​Container gardening is a clever idea to bring color gardening to areas where you can’t put plant material in the ground. You can just sit containers by your front door, deck, terrace, or in your back yard where you don’t get enough sun. You can hang baskets to match what you have in the ground or just for the beauty and the heck of it. The sky is the limit. Enjoy my photos and start "strategizing" now! Smile.  

The beauty that you see when around your neighborhood is just amazing. You are walking and suddenly you notice that there is a display of natural beauty totally free to enjoy. Brilliant strong colors and shapes, some even look like orchids! Unfortunately, these flowers will be gone soon.
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You are not too late to get some of these beauties from your garden centers though. The problem now is that they already passed their bloom peak and may not be a show stopper in your garden this year. However, since they are perennials, next year will be a different story. They will make it up to you and will put out a display for everyone to enjoy. 

I am sure that most of you love to have fresh herbs to cook, especially, if they come straight from your garden. They don’t cost as much, last longer and the convenience to have them freshly cut is a no brainier.

I went to the garden store the other day and purchased one huge bag or organic planting soil, that’s important. Then I also bought thyme, Parsley, Cilantro and a mammoth jalapeno plant, since I never had this kind at home. On my end, I saved some of my Romaine lettuce bottoms that I rooted in water, as well as celery and beets, I use the leaves in my salads. I also rooted Cuban oregano, Italian oregano, and green onions. Therefore, I put all these herb/veggies in containers on my deck, close to my kitchen so that I can cut them fresh any hour of the day.
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So, what are you waiting for? Go to the garden center and get your herbs now, you won’t regret it, smile.

​SPRING HACK # 3: PRUNING:
Wait, just don’t start pruning everything you see in your property. There are specific seasons for specific plant material to be pruned. For instance, if you prune the Azalea shrubs now you will get no flowers whatsoever this spring. Therefore, wait until its done flowering and then prune it. Also, Google your gardening zone to find out what you can or can't prune during Spring time.
 
One thing to know, my favorite yellow shrub, the one that let us know Spring is here, “Forsythia” can be prune as soon as the flowers fade, (which they are done now).
 
Spring is the best time to prune some of your dormant shrubs and trees, since they have no leaves. DO NOT PRUNE if the buds are already out. Remember to remove any suckers, (the ones that grow from the base of the tree), dead branches, twigs, etc. Whatever you do, keep the shape of the shrub or tree natural and do not go overboard, please keep their natural shape.
 
One more thing, just don’t leave a pile of brush in a corner of your garden, because it will look awful and it will bring rodents and other unwanted garden pests, like snakes. I don't like them. Smile.