Welcome to Gardening at the Crossroads

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Gardening can help families and individuals in many ways. In uncertain economic times, gardens can be used to supplement the family food budget, as well as provide fresher, healthier food for the table.

Gardens can help families to connect- gardening with your children creates bonding experiences that will educate and entertain. It instills in them knowledge of our natural world they will carry for a lifetime.

Gardens can be an escape from the everyday rat-race. Whether you spend time daily weeding, tending, or just enjoying the beauty of the flowers, time spent in the garden every day will help relieve stress and worry.

Gardening is an endless classroom for all, young and old. Learning about different plants, trying new varieties, seeing what works and what doesn’t, and watching the garden grow from the anticipation of March and April, through the heat of August, until the final harvest in late September, the garden is an open text book and an ever changing canvas for you to enjoy.

There is self-satisfaction in knowing that the produce you grow was created by your own efforts, grown organically if you wish, and not shipped hundreds or thousands of miles before it graced your dining table.

Even if you live in an apartment, we will show you how to grow small amounts of vegetables, care for indoor plants, or create a small but enjoyable flower display.

While the focus of our advice is gardening in the Mid-Western United States, the basic principles put forth here will work anywhere. Soil improvement works for every gardener. Composting can be done in any scale from a small vermiculture project to large community projects.

Vegetables can be grown hydroponically, vertically, horizontally and decoratively. Flowers and herbs can be grown in formal arrangements, islands, beds and boxes, or however you wish.

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Gardening at the Crossroads Blog
Here's something new from our website! We've recently added a new page or updated an existing one. We thought you'd like to know.
Books for Gardeners
Our book-shelf has books for gardeners that we own and recommend.
Affiliate Relationships
Affiliate Relationships Disclosure
Beginning Gardeners- Advice for beginning gardeners to get growing right!
Advice for beginning gardeners to get growing right!
Botanical Names
Botanical names of plants for gardeners
Bulb Gardening
Bulb Gardening, planting flower bulbs for a spectacular spring start to your garden!
Planting deer resistant plants and bulbs will help protect your landscaping.
Using deer resistant plants and bulbs will help protect your valuable landscaping investment.
Early Spring Flowers bring color when we need it most
Early Spring Flowers bring color when we need it most after a long winter!
Butterfly Gardening
Butterfly gardening is a great way to bring hours of enjoyment to you and your family.
Butterfly nectar plants - Attract bunches of beautiful butterflies!
Butterfly nectar plants - Attract swarms of beautiful butterflies to your garden!
Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds are the acrobats of the bird world and are entertaining to watch.
Container gardening is a great way to garden if you have limited space.
Container gardening is a great way to garden if you have limited space or to make your landscape more dynamic.
Hanging baskets are a popular method to add interest and gardening space.
Hanging baskets are a popular method to add interest and gardening space.
Potting Mix
Potting soil or potting mix, which to use?
Community Supported Agriculture
Community Supported Agriculture may be an idea whose time has come.
Compost
Put the magic of compost to work in your garden!
Contact
Contact us
Drip irrigation
Drip irrigation helps you keep the plants watered and saves money
Fall Gardens
Gardening doesn't end on labor day. Properly planned Fall gardens extend your garden season.
Fertilizer
Make your plants grow with the right fertilizer
Flower Gardening
Flower Gardening
Annuals and Perennials
What is the difference between annuals and perennials anyway?
Front yard garden
Restoration of the front yard garden of GATC
Garden pests, Yuck! What are these things and why are they eating my plants?
Garden pests, Yuck! What are these things and why are they eating my plants?
There are many gardening accessories that you can use to personalize your garden
There are many gardening accessories that you can use to personalize your garden.
Adding a garden arbor to your garden can create an elegant entryway.
Adding a garden arbor to your garden can create an elegant entryway, background or focal point
A Birdbath can add an interesting focal point to your garden.
A Birdbath can add an interesting focal point to your garden while providing birds and butterflies with a convenient water source.
A pergola becomes another room for relaxing or entertaining.
A pergola can add a touch of class to any garden. It becomes another room for relaxing or entertaining.
Sundials
Here are some nice sundials that we've found for you.
Gardening History
Gardening history dates from the times of our early ancestors
Here are some Gardening Resource websites that we've found to be helpful
Here are some Gardening Resource websites that we've found to be helpful
Gardening Tips
Gardening tips that will help you have your best garden ever!
Blossom end rot can affect your Tomatoes, Eggplants and Peppers
Blossom end rot can affect your Tomatoes, Eggplants and Peppers
Garden Tools
There are basic garden tools that every gardener should have.
Chainsaw Safety
A quick recap of chainsaw safety tips to avoid injuring yourself.
Gardening with kids grows memories that will last a lifetime!
Gardening with kids grows memories that will last a lifetime!
Childrens Gardening Books
A selection of childrens gardening books to help you introduce the joys of gardening to your children.
Fun vegetables to interest and entertain your children
These fun vegetables will help you and your child grow a garden that's entertaining and educating.
You can use a groundcover to take care of that shady area.
You can use a groundcover to take care of that shady area that is hard to grow other plants in.
Herbs can bring you fresh, delicious flavoring for your favorite recipes!
Herbs can bring you fresh, delicious flavoring for your favorite recipes!
Hydroponics
Try hydroponics for something different in gardening
Indoor gardening allows you to bring nature indoors
You can bring nauture indoors with indoor gardening. From the window sill pot to an advanced hydroponics system there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Low light plants
There are many plants with low light requirements that you can grow in your home or office
Houseplants
Houseplants add another dimension to your gardening experience, brightening the indoors.
Landscape Gardening
Using landscape gardening to beautify your property and increase the value of your home.
Hostas
Hostas are versatile plants that can be used in any landscape.
Landscaping shrubs
Landscaping shrubs form the foundation of any landscape plan
Mulch
Mulch can help you maintain and beautify your garden and save you time and labor!
Use the No Dig Gardening method to reduce your work and increase your yields!
Use the No Dig Gardening method to reduce your work and increase your yields!
Organic gardening helps you enjoy natural, pesticide free food.
Organic gardening helps you enjoy natural, pesticide free food.
Compost tea is an easy way to deliver nutrients to your plants.
Compost tea is an easy way to deliver nutrients to your plants.
Pollinators
Pollinators are an important part of your garden's ecosystem.
Rain Barrels
Rain barrels are a great way to conserve resources
Rain Barrel Construction
Our Rain Barrel Construction project and tips for making your own.
Raised bed gardening offers many advantages over traditional gardening methods
Raised bed gardening offers many advantages over traditional gardening methods
Seed companies
Here's a list of seed companies for you to visit.
Soil Improvement
Better gardens through soil improvement
Soil Testing
Soil testing can save time, money and prevent environmental damage
Sunlight
All plants need som sunlight, choosing the right ones for your garden's conditions is easy!
What's the temperature today?
Temperature is an important thing for gardeners to know and be aware of all year long.
Trees
Trees add beauty and value to your home landscape. They can help reduce energy costs and provide food for your family.
USDA Hardiness Zones
Enter your ZIP code and look up your USDA hardiness zone.
Vegetables
Growing your own vegetables lets you bring the freshest, healthiest produce directly to your family!
Garlic
Growing your own garlic is easier than you think!
Potato
The Potato has a place in your garden
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are easy and fun to grow!
Water Gardening
Water gardening adds a new dimension to your backyard habitat!
Garden Fish Pond
A garden fish pond can add an interesting focal point to your landcaping plans.
Waterfall
Add a waterfall to your garden, with or without a pond and enjoy the serene peace that comes from listening to falling water.
Wildlife gardening can make your life more interesting
Wildlife gardening can make your life more interesting
Winter Garden
The winter garden, it's not as bleak as it seems.
Site Map
Site map for Gardening at the Crossroads
Spinach is easy to grow and good for you too!
Spinach is easy to grow and good for you too!
Norfolk Island Pine
The Norfolk Island Pine is a popular Christmas houseplant
Poinsettia
A christmas staple, the Poinsettia is a beautiful addition to your holiday decorations.
Tulips
Tulips are some of the first flowers to bloom in the spring.
Forcing Bulbs
Forcing bulbs such as Tulips can be a quick and easy way to bring color to your home in late winter.
African Violets
African violets are a common houseplant that is relatively inexpensive to buy and easy to care for.
Crotons
Crotons are a diverse family of plants that have something for everyone.
Winter Houseplant Care
Winter houseplant care changes from the summertime routine.
Tomato grafting
Tomato grafting can give you the best of both worlds, heirloom taste and hybrid vigor and disease resistance.
Season Extenders
Season extenders such as row covers and hoop houses can add weeks if not months to your gardening season.
Greens
Greens are nutritious and easy to grow.
Climbing Plants
Climbing plants add a vertical element to your landscape
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