Late autumn and early winter in Southern California might not bring the same freezing temperatures as other parts of the country, but that doesn’t mean your garden doesn’t need some attention. This transitional period is a great time to prepare your yard for the cooler months and enjoy some outdoor activities. Here are some essential…
With fall just beginning and the holiday season looming, you probably aren’t even thinking about spring just yet! But if you want to enjoy a beautiful and bountiful garden in the spring, putting forth a little effort now will go a long way toward reaping greater rewards later. As a bonus, you might find that…
If you see new growths bursting up around the main trunk of your tree, this means your tree is struggling to survive in a stressful situation by producing suckers. You might discover suckers during times of drought, or when your tree is planted in a less-than-ideal location (such as when it is flanked by concrete)….
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…
Gardening appeals to the very young, the very old, urban dwellers, country folk, and just about everyone! But for some of us, space can be an issue. For others, traditional in-ground gardening has exhausted its novelty. If you’re looking for something unique and exciting, or if you feel limited by a smaller yard, a vertical…
When it comes to gardening, most of the “fun stuff” tends to happen during spring and summer. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some time in the garden right now! In fact, planning and preparing throughout the cooler season can lead to a more productive and beautiful garden later in the year. Build raised…
The dinosaurs might have died out millions of years ago, but many of the plants alive during that time still survive today! Some are the sole surviving species of their genus or family, and remain virtually unchanged from prehistoric times. Current conservation efforts aim to preserve these species for many years to come. Moss. Believe…
If you’re interested in unique houseplants as living decor for your walls, a staghorn fern might be just what you’re looking for. These epiphytic plants originally came from Australia, but are quickly becoming a hot trend here in the US. First, to grasp the potential uses of staghorn ferns, you should understand what “epiphytic” means….
Why did you originally start gardening? For many of us, the desire to increase the curb appeal of our homes is a matter of personal pride (and even a financial investment). For others, the appeal of homegrown foods and herbs is a major motivation. And of course, we all simply enjoy being surrounded by a…
Growing and enjoying your own flowers is only half the fun of gardening. Cutting, making floral arrangements, and bringing them indoors provides even more enjoyment of your hard work, and becomes a hobby of its own! If you’re hoping to add unique elements to your home’s decor, you might be feeling a bit tired of…
Now that summer has come to an end, and you’ve established your fall garden, what else is left to do? This October gardening checklist should help get you on your way! You could certainly rest and enjoy the fruits of your labor (perhaps literally), or you could get a jump start on preparations for spring….
Fall is only just beginning, and spring seems a long way off. So, you’re probably not thinking too much about spring planting! But, we have found that gardeners who tackle these three fall garden tasks find themselves much happier in the spring! In exchange for a little extra work now, you can save yourself hours…
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…
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…
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…
Any new hobby is more fun, and easier to learn when you have the right equipment. That’s why we put together this Garden Supplies 101 list to make the process easier for newcomers (or folks returning to gardening after a break). You might find that you need additional items, according to your needs, but at…
Just as in any other industry, the landscape design world sees its share of trends that come and go. Lately a fun trend that we’ve noticed is something called the “bedhead garden”. Could it be a fun project for you? You might recall seeing pictures of women who post their “bedhead” on social media. “I…
Do you dream of a lush, flowering garden… but you’ve been cursed by a black thumb? Don’t worry; no one is permanently “cursed” this way! There’s nothing about you that actually causes flowers to wilt in your mere presence. Gardening is a skill that you can learn. Follow these steps to turn your black thumb…