Any time you begin a landscaping project, one of your first considerations should be whether your desired trees or flowers are appropriate for your intended use of them. Poor placement can sometimes be remedied by moving the plant, but there isn’t a lot you can do about your climate. Therefore, it’s extremely important to choose…
You may think of fall and winter as slow times for landscaping work, and prefer to do most of your gardening in the spring and summer when you can reap the rewards of beautiful flowering plants. If you find your cool-season landscape to be dull and uninspiring, you might be happy to learn there are…
If your citrus trees seem less than vigorous lately, you should check them for signs of cottony cushion scale. This pest can cause serious damage to your trees. Luckily the problem is easy to spot, and nature often provides a very effective remedy for the problem.
Lawnmowers and other power tools make landscaping tasks much easier and more time-efficient. But it’s important to remember that these tools can be dangerous when used incorrectly. Follow these landscaping safety tips to prevent injuries and keep your family safe.
If you love fruit, growing fruit trees can mean a freezer and pantry full of delicious jams, jellies, pies, and more. But it can be difficult to plant young fruit trees and protect them from disease and environmental problems, so in many orchards young fruit trees are grafted to the rootstock of a more vigorous,…
While sod is usually our preferred method of installing turf, there are times when using grass seed is needed for budgetary reasons. There are several ways to do this, but if you want to start from seed then you’ll need to follow these steps.
If you’ve been sniffling and sneezing a lot lately, you may already suspect an allergic reaction. Many people are allergic to the fine, powdery pollen produced by trees. When inhaled, even in small amounts, pollen can trigger sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, a sore throat, and other common allergy symptoms.
In the landscaping world, we’re often asked this question by frustrated homeowners: I tried to grow a lush green lawn this summer, but after investing my time and money in grass seed, I wound up with a barren, dead yard! What happened? Isn’t summer the growing season?
When you’re shopping for a new home, it’s easy to get hung up on the details of the house itself. You might find yourself focusing on questions such as: How many square feet is the house? Is there enough closet space? Is the roof in good shape? These are certainly important questions to ask yourself,…
When selling a home, we tend to focus on improving the structure itself in order to appeal to prospective buyers. While the building is certainly important, most buyers are also highly concerned with its outdoor space. Since landscaping can make or break a sale, keep these important factors in mind when trying to sell real…
For some of us, the best way to cope with grief is by nurturing new life. Whether you’ve lost a parent, child, or family pet, planning a memorial garden may be the welcome distraction you need. The garden will also honor the memory of your loved one, and give you a sense of closure.
Landscaping is about more than adding curb appeal to your house. When planned appropriately, landscaping can increase your enjoyment of your home, by providing you a place for recreation or relaxation. If you think you’d enjoy an outdoor area where you can meditate or practice yoga while soaking in fresh air and sunlight, consider the…
In most cases, you will choose to combine the two methods described above. You’ll have to experiment to find out what works for your garden. Just be sure to use plants that are common in your area, so the good insects will already be looking for them.
When you’re planning a landscaping project, you may put a lot of thought into the soil, sunlight, and fertilizer needs of your plants. But another factor can interfere with your plants’ growth and health: wind! If you live in a particularly windy zone, you probably need to choose wind resistant plants for your garden.
In many ways, decomposed granite (often referred to as DG) is the ideal hardscape material. Formed from the natural erosion of solid granite, it’s similar to gravel but finer and more stable. It compacts down hard like concrete, but has a more natural feel than paving. Decomposed granite comes in a variety of colors, such…