You dream of relaxing days in the yard, enjoying time with friends, your kids and pets… This all sounds great until those dogs that we love so much contribute a bit too much “odor” to the ambiance. On the other hand, maybe you just purchased a home that clearly had a lot of pets who…
If you’re considering artificial turf, or already have it, you appreciate the benefits of never having to mow a lawn again. And you’re probably thrilled by the idea of not having to worry about watering grass, either. But some people actually do install low water spray irrigation systems along with their artificial turf. Why? Keep…
After working so hard on your garden all summer, you’re looking forward to delicious homegrown veggies at the dinner table. The last thing you want to discover is that some critters beat you to it! If something has been nibbling in your garden, use this brief guide to determine what you’re dealing with. Aphids are…
Gardens aren’t just beautiful; they can also provide us with food. And if you design your gardens well, they can do both! If you don’t have room to grow vegetables, or if you already grow vegetables and you’re looking for your next fun project, a spice garden will add variety to your cooking and color…
If you suspect that building a pond requires more than filling a hole with water, you’d be right. To accomplish a healthy ecosystem and an aesthetically pleasing pond, you must make careful choices regarding everything you put into it. You might set up your pond with a filtration system, recirculation system, rocks or gravel, fish…
No one does topiaries like Disney, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun garden whimsy right at home. Topiaries are actually not difficult to grow, and once you learn some basics you can shape them just about any way you want. First, you will choose between a vining topiary or a shrub. English…
Orchids carry such an exotic and mysterious aura, that it can be easy to feel intimidated by them. But with a little knowledge, orchids aren’t actually all that difficult to grow. Here’s what you need to know. First of all, orchids are epiphytes. This means that instead of growing in soil, most grow by hanging…
You might remember the old saying, “waste not; want not.” The idea is that when we use our resources carefully, we are never in need. But how many usable resources from our gardens go to waste every year? In many cases, we’re overlooking opportunities to reap so much more from our landscaping than pretty flowers….
There are a number of ways to design a backyard garden, and none of them are more or less “correct” than any other. But of course, there might be a design type that is more suitable for you. If you’d prefer a garden that encourages visitors to move from one feature to another, appreciating the…
Every so often, we begin to notice that our homes look “dated” to a bygone decade. One of the easiest ways to refresh our decor, both inside and out, is by renovating new colors. Just think of the 1970s and certain colors come to mind! And the same goes for just about any other decade….
Landscape lighting carries numerous benefits, such as attractively illuminating your property at night and increasing safety. But installing a lighting system isn’t always simple. You might desire lighting in an area where it’s difficult to run wires, or you might not have professional grade fixtures in your project budget. When a traditional wired lighting system…
You enjoy the lush beauty of your garden throughout spring and summer, and you might reap a few meals from your vegetable plants, too. But many plants have a purpose beyond providing decorative flowers and food crops. Use these plants in your garden, and you can support your health, repel pests, and more. Aloe. If…
Does your garden area need just a little extra “something”? Your garden serves as a special place, where you spend hours tending your plants or simply sitting and enjoying the fruits of your labor. It’s your home away from home, so why not give it a special entryway of its own? Hopefully the following ideas…
Garlic is one of the most popular flavors in the kitchen, and fortunately it can be very easy to grow at home. Once you get a good patch of garlic started in the garden, it should come back year after year. Follow these steps to grow your own garlic, and you can harvest and enjoy…
Each year, Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday in May. Over the years, we have evolved from honoring not only our own mothers, but also other relatives, friends, and neighbors who are mothers. If you’re looking for some simple but heartfelt gift ideas for the special mothers in your life, why not a bouquet…