Steve Masley
Home & Garden Specialist
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Co-authored Articles (39)
How to Start a Garden: A Comprehensive Guide
Having a garden at home adds color and life to your yard and also rewards you with fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs. Fortunately, you don't need a lot to get started. If you have an idea of what you'd like to grow, you'r...
How to Plan, Prepare, and Plant a Garden
Start growing your own veggies and flowers (even if you’ve never gardened before) Having a garden can be a wonderful way to grow your own vegetables, beautify your property, or attract local wildlife. You can plant a l...
How to
Grow an Onion from an Onion
Onions are as simple to grow as they are delicious to eat in a variety of dishes. And, as long as you have another onion on hand, you don't need to grow them from a seed. By chopping the bottom of an onion off and planti...
How to
Plant Sprouted Onions
If you notice a green sprout emerging from the top of an onion, it means it's trying to regrow. By separating the sprouts inside an onion’s layers and planting them in good soil you can grow multiple new onions within ...
How to
Prune a Fig Tree
Keeping your fig tree pruned will help it to produce sweeter, tastier figs since it enables the sugars and hormones to travel all the way up the branches and into the fruits. Luckily, fig trees are usually easy to take c...
How to
Prune Pomegranate Trees
Growing pomegranates is a rewarding experience. Not only will you get a beautiful tree laden with bright, red fruits, but you'll get a tasty treat once harvest time rolls around. They do require pruning twice per year, h...
How and When to Prune Your Lemon Tree
Learn the best way to trim your lemon tree and keep it looking greatPruning your lemon tree can allow easy access when spraying and create a large fruit-bearing surface area that can be reached by the sun. Pruning also c...
How to
Grow Onions in Water
Growing onions in water is a great way to reuse kitchen scraps, not to mention a fun activity that helps kids learn about vegetables. This method offers a front-row seat to plant growth, as you can watch the roots extend...
How to
Get Rid of Gophers
Gophers have a talent for finding your favorite plants and eating them. They infest your front lawn while leaving your neighbor's property untouched. For those who've resolved to make gopher scourges a thing of the past,...
How to Make and Use Water Wicks for Houseplants
Water your plants while you’re away with these DIY water wicks You’re all set to go on your fun vacation when it hits you—how are you supposed to water your plants? Luckily, it’s super quick and easy to make you...
How to
Prune Apricot Trees
A step-by-step guide to caring for apricot trees through the growing season Pruning apricot trees at least once a year is necessary in order to have healthy plants. Pruning your tree not only helps it look better, but al...
How to Increase, Decrease, & Measure Soil pH Levels
Learn why soil pH is important and how to fix it A soil’s pH determines which nutrients and chemicals are able to survive, so maintaining a stable pH is essential if you’re trying to grow healthy crops or plants. Luc...
How to
Break Down Clay Soil Fast
Hard, dense, compacted clay soil types can be a nightmare to get a shovel through, let alone raise healthy plants in. There’s no reason to give up on your garden just because of a little stubborn dirt, though. Wait to ...
When & How to Harvest Rosemary
Plus, tips for storing & drying this fragrant herb Rosemary is a robust herb that is easy to grow and care for at home. The fragrant leaves of the rosemary bush taste delicious in all kinds of recipes and add a wonderful...
How to
Grow Eggplant
Eggplants are delicious, hearty vegetables that can make a great addition to your garden. Be sure to keep eggplants warm and watered to ensure their healthy growth. The plants will grow several feet in height and should ...
How to
Prune Rosemary
Rosemary can make a great addition to any herb garden, but it does require a little bit of pruning to grow properly and look its best. Each year in early spring, trim from the long, leaf-covered stems on the outermost p...
How to
Prune Pepper Plants
Pepper plants produce delicious and often spicy vegetables, called peppers, which are cultivated all around the world. Different types of pepper plants can produce a wide variety of different kinds of peppers but, in gen...
How to
Plant Lavender in Pots
Lavender plants are beautiful and fragrant plants that thrive in warm dry climates. Not all climates are great for them, so sometimes they need a little extra care to grow well and produce the blossoms you would like. Bu...
How to
Start an Organic Vegetable Garden
Growing your own organic vegetables is a great way to ensure you have healthy foods for your favorite recipes. When you grow organic veggies, you won't be able to treat them with chemicals or herbicides, so you’ll need...
How to
Clean a Clogged Drip System
A drip irrigation system is a great way to consistently water your plants or lawn. Unfortunately, the tubing in the drip system can become clogged by mineral or bacterial buildup. Flushing the system with water at least ...