As summer comes to an end, many of your flowering plants are blooming for the last time this season. While they won’t be adorning your yard anymore (at least this year), you can still put those beautiful blooms to good use. Pressed flowers can be used to decorate your home, in frames or shadowboxes, and…
We hope you’re enjoying summer and a terrific growing season. Of course, each summer as the temperature peaks, some plants do experience heat stress. As with most things in life, prevention is the best “medicine” … But since high temps can sneak up and stress plants before you realize what’s happening, be on the lookout…
Now that summer vacation is coming to an end, most kids are headed back to school. Many parents enjoy giving “back to school” presents to their kids’ teachers, such as a wall decoration, something special for the teacher’s desk, or an attractive potted plant to add cheer to the classroom. We, of course, highly recommend…
Agriculture took root about 12,000 years ago, and changed the way we live forever. In general, we tend to see these changes as a good thing, but recently many people have become concerned about the level of chemical pesticides and other potentially harmful substances used by the agriculture industry. Yes, these things allow us to…
We tend to focus on the appearance of our gardens; after all, they definitely add curb appeal and beauty to our homes. But you can also engage your other senses outdoors. When you choose the right plants for your garden, you will enjoy a pleasing bouquet of scents throughout spring, summer, and even fall. Follow…
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…
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…
If you’re hoping to make a change to your current landscaping and spiff up your yard, using rocks is a great way to make a big impact with little effort. Whether you utilize smaller river rocks or larger boulders, including rocks in your landscaping ensures a long-lasting investment along with low-cost, easy maintenance (without using…
When you’re planning your home’s landscaping, the lifespan of the plants you’re considering is likely to be one of your many questions. It’s a valid concern, because you aren’t making landscaping decisions based solely on what looks pretty in your yard. Your landscaping is an investment in your home, and you want to choose plants…
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…
As we mentioned last week, there are many different terms that people use in the landscaping industry. However, since many of these terms are used interchangeably, it’s important to understand the specific definition of these terms.
In the world of landscaping, there are many “landscaping” terms that people throw around and use interchangeably, even though they have different meanings.