A cold frame or hotbed is an easy and inexpensive structure to create. It functions as a small greenhouse, enabling gardeners to extend their growing season in both spring and fall. It can be used to harden off seedlings in spring or grow late season crops of cold tolerant plants like greens. LocationThe ideal location for... Continue Reading →
Pushing the Limits- Extend Your Growing Season with a Hotbed or Cold Frame
Building a cold frame or hot bed enables urban gardeners and small scale vegetable growers to protect young plants from adverse weather in spring and fall, extending their growing season. They are relatively inexpensive, simple structures that function as mini-greenhouses. With a growing interest in locally produced foods and many new gardeners experimenting at growing... Continue Reading →
Getting Your Lawn Ready for Summer – Aeration
Many Nebraska soils have high clay and silt content making them prone to compaction. Foot traffic from both human and pets, equipment and vehicles are all common causes of soil compaction. Look for the following as signs of potential soil compaction in your landscape. Areas where water puddles after rain Tracks or pathways where grass growth is sparse Hard packed soil at garden gates, edges of driveways... Continue Reading →
Build a Compost Pile!!
At this point in the fall, leaves are probably dropping all over your yard, and blowing in from the neighbors. What to do with all these leaves?
The Garden Shed
If you live on an acreage, or a large lot in town, or even a medium sized lot in town, you need a shed. Sure, you could store all of your stuff – mower, tools, seed, mulch, lawn art, pots, wood, etc. – in your garage or basement, but depending on where you put it,... Continue Reading →
Ride Safely This Summer
As I travel the state of Nebraska to teach all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and utility task vehicle (UTV) safety, I am often met with the attitude that kids and adults believe themselves to be indestructible. When talking with those who have first-hand experience with an ATV or UTV accident, however, the attitude is much different. According... Continue Reading →