophrenia by testing microRNA molecules in neurons from the nose. Neurons would be removed through a biopsy. MicroRNA molecules regulate gene expression. Researchers found that schizophrenic patients had more of one type of microRNA than non-schizophrenic patients. More testing is required before this method can be used to diagnose the disease, however, as researchers are unsure of whether the microRNA changes begin before or after schizophrenia symptoms begin to show. Currently, the only way to definitively diagnose schizophrenia is through sampling the brain during autopsy.

— MedicalNewsToday.com

Number to Know

164 million: number of American homeowners who have gardened in the last 12 months, as stated in a 2012 report on GreenhouseManagement.com.

Boomer Health: Tips for avoiding physical discomfort while gardening

Fresh packets of seeds, the dirt between your fingers, and the smell of freshly churned earth – gardening season has officially begun. Whether you’re a seasoned green thumb or a newbie to home planting, gardening is a great activity that provides both physical and mental health benefits.

In addition to burning calories while enjoying the peacefulness of Mother Nature, one unwelcome part of taking up gardening as a hobby is the potential for strain and injury. To get the most out of your time gardening, consider these tips for avoiding physical discomfort:

Start with a few stretches

Before grabbing your tools and heading to your yard, spend five or 10 minutes doing stretches focusing on your arms, legs, back and neck. You’ll be moving and turning a lot, so be sure to stretch and loosen muscles to avoid strain when you’re out tending your garden.

Avoid bending and lifting the wrong way

Chronic back pain is an issue for many Americans both young and old. Just because you have back issues doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy gardening. Consider installing raised garden beds, which allow you to garden without having to bend over. Additionally, container gardens can be placed on tables or deck railings for easy access. If you don’t suffer from back pain, avoid back injury by bending and lifting the right way. Remember to maintain good posture, minimize quick twisting motions, bend at the hips and knees only, lift items in a slow and controlled manner, and enlist help if necessary.

Protect skin from the sun

One of the best parts of gardening is you get to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors, but that can mean extended time in the sun so it’s important to protect your skin. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and light cotton clothing that covers exposed skin are good first steps. Always apply a water-resistant, broad-spectrum lotion that is SPF 30 or higher at least 15 minutes prior to going outside, as recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology.

These simple tips will help position you for a full season of gardening delights. Without injury or other physical irritations, you’ll be able to savor the fruits of your labor in the beauty of the warm weather.

— Brandpoint

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WJBK) –

Having a beautiful garden may seem like only a dream for people without a large outdoor area, but yardless gardening offers the perfect solution.

Five Steps for Planting an Edible “Yardless Garden”
Living in an apartment or townhouse without a yard to call your own doesn’t mean you need to give up the benefits of an edible garden. From windowsills to kitchen counters, the options for ‘urban’ gardening are plentiful. Start your spring on a green and healthy note by planting a ‘yardless garden’ at your home.
Here’s how to get started:

Choose Your Plants and Herbs
For a simple, indoor garden that will quickly reap rewards, start with common herbs like parsley, thyme, basil and oregano. Strawberries and tomatoes can also thrive indoors. Steel tomato ‘cages’ are available that allow the vines to grow upward and remain contained without draping all over your furniture.
Imagine a plucking a ripe heirloom tomato from your own vine for dinner!

Prepare Your Planter
It’s essential to give your plants room to grow roots and to provide the ability to drain excess water. Although traditional terra cotta or plastic flower pots can serve your purposes well, if space is limited, you may want to consider square or rectangle planters made of copper or wood that sit in a row and fit neatly on a windowsill or table, consolidating your garden and embellishing its visual appeal.

Gather Your Tools
Even though we’re taking our garden indoors, you’ll still want a small trowel, cultivator and hoe to properly maneuver your fragile seedlings and adult plants. Miniature garden tools are affordable, widely available and allow for easy maneuvering.

Plant Your Seeds (and Seedlings)
Healthy plants start with healthy soil, so give your seedlings a base of potting soil mix that includes compost and natural materials such as sphagnum peat moss and perlite, helping to retain moisture and minerals near the plants’ roots.

Protect and Nurture
Don’t be too concerned if a few leaves on your plant yellow or fall off – it’s a natural occurrence for house plants, and you should never respond by overwatering or adding excessive fertilizer. To promote growth, however, an organic fertilizer can help to stimulate healthy roots and aid in flowering and fruit production. Likewise, pests and weeds can attack indoor gardens just as they do in the backyard, so consider a light or natural herbicide and pesticide treatment to keep your garden thriving.

If you’re unsure about how much water is too much, a small moisture monitor that sticks into the soil can let you know when your plants are getting thirsty.

No matter your living situation, an indoor garden offers a beautiful way to bring nature into your home, as well as helping to reduce stress and purify the air. If you have children, all the better. The kid-sized tools used for indoor gardening offer a perfect introduction to where our food comes from and how plants grow.

The information above was provided by Alana Heart from The Home Depot.

Online: www.homedepot.com

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012

As the RHS Chelsea Flower show celebrates its centenary, a clutch of Chelsea medal-winners offer inspirational tips for practical gardeners

So, what are we going to learn from this year’s internationally acclaimed horticultural show?

While sustainability may be the watchword of this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, with emphasis on biodiversity, wild planting areas and inviting eco-systems, so many of the designs simply wouldn’t be feasible in our own gardens.

So, eminent designers ranging from Tom Stuart-Smith to Jekka McVicar are offering advice to gardeners based on their own experiences in a new centenary edition of Take Chelsea Home by Chris Young, which looks at how gardeners can adopt similar techniques to create beautiful spaces in their own residential plots.

Here’s a few tips from the award-winners:

:: Organic herb grower Jekka McVicar, who has won 14 gold medals at Chelsea, on planting a summer salad crop container: “Salad rocket, dill and mustard are all great salad herbs that can be easily raised from seed and grown in a container.

“The trick is to choose a planter large enough to grow a crop for cutting; an ideal size is 23cm (9in) wide by 18cm (7in) high, or 5 litres/1 gallon, or larger. Fill with compost and water well, then sow the seeds and cover lightly with more compost.

“Set the container in a sheltered warm spot that is shaded from the midday sun. Once you start cutting your salad, feed the plants every week with a balanced liquid fertiliser.”

Landscape designer Tom Stuart-Smith, who has eight Chelsea golds under his belt, on layered planting: “The idea behind layered planting in the garden is to repeat the ecological patterns inherent in complex plant communities.

“In an oak woodland, for example, there are various different levels: an upper canopy, often a middle canopy of medium-sized trees and saplings; a shrub layer, a herb layer, and then bulbs and corms at the bottom.

“By adapting this natural pattern to a garden, it is possible to have different layers flowering at different times, usually with the lower layers flowering first.”

:: Professor Nigel Dunnett, three-time Silver-Gilt winner and designer of this year’s Royal Bank of Canada Blue Water Roof Garden and one of the principal planting consultants for the London Olympic Park, on green roofs: “Garden sheds, porches, summerhouses, balconies, garages and small extensions all offer great potential for planting green roofs.

“The most important consideration for such a roof is how much weight the chosen building will support. It must comfortably take the weight of a person if it is to be strong enough to have a green roof planted on it.

“You can create a simple green roof by securing a pre-grown mat of sedums over a pond liner on the roof surface, but it is referable to plant individually into a generous layer of free-draining soil or potting compost on the roof. Many typical alpines such as dianthus and thyme are excellent for green roofs, as are low-growing species tulips.”

Water specialist Andrew Ewing, who is working on this year’s Daily Telegraph garden with Christopher Bradley-Hole, on edging water: “The use of an appropriate material around your water feature can substantially enhance its overall design and effect.

“For a minimal edging, say, between grass and water, stainless steel set upright produces a crisp line and can allow the water height to be almost level with the grass. Otherwise stone is a great edging material, whether cut clean in a modern style or left more naturalistic and jagged.

“Consider also wildlife needs, in terms of how amphibians may enter or exit the water, and also the role and requirements of aquatic and marginal planting if desired. Such planting can ‘soften’ the edge of a water feature, directing attention on to the plants and water itself.”

:: Take Chelsea Home by Chris Young is published by Mitchell Beazley, priced £20

:: The RHS Chelsea Flower Show takes place from May 21-25, in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. For more information, visit www.rhs.org.uk

New Research

Researcher at the Tel Aviv University in Israel may have found a way to diagnose schizophrenia by testing microRNA molecules in neurons from the nose. Neurons would be removed through a biopsy. MicroRNA molecules regulate gene expression. Researchers found that schizophrenic patients had more of one type of microRNA than non-schizophrenic patients. More testing is required before this method can be used to diagnose the disease, however, as researchers are unsure of whether the microRNA changes begin before or after schizophrenia symptoms begin to show. Currently, the only way to definitively diagnose schizophrenia is through sampling the brain during autopsy.

— MedicalNewsToday.com

Number to Know

164 million: number of American homeowners who have gardened in the last 12 months, as stated in a 2012 report on GreenhouseManagement.com.

Boomer Health: Tips for avoiding physical discomfort while gardening

Fresh packets of seeds, the dirt between your fingers, and the smell of freshly churned earth – gardening season has officially begun. Whether you’re a seasoned green thumb or a newbie to home planting, gardening is a great activity that provides both physical and mental health benefits.

In addition to burning calories while enjoying the peacefulness of Mother Nature, one unwelcome part of taking up gardening as a hobby is the potential for strain and injury. To get the most out of your time gardening, consider these tips for avoiding physical discomfort:

Start with a few stretches

Before grabbing your tools and heading to your yard, spend five or 10 minutes doing stretches focusing on your arms, legs, back and neck. You’ll be moving and turning a lot, so be sure to stretch and loosen muscles to avoid strain when you’re out tending your garden.

Avoid bending and lifting the wrong way

Chronic back pain is an issue for many Americans both young and old. Just because you have back issues doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy gardening. Consider installing raised garden beds, which allow you to garden without having to bend over. Additionally, container gardens can be placed on tables or deck railings for easy access. If you don’t suffer from back pain, avoid back injury by bending and lifting the right way. Remember to maintain good posture, minimize quick twisting motions, bend at the hips and knees only, lift items in a slow and controlled manner, and enlist help if necessary.

Protect skin from the sun

One of the best parts of gardening is you get to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors, but that can mean extended time in the sun so it’s important to protect your skin. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and light cotton clothing that covers exposed skin are good first steps. Always apply a water-resistant, broad-spectrum lotion that is SPF 30 or higher at least 15 minutes prior to going outside, as recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology.

These simple tips will help position you for a full season of gardening delights. Without injury or other physical irritations, you’ll be able to savor the fruits of your labor in the beauty of the warm weather.

— Brandpoint

From the ground up

A successful garden starts with good soil. Blogger and author Shawna Coronado (shawnacoronado.com) says her formula is one-third your soil, one-third rotted manure and one-third kitchen or leaf compost. The result, she promises, is “fantabulous gardens.”

Easiest indoor garden

The Aerogarden has so much to recommend it. This amazing contraption lets the garden-deprived grow herbs — and lots more (cherry tomatoes, flowers, lettuces) in a small space. Its streamlined operation keeps the process so manageable — the mechanically challenged won’t be intimidated.

What’s more, those living in climes that aren’t conducive to year-round growing will get their gardening fix no matter what is happening outside.

Aerogarden has continued to offer additional options, including a seed starting tray. It’s not cheap (grow lights need to be replaced on occasion, etc.) A variety of sizes and prices are available. Go to aerogarden.com.

Try strawberries

Alpine strawberries are, again, easy to grow — they make a great ground cover in a sunny spot, they’re very pretty, they flower and, if you keep your expectations simple (think topping your cereal, not making jars of jam), they’ll reward you with an amazing-tasting treat. They’re also perfect for kids.

Watch your hands

Sue Markgraf, founder of GreenMark Public Relations, which focuses on green issues, needed a new pair of gloves before tackling a long weekend of gardening. She says it was a bit like looking at the cereal aisle in the grocery store, with myriad styles in the garden centers.

How to choose? Markgraf says, “My takeaway tip: The right glove for the right project is just as important as the right tool. Consider both comfort and safety to protect those precious hands. Many gloves have Velcro closures and are made of breathable fabrics for comfort, while leather palms and fingers cushion against branches, stones and even insects.

“Choose light gloves for simple tasks like planting annuals and containers. Select gloves with leather palms and fingers for pruning, deadheading and working mulch into soil. Heavier-duty gloves like these also are a must for more intense projects, such as light landscaping work, planting trees and dividing perennials. For roses, heavyweight gloves with cuffs protect against thorns.”

Think young

Get kids involved in growing vegetables and fruits as soon

as possible, suggests longtime gardening writer Lynn Petrak. “My two youngest were amazed to see blackberries growing from what we had planted the year before. Between those and the lettuce and pumpkins, they

Many of us are getting our seedlings ready for the garden.  It’s a great way to save on groceries and certainly a fun hobby to share with the kids.

Kevin Cutlip is always looking for inexpensive alternatives to pricey pots.  He scours yard sales and junk yards for just the right containers.  He used an old fountain for asparagus.  “I found this at the dump and I have asparagus growing in here and asparagus are invasive so I have them under control,” Cutlip said.

He also helps stave off bugs and fortifies his tomato plants with a mixture of milk and water around the base.  He also says it’s important how you get tomatoes in the soil, plant them deep. “These stalks down here will actually turn into root,” he explained.

Instead of expensive fertilizers and pesticides, Cutlip uses other objects he’s already got at home to help his plants.  He lights matches and puts them in the soil near his pepper plants to give the to the phosphorus they need to be healthy and producer a nice crop.  He says three matches will have him picking peppers until December.

Consider planting a veggie garden.  A few years ago a non-profit group estimated that for a seventy dollar investment you could reap as much as 600 dollars worth of veggies.  That’s aiming high, but even if you get half as much you’ll save and enjoy the sense of accomplishment a garden gives you.

Copyright 2013 WBTV. All rights reserved.