Slightly Creaky does extensive research to find the links you would most likely need and provides them for you in an easy-to-find format. You can access the various categories from any of our web pages using the top or side menus. Each category has generalized headings, followed by more specific ones.

Updates

We need your help

Although this list was complete on the date listed, many web sites change names or even close terminate their services. New ones start weekly. Should you discover a bad link or wish to suggest that we add one, please contact suggestions@slightlycreaky.com.

This listing is the result of more than 500 hours of research. It is the property of Slightly Creaky and may not be reproduced in any form. Every attempt has been made to provide an accurate description of each organization.

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General Gardening Information

Your Guide to Everything Gardening	" Whether you are new to gardening, or a seasoned gardening pro, Garden Guides has everything you need. For more than eight years, Garden Guides has been a leader in online gardening information, providing thousands of pages of detailed and extensive information on plants, pests, gardening tips & techniques, gardening recipes, seeds & bulbs, gardening books, nurseries & landscapers, and much more."
HGTV Gardening	Gardening information from the Home & Garden TV Channel web site
Better Homes & Gardens Magazine	General and specific gardening information. Online magazine is free. Subscriptions available
National Gardening Association	" The National Gardening Association (NGA), founded in 1973, is a nonprofit leader in plant-based education. We serve a national audience with timely materials designed to foster an appreciation for the benefits of gardening."
Organic Gardening	Online magazine, Subscription available.
Garden Guides	From Better Homes & Gardens. "Learn how to garden year-round, choosing the plants that are right for your area, and conserving water, time, and money."
Understand the Most About Your Garden	From Backyard Gardener. Hundreds of links to informational articles
Garden Tips and Instruction - Gardening How-To	"If you need to know how to garden, how to build a garden, how to grow a garden, how to plant a garden, or anything else related to gardens, this it the place to be. Garden Guides's How-To section will help you become a better gardener and grow your green thumb, whether you are a beginner, an expert, or anywhere in between."
Gardening: Garden Structures	"At HGTV.com, you'll find even more of what you love about HGTV: instructions for thousands of home and garden projects, video tips, an interactive Program Guide and episode finder, Calculators, Message Boards and more."
Hardening Off Isn't Hard	"Hardening off refers to the process of acclimating plants from indoor temperatures to the outdoors. Because plants usually are grown in greenhouses (or, as seedlings in our kitchen window!), they've been pampered. They need to be introduced slowly to the elements of wind and intense sun."
Bracing Up: Hardening Off Transplants	"For the sake of seedlings, whatever crops or flowers they will become, you will no doubt go to considerable effort to get them up and growing. You'll probably spend hours fussing over them, making sure they are well-watered, warm (or cool) enough, and under an adequate light source. Those small plants are vital; they are the future of your garden."
How To Harden Off Your Plants	"Hardening off plants is much easier with a cloche (cold frame)"
Seeds and Fruit	" Many of the seeds and fruits produced by canopy trees fall to the ground where they provide food for seed gatherers (rodents, birds, fish, etc) and create a natural seed bank in the leaf litter."
Plants Information - Plant Gardening	"In the Garden Guides Garden Plants section, you will find information on thousands of species of plants, including flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables, trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, weeds, and many others (lichens, moss, ferns, etc.) - virtually everything you need to complete your garden."
Water Gardening	Articles, designs, and links
Gardening Basics: What to Plant (and What to Avoid)	"At HGTV.com, you'll find even more of what you love about HGTV: instructions for thousands of home and garden projects, video tips, an interactive Program Guide and episode finder, Calculators, Message Boards and more."
Greenhouse Gardening Tips	From Backyard Gardener. " Great greenhouse tips and useful information to keep your greenhouse running efficiently."
Greenhouses	"Every serious garden enthusiast eventually comes to the conclusion that a home greenhouse is at the top of the list for his or her own personal continuing gardening evolution. Greenhouses afford the opportunity to experiment with unusual or hard to grow plants, garden during the winter, and perfect propagation and seeding techniques - all in a controlled, up-close and personal environment."
Garden Ornamentation	"Garden ornamentation takes many shapes and forms, and is largely a matter of taste. Pretty much anything can be made into a garden ornament, and if it pleases you and captures your style and personality, then go for it. "
Water Quality, Conservation, Drought and Irrigation	"Topics range from created wetlands to choosing water-use-efficient crops to water quality in organic production to irrigation management. This section addresses the close relationship between agricultural production, soil moisture, crop and livestock water use, and water resources. "
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Selecting Plants & Shrubs

(fruit, nuts and trees)

Home Landscaping Ideas Introduction	"Home landscaping is a highly personal subject. Some like a perfectly manicured lawn with every shrub and flower carefully placed. Others prefer a backyard habitat-like area with tangled vines, meandering paths, and hidden garden rooms. "
Garden Decor & Projects	From Better Homes & Gardens. "Enhance your yard with garden decor and gardening projects like trellises, arbors, and planters that enliven your home garden all year round."
Landscape Plans: Create a Beautiful Backyard Retreat	Detailed plans and plant lists to create the garden of your dreams. "At HGTV.com, you'll find even more of what you love about HGTV: instructions for thousands of home and garden projects, video tips, an interactive Program Guide and episode finder, Calculators, Message Boards and more."
Landscaping Articles Online	More than 100 articles with tips and suggestions for gardeners.
Shrubs & Hedges	"Shrubs & hedges are an easy answer to a large number of landscaping problems. They can be used as accents, to hide unsightly areas, to focus the eye on a particular spot, or as a living barrier to other properties or areas you don't want seen"
Gardening: Trees / Shrubs	"At HGTV.com, you'll find even more of what you love about HGTV: instructions for thousands of home and garden projects, video tips, an interactive Program Guide and episode finder, Calculators, Message Boards and more."
Trees	From Better Homes & Gardens. Alphabetical listing of North American trees, how to plant, and care. Free membership needed.
Trees	" Anyone who has ever enjoyed a walk in the woods knows that there is a deep, almost mystical connection between us and the trees that goes back to the beginnings of mankind."
Training & Pruning Fruit Trees	"Growers often neglect the annual training and pruning of fruit trees. Without training and pruning, however, fruit trees will not develop proper shape and form. Properly trained and pruned trees will yield high quality fruit much earlier in their lives and live significantly longer."
Tree Fruit in the Home Garden	" It is desirable to locate the fruit planting as close to your home as possible. Where space is limited, fruit trees may be set in almost any location suitable for ornamental plants. Consider the mature size of the tree when designing the planting."
Fruit Tree Planting Foundation	"Our programs strategically plant orchards where the harvest will best serve the community for decades to follow, at places such as public schools, homeless shelters, drug rehabs, low-income areas, international hunger relief sites, and animal sanctuaries. FTPF's projects benefit the environment, human health, and animal welfare—all at once!"
Fruit Trees	" Fruit trees may offer a better return on effort than anything in the garden. A single semi-dwarf apple tree, for example, can produce up to 500 apples in a season, with a productive life of 15 to 20 years. Several trees, with different harvest times, can bring fruit to your table 8 months of the year. "
Growing Fruit Trees in Limited Space	" Families today have less space for fruit trees, less time to take care of them and less time to process or preserve large crops than in the past. Accordingly, today's family orchards should be planned and managed differently. The objective of Backyard Orchard Culture is the prolonged harvest of tree-ripe fruit from a small space. This means planting close together several or many fruit varieties which ripen at different times, and keeping the trees small by summer pruning."
Growing Organic Fruit Trees	"The advantages to growing fruit organically are obvious in the first bite. Your own organic fruit is not covered in arsenic (as some commercial apples are to lengthen shelf-life) or wax. Growing your own fruit means picking varieties for flavor, not looks or ability to travel. Your organic fruit may not be as picture perfect as the stuff you find in the grocery store, but fruit is to eat, not to take pictures of!"
The most difficult problems to consider when planting a fruit tree	"Poor drainage, late frost, late rain, extreme cold and critters are a few. These challenges to growing fruit trees contribute to why some people just don’t plant them."
Growing Fruit Trees in Pots	"An English Garden is not complete without at least one or two fruit trees. Nowadays you are very lucky if you have the space to grow a full sized tree or have bought a garden which already has a mature fruit tree in. But lack of space doesn’t mean you can’t grow fruit trees. There are many cultivars of apples, pears, cherries, plums, peaches and nectarines which will grow happily in pots on your patio, courtyard or dotted here and there in your borders. Their blossom will add an extra dimension to the beauty of your garden."
Dwarf Fruit Trees	"Fruit trees don't grow true from seed, as you've discovered if you've ever sampled fruit from the seedling apple trees that sprout from bird or deer-scattered apple seeds in most old woods in North American farm country....."
Fruit Tree Tips	" Many fruit trees require at least two varieties for cross pollination in order to get a good crop of fruit:..." And many more useful hints.
Planting and Early Care of Fruit Trees	"Fruit trees may be planted in early spring, as soon as the frost in the ground has thawed. If the soil is very waterlogged, it is best to wait until it drains. Wait until the soil no longer comes up in sticky clumps that stick to the shovel."
Nut Growing	"Most nut species grow more readily on loamy or even sandy soils than they do on heavy clay soils. They also prefer well-drained soils, but pecans can tolerate heavy bottom soils that flood occasionally. All species are unfavorably affected by shallow soils that have hardpan or rock layers in the upper 4 feet."
Nut Growing in Illinois	(Applies to many northern states) "Several species of nut-producing trees are native to parts or all of Illinois; other species have been imported into the state. Possibilities of profitable commercial production of nuts in Illinois are limited, but growing nuts for home use can be an interesting hobby, providing nourishing and delicious food and enhancing the landscape."
Northern Nut Growers' Association	"The Northern Nut Growers Association, Inc. (NNGA) brings together people interested in growing nut trees. Our members include experts in nut tree cultivation, farmers, amateur and commercial nut growers, experiment station workers, horticultural teachers and scientists, nut tree breeders, nursery people, foresters, and beginning nut culturists."
Growing Nuts in the North	Ebook. Can be downloaded for free.
Bonsai	"Growing Bonsai is probably not for the once a week houseplant waterer who skips a week every now and then, but for those willing to put a little effort into it, the Art of Bonsai can be an incredibly creative and rewarding leisure-time gardening activity, especially for those in the colder areas who are cooped up in the house through the long winter months."
How to Grow and Care for Bonsai Trees	"Bonsai is actually two words, "Bon", and "Sai". The word "Bon" means "tray" and "Sai", "growing" or "planting". Therefore, the two words put together give you the translation of "tray growing" or "tray planting"."
Growing Bonsai Indoors	"With the exception of tropicals and sub tropicals, all bonsai should be grown outdoors. Temperate climate woody plants must go through a period of cold dormancy in order to survive. This dormancy completes a yearly cycle. In deciduous trees this is a very obvious phenomenon, however, temperate evergreens such as Juniper also need to go through this cycle."
What is Bonsai?	"Create your own profile. Use the Bonsai forum. Chat with other members. Show your Bonsai trees"
Cactus	"Cacti are a group of plants that are not only easy to grow, but offer a variety of shapes, color and form. They can be grown in any sunny, well-drained area. They require little maintenance. They make excellent houseplants and many hardy varieties may be grown outside."
Guidelines For Success With Growing Cactus Indoors	"Most cacti seem to be victims of their own durability. They will take an incredible amount of neglect and even abuse. I've seen them growing under practically zero light conditions, on cold, dreary porches, in ordinary potting soil, and shriveling from a prolonged drought because their owners take the name desert cactus too literally."
How To Successfully Grow Your Cactus Cuttings	"A cactus cutting must be “calloused over,” meaning the cut end of the pad is dry and has sealed itself over in order to protect itself. Cuttings cannot take in water, a cactus plant must have roots to absorb water, just as other plants do."
Growing Cacti As Houseplants	"True cacti, a type of succulent, are native to the Americas. Many types may be grown as houseplants, each different in size, color, shape, and flowering habit. Among the most popular types are the star cactus, golden barrel, old man, bishop's cap, bunny ears, rat-tail, pincushion, Turk's cap, and ball cactus."
Cactus	"Cacti vary tremendously in size, color, shape and flowering habit. There may be one to two thousand different species of cacti. Most cacti live in desert habitats, but some types can also be found in jungles. Most cacti are native to the Americas."
Growing Cacti from Seed	"To germinate cactus seeds, use a fine mix of 1/3 washed sand, 1/3 cactus compost, and 1/3 perlite. Mix it thoroughly and put it in 10cm plastic pots or seed pans (with adequate drainage holes). Gently pat down the mix to eliminate large air pockets and smooth the surface with a straight edge."
Growing Our Spiny Friends	"Cacti are part of a larger group of plants called succulents. Through natural selection most Cacti species lost their leaves, which allowed too much evaporation in the desert. Their stems became thick, and round to minimize surface area, and to store water. To protect themselves from the Sun and predators many species developed spines and hair, waxy skin, along with bitter alkaloids."
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Annuals

Annuals	"Annuals are a large group of plants that complete their life cycle in one season. They are the longest blooming of the plant categories, and as such, are essential elements in most landscapes. "
Growing Fresh Flowers	" Annual flowers can be a prime source of color to accent and enliven a home's landscape. While flowering trees and shrubs provide short bursts of color, most annuals begin blooming within a month of planting and flower until frost. "
Gardening with Annuals	From the University of Illinois Extension
Plant Finder	From Better Homes & Gardens. "Plant Finder is a searchable collection of the best plants for your yard. Each listed plant includes detailed information about its preferred growing conditions, planting and care, and its most appealing features. Many plants also include one or more photos."
Annual Flower List	From NC State University
List of Annual Flowers	"A plant that grows, flowers, goes to seed, and dies in one year."
Annual Quick Reference List	From Mississippi State University
Shade Gardens	"Every home has a place for at least a small shade garden. While the full-sun vegetable and perennial gardens also have their functions, nothing takes the place of a tranquil, quiet corner of the yard with sweet scents, almost fluorescent colors, and best of all, cool shade. Contrary to popular belief, a shade garden can be host to an astounding number of flowering and foliage plants."
Annuals Vs Perennial	"So you like flowers, want more color in your garden, but don’t have time to study what to plant in depth? You keep hearing the same words around flowers and in nurseries: perennial, annual. What do they mean, and what on earth should you plant?"
Perennials vs. annuals in the garden	"An annual plant is a plant which blooms only once, during its annual cycle. Spring annuals flower in spring, summer annuals in summer, etc. If you plant petunias by the garden gate and they blossom in May and you want them there again next May, you’ll have to replant. Except for a possible stray survivor that may come up next year, those particular plants are finished with their job by your garden gate."
Use both annual and perennial plants	"Do you have to replant your garden beds every year because you keep planting annual beds? Or do you lack color and interest because you only plant short blooming period perennials? Some helpful tips to help your garden be the one that stands out in the neighborhood."
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Perennials

Plant Finder	From Better Homes & Gardens. " Plant Finder is a searchable collection of the best plants for your yard. Each listed plant includes detailed information about its preferred growing conditions, planting and care, and its most appealing features. Many plants also include one or more photos."
Biennials	"Biennials are plants that do not bloom until their second season. They grow strong plants in the first season, then bloom, self-seed, and die in the second season. They are self-perpetuating plants, some of which are spectacular when blooming. "
Flower Bulbs	"We commonly use the terms Fall Bulbs, Spring Bulbs, or Flower Bulbs when referring to a wide range of plants for both spring and fall. Most likely you (and I) have referred to flowers as bulbs, when they were actually Corms, Tubers, Tuberous roots, or a Rhizome. Don't know the difference? Don't Care? That's okay. You're in good company. What does matter is that we plant the flowers that we want to bloom in our home gardens. As we talk about them, we will also refer to them somewhat generically as bulbs too!"
Bulbs	"Bulbs are self-contained little packages of power that will reward the grower with years of carefree color and satisfaction. They are a must for any home garden. They are planted when dormant, and then grow, bloom, and store food before they go dormant once again. "
Roses	From Better Homes & Gardens. Seven pages of roses, identification, planting, and care.
Rose Growing the Easy Way	"Roses are probably the most misunderstood and undervalued plants in the modern landscape. Most people seem to believe that all garden roses are troublesome, frail plants that need to be pampered and fussed over with weekly sprays and frequent fertilizing. "
How to Grow and Care for Rose Bushes	" There is unquestionably no flower as beautiful or as loved as a rose. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. More "beholders" carry, display and grow roses than any other flower. They are the undisputed favorite of growers and flower buyers alike."
Are You Ready to Grow Beautiful Roses?	"Roses are arguably the most beloved flowers in the world. They symbolize love, friendship, and sympathy with an elegant beauty."
House Plants: Proper Care and Problem Solving	"Growing house plants is a challenging and rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by everyone and need not be difficult. Give plants what they need and they'll do well for you. Give them just about what they need and they hold their own. Deny too many of their needs and plants fail."
Growing Houseplants	"Growing houseplants can be an easy proposition if some basic requirements are met. Knowing what kind of environment you can offer your plant is a good first step. Before buying, study the area where you wish to grow plants. What kind of sunlight is the area getting? Is it near a window? What direction does the window face? "
Growing Houseplants - Care and Maintenance	" Houseplants, also called indoor plants, brighten up your home or office. Caring for houseplants makes for a great hobby during the long inclement months of winter, and even throughout the year. And, growing houseplants is rather easy. Many gardeners refuse to twiddle their green thumbs, for months on end, a winter keeps them indoors. Rather, they actively extend their gardening pleasure through the winter months, tending to a wide array of indoor plants."
Houseplants	From Better Homes & Gardens. "Tips for choosing and growing a variety of houseplants, including advice on feeding, lighting, and watering your plants."
Ground Covers	"Most of us have spots around our homes that are unsuitable for lawn turf for one reason or another. Maybe it's a steep slope, or a narrow area where it's hard to mow, or an area under a large tree that is too shady to support a conventional lawn. Or maybe you just want to reduce the size of the lawn to save time and effort in mowing. Enter the wonderful world of ground covers."
Caring for Lawns & Groundcovers	From Better Homes & Gardens. "Lawns and groundcovers provide a carpet of lush greenery. Find out how to choose the variety that works best for your location."
Lawn Care	"Make lawn care (and other gardening chores) a breeze with some of these cool tools. At HGTV.com, you'll find even more of what you love about HGTV: instructions for thousands of home and garden projects, video tips, an interactive Program Guide and episode finder, Calculators, Message Boards and more."
Vines and Climbers	"If your home looks like every other house on the block, you may want to consider planting some vines and climbers on your property to give it a completely different look."
Vines	From Better Homes & Gardens. Free membership needed.
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Starting and Growing

(and pest control)

How to Grow Flowers, and lots of them!	" Flower gardening is an absolutely wonderful hobby for millions of Americans. While we commonly think of a few dozen types of flowers that we typically grow, there are actually hundreds, if not thousands, of different varieties.. Each species may have dozens of varieties. And that's good, because gardeners like to try and grow new and unique varieties."
Guide to Pests and Diseases	"Click on pest or disease below for a detailed description and remedy. "
Insects and Pests	Pictures, descriptions, and remedies for common and not-so-common garden pests
Natural Insect Pest Control (Household)	Insect pests are an intimate part of every home. In the air, carpet, counter or cupboard, every home shares it's resources with these tiny, often unseen invaders. Pesticides are available for most common household insect pests, but these potent chemical compounds may be more harmful to you and the environment than the pests. Here are some natural, non-toxic ways to control household insect pests.
Natural Garden Pest Control	" Natural pest control is less expensive than buying and applying pesticides, and it's safer for your garden, natural wildlife and the environment."
Pest Management	"These resources offer a wide array of techniques and controls to effectively reduce or eliminate damage from insects, diseases and weeds without sacrificing the good of the soil, water, or beneficial organisms."
Gardening: Diseases / Pests	"At HGTV.com, you'll find even more of what you love about HGTV: instructions for thousands of home and garden projects, video tips, an interactive Program Guide and episode finder, Calculators, Message Boards and more."
Protecting Your Garden the Organic Way	" Avoiding chemical pesticides in your home lawn and garden is a great step to ensuring the health and safety of your family, pets, neighborhood, and the earth!"
No Chemicals: Organic Garden Pest Control	"Organic gardeners avoid using chemical pesticides because they are toxic to humans (especially small ones), pets and the environment as well as to insects. Organic garden pest control uses non-toxic, natural methods of deterring or removing insects. "
Good & bad companions for vegetables	Vegetable Companion Chart
Companion Planting: So Happy Together!	"Companion planting is not a new idea to the gardening world. There is evidence of farmers using these same techniques dating back to ancient Roman times. Many people are familiar with the idea of planting the "Three Sisters," a Native American technique that combines corn, squash, and beans."
Companion Planting	" Organic gardeners know that a diverse mix of plants makes for a healthy and beautiful garden. Many also believe that certain plant combinations have extraordinary (some even believe mysterious) powers for helping each other grow. Scientific study of companion planting has confirmed that some combinations have real benefits unique to those combinations. "
Companion Planting: Basic Concept and Resources	"Companion planting is based on the idea that certain plants can benefit others when planted in near proximity. "
Companion Planting	" Companion planting, or companion gardening is the practice of planting two different plants in close proximity to each other on the theory that they help each other in some way. Some plants complement each other, giving off by products that the other plant needs. "
Companion Planting	"Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you're a thousand miles from the corn field" Dwight David Eisenhower
Weeds	"A weed can be described basically as any plant that's growing where you don't want it to grow. Weeds compete with the desirable plants in a landscape, and become more aggressive as they mature. Therefore, a planned and sustained attack is the only prudent way to go in the home garden as far as weeds are concerned. "
Weed Identification	" This list reflects common weeds observed in both container and field nurseries in Arkansas." But they apply to many other areas of the United States
Plant Finder	From Better Homes & Gardens. " Plant Finder is a searchable collection of the best plants for your yard. Each listed plant includes detailed information about its preferred growing conditions, planting and care, and its most appealing features. Many plants also include one or more photos."
Gardening: Flowers / Plants	"At HGTV.com, you'll find even more of what you love about HGTV: instructions for thousands of home and garden projects, video tips, an interactive Program Guide and episode finder, Calculators, Message Boards and more."
Seeds	"Seed collecting is fun gardening with a purpose. Once you know how to collect from your own garden, you will start finding opportunities to add new plants to the landscape by collecting seed everywhere you go. "
Container Gardening	"Container gardening is one aspect of gardening in which every member of the household can contribute. Gardening in containers is easy, fast, fun, and rewarding. Most of us have had our pots of petunias and pansies over the years, but few of us have explored the real extent of possibilities that exist in the realm of container gardening."
Potting Soil	"Listing of the different types of potting soils and what they are used for. "
Soils & Compost	"Healthy soil can improve crop and livestock production. The publications and other resources listed here offer information on how to assess, improve and maintain soil health for both croplands and pastures."
Gardening: Soil / Water	"At HGTV.com, you'll find even more of what you love about HGTV: instructions for thousands of home and garden projects, video tips, an interactive Program Guide and episode finder, Calculators, Message Boards and more."
Garden Composting	From Backyard Gardener. Articles, designing co,post areas, links.
Compost	"Compost is the heart and soul of organic gardening"
Gardening Under Lights	" Gardening indoors under artificial light isn't a new concept. The idea germinated soon after the electric light bulb was invented. The advent of the fluorescent light bulb has made indoor gardening more common and more efficient — a hobby that anyone can enjoy. "
Grow Lights	"Depending on the time of year that you are starting your plants, you may decide that you need to use grow lights to keep your plants growing or simply starting your seeds. Your choice of grow lights will vary by size, temperature emitted and the actual light that is emitted as well."
Plant Grow Lights for Indoor Gardening Supplemental Greenhouse Lighting	"Plant grow lights for indoor gardening and supplemental greenhouse applications," BTW (from the Slightly Creaky Editors) -- since we live in New York's Hudson Valley, and we can not get our plants outside until late May, we have been using an indoor grow light system since 1981, quite successfully. In fact, we just replaced the bulbs for the first time in 2007. We use one of the systems shown on this page, but paid under $300 for it way back then.
How Grow Lights Impact Plant Growth	"Indoors, under artificial conditions, you are trying to emulate the useful parts of natural sunlight as much as possible for optimal plant growth, all other necessary ingredients being present. Since sunlight is much brighter than light from a grow lamp, you will need to leave the lights on for 12-18 hours per day to compensate for the lesser brilliance of the light from artificial sources."
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Tools & Supplies

Garden Supplies	"In the Garden Guides' garden supplies section you will find detailed and in depth information on seeds, bulbs, and gardening books and pamphlets. In our seed & bulb stores section, you will find an extensive listing of places to purchase seeds, bulbs, gardening supplies, and landscape supplies. In our seeds & bulbs catalog you will find more than 750 different seed and bulb pages, most with detailed information such as seeds per pound, seed depth, and seed spacing. In our gardening books and country wisdom bulletins sections you will find brief synopses and overview information on over 450 high quality gardening books and pamphlets."
Ten Essential Tools	"The only way you are going to do any gardening is if it can be done with a screwdriver, broken toothbrush and a rake with three teeth, because those are the closest things you have to gardening tools in your garage."
Better Than A Sharp Stick	"If you think about it, when it comes to garden tools, we haven't really come too far from a sharp, pointed stick. Shovels, forks, spades and rakes are all subtle variations on our earliest implement. "
Gardening: Tools & Equipment	"At HGTV.com, you'll find even more of what you love about HGTV: instructions for thousands of home and garden projects, video tips, an interactive Program Guide and episode finder, Calculators, Message Boards and more."
Choosing Your Garden Tools	"There are a few basic tools that every gardener should have. These products will make working in your garden easier, while also enabling you to perform vital actions that will increase the health of your plants and the soil that nourishes them. If you're just starting out, don't think that the highest priced garden tools are the best. As you become more familiar with gardening, you will discover which type of tools are most needed and can then invest a little more in those particular ones."
How to Select Basic Garden Tools	"You don't need to spend a lot to start a garden, but you do need some basic tools. You can get started for under $100 - less if you can find tools at yard sales or flea markets."
5 Essential Garden Tools (+5 To Make Gardening Easier)	"When it comes to your garden, you need more than just plants to keep it alive. You also need the tools to keep the garden healthy and vibrant. I could survive with the first five tools if I needed to be really frugal, but I expanded my list to include the last five that most people would find essential"
The Tools That Make Gardening a Pleasure	"So you’ve gotten the garden bug and sallied off to the garden center to pick plants. Wait just a minute; before you leave the garden center, better run through a check list and see if you’ve got all the garden tools you’ll need to make your garden spring to life. We aren’t going to break the bank here; no power tools and even a few you can craft yourself."
Clean, Sharp Tools Work Better	"I’ll admit that in the past I’ve put away shovels that were dirty and rusty, set aside dull and stained hoes, and “fixed” the cracked handle of my favorite rake with a tight wrapping of electrician’s tape. As a result, my tools didn’t work as well as they should have. I’ve learned since then, though, that the time I wasted struggling with dull or broken tools would be better spent with a brief, regular maintenance regime and more efficient, productive hours in the garden."
An Easy Tip for Cleaning Garden Tools	"Before using your shovel, rake, hoe, fork or any other garden implement you spray it with a fine coat of olive oil."
Five Landscaping Tools You Should Always Have	"In order to keep your beautifully landscaped yard in tip top condition, there are several must have tools to maintain your yards beauty. Not only will this make maintenance easier, it also helps to keep from damaging your plants that you so carefully picked and added to your landscaping."
Landscaping Tools	"For the avid do-it-yourself landscaper, the right tools are important. After all, if one wishes to save money on the expenses associated with having a well cared for yard, it is best to make sure that he or she has all of the tools necessary to create an attractive landscape."


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Vegetables & Herbs

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Vegetables & Herbs

Backyard Gardener	General information. Many links to commercial sites for purchasing tools, seeds, and other supplies.
The Garden Helper	"There are few things that are as satisfying to a home gardener, than to wander out to the vegetable garden, harvest and consume the fruits of their labor. Successful vegetable gardening involves far more than just popping a few seeds into the ground and waiting for a tomato to appear. Planting is only the third step of the three 'P's. Planning your garden, Preparing the soil, and then... Planting your vegetables!"
The Vegetable Garden	From the Arizona Cooperative Extension
Tips on Planting a Vegetable Garden	"The most important thing you can do to ensure success for your vegetable garden is to locate it in the best place in your yard. The vast majority of things you will want to plant in your garden like full sun best, so planting your garden in a sunny spot will go a long way toward ensuring the success of your crop."
Vegetable Gardening	"At HGTV.com, you'll find even more of what you love about HGTV: instructions for thousands of home and garden projects, video tips, an interactive Program Guide and episode finder, Calculators, Message Boards and more."
A Raised Vegetable Garden	" Nothing beats the taste of home-grown vegetables. Host Ken Bastida shows how to get a vegetable garden off the ground--literally--with raised beds. He also shows how to build a rustic fence and arbor to separate the garden from the rest of the yard. Plus, enjoy a bountiful harvest with smart tips for planting the beds."
Vegetable Gardening	"Several decades ago, almost everyone had a backyard vegetable patch. Neighbors would compare notes and have competitions to see who would have the first ripe tomato of the season. "
Fertilizing Vegetable Garden Soils	(Specific for Ohio, but the principle applies world wide.) "Vegetable plants, like all other green plants, require several nutrient elements for growth, development and productivity. Among the necessary plant nutrients are carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, available from the atmosphere and from water; and nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur supplied from the mineral portion of the soil. These elements are used by plants in relatively large amounts and are referred to as macronutrients. Micronutrients, or trace elements, used in small quantities, include boron, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc. "
Vegetable Gardening In Containers	"If your vegetable gardening is limited by insufficient space or an unsuitable area, consider the possibility of raising fresh, nutritious, homegrown vegetables in containers. A window sill, a patio, a balcony or a doorstep will provide sufficient space for a productive mini-garden. Problems with soil-borne diseases, nematodes or poor soil conditions can be easily overcome by switching to a container garden."
Container Vegetable Gardening	"Many people who live in an apartment, condominium, or mobile home do not grow a vegetable garden because space is not available for a garden plot. Lack of yard space is no excuse for not gardening, since many kinds of vegetables can be readily grown in containers. In addition to providing five hours or more of full sun, attention must be given to choosing the proper container, using a good soil mix, planting and spacing requirements, fertilizing, watering, and variety selection."
Secrets to a More Productive Vegetable Garden	"The surest way to increase the yield from a vegetable garden is to reduce the space between plants. The idea is to plant wide bands, thus reducing the amount of ground devoted to paths"
Hydroponic Gardening	"Hydroponics simply means growing plants without soil. Food for the plants, called hydroponic nutrient, hydroponics nutrients, fertilizer for soilless gardening, or plant food, etc. (may be organic), are dissolved in water and fed directly to the roots automatically. Plants form smaller roots and grow in inert grow media (i.e. gravel, sand, water or even air). If you haven't seen it for yourself, you will be amazed."
Saving Heirloom Seeds	Hints for saving heirloom seeds for future planting.
Heirloom Vegetables	"One reason to grow heirloom vegetables is simply that they are a taste of the past. Many varieties, which had been prized and maintained for generations, have been lost in recent decades as fewer people save seed year to year. For many gardeners, saving an heirloom cultivar is a connection to their heritage."
International Seed Saving Institute	"Find links to specific seed saving instructions for 27 common vegetables. This online information comes from Basic Seed Saving, a 48 page paperback book written by Bill McDorman. It was created to provide enough practical information to allow gardeners to embark on the rewarding adventure of saving their own seeds."
The Herb Garden	"The herbs I have grown are listed below with instructions for growing them. Perhaps inexperienced gardeners as well as those who have not yet had the pleasure of growing these interesting plants will give some thought to starting a small herb garden. Even a small plot 4 by 6 feet will grow all a small family would need. If not grown for use in cooking, herbs are worth growing for pleasant aromatic foliage and some of them for the beauty of the flowers as well. Herbs can be used fresh for garnish in salads and to perk up the flavors of bland vegetables or to add flavor to meats and stews in which case one needs only to nip off a few leaves when wanted."
Growing Herbs in the Home Garden	"Herbs have played an important part in man's life for countless years -- in his politics, romance, love, religion, health, and superstition."
The National Herb Garden	"The National Herb Garden, a popular feature on the grounds of the U.S. National Arboretum (USNA) in Washington, D.C., began as a special gift to the people of the United States from the Herb Society of America. Headquartered in Kirtland, Ohio, the society spent 15 years working with the U.S. government and raising matching funds to ensure its completion."
Growing Herbs	"Herb gardening can be done in a very little space. All it takes is a few herb plants, grown along the side of the house or garage, and you have an ample supply for the kitchen. Try growing herbs in a container on your balcony or deck. They are very comfortable in windowsill planters, too. Many herbs make good indoor houseplants during the winter months."
All About Herbs	" The loose definition of herb is any plant that is used for its culinary, medicinal, or fragrant properties. Herbs are such a diverse group of plants that it is very difficult to separate them into logical groups. "
Field Crops	" If you grow field crops such as grain, corn and legumes, you may want to learn how you can successfully adopt sustainable farming methods or organic production strategies for these crops."
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Hobbies - Gardening and Plants

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Updated August 1, 2008

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General Gardening Information

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Annuals

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Perennials

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Starting and Growing

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Tools & Supplies

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Vegetables & Herbs

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