Fall will arrive any day now and with it will come an array of colorful leaves. Are you ready to fire up your leaf blower? If you’re like most people, you have a leaf blower, or at least a rake, on standby to deal with all that fallen foliage. Then you will either bag them…
When you think of fall, gardening might not be the first thing that comes to mind. After all, many of us associate spring and summer as “gardening time”, and resign ourselves to viewing fall and winter as boring. That doesn’t have to be true at all! There are plenty of ways to create a stunning…
Don’t you just love relaxing on your porch or patio, enjoying warm summer evenings? Perhaps you enjoy entertaining outdoors, or maybe you’re more of an introvert who prefers solitude. But there’s just one little problem: As tranquil as the setting might be, you can’t really enjoy your garden in the dark. …Or can you? If…
Who doesn’t love a fresh bouquet of flowers on the dining room table, or displayed on the mantle? Of course, the downside of fresh arrangements is that they don’t stay fresh for long. You need to consistently replace them, whether with plants from your own garden or by purchasing fresh flowers. An alternative is to…
When time, money, or space are limited, you might feel tempted to put off any improvements to your garden or outdoor living area. However, there are many ways to add smaller, easy upgrades without investing a lot of time or money into the project. A vertical pallet garden is one such addition; it requires very…
As you plan your hardscaping project, you will discover that for just about any look or purpose you want to achieve, there is a way. Often, there are multiple options to accomplish your goals. Sorting through the different materials available to you will become one of your primary tasks, and though it can feel like…
Due to their striking beauty and ease of growth, daylilies are a common component of many gardens. You can certainly take the laid-back approach with these perennials, allowing them to do their own thing without any specialized care. However, they will bloom more weakly and die off more quickly if you go this route. By…
For most gardeners, summer is an exciting time of year. Many of your favorite flowers are blooming, and vegetable crops begin to produce. On the other hand, summer can provide perfect examples of “too much of a good thing”. When heat waves strike, your plants can suffer or even die. These tips will help you…
Nothing in the garden says “summer” quite like growing sunflowers. Most gardeners grow sunflowers purely for their cheerful, decorative appeal, but they do have additional purposes. The large, bright blooms will draw pollinators to your garden, which can be important if you also grow vegetable crops. You can also harvest the nutritious seeds, roast them,…
How is your garden looking this summer? At some point, you will notice that some of your flowers slow down or stop blooming. At that point, dividing Irises and Daylilies (as well as other rhizomes), to promote better health and prolific blooming next spring is the ticket! Perennials that spread through an underground root structure…
Squeamishness around insects is a normal reaction in most people. So, you’re probably not too pleased to step into your garden and spot creepy crawlies everywhere. But before you dash off to purchase insecticides, do your research to discover whether those insects are even harmful. Some “pests” are actually beneficial to your garden, such as……
After all of the hard work you’ve invested in your garden, the last thing you want to see is a swarm of invasive pests. Unfortunately, that’s just one part of life, especially for avid gardeners. But with a keen eye for details, you can spot a problem before it inflicts too much damage on your…
For many gardeners, summer is their favorite time of year. Veggies are maturing, and many flowers have reached their peak. But there’s still plenty of work to do, especially as you nurture new annuals in flower beds or manage your vegetable garden. This handy summer checklist can help you get organized. Fertilize. Now is the…
Now that the heat of summer has arrived, you might notice that your lush spring blooms have begun to look a little droopy. Many of your spring flowers might be nearing the end of their blooming period, so now it’s time to transition your flower beds to summer. Short of ripping flowerless plants out and…
Perhaps you’ve always dreamed of having your own backyard pool. Whether you want to relax and float in the serene waters, swim laps for exercise, or kick back and watch the kids splash and play, having your own pool can add a lot of enjoyment to your life. But what if your dream home came…