By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Upside down planters have been around for years but some ingenious individuals are using what they already have instead of falling for horticulture consumerism.

Everyone has something sitting around that can be converted into an upside down planter.

Hanging baskets, food-grade plastic buckets, bottles, and even planters can find a new life as upside down planters.

But what is the gardener supposed to do if they want an upside down planter that is both stylish and functional at the same time. The answer to this gardening faux pas is the lonely steel can.

Steel cans that have had their first life as food storage containers work perfect. They come in assorted sizes that range from short and fat to slender and thin and everything in between. But what makes these DIY upside down a planter different is that they are covered in a stylish finish.

Directions for this Stylish Upside Down Planter

Supplies

• Assorted food-grade steel cans, washed Read the rest of this entry »

By Cindy Naas

It’s nearly that time of the year, much as I hate to say it.

It’s time to start thinking about putting the garden to bed for the winter.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind as the days get colder. By using some of these ideas, your soil or planters will be in great shape for planting next spring.

1. Mulch – Yes, even in a vegetable garden, winter mulching is a good idea. Giving the soil a good covering of manure or compost will add needed nutrients to the soil and will also prevent some weeds from taking over the space. Spread manure or compost about 2 inches deep.

2. Compost – if you have the room, starting a small compost pile directly on the earth will do great things for your soil. Allowing a compost pile to Read the rest of this entry »