Outdoors Gardening

You hop on your Cub Cadet riding mower, start the engine with no problem, put the lever into forward, and release the clutch. Nothing. No movement. The engine sits idling happily and you are going now where. What is the problem when a Cub Cadet hydrostatic transmission won’t move?

It’s not too late if you didn’t plant all your favorite flowers during spring. Many flowers can still thrive if you plant them in summer, but it’s important to choose plants that will bloom quickly. So, what are the best flowers to plant in summer?

Composting is rewarding and challenging, and that’s what makes it such a fun hobby. Naturally, many people don’t want to give up on an established compost bin just because they’re moving. You’re not alone if you’re not sure what to do with your compost if you move.

Before cold weather sets in, one of the first steps you must take to ensure your garden’s safety in the winter is to add mulch. Adding quality mulch in the late fall will help keep your plants safe in several ways. 

These days, an increasing number of people are doing their best to conserve water and reduce their carbon footprint. It's an admirable way to minimize environmental harm. Collecting rainwater is a great way to start, especially when you consider how many ways you can use it.

Wasps are lean, mean, and ready to sting you and ruin your time in the garden. They wreak havoc on countless homeowners during the spring and summer. The average homeowner would do anything to keep wasps away. Understandably, many people struggle with how to get rid of wasps.

Spotted lanternflies are native to northern China and other parts of Asia. They are thought to have arrived in the United States in 2014 and have been quickly increasing in population each year. They first spread throughout the state, and are now found in New Jersey, New York, New England, and Northern Virginia. 

Every garden needs water to survive. As the days grow longer and warmer, regular watering becomes increasingly important. While every gardener knows plants need water, many are not aware of the proper way to do it. In fact, it’s possible to do more harm than good to a garden if it's watered incorrectly. 

When you’ve had a riding lawnmower for so long, one thing you’ll start to notice is that it will get slower. When that happens, it will take longer to mow the yard, meaning that your machine is working less efficiently. If you have a hydrostatic mower, you might want to increase the speed so that you can get the job done in less time.

When you think of plants that cause bad allergic reactions, there is a good chance the first plant you think of is poison ivy. Poison ivy exists in many wooded areas, popping up in late spring, and continuing to grow until the first frost.

Milkweed is one of the best plants to add to a garden to attract butterflies, and Monarch butterflies in particular. This plant is one of the host plants for Monarch butterflies, which means it provides what butterflies need to grow and survive.

Taking care of a lawn is about much more than simply watering and mowing the grass. Truth is, lawns are prone to some annoying problems, such as soil compaction, which can take a big toll. That’s why everyone should know how to tell if the soil in their lawn is compacted.

A riding lawn mower makes cutting your lawn a breeze because it gets the job done quickly and easily. Getting the most out of your Craftsman Riding Mower is essential, but the blade may leave bare patches if the mower deck is too low. Adjusting the mower deck’s height may take a bit of time, but the result should be worth the effort.

A neighbor who has experience with chainsaws borrowed yours a couple of weeks ago for some yard work. When he returned the chainsaw, he put it back up on the shelf for you. Now, you plan to do some trimming in the yard, so you haul down the chainsaw. But wait a minute.

There’s no denying that energy costs are out of control, getting higher and higher year after year. Utility costs tend to rise right along with the rising outdoor temperatures. Therefore, it’s not surprising that people want to reduce the heat entering their homes so that they can lower their bills. A popular method is planting trees to save on air conditioning. But this only works if you know where to plant them.

Snake plants are a type of succulent, which makes them rather easygoing and low maintenance, especially when compared to other plants. This makes them a great choice for people who like plants but don’t necessarily have a green thumb.

If you are one of the many homeowners who have Bermuda grass in your yard, you already know how difficult it can be to get rid of. While some people actually like Bermuda grass, many of us consider it nothing more than a weed.

With a vibrant pink/purple color, the Rhododendron blooms brightly across the world. These bushes provide magnificent pop of color wherever they spring up. But when they become distressed, it can rob them of their natural beauty. The key is determining the problem.

Citrus trees are fantastic additions to your property. The blossoms smell fragrant and lovely in the breeze, and the fruit allows you to enjoy sweet, tangy, or sour fruit in abundance. But citrus thrives in warm climates and often dies off in a freeze. But if you live in an area where the temperatures dip below freezing every now and then, you might wonder if there are any citrus trees that can survive annual frosty conditions.

Many people are aware that the climate zone in which they live is an important part of which plants can thrive in a garden. That’s why you will always have more success with native plants than with imported ones. However, many people don’t realize how much the climate zone affects indoor plant growth.

When I first got into botany, I was shocked at how many flowers are purple. It seems like purple is just the go-to color for most wildflowers, not to mention many herbs that we take for granted. Are you a fan of the color purple? Well, we have a bunch of types of purple flowers you can look at in this article.

If you want a lush, green, gorgeous lawn, you need plenty of water to fuel it. For those who love their yard, there isn’t much worse than turning on your sprinkler system in the middle of the summer only to discover that there is no water coming out.

Thornless honeylocust is a frequently-used tree that’s commonly found in urban areas. It has beautiful yellow leaves in autumn. Plus, thornless honeylocusts provide plenty of dappled shade that still allows grass to grow underneath.

Shaded porches serve as both an oasis and an entry to your home. Finding the right plants that can thrive in the shade is easier said than done, however. So, what are the best plants for a shaded porch?

When it comes to filler flowers, the one that everyone knows is baby’s breath. This pillow-like white clustering flower plant is found in all sorts of bouquets. You can even fill a vase with just baby’s breath for a cloud-like and elegant look. Baby’s breath is cheap to buy, but even cheaper to grow.

If you are worried about people seeing into your home through the windows, then consider installing an extra set of curtains. Most people have a heavy set of curtains to block the sun or provide complete privacy at night. 

Proper irrigation is an important aspect of lawn maintenance, and irrigation sprinklers can water lawns, crops, or other landscapes. Sprinkler heads are divided into different zones of the property to ensure that all areas are irrigated. A common problem that occurs is one zone that won’t work or a sprinkler system not working in all zones. 

How great is it to step outside and pluck a lemon from your tree to garnish a drink or make fresh-squeezed lemonade? Fresh fruit trees are a great addition to your yard space and garden. But if your lemon tree leaves are turning yellow, you might be worried that your homemade lemonade days are numbered.

No matter how you slice it, weeds are annoying, whether they’re annual or perennial. However, perennial weeds are arguably much more of a bother, considering that you may have to deal with them for years. It’s a good idea to know the difference between annual and perennial weeds if you want to protect your yard from organic invaders.

Garden maintenance takes a lot of time and patience. That’s why many homeowners would do anything to save time in the garden. This is why you’re not alone if you’re wondering how to save time watering your plants.

Gardening is fun and tranquil, albeit physically exhausting in some cases. No matter how much time you spend in the garden, you will likely get sweaty and dirty. Because of that, many homeowners struggle with what to wear when gardening.

It’s a bad idea to put indoor plants in soil from your outdoor garden. There’s always a good chance that the soil is infested with pests. Ideally, you should buy a fresh bag of soil that you only use when it’s time to set up your houseplants. 

There are all sorts of reasons to purchase an indoor tree for your home. They add a much-appreciated pop of life and color to a room, they are great to look at, and even provide clean oxygen-rich air for you to breathe. While some indoor trees require a bit of maintenance and upkeep, there are many that are resilient and require very little work to maintain. But every indoor tree needs water. If you recently purchased an indoor tree, you need to know how often you need to water it.

Roundup is a herbicide meant to help kill weeds and any other invasive plant that is causing trouble in your garden. Made by the Scotts Company, it can be quite effective at cleaning up unwanted growth in your garden and yard.

Bougainvillea loopers most commonly eat bougainvillea leaves. These small caterpillars eat bougainvillea and eventually turn into moths. It can be quite frustrating, as several bougainvillea loopers may eat many leaves throughout the vines at once.

Walk behind string trimmers are exceptional at reaching places that standard lawnmowers can’t go. If you want to up the ante, can you put a blade on a walk behind string trimmer?

you want to make your lawnmower even more versatile and hard-working, mounting a ball hitch can be a great idea. However, before you begin, you need to know how to install it.

Since your home’s lawn will require different amounts of water for different times of the year, it is vital that your sprinkler system is programmed accordingly. It should also be adjusted as needed about once a month.

Mosquitoes are attracted to light, and they also love water. A glistening water feature in full sun, like a bird bath, is a mosquito's paradise. It has many of the ideal conditions for these pests to lay their eggs, so a bird bath will quickly attract them.

Pea gravel is commonly used for walkways, driveways, and as filler between stone pavers around the home. It consists of small, rounded stones and is commonly used for high-traffic areas due to its smooth finish. However, since the gravel is loose, people often need to know how to stabilize pea gravel.

Peppermint is the king of mint. It is the most widely used, and also the most famous mint variety. It’s found in tea, candy, and even cosmetics. Peppermint has a very high menthol content. Menthol has great natural cooling properties.

A drought is a nightmare for homeowners and communities, especially when they aren’t prepared. Droughts can disrupt the ecosystem, harm animals, and kill your garden and lawn that you worked hard to grow. Understandably, many homeowners struggle with how to prepare for a drought.

Lawns can be fickle, and it’s all too easy to overwater or underwater your grass. Grass becomes straw-like when it gets too little water. Overwatering can damage your lawn’s root system, and that’s hard to come back from.

A bug or animal’s appearance doesn’t necessarily tell you whether or not it’s good for your garden. After all, some scary-looking snakes and lizards are harmless, whereas some cute bugs are poisonous. So, are skinks good for your garden?

If you are wondering if ladybugs are really important to your garden, the answer is — absolutely! Ladybugs are an amazing natural pest control. In particular, they love to eat aphids, which are tiny bugs that can kill plants quickly if left unchecked. Each ladybug can eat upwards of 50 of these pests per day.

If you like gardening and hate snakes, then you should plant some onions. Snakes are sensitive to smells, and they hate plants that contain allium. Allium is what causes you to tear up when chopping onions. It also keeps snakes away.

Taking care of your property can be rewarding but also frustrating. Every homeowner wants their property to be spectacular and be the talk of the town. However, overgrown grass, littered gutters, accumulated dirt on the roof, and other things paint a terrible picture of your property. The Husqvarna riding mower can help you take care of the lawn, but there are times when the blades won’t turn on.

Bringing new plants home is exciting, but it can also be stressful if you know a lot about gardening. Sneaky pests love hanging out in plant nurseries and hiding in the new purchases of unsuspecting customers. That’s why you must learn how to quarantine new plants.

Riding mowers make maintaining your lawn and outdoor areas much easier. They enable us to cut through large sections of tough grass without wearing ourselves out.

Photographs and memes of bright sunflowers facing each other have long circulated the internet and been the subject of many chain emails. The memes suggest that when the weather is cloudy or, overcast sunflowers will turn to face one another. Sunflowers can feed off each other’s energy by facing each other, or so the belief and widely circulated memes tout. But is this true?

Rock gardens have become staples of many yards, and it’s with good reason. You can populate a rock garden with a wide variety of plants that complement each other. So, what are the best plants for rock gardens?

Fall weather can be so confusing, especially when it comes to your garden. Some days it may be cold and rainy, and then the next day it may be sunny and warm. So, when should you water outdoor plants for the last time of the year?

Having the perfect lawn is a goal for many homeowners. Luscious green grass is a status symbol in many neighborhoods, but achieving a pristine lawn is a formidable challenge that isn’t for everyone. Whether you are sick of paying a high water bill or can’t dedicate the time required to maintaining healthy grass, sometimes it’s easier to give up on grass altogether. If you’re ready to say goodbye to your lawn, the first step is finding the best way to kill your grass.

“Hornworms” is a common but misleading moniker for larval hawk moth caterpillars. Proper naming aside, hornworms are brutal pests, and they can wreak havoc on the tomato plants in your garden. You’re not alone if you’d like to protect your tomato plants from hornworms.

Being a cat owner is rewarding, but it also comes with many frustrating headaches, especially in you are an indoor plant enthusiast. You’re not alone if you’ve ever struggled with how to keep your cat away from your houseplants.

Beneficial nematodes kill everything from grubs, gnats, and cutworms to weevils, caterpillars, thrips, and beyond. They can kill over 200 pests that would otherwise disrupt your life and home and threaten your houseplants. Many homeowners and plant nurseries use beneficial nematodes to kill larvae before they hatch.

Topsoil is a common type of dirt used for many projects around the home. Whether you’re landscaping, gardening or performing another endeavor that requires topsoil, it’s important to know the weight of a cubic yard of topsoil.

There are millions of fungi species growing around the world. Some fungi are harmless, some are delicious, and others are poisonous. Unfortunately, there are fungus varieties that can also be very harmful to your plants. Certain fungi can destroy entire gardens if left unchecked, which is why you must know all the warning signs that your garden has a fungus problem.

One great perk of growing your favorite vegetables in pots is that you can always place them in the perfect sunlight conditions. As time passes, shadows change and so does the angle of the sun. If you have your vegetables in pots and containers, you can shift them seasonally to ensure they are always getting the appropriate amount of light.

The daylily is a beautiful flower that is surprisingly resilient. It can grow in various soils, from sandy, well-drained soil to denser dirt types. It can also survive in salty conditions, which makes it an ideal flower to grow along the coast.