All posts filed under: DIY

Pick Your Own Strawberry Farms in Eastern Iowa

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It’s hot out, but if you can get there early, it’s worth the trip to head out to The Pride of the Wapsi this week to get some, oh so yummy, fresh strawberries! The cool spring temperatures and nice rains we had this spring have made or some lovely, sweet, yet tart, little jewels!  This year, is by far, one of the best tasting years for strawberries in a long time, in my opinion. I would recommend getting there as early as possible, wear light colors, hats, and use plenty of sunscreen.  A nice jug of cold bottled water is highly recommended for after the pick.  Oh, and prepare to end up with random strawberry stains in odd places! You will be given a tray that can hold up to 10 pounds of strawberries.  Price is $2/lb.  Then, you’ll get a ride out to the field in a golf cart, where you will be given instructions for where you can pick.  Hold on tight, it’s a bumpy ride! Afterwards, you’ll get a ride back to …

Lilacs: How and When to Prune

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My public service announcement for today is:  “Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their lilacs and trim, shear, thin, and prune them. ”  Always prune your lilacs, if they need it, right after they bloom, because if you wait too long after they bloom, you will be removing next years buds. So if it needs it, do it now!  It’s also a good idea to remove a few of the really old branches from within the center of the plant.  Below is a link to an article by Fine Gardening Magazine on how and when to prune your lilacs. How to Prune Lilacs by Fine Gardening Magazine I prefer to use bypass pruners for this kind of pruning job. This allows me to be more precise with my cuts, so that my lilac will look more natural, rather than sheared.

Plants With a Purpose: Digging Deep for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

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Digging for Diabetes: How one stay at home mama sold plants for a purpose, to help turn Type 1 into Type None.

2 Best Organic Fertilizers to Get a Greener Lawn

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Here’s another free gardening tip for the month of April or in the fall!   Want to have the greenest lawn on the block?  Here’s how:  Find a pickup truck. Find your local compost facility Order up a truckload of compost Haul it back home and spread it evenly over your yard, about a 1/2 inch thick layer over the lawn. Rake it in. Enjoy all the compliments you’ll be getting over the next few weeks as your neighbors oo and ahhh over how lush your grass looks! This is great to do once a year or every couple of years. Why does it work?  It supplements your lawn with much needed organic matter and nutrients. WARNING:  You might have to mow a lot more often! If you’d rather not deal with the compost method, milorganite is a natural alternative.  Milorganite releases nitrogen slowly to your lawn and ornamentals in a form readily available to plants.  There is no need to water it in either! What is Milorganite? Purchase a bag of pelletized milorganite from …

It’s April. What Vegetables Can I Plant Right Now?

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It feels like spring.  Finally!  We can all get out, get some air and get our hands dirty again.  But what can we plant that isn’t going to freeze on us and have to be replanted again later?  Here’s a list to get you started in your veggie patch. Potatoes:  as of Good Friday, you can start planting seed potatoes. Carrot seeds Beet seeds Peas Raddish seeds Broccoli Plants Cauliflower Plants Cabbage Plants Salad Greens Kale Arugula Mizuna Bok Choi Pak Choi Sweet Corn Asparagus crowns Strawberries I’m sure there are many more, but this is just off the top of my head and will at least get you started:) Wilcox tools are great for digging holes for annual flowers and vegetables, especially for those of us who don’t like to get down on our knees!  The extra long handle is 18″ long, super sturdy from tip to tip, and made in my native state, Iowa!     Click here for a great online seed selection