DIY Life

Want colorful flowers this spring? No time to read that 500-page gardening book you got for Christmas? Well, time-pressed gardener, here's how to grow masses of beautiful pansies in 10 easy steps.

1. Know your zone. Is now a good time to plant? The answer depends upon your zone. Check the USDA's plant hardiness map. Pansies are grown as annuals in zones 2 to 11 (i.e. most of the US) during spring and fall. From zone 9 south to zone 11 (south Texas and most of Florida), they will grow right through winter. North of zone 9, they may die down during winter, but come back in Spring. Further north, the cold will kill them stone dead. Bottom line: if the weather is warming up for Spring and you don't expect any really hot weather anytime soon, you're probably good to go.

2. Buy smart. Don't be sucked in by the brightest blooms. Instead, buy dense, sturdy-looking plants with lots of healthy, green leaves and buds. These will give you more blooms in the long run once they get established. Another buying tip: it's better value to buy whole trays of baby pansies rather than pint-sized pots of mature ones. Be patient and those tiny plants will soon grow to full size.

I am so itching to get my hands in the dirt again. I love being outside, and right now I have to sit back and count the days until I can do that. Sure, I could go outside for 20 minutes, 20 times a day now, but I seriously can't stand the cold too much, and by the time I get my two year old out of her snow suit, she wants to go back outside again. Spring, where are you?

I have a houseplant that is in seriously need of potting soil, but I just don't want to spend the money for premixed soil. I think It is just too expensive. Tipnut has some awesome recipes for making your own organic potting soil. While you still have to purchase peat moss, top soil, vermiculite, lime, and perlite, in the long run, you will be eating healthier by growing plants in your own potting mixes.

For more simple ideas and recipes, be sure to check out Diane Rixon's post; easy homemade potting soil. With the various recipes and tips, you'll be sure to find the recipe that works for you and your gardening needs.

Garden centers and hardware stores sell top soil pretty cheap. The more specialized mixes, however, can cost you big-time depending on the size of your garden beds or the number of containers you need to fill. The last time I purchased a large bag of container potting soil, I remember the price tag made me do a double-take.

Yes, these ready-made soils are convenient. But have you considered mixing your own to save some money? It's pretty easy and there are tons of "recipes" out there on the web and in gardening books. It works like this: buy a basic, cheapo potting soil and mix in special ingredients as you need them depending on what you're planting.

Here's a very simple mixture I have used many times: