How To

May Gardening To-Do List

May 2, 2017 by Western Gardens

Hello Gardening Friends, thanks for stopping by!

If you’re excited to work in your yard or garden, but not sure where to begin, then you’ve come to the right place! We’ve put together a list of things to do throughout the month.

You may not need to do everything on this list. For example, if you don’t have bare patches to reseed or Spring bulb foliage to cut back, skip over those items on the list. Just pick what applies to your home and yard and plan out when you will do it all throughout the month!

May Gardening To-Do List

➺Train your Lawn – Turn Sprinklers On only when needed – Let the lawn tell you when it needs watering. Click here for more details.

➺Lawn Watering – Use a “moisture meter” probe to determine adequate moisture.

➺Water Conservation – Conserve water by watering before 10:00 am or after 6:00 pm.

➺Lawn Aeration – Its not too late if you haven’t already.

➺Set Lawnmower Height to 2½-3 inches. This allows the lawn to “shade” its soil making for a healthier lawn.

➺Lawn Broadleaf Weed Control (Liquid application) – for Dandelions, violets, etc. Weed-A-Lawn is a great product. Spot treat or apply to big areas of lawn where needed. Follow manufacturer’s instructions.

➺Lawn Crabgrass and Spurge – Second application of pre-emergent granular (6 weeks after the first application).

➺Fertilize Lawn with a weed-killing post-emergent granular fertilizer —do NOT water in—apply it to a moist lawn and let it sit for a day

➺Seed Bare Patches in Your Lawn unless you’ve already used a pre-emergent, in which case, wait until September to seed bare patches. Click here for more.

➺Weed, Thin Out & Mulch newly planted seedlings

➺Plant Your Favorite Annuals for beautiful color—most can be safely planted after frost danger has passed (some are hardy enough to be planted earlier, check with your local nursery)

➺Spring Bulbs – Remove Spent Flower Heads (aka dead-heading) and AFTER foliage fades and turns brown, cut back leaves.

➺Summer Blooming Bulbs – Plant dahlias, day lilies, and gladiolus. Click here for instructions.

➺Plant Trees, Shrubs, and Perennials – Early spring or late fall are great times to do this. Click here for tips.

➺Divide and/or Transplant Perennials – Summer bloomers: early in the month. Spring bloomers: after blooming is done.

➺Flowering Shrubs – Prune after they finish blooming.

➺Pest Control – Boxelder bugs are a nuisance. Grasshoppers are best controlled when they first hatch. Watch for Leaf roller on boxelder trees. Try to stay ahead of those slimy slugs and snails. Closely follow directions on labels when using insecticides as not to harm bees.

➺Plant Outside
Kohlrabi, parsley, parsnips, potatoes,
Until May 15th: onions & peas
After last frost until June 1st: dry beans, snap beans, eggplant, peppers
After last frost until June 10th: watermelon & winter squash
Until July 1st: cauliflower, parsley, swiss chard
Until July 15th: beets & broccoli
After last frost until July 20th: cucumbers and summer squash
Until Sept 1st: radishes

and so much more….

If you liked learning these tips from the experts, here is another good tip – come in and visit us!

Be sure to check out our June Gardening To-Do List too!

*This is not an exhaustive list. If we’ve overlooked something, feel free to let us know in a comment below!

Garden Advice Alert! 5 Reasons to Support Local Independent Garden Centers

April 17, 2017 by Wendy Pettit

Welcome Gardener Friend! We’re happy you are here.

The internet and the “mass merchants” can offer garden advice, but information and product specific to your area is a must if you want a thriving garden. Your local independent garden center, like Western Gardens in Utah, live in and are experienced in your specific climate zone and your certain soil conditions. These two crucial factors determine which plant varieties will do best in your yard and those that will simply die. If you don’t match the plant type with the correct area in your yard and with proper soil, you can easily find yourself exhausted and frustrated from all your efforts plus a lot of wasted money. Shopping your independent garden centers will help you successfully grow a beautiful garden.

Here are 5 reasons why:

#1 KNOWLEDGE

Local professionals – Local independent garden centers tend to hire more local knowledgeable plant gardeners and professionals. They’ll have a great passion for gardening. A plant enthusiast will help you find success rather than somebody from the window department. (True personal story!) If your local has a horticulturist by profession, like Western Gardens, even better.

garden center employee helping customers n the roses

Gardening professionals help you.

Up-to-date Information – Locals stay up-to-date on information regarding weather – both current and recent past conditions. They also will know of current pest infiltrations, and such. Someone in another part of the country doesn’t have a clue as to what is happening in Utah. Your local knows what you need to be successful, so their business can be successful.

Hard hat worker photo by Klaus Hausmann at Pixabay CC0 license

#2 PLANT MATERIAL –

Premium Quality – Local independent nurseries buy premium quality; they do not buy what is cheap. Your long term success is their success.

Timing & Choice – Locals buyers are making the purchases specific for your area, rather than a corporate worker ordering and sending material to their big stores across the country. For example, big box stores will bring in and try to sell you a watermelon seedling in March. (True story 4-8-2017) It won’t succeed in Utah planting that early; watermelons hate cold weather. Independents bring in the material for you at the right time. If it is a little early or their shipment just came in, they will warn you to harden off the plants before planting.

Unique Material – Independents tend to have a wider variety of unique plant material. They bring in the latest developed plants that should survive your climate.

Price – In general, independents tend to be a little more expensive because they don’t buy cheap, but rather quality. And many times the price difference is pennies. This quality saves you money in the long run.

Consider this when looking at the price: If you purchase a petunia from a mass merchant for 15 cents less than at the independent, but the plant doesn’t do well so you buy more plants to fill in, or you even have to completely replant, did you really save 15 cents? We all eventually learn that sometimes it is better to pay a little extra for a quality product. In the end, your effort, sweat, sore muscles, and your money won’t be wasted.

petunia covered with snow at a mass merchant store

A good independent doesn’t prematurely bring in plant material like petunias that are not cold hardy until much warmer weather. Independents save you money by not tempting you to plant certain products too early in the season.

OWN – And we’re not talking Oprah’s TV network. Independents own the plant material they sell, thus they usually take better care of their product. Remember their passion for gardening!

Many mass merchants sell on consignment, not actually owning the product. You may see vibrant plants when you walk in, but you take a gamble that the plant has been properly cared for. A stressed droopy plant can “bounce back” when finally watered, but after repeated neglect by the time you get it planted (giving it a natural shock to its system), your plant may never recover or struggle. Also, plants don’t like sitting on top of black asphalt in the parking lot.

To illustrate this point of owning and caring for product, see how plant material was cared for by a local mass merchant for three consecutive days (4-8-2017). Witness below recent care of rose bushes, vegetable seedlings, and lemon trees during an early spring April weekend sale. Draw your own conclusions about waste and quality of product. In all three cases, material was eventually thrown away and new product brought in. Independents conserve on waste by taking care of their plant material. Again, they own what they are selling to you.

Warm weather vegetables and herbs including tables of peppers, cantaloupe, basil, even watermelon.

Rose bushes that were definitely not hardened off for the cold weather and snow. The independent roses are bigger, healthier, hardened off, and begin at just $2 more than these.

Lemon/Citrus trees. If the roots being exposed and repotted didn’t kill the tree, the snow and cold did.

In short, reputable independents, like Western Gardens, purchase and tend the best plant material for you, their customer.

#3 SOIL – Local soils are different throughout your area. Just in the Salt Lake valley, soils drastically range from sandy to heavy clay. A quality independent will know what you can do to improve your specific soil structure so you can be more successful with your plant selections.

The Salt Lake Valley has a wide variety of soil types. Photo by TyGuy999 from Pixabay CC0 license

#4 PROBLEM SOLVERS – Locals are the “go to” people when you need advice. They give you personal attention to select proper plants for your yard, give advice for additives for your soil, plus tips and tricks to get your garden into tiptop shape. They are also the ones that people seek when there are problems and pests in the garden. Your locals are the plant doctors. Consider this, if you don’t buy your product from the experts, how can you expect them to help you with an inferior product you bought somewhere else? They are willing to help you with your inferior product when they are able, but why not save yourself heartache and money by purchasing from the independent in the first place?

Bring in samples of your problem. The plant doctor is in!

Plant enthusiasts are ready to help you be successful.

#5 LOCAL ECONOMY – Often shoppers don’t realize that when they purchase from a big national company, a lot of their money leaves the state and pays employees back in Georgia or some other state where the headquarters are located. When you buy local, you keep the funds within the local community and you keep your independent garden center thriving and open, ready to serve you for years to come.

Local independents also more often than not buy from local growers, who meet the quality standards.

Keep the independents in business so they will be there when you really need a “plant doctor”.

Support your neighbor; buy Utah!

Use Living Flowers for Centerpieces during Easter and Spring

April 14, 2017 by Jenn Crookston

It’s pretty safe to say the very best part of Spring is the beautiful living flowers for centerpieces. I love having fresh flowers in and around my home. I love the instant brightness they bring and the amazing smells…it’s like bringing sunshine right inside the house.

As I plan my spring and Easter decor I love to plan for flowers anywhere and everywhere I can. While I love a beautiful spring bouquet I especially love finding ways to use fresh flowers inside that I can then transfer outside so they can continue to grow and beautify my home.
First up I have this adorable Easter Table Centerpiece. Using just a few items (many you may already have on hand) you can create the perfect centerpiece for your Easter dinner that will last for years to come because you can take that Tulip bulb and plant it in your yard!

Easter Table Centerpiece Supplies:
Basket
(I used a long skinny one I had on hand, you could use any variety)
Fake Grass
(or real grass if you plan ahead and grow some – see growing Wheatgrass)
Small Bucket
Fake Eggs
Ceramic Bunnies
Live Flowers
(I used a tulip, but again any flower would work. Dainty primroses and colorful pansies are also great living flowers in centerpieces.)

First gather your supplies, plant your flower in the bucket and then place the bucket in the center of the basket and arrange your fake grass. Once you have the grass arranged place fake eggs in the grass, mine had a hole in one end so I made sure to place the egg so that wouldn’t show.

I used two ceramic bunnies in front of the basket to bring the whole Easter look together. Simple and oh so cute.

Once bunnies and Easter eggs are past being in season it’s time for a new Spring Centerpiece to take over the table.

Spring Table Centerpiece Set Up:
I found this cute blue crate at Target and flipped it upside down then added these little chubby birds and tiny cake stand from Hobby Lobby. The Love Grows Here crate is also from Target and I love that it comes lined with plastic so adding flowers that need watering won’t damage it or anything under it.

I added two geraniums in their little plastic store bought containers, they are a perfect fit!

While I love love love how both of these centerpieces turned out I think my very favorite part is that when I’m ready to make a change for the next season/holiday I get to plant these flowers outside and watch them continue to grow, I don’t have to throw them away in 7-10 days like we have to with cut flowers.

I highly recommend finding ways to bring living flowers into your decor. I promise they’ll put a smile on your face every time you walk past them.

Wheat Grass Easter Eggs – Kids Project

March 28, 2017 by Wendy Pettit

Welcome Friends! Glad you dropped in.

This Wheatgrass Easter Egg is a great kid craft to do anytime in the spring, not just for Easter. It is inexpensive and easy to make – even little 3 year-old hands can do this; customizable to whatever you have – plastic egg, bucket, basket, whatever; quick and fun to do – who doesn’t like to play in the dirt; and very gratifying within a few days – children observe the growing seeds. If you want to do this for the holiday, you need to think ahead about 1 1/2 weeks. Easter changes every year, so be sure to check the calendar!

SUPPLIES:

» Leak-proof Easter container – pail, bottle, cup, plastic-lined basket, etc. (I’m using a large plastic easter egg I found at my local dollar store. It came with a lid.)

» Plastic wrap or plastic lid

» Potting soil or vermiculite (I used potting soil from my last year garden pots.)

» Whole-wheat grain (I used 30 year old wheat I had in my food storage.)

» Water

Items needs for making wheatgrass easter egg project.

Soil, whole wheat grain, container, plastic wrap or cover, and water. That’s it!

Wheatgrass Easter Egg INSTRUCTIONS:

1. One to two weeks before Easter, fill container with soil or vermiculite to 1-2 inches below the top of the rim. Gently pat down.

Little by little putting soil in to within 1-2 inches of rim.

Gently pat soil. (You can talk or sing to it too if you want!)

Don’t have to get all dirty!

2. Sprinkle a layer of wheat over the soil.

Sprinkling wheat grain on top of the soil.

The layer of wheat stays on top of the soil. Do not cover the seeds with dirt.

3. Pour water into container until water is barely visible beneath the wheat. Note: Drain or “bail” out some water if you accidentally add too much and the seeds are swimming.

Be slow and careful when pouring water into your container.

bailing out too much water from seeds and soil.

Be careful to bail out water if you get too much. Don’t want the seeds to drown!

4. Place lid or plastic wrap over the wheat.

5. Place container in a sunny spot (not in direct sunlight).

6. After 2-3 days, small sprouts should appear. Remove plastic top.

Little wheatgrass starts are popping out.

Take lid or plastic off when you see the wheat growing. Put in good sunlight (not direct-sunlight).

7. Watch your wheatgrass grow.

NOTE: During this process, if wheat appears to be dry, mist lightly with water.

8. In 7-10 days, you should have a velvety grass patch!!

Be patient and watch your grass grow. For fun, get a ruler and mark how far the grass grows in a day.

I initially did this project with a group of women. We tied pretty ribbons around the eggs and shared them with family and neighbors to watch grow.

Wheatgrass Easter Eggs are ready to give away with ribbon around them.

Put a ribbon around the egg and give to another to let them see the seeds grow. Or keep for yourself and enjoy measuring how much the grass grows in a day! Or make a fairy garden in the grass!

9. Add smaller plastic eggs or other little Easter characters in the wheatgrass, if desired. After the wheatgrass had grown in the egg that I kept for my own family, I placed in the grass colorful plastic eggs filled with jelly beans and other Easter favorites. IDEA: It could be fun to create a fairy scene.

A byproduct of this activity – Wheatgrass juice

Instead of throwing away your Wheatgrass Easter Egg, you could try making wheatgrass juice. You’ve got a good little crop to give it a try. Wheatgrass is gluten-free and is touted as one of the best super foods. Many believe that it can detoxify the body and improve digestion. Learn some basics about preparing this superfood by clicking here.

3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails

July 10, 2016 by Kirsten

Hello, thanks for stopping by!

Have you ever had issues with snails or slugs eating your garden? I sure have! They’ve devoured some of my favorite plants, which motivated me to find some safe, natural ways to get rid of them!

3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails www.westerngardens.com

This is a pot I was prepping to plant in early Spring. I especially love the bright colors, they look so happy!

But this is what was left of my purple decorative kale after a gang of snails enjoyed it for a week or two. I actually found 5 or 6 snails sleeping contently in my pot. I was not happy with them! If you need to protect your plants too, try one of these cheap and easy methods! Beer Traps, Egg Shells and Sluggo all have benefits, so keep reading to see which one is right for you!

3 Ways to Get Rid of Snails

1. Beer Traps

I developed this particular trap to make it easy to get rid of the snails after they drown in beer.

Beer Trap Supplies:

2 disposable plastic cups
an old pencil
a can of beer

In the evening, dig a hole outside in your vegetable or flower garden, near your plants. Place the cup inside the hole. Make it level with the ground so the snails don’t have to climb far.

Using scissors, carefully poke 4 drainage holes in the bottom of the remaining cup. Poke two more holes near the top, just under the lip, for the pencil to go through. This will ensure a gap between the cups so you can easily remove the top one to dispose of the snails the next morning.

Place the cup with the holes and pencil inside the cup buried in the ground. Pour the whole can of beer inside the cup, leaving about an inch of headspace. This forces the snails to climb down into the cup, where they will drown in the beer.

We put a few of our snails near the cup, and they were immediately drawn to the beer!

He started in on his own.

And down he went for a drink.

We caught 5 snails the first night! To empty the dead snails, just pull the inner cup out and the beer will drain out the holes. Dispose of the snails and gently push the pencil cup back into the inner cup, and the beer will fill back into that inner cup.

This method is easy, it uses only a few items, and I saw results literally overnight. The beer will last up to a week, but after being in the heat all day, I prefer to change it every other night.

Don’t Want to Buy Beer?

The yeast is what lures the snails to the cup to take a drink. If you don’t want to buy beer because you don’t drink or you just want to save some money, you can make your own yeast mixture with a few pantry staples!

DIY Yeast Snail Bait

1 Tbsp of flour
1 tsp of sugar
1 tsp of yeast
2 cups of water

Click HERE for printable Beer Trap instructions!

2. Egg Shells

If you eat a lot of eggs, this is a free way to deter snails from your plants—and I stress the word deter, as this will not kill them. Simply save the shells from your eggs and allow them to dry out for a day or two. Then, using the bottom of a cup, crush the egg shells into small, sharp pieces. Sprinkle the egg shells all the way around your plants, making a border. Make a fairly wide berth around the plant, or the snails will not be deterred.

Snails hate the sharp pieces and will turn around and look for another place to eat…but they will not die, which is honestly what I want…to get rid of them entirely! If it rains or if you water, you will probably need to sprinkle more egg shells around your plants again, otherwise they will be feeding on your plants the moment they get the chance! This isn’t all bad though…egg shells are great for the garden because they add a lot of nutrients to the soil.

3. Sluggo

Sluggo is a great option when it comes to purchasing a natural snail-killing bait. It is completely safe to use around wild animals and pets as it has iron phosphate—a natural mineral found in the soil. The snails eat the bait, lose their appetites, head to their hiding place and die within a few days. And it still works if it rains or if you water your garden! Sprinkle it around your plants about every two weeks. I purchased mine as a recommendation from one of the associates at Western Gardens and I love it!

Which One is Best?

There are other methods that claim to get rid of (or deter) snails. After trying just these 3 methods though, I have to say I loved seeing the dead snails in the beer. It’s so satisfying to see a difference that quickly. However, the Sluggo is the easiest method of the 3. Sprinkle the tiny pellets every two weeks and walk away. This gives me more time to enjoy other things! Like weeding. 😉 Both of these methods will rid you of snails, and hopefully prevent them from laying eggs before they die.

Have you had success in deterring/killing snails or slugs? I would love to hear what has or hasn’t worked for you!

See the Happy!

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DIY Solar Lantern

May 31, 2016 by Heather Leister

Welcome, I’m so glad you’re here!

Are you looking for an inexpensive way to light up your yard at night? Look no further! These easy DIY Solar Lanterns can be created with a quick trip to the dollar store. They’re simple to make and add a fun element to your landscape.

All it takes is a few simple supplies and a few minutes of your time. This is a project that kids love to help with too! (or is it just my kids that enjoy taking things apart? 😉)

For this project you’ll need some empty mason jars (or other small decorative jars), inexpensive solar lights, canning jar rings (optional, but they do give them a nicer finished look), and some hot glue.

Start with the mason (or other small decorative jar…I’ve used both and they work equally well). The key is to choose a jar with a small opening. If you use a wide-mouth canning jar, the solar light will fall through the opening to the bottom of the jar.

Now is the perfect time to stock up on inexpensive solar yard lights for any DIY solar projects you might have planned. They can be found at the dollar store. Purchase the plainest, simplest solar light you can find. For this example I’m using a solar table lamp that I purchased at my local Dollar Tree.

If you (or your kids!) like tearing things apart, then you’ll enjoy this next step! Take apart the solar light, what you want is the black, round unit at the top. You will see the solar cells on the top, and the lights at the bottom. This is all you need for the project, so go ahead and recycle the rest of the light, or save it for another project.

Depending on the size of your jar, your light may fit down in its mouth, or it may sit on top. Either way, I like to secure the solar light to the jar with hot glue.

For a finishing touch, add a canning ring to the top of the jar. Again, a little hot glue works nicely.

That’s it! Sit your lanterns on your porch or hang them on a shepherd’s hook in your yard and enjoy!

Click NEXT for the list of supplies and directions!

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How To Reseed Bare Patches in a Lawn

May 21, 2016 by Heather Leister

Welcome, thanks for stopping by!

Have you ever had bare patches in your lawn that you weren’t quite sure what to do with? I’m here to help! I’ve put together a list of easy instructions to help get your lawn back in shape.

I’ve decided that lawns, like people, have unique personalities. I’ve had lawns that were resilient, with turf that endured kids and a dog, yet still came back lush and full each spring.

Our current lawn is the exact opposite. It’s moody, and reactive, affected by the slightest change in the environment. We’ve reseeded every year, but our lawn is stubborn and resistant, always leaving just enough bare patches that we must repeat the practice the following year.

If you’re dealing with a stubborn, angsty lawn with bare patches, I’ve put together my best tips for reseeding it!

How To Reseed Bare Patches In A Lawn:

The best time to reseed and repair bare spots in the lawn is in the spring, when the ground temperature is approximately 52 degrees.
Before you lay down any seeds, make sure that fungi, grubs, or other pests aren’t the cause of your bare patches. If they are, then address those problems first.
After determining that the area is free from pests, use a spade to dig approximately 6” into the dirt where you you want to seed. Break up the soil and dirt clumps.
Mix a quality topsoil into the area. This will improve the soil quality and give the seeds a healthy head start.
Rake the soil and dirt together, then tamp it down so that the repair area is level with the rest of the lawn.
Apply your grass seed in a thin layer over the area. Seed may be applied on its own, or in combination with a fertilizer (do NOT use a pre-emergent fertilizer, it will prevent your seeds from germinating). You may also consider a lawn patch product that combines seed, fertilizer, and mulch in one.
If you apply seed on its own, cover it with mulch to retain moisture and protect it from birds. Straw is an excellent, inexpensive choice.
Water the area well.
Continue to water the area regularly, once or twice daily. You will want to keep the area moist, but not drenched.
After the new grass is well established, apply fertilizer. When grass is approximately ⅓ higher than your normal mowing height, include the area in your lawn mowing routine.
Monitor the area for the rest of the season to ensure no further problems.

Have you ever had to reseed bare patches in your lawn? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Images:
Barefeet in Grass: Public Domain Pictures
Lawnmower & Grass: Pixabay
Topsoil on Grass: YouTube

5 Dos and Don’ts for Planting Herbs

May 17, 2016 by Sydney Anderson

Hi friends! I’m so glad you stopped by!

Don’t you just love the smell and taste of fresh herbs?! Want to have fresh, healthy herbs at home without the expense of an extra grocery store run? (And have you seen how much they charge for a tiny container of wilted herbs?!)

I’ve cooked with both store-bought and homegrown herbs, and I can tell you two things. One, homegrown always tastes better, and two, you can’t just plant a bunch of herbs in a pot and hope they thrive.

As our family grows, so does our food budget. I’m starting to find ways I can cut our grocery bill here and there so that by the time my kids are teenagers we won’t be stuck spending $1000 a month just on food!

One of the first things to know is not all herbs are created equal! Some need more water, some like less sun, some have long roots and need space to grow. I’m going to share five lessons I’ve learned when it comes to growing your own herbs!

Click NEXT to see the 5 Dos and Don’ts for Growing Great Herbs!

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Mother’s Day Flower Garden in a Basket

April 30, 2016 by Jenn Crookston

Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here.

Do you love gardening and giving beautiful gifts? Then I have the perfect project for you!

I’ve been bitten by the gardening bug this year. I have been enjoying getting my hands dirty and creating beautiful things with flowers. This Mother’s Day Flower Garden in a Basket quickly turned into a favorite project!

I love when an idea turns out how I hoped it would when I imagined it. What I love about this project is that it is easy to customize, it can be as big or small as you want and can include a variety of flowers.

For this project you’ll need:

Favorite flowers
Basket
Potting Soil
Basket Liner

For my particular basket I collected some of my favorite flowers and an old Easter basket. The Easter basket was blue and that didn’t work for what I wanted, so I started by painting it white. I was happy that the basket liner fit well inside which helped make everything look nicely put together.

The reason I call this a Flower Garden in a Basket is because in a big enough basket you can place the plants inside the basket in their original container making it easy for the receiver of the basket to plant the flowers in their yard or into flower pots if they want to. For my basket I took the flowers out of their containers but kept them separated with additional potting soil which will still make them easy to remove from the basket if that is what is desired.

This basket contains the following flowers/plants:

Cordyline Indivisa Spikes
Pansies
Trailing Petunia
Red Nancy
Bowles Cunningham Periwinkle

If they stay in the basket they’ll fill in beautifully and look fantastic on an outdoor table or on the porch. If they are taken out of the basket they’ll be a wonderful addition to the yard or another flower pot.

I can’t wait to put a few more of these together to give to some of the best Mother’s I know!

Here are a few breakfast recipes sure to make Mom smile when you make her breakfast in bed Mother’s Day morning!

Stuffed French Toast Casserole ~ Breakfast Burritos ~ Strawberry Shortcake Pancakes

DIY Hanging Basket Frame – A Mother’s Day Gift

April 28, 2016 by Kirsten

Welcome! I’m so happy you’re here!

Are you looking for a beautiful, unique gift for your favorite gardening mom? With Mother’s Day just around the corner, I’ve come up with a gift idea for all the moms out there who have a hard time gardening because they can no longer kneel down for long periods of time. Whether it’s because of knee problems or advancing age, this DIY Hanging Basket Frame is perfect for any sitting gardening enthusiast!

This frame is about 3 feet tall, can accommodate 3 hanging baskets, and has 2 “shelves” for boxes on each side. I love this frame because all the planting can be done at a table, and once its set up, watering can easily be done with a watering can. It has been a fun addition to our own yard, and one I wish we had for our patio all those years we were renting apartments!

I drew up my idea, and my husband made it a reality. He was in fabrication/welding for several years and told me this would not only be visually appealing, but also strong enough to handle a lot of weight…and I think we accomplished both of those things! The other awesome thing about it is that we were able to make it for less than $15!

DIY Hanging Basket Frame – A Mother’s Day Gift

Supplies for your Hanging Basket Frame:

Miter Saw (you need to be able to make 22.5° angled cuts)
Power Drill with #2 Phillips bit and ⅛ inch drill bit (for pilot holes)
2 – 8 ft pieces of wood 2.5 x 1.5 inches
1 – 8 ft piece of wood 1.5 x 1.5 inches
1 – 8 ft piece of wood 1.5 x .5 inches
3 J-Screws (4 inch)
3 nuts (¼ of an inch)
24 – 2 inch wood screws
Sand paper
Exterior Stain (I used Olympic Maximum)
Paint brush

You will begin by measuring and marking each cut.

Measure and mark the 1.5 x 1.5 piece at 58 inches. **If you would like to add another 10 inches, you would be able to hang two additional hanging baskets, one on each side. This is up to you.

Measure and mark the 2.5 x 1.5 at 38 inches (x4)

Measure and mark the 2.5 x 1.5 at 19 ¾ inches (x2)

Measure and mark the 1.5 x .5 at 9 inches (x4)

Once you have measured them all go ahead and cut each piece.

Pull the 38 inchers aside. You will cut each end with a 22.5° angle, opposite direction on each end – this will help the two A-frames to sit right on the ground.

Now take the two 19 ¾ inchers and cut each end at a 22.5° angle – same direction on each end.

These 4 pieces will make your two “A” frames.

Lay the two 38 inchers on the ground with the 19 ¾ incher in the middle to form the “A.” Using your drill, you will drill a pilot hole in the direction shown here.

With the #2 Philips bit, insert the screw. Make another pilot hole about ¾ of an inch apart from the other screw, as shown in the picture above. Repeat this step on all 4 sides of the frame. Now you should have the two “A” pieces done.

For this step you will need someone to help hold the two “A” frames up. Lay the 58 incher on top of the two frames and measure 5 inches from the end. This is where it will lay. **If you decided to add the 10 inches, measure 10 inches from the end.

Now take the 9 inchers and drill a pilot hole, then screw it in. You will add another screw about ¾ of an inch just above that. Do the same on the other side.

Before you drill the pilot hole from the 9 incher into the 58 incher, use a level and make sure it is level and sitting evenly. Repeat it on the back side of the frame now.

Now drill the pilot from the 9 incher into the 58 incher, then screw them together.

It should look like this.

Now, to secure the 58 incher, you will drill two pilot holes in opposite directions as pictured above, on each side.

It should look like this.

I did a quick sand job so it would be smooth and easy to stain.

I used Olympic Maximum Sealant and Stain in one. We used it for our deck and it has held up really well.

After allowing it to dry over night, we then drilled the 3 pilot holes 12 inches apart for the hanging baskets.

Here is what the “J” screws look like. They come with only one nut so you have to buy 3 extra nuts to have one nut on the bottom of the the “J” and another on the top, so it will be secure. Screw those in and you are ready to hang your baskets!

I had a blast going to Western Gardens to purchase all my flowers. The staff there are awesome and helped me make my vision become a reality! If you think Mom will want to choose her own flowers for her Hanging Baskets, a gift certificate to Western Gardens is the perfect idea so she can add her own special touch to this gorgeous display.

I have had lots of compliments on how much this adds to our yard, and my husband has had people ask him to make them one too! It really is an easy project that I think anyone would love to receive as a gift for Mother’s Day! How will you celebrate the women in your life this year?

See the Happy!