Maybe you intentionally purchased a home with a small yard, because you didn’t want to deal with a lot of upkeep. Or, perhaps you’re just trying to make the most of what you’ve got. Whatever the reason, you might find yourself trying to make the most of a small area. If so, you’ve come to…
Last week, we gave our readers some advice on setting up safe play spaces in the backyard, but some of you are reaching the other end of the swing set days. Your kids have outgrown the equipment, and the swing set is just sitting there collecting dust and pollen. Now that it’s time to remove…
What good is a beautiful, fragrant garden, if you don’t spent time outdoors enjoying it? That’s why we often blog about more than just flowers, trees, and other plants. Creating a space to relax and enjoy your hard work is important, too! So, picture this: It’s a warm, summer day, and a gentle breeze is…
Most of us think of gardens as something beautiful to look at. However, a sensory garden can be designed to appeal to all five of your senses, so that spending time in your backyard can become a relaxing, immersive experience. Since research has shown that spending time outdoors can lower blood pressure and reduce stress,…
If you’re building a new home, or just purchased a fixer-upper, you might be facing some big decisions about your yard. It can be tempting to go the “simple” route, put down a carpet of grass, add a few of your favorite shrubs, and be done with the whole thing. But you won’t achieve a…
For many gardeners, creating a pleasing landscape is about more than simply increasing curb appeal for their home. Landscaping can be an art form! And just as artists often employ many layers of paint on a canvas, a gardener will often seek to create visual appeal by layering plants.
Summer often gets the credit for producing the most beautiful variety in landscaping. But your yard doesn’t have to be blah and boring during the rest of the year! With a bit of consideration and planning, your landscaping will appear equally impressive during the other seasons.
When you think of the South, you probably picture friendly folks relaxing on their front porches, sipping mint juleps and enjoying small talk with the neighbors. Along with those vast front porches, your mind may conjure up a vision of a certain style of garden. It’s a little bit English, and a little bit rustic…
Tropical landscaping may make you feel like you’re on a perpetual island vacation, and it certainly adds beauty and value to your home. But if you’re skittish about using plants that are sensitive to frost, there are other ways to lend a tropical feel to your landscaping without the hassle of caring for finicky plants….
A vast expanse of lush green lawn makes sense in many areas of the country, and for many budgets. But in an area like Southern California, where rainfall is a rare commodity, it doesn’t make sense for many homeowners to pursue traditional grassy landscaping. If you’re looking for an alternative to grass that will save…
As with most home-improvement projects, planning is a critical step with landscaping. Taking the time to plan before diving into your project will ensure long-lasting, attractive, and healthy landscaping. Developing a plan will also save you time and money down the road, as your landscape matures.
When you first begin to think of installing a pool in your backyard, you might be tempted to pick up the phone and immediately call a pool company. However, it’s best to stop and think about what you’re actually hoping to gain from this investment. Do you want a pool, purely for the sake of…
Those of us who live in Southern California, where we receive very little rainfall, know what a challenge it is to create a beautifully landscaped yard. We face the choice of watering thirsty lawns frequently, or finding another way to work around our naturally dry climate. Fortunately, there are ways to create low water landscaping…