5 Tips to Prepare Your Garden for Spring

Posted on April 1, 2013 by mprice

Here’s the dirt on preparing your garden for spring planting.

Early spring can be a time of excitement and release, when the temperatures finally warm up after a long and grueling winter. But if you have a green thumb, early spring might fill you with a sense of dread if you haven’t quite prepared your garden for spring planting. Don’t succumb to garden guilt. Here are five easy tips to get your container or community garden in tip-top shape for the spring planting season.

In the Weeds
If you’ve found that patches of weeds are beginning to grow in your garden, remove them and dispose of them carefully. Pulling or tearing at certain weeds like couch grass causes the roots to spread, so dig them out with a turning fork or trowel. Do not place the weeds in a compost pile, as you won’t want to accidentally spread the seeds around your garden. Once the weeds are clear, do a thorough clean up by removing leaves and other debris from the beds and borders.

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Unearth the Best Garden Stores in Indianapolis

Posted on August 15, 2012 by jgrimes

If you want to make your apartment or yard more beautiful with plants, garden stores in Indianapolis can help.

Just because the summer is almost over doesn’t mean you have to hang up the garden tools just yet. Late summer provides the perfect backdrop for planting fall-harvest vegetables, such as butternut squash, snap beans, cabbage, broccoli, kale and cauliflower, as well as late-harvest tomatoes and bell peppers. And don’t forget about planting late-summer flowers to replace those dried-up spring plantings; look for asters, salvia, goldenrod and certain varietals of daisies. Whether you never got around to planting in the spring or it’s just time to swap out for the fall, dig in and discover the best garden stores in Indianapolis below to get your yard or garden in shape in no time.

Fusek’s True Value
What: Even though True Value is a chain, stores are independently owned and operated. The 10,000 square foot Fusek’s True Value has been around since 2004, when downtown Indianapolis went through a revitalization. The sturdy brick building feels like the sort of place you’d look for shovels, rakes and fertilizer, but the service inside is what makes the business rock-solid. Plus, the store’s smaller size and great selection mean you can easily find what you’re looking for.
Where: 350 E. New York St., Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Sullivan Hardware & Garden
What: It’s the little things at Sullivan Hardware & Garden that keep customers coming back for more, from the flower selection to the seasonal open houses to the free popcorn, the smell of which wafts temptingly throughout the store as you shop. Sales are frequent, and you can find out more about them, as well as the open houses (with free beer!) ahead of time by signing up for Sullivan’s email list.
Where: 6955 N. Keystone Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46220

Paradise Landscape & Nursery
What: Big-name nurseries and home improvement stores may have large quantities of the same types of plants, but Paradise has a more extensive selection of plant varieties. Its offerings also include residential and commercial landscaping services, for those who aren’t sure where to begin, and a “like” for Paradise’s Facebook page ensures you’re receiving top-notch seasonal plant information with a side of humor.
Where: 11348 Pendleton Pike, Indianapolis, IN 46236

The Garden Center
What: The Garden Center grows nearly half of the non-nursery stock plants they sell, so if you’re not sure how to care for a plant you purchased, they likely have hands-on experience with making sure a plant reaches its full potential. With more than 1,000 varieties of seed and a gift shop, as well as a wide selection of bulbs, foliage, annuals, vegetables, hanging baskets, perennials, bird supplies, herbs, tools and garden accessories, The Garden Center is a one-stop gardening shop for those times when you do need a big garden store.
Where: 3205 W. 71^st St., Indianapolis, IN 46268

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/kali9

Break a Sweat with These Gardening Exercises

Posted on June 4, 2012 by mprice

Celebrate National Gardening Exercise Day by burning some calories in your garden.

With the first official day of summer fast approaching, you might be longing to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and warmer temperatures. One of the best ways to do so is by gardening, an activity that can be good for the mind, body and soul. Dan Hickey, the former editor of National Gardening magazine, claims that 45 minutes of gardening can burn as many calories as 30 minutes of aerobic exercise.

Even if you don’t have a garden in your apartment complex, there are many ways to get involved in a local community garden. In honor of National Gardening Exercise Day, which occurs on June 6^th, get out in your garden and burn off some calories. Here, we’ve created a guide to help you get started, as well as broken down the various activities and tasks of gardening, and what kind of health benefits you’ll gain from doing them.

Before you get started, make sure to warm up your muscles for at least five minutes by jogging in place or doing jumping jacks. Then, stretch for up to 10 minutes to help relieve back strain and muscle soreness and avoid injury. Keep a towel and some water nearby to stay hydrated and dry.

To really up the ante, garden mindfully, exaggerating your movements to achieve a full range of motion and switch up your gardening stances to work different sets of muscles. For example, if you are raking with your left foot forward and your left hand on the lower handle, put your right foot forward and change your hand positions to work the other half of your body. The following garden activities are some of the biggest calorie burners:

If you’ve never created a compost pile, now is the time to do so. Turning compost is essentially like lifting weights, burning up to 250 to 300 calories per half hour.
Trade out your riding mower for a push mower. You’ll work out your arms and core, as well as get an aerobic benefit that is similar to walking on a treadmill or on a track.
Digging and shoveling can burn up to 250 to 350 calories per half-hour, as this activity engages nearly every muscle in your body, particularly the legs, stomach, arms, shoulders, neck and back.
Weeding on your hands in knees can give you a great core workout as well as strengthening your back, arms and shoulders. Weeding while squatting works the glutes.
Raking is very similar to using a rowing machine. Make sure to alternate hand positions and fully extend when raking to maximize the amount of muscles used.

If you’re intimidated about doing this much physical activity in one sitting, you can still derive health benefits from breaking up the exercise sessions into short bursts of at least 10 minutes of moderate activity throughout the day. Make sure to vary your activities so you don’t get bored, and alternate strenuous gardening duties with more moderate and enjoyable chores. Once you’re finished, make sure to stretch again for up to 10 minutes to make the most of your garden workout.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/cjp

Five Easy Flowers to Grow in Small Spaces

Posted on April 5, 2012 by mprice

African violets and begonias are flowers that are easy to grow in an apartment.

Living in an apartment or a small space can make it interesting for those who want to bring the outdoors in by doing some gardening – chances are you don’t have a lot of space to work with, so larger plants are out, and a limited amount of natural light isn’t the most favorable of environments for growing plants. Fortunately, you can still reap the benefits of gardening by choosing flowers that are perfect for small spaces. When looking for flowers to grow in your apartment, it’s important to keep in mind plants that are somewhat hardy, don’t require much sunlight and are relatively easy to take care of. April may be Lawn & Garden Month, but you don’t have to have an expansive yard to celebrate. Here is our list of the easiest flowers to grow in your apartment.

Peace lily

The peace lily is one of the best flowers to grow in an apartment because it survives surprisingly well with low levels of light, giving it the nickname “Closet Plant.” In fact, direct sunlight damages the peace lily’s foliage, so keep this plant within five to eight feet of a window for best results. The peace lily does require heavy watering, but the good thing is that you’ll know the plant is thirsty when the leaves begin to droop.

African violet

A common house plant that is gorgeous to look out, the African violet doesn’t require a lot of attention to keep it healthy. This plant is specifically grown indoors and only needs a bit of sunlight a day, so put this plant in a window that looks out to the east, if possible, so the flower can get its necessary sunlight during the morning. Keep the soil moist, but do not overwater, as this will cause the flower to rot. Make sure to avoid getting the leaves wet, as water drops can cause dead spots on African violets. The plant thrives in climate-controlled areas, so keep your apartment at a reasonable temperature for best results.

Marigold

Known for their orange and yellow colors, marigolds can really brighten up a space and be a great addition as an indoor flower, as they grow quickly and easily. And as they’re traditionally an outdoor flower, marigolds are relatively hardy, meaning that they require minimal care. Place marigolds in a window that will receive a lot of sunlight. And for a touch of summer in the cold of winter, marigolds will bloom year-round with the proper care.

Begonia

Another plant traditionally considered to be an outdoor flower, the begonia also has what it takes to be a great indoor flower, including being tough, low maintenance and free flowering. Indoor begonias tend to prefer cooler temperatures, so make sure your apartment doesn’t get too hot. And place the begonias near a sunny window to boost growing. Allow the surface of the soil to dry out between watering, so you can go a few days in between watering.

Cactus

You may not think of a cactus as a flower, but most varieties of cacti are flowering, producing blooms that are extraordinarily beautiful. Pot the cactus in an unglazed clay pot that can be drained easily through a hole on the bottom. Water the cactus about once a week, and place in a well-lit area, such as a bay window or a bright entryway.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/glenysmorgan

Creating a Window Box for Your Apartment

Posted on March 28, 2012 by ag-admin

Adding a window box with flowers is an easy way to add character to your apartment

Driving around during the spring means you’ll spot lots of gorgeous and colorful flowers that create beautiful curb appeal for homes. Don’t let living in an apartment discourage you if you’re feeling inspired to plant your own flowers. Grow an indoor garden using mason jars or use hanging pots to show off your pretty flowers on your porch. Another idea is to use a window box to add character to your apartment. Get started with these pointers and tips.

What to Grow
Determine what you want to grow in your window box. Most opt for a box full of flowers, but others choose vegetables and herbs. This allows you to either add a boost of color to the exterior of your apartment or create an edible garden that you may not otherwise get the chance to grow. If you decide on planting flowers, get creative. You don’t have to stick with petunias or geraniums; consider growing aromatic flowers such as lavender, lilac, phlox, sweet alyssum or heliotrope. Your choice of plant will also depend on sun exposure.

Pick a Window Box
Just as important as what you pick to grow is picking the right window box for your apartment. Stick with your décor style and find a window box that matches. Hardwood boxes are easy to paint or stain to match the style of your apartment, which makes it easy to change if you decide to change your décor style. Measure your window accurately, as the width of the windows determines the size of the planter. After getting the window measurement, purchase or make a window box that is slightly smaller than the width of your window. The window box should also be deep enough to hold the amount of dirt that will retain moisture for days.

Start Planting
If this is your first time growing flowers, consider ready-grown plants. The packets of seeds may seem simple, but growing plants from seeds requires a lot more attention. When you’re ready to plant your flowers, veggies or herbs, follow these steps:

Make sure the container has drainage holes in the bottom. If not, drill several holes.
Cover the holes with some stones to prevent soil from going through.
Fill the container three quarters of the way with soil that you can get from the nursery.
Determine how you will arrange your flowers. If there are a variety of plants, put the bigger ones in the back and the shorter ones in the front.
Start in the middle of your planter and work your way out. Dig a deep hole in the soil then take the plant out of its original pot and place in the hole. Pack down the soil around each plant.
Water the plants gently and generously. Water again every two or three days but avoid overwatering.

Installation
Be sure to check with your landlord before hanging up your window box. Once you get the approval, installation is simple. Purchase L-shaped brackets that can be installed in a series under your window sill. You can then place the window box on top of the brackets and secure the container to the brackets with mounting screws. A different way to hang a window box is over the railing on your porch.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/JeffreyRasmussen

Best Community Gardens on the West Coast

Posted on March 26, 2012 by mprice

Community gardens are a great way to get outside, socialize and preserve the environment.

With the cold days and dreary nights of winter behind us, the long-awaited higher temperatures of spring might have you itching to get outside. And if you have even the slightest green thumb, you know that tending to a garden can be one of the most fun and rewarding experiences during the warmer weather months. But if you’re living in an apartment, chances are you don’t have a yard of your own for planting flowers or vegetables. Luckily, cities across the nation are becoming hip to the idea of creating communal garden spaces for residents unable to garden on their own. Community gardening offers both physical and social benefits as well as enacting a positive change on the environment. If you’re on the West Coast, check out these great gardens where you can get down and dirty, as well as tips on how to start your own.

Stanford Avalon Community Garden

You might not believe that there are community gardens located within the urban sprawl of Los Angeles, but this city takes gardening very seriously. Emerging from the ashes of the beloved South Central Farm in Los Angeles, which was demolished in 2006 and was widely considered as the largest community garden in the nation, the Stanford Avalon Community Garden was founded by many of those displaced farmers and has grown to over 180 plots in its six short years of existence, running for 11 blocks in the Green Meadows neighborhood of the city. The garden has become so popular that there are nearly 100 families on the waiting list.

Location: 658 E. 11^th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90059

Brentwood Community Garden

Portland is widely known as one of the greenest, environmentally-focused cities in the United States, so it comes as no surprise that there are over 40 community gardens in the city, with new plots being added regularly, providing fresh, locally-sourced ingredients to area restaurants and the chance to get outside and get back to nature. As the second largest community garden in the city, the Brentwood Community Garden was constructed in 1996 and features 78 garden plots, a fruit demonstration area, shed, gazebo with an 800 gallon water tank and five raised accessible garden beds.

Location: SE 57^th Ave. and Cooper St., Portland, OR 97206

Fort Vancouver Garden

One of the more unique community gardens in Vancouver, the Fort Vancouver Garden is a volunteer-run, organic interpretive garden modeled after the type of garden that would have existed at the original Fort Vancouver in the 1840s. Many of the vegetables and flowers in the garden are varieties from that era, including beds of carrots, turnips, parsnips, roses and dahlias.

Location: 1001 E. Fifth St., Vancouver, WA 98661

Stone Soup Community Garden Project

Located in the ethnically diverse, lower-income Sacramento neighborhood of Del Paso Heights, the Stone Soup Community Garden Project was founded in 2003 to combat the rising rates of childhood obesity as well as provide a reliable source for fresh fruits and vegetables in the area. Named after the children’s book, Stone Soup, which is about two travelers who teach a village about the value of sharing ingredients and cooking food together, the garden is a community favorite.

Location: 3611 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento, CA 05838

Hayes Valley Farm

Founded in January 2010, the 2.2-acre Hayes Valley Farm was founded by a group of San Francisco urban farmers, landscapers and gardeners after the area it’s located on fell into disuse after the Loma Prieta earthquake. In addition to the garden space, Hayes Valley Farm also hosts workshops such as bee keeping, garden design and composting. In the summer, the farm screens a farm film series and offers yoga classes.

Location: 450 Laguna St. & Fell St., San Francisco, CA 94102

Are you interested in starting up a community garden in your neighborhood? Here are some ideas to help you turn a local plot of land into something you can really dig.

Organize a “town hall” style meeting of people interested in starting a community garden and determine your needs, such as what kind of garden it should be, who will be involved and who will benefit.
Form a planning committee to tackle specific tasks like funding, construction, communication and youth activities.
Identify existing resources that can help you plan out the garden, and then approach a sponsor to aid in the donation of seeds, tools or money. Churches, schools and private businesses are good places to start.
Choose a site based on the amount of daily sunshine, availability of water and whether or not the site passes a soil test for potential pollutants. Determine who owns the land, and see if gardeners can be granted a lease agreement.
Organize volunteer crews to prepare and develop the land, and then decide how you are going to lay out the site, factoring in number of plots and pathways between them.
Set some ground rules, and put them in writing. Common issues that may arise are how the money will be used, how plots are assigned, who will handle maintenance and whether or not gardeners will share tools.
Develop a strong communication network to keep all participants abreast of any news. Create an email list, form a telephone tree or install a rainproof bulletin board in the garden to inform members of relevant information.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/youngvet

Best Houseplants for Your Apartment

Posted on January 11, 2012 by ag-admin

Houseplants can be easy to maintain and can help your health.

After the holidays, our decorations are taken down and the apartment seems to have gained square footage. It probably seems a little empty, but there are a few ways to add life back into your space. One of those ways is to add a houseplant. Whether you naturally have a green thumb or are a beginner, houseplants are easy to take care of and make a great addition to your home. Also, did you know that houseplants can help to filter the air in your home? Here are a few of the best houseplants to get you started.

Plants You Can’t Kill
If you’re a beginner and aren’t sure where to start, here are a few suggestions. These plants are easy to grow and can survive regardless of the irregular watering, bad lighting and changing temperatures. They’re perfect for small spaces like home offices or dorm rooms. Basically, you have to try really hard to kill these plants.

Pothos Plant – One of the more popular houseplant choices, the pothos plant does very well in indoor temperatures. It can also thrive even if it’s only watered once a week. A form of the pothos plant is the pothos vine, which can be easily rooted in a small glass of water. However, it grows best in larger pots or trailing baskets. It needs minimal care, and the vine will grow aggressively.
Spider Plant – With very low maintenance needed, the spider plant flourishes in natural light and does well with an irregular water schedule. To indicate when the plant needs water, it’ll start to droop.
Aloe Plant – The aloe plant is easy to grow, and it’s useful. Prop the potted plant on a window sill to give it some light and water it every two to three weeks, and you’ll have a beautiful and helpful plant in no time. For the aloe plant, you can break open the leaves and use the gel inside to help heal burns and wounds.
African Violet – The African violet plant adds a touch of color to any room. It survives and thrives in room temperature, and it fits perfectly on a side table, as a centerpiece of your coffee table or on a counter. Watering it once a week will be beneficial.
Snake Plant – This plant is basically indestructible. It is also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, and it can survive in both higher and lower temperatures. It can also go weeks in high or low light. If you’re looking to add something green but can’t commit to dedicating a lot of time to taking care of the plant, the snake plant is perfect.

Plants That Will Help Your Health
You probably don’t pay attention – or you just don’t want to think about it – but there are toxins in the air all around us. There are several ways to make your home safer and healthier, including purchasing special air filters, ditching pesticides and using green cleaning products. Another way to cut down toxins that is both affordable and aesthetically pleasing is to add houseplants throughout. Start with these plants, and determine which one fits your home best.

Peace Lily – One of the more popular houseplants, the peace lily is easy to grow and thrives in lower lighted areas. It is a pollution fighter and an air purifier. It helps in removing benzene and formaldehyde that is present in your house. There is little maintenance required to keep this plant healthy; just remember to heavily water it and keep it out of direct sunlight.
Fig Tree – Fig trees can help reduce the amount of formaldehyde, which is emitted everywhere via plastic items, pressed wood furniture and carpeting. To keep your fig tree alive and thriving, keep it out of direct sunlight and cold drafts. Mist its leaves and remember to water it. For the best results, repot the tree every other year.
Boston Fern – This houseplant acts as a natural humidifier. It grows best in filtered sunlight and humid conditions. The fern releases moisture into the air, which removes air pollutants and provides clean air inside of your home.
Marginata – This beautiful red-edged plant removes formaldehyde and benzene from the air in your home, and it is also capable of filtering out toxins in the home. It is easy to maintain and adds a touch of color.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/kryczka

Grow an Indoor Spice Garden

Posted on November 28, 2011 by ag-admin

For something different, grow an indoor spice garden for bold flavor to accent your meals.

Indoor herb gardens are a dime a dozen, but you’ll be the talk of the apartment community if you have an indoor spice garden instead. They’re perfect for growing in the winter because they love heat, though you’ll need an artificial light source to provide plenty of fake sunlight. Just like herb gardens, they need to be watered and pruned regularly, but the rest is a snap when you know what to do.

Herbs vs. Spices

In short, herbs are delicate plants and spices are more fibrous and tough. Traditionally, herbs are green, leafy plants such as rosemary, mint and parsley, while spices are the fragrant plant products such as the roots, seed pods, bark or bulbs of highly fragrant plants, though today the official definition includes dried spices.

What to Grow

Indoors, you may not be able to grow every spice you want, such as black peppercorns, which grow on a vine with berries that can become too large for indoors. You can control the height and width of ginger, saffron, turmeric, vanilla, garlic, chilies and green and black cardamom indoors though.

Prepare Your Pots

Decide if you will plant these spices hydroponically or in pots with dirt. If you’re growing them in dirt, prepare the pots by working organic material into the soil and lightening packed soil with a hand-held spade.

Plant Your Spices

For seeds and seedlings, check the suggested depth for growing them on the seed packages, or start them off in separate containers. For plants you’re transplanting into bigger pots, make a hole slightly larger than the biggest part of the root, and follow the plant’s included instructions about how deep to plant them and how far apart plants should be. Then water the soil lightly, being careful not to disturb any seeds.

Care for Your Garden

Continue to water your garden per your seeds’ or plants’ instructions, making sure the soil is well drained. Prune your plants to get rid of older leaves and encourage new growth. Vanilla grows on a vine, so regularly give it attention so it doesn’t grow too large. Since your plants are grown inside, you won’t have to worry about many pests, though you will need to keep your family pets out of your spice garden.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/MKucova

How to Make Your Apartment Greener

Posted on August 17, 2011 by ag-admin

Ashley Caderet from "Our Little Apartment" offers 10 tips for living greener in your space.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/dem10

In honor of Earth Day’s 40th anniversary April 22, Apartment Guide sat down with Ashley Caderet, author of green and frugal living blog “Our Little Apartment,” to get her thoughts on how everyone can live more environmentally friendly in their apartments or homes. Plus, there’s a bonus: In this down economy, anyone can benefit from Ashley’s money-saving, waste-less, live-simply tips.

Since launching her blog in 2007, Ashley’s green-living methods have ranged from the sensible (purchasing local produce from a farmers market) to the more radical (using cloth toilet paper). A few ideas didn’t work out – composting in the backyard created a mice problem – while some became routine favorites, such as using one car. Mike even built a winter-hearty bicycle that he takes to work, even using it in 10-degree weather.

“It just makes sense to try to be greener,” Ashley said. “It makes me feel better and saves money. Once you become aware of the amount you waste, you feel guilty about the environmental impact. You think about carbon footprints. In my day-to-day life, just thinking about how future children and countries will be impacted inspires me to keep being green.”

To save the most money, Ashley and her husband rent their home near one of their workplaces and only use one car. Now Ashley drives the car on her 35-minute commute and Mike bikes to work, which is only two miles from their home, a duplex in a neighborhood where 100 percent of the streets have sidewalks. In addition to using one car, here are 10 other ways Ashley suggests apartment residents can be more environmentally friendly:

When you’re deciding where to live, choose an apartment that is walkable, meaning you can walk to nearly anything you need. Use WalkScore to determine a neighborhood’s walkable rating.
Choose an apartment that has good insulation so you’re not wasting energy. If you don’t know if it has good insulation, ask before you rent. If you are already renting, improve your insulation with door draft stoppers or by asking your apartment manager to add insulation to your complex.
Avoid disposable things such as tissues, paper towels, disposable dishes, disposable napkins and plastic ware. Use reusable versions of these instead.
Don’t waste food by planning meals in advance.
Eat less meat. Ashley and Mike are both vegetarians, but even eating one meatless meal a week could save your family hundreds of dollars per year.
Shop for secondhand furniture and clothing.
If your apartment doesn’t recycle, ask them to, or take your recyclable goods to a recycling center. Recycling guidelines for most cities are on the city or county website.
Wash almost all of your clothes on the cold cycle.
Try a Community Sponsored Agriculture (CSA) program, which delivers local, seasonal produce to your home or a nearby pickup location. Visit Local Harvest to find a CSA near you.
Don’t buy anything unless you really need or want it. Think hard before you buy.

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