Outdoors Gardening

Between their appearance and dietary habits, carnivorous plants are endlessly fascinating. Mostly known as vicious bug predators in tropical areas, carnivorous plants have proven they can grow in many environments, inside or outside. So, what are the best carnivorous plants for indoors?

The most common way to kill a succulent is by overwatering. Plants need water, but succulents are relatives of the cactus family, and they don’t like too much of it. Before watering a succulent, you must ensure the soil is fully dry.

Garden arches can be a beautiful addition to any garden. They add visual appeal and texture to your garden and give you more  vertical space for growing plants. Unfortunately, pre-made garden arches can be expensive.

When you picked out a DeWalt trimmer, you never thought that the trimmer line would become so tatty and dull. Yet, here you are. You know that you’re going to need to replace the old trimmer line if you want to be able to use your trimmer for a longer period of time. The question is, how do you do it?

Perennials typically spread because of rhizomes, and they can also spread when seeds scatter. Rhizomes are stems that grow horizontally in the soil, and many people mistake them for roots. Because they grow horizontally, you may see more of the same plant pop up beside the original perennial you planted. 

The cost to start a garden ultimately depends on its size and which plants you choose. Factors such as extensive landscaping can add thousands to the cost, but that may not be necessary. Several important factors affect the cost of making a garden, such as:

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.

Irises are big and beautiful plants that come in over three hundred varieties. Irises range in size and color and are an excellent perennial addition to any garden or landscape. Adding irises is a great way to  help control moisture in the garden and invite some beautiful coloration to your space.

One great reason to plant lemongrass is that it is a fairly low-maintenance herb to grow in your garden. As long as you have a sunny area with well-draining soil, then your lemongrass should thrive.

Working the land is something that must be done, to maintain properties. When it comes to larger 1 acre + properties, you can’t always take care of it, with just a push mower, by yourself. Landscaping companies charge different prices. So, we have found the average price, and cost, to cut 1 acre of grass.

Many homeowners mistakenly give up on planting new flowers when summer comes to an end. You can plant flowers as late as September and even October. Follow along if you struggle with what to plant in September.

Flowering plants and trees can have a considerable impact on your landscaping and overall curb appeal. Crape Myrtle trees are very popular, but with many different varieties, it can be difficult to know which to choose. Between the Red Rocket Crape Myrtle and Dynamite Crape Myrtle, which is the best for your lawn?

Mowing the lawn is an important, but often dreaded activity. As the summer heat increases, this chore can become hot, sweaty, and altogether exhausting. So, there may come a time when you have procrastinated longer than you should have, and find yourself needing to mow the lawn in the immediate future. But if the immediate future calls for rain, you might find yourself wondering if you can cut the grass when it is still wet.

Planning a garden and decorating your landscape come along with many responsibilities and nuances. Even simply choosing the best type of mulch for your yard can be tricky, especially if you don’t know how they differ. So, what is the difference between organic mulch and regular mulch?

Trees are the lungs of the planet, and we can certainly use more of them. But improving the atmosphere is just one reason people plant trees. You might want to add a new beautiful flowering tree to your front yard. Or perhaps there is a fruit tree you want to add to your gardening arsenal. Regardless of your reason for wanting another tree, you need to consider when you should plant it. So, when is the best time to plant a tree?

One visual red flag that your soil’s pH is off is abnormal colors in your plant’s leaves. Leaves can change colors dramatically when the soil pH is off, often becoming red or purple. You may also notice yellow veins in the leaves.

Lavender is an herb that dries very well. Where some other herbs lose their flavor and potency when dried, lavender and its oils remain fragrant. Best of all, the pretty purple flowers keep most of their color after they dry. This all helps make lavender a fantastic herb to dry out and use as decoration.

If you live somewhere with long cold winters, you may go months without seeing green plants sprouting from the ground. This means the days of picking fresh herbs from your outdoor garden are suspended until the weather warms up. But if you love to cook and sprinkle fresh herbs into your meals throughout the year, you are probably wondering if any herbs can survive indoors in the winter.

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.

Regardless of whether you are in the market for a mower and are thinking of purchasing a Gravely or you already have one, knowing the average life span is important. Especially when buying one of their more expensive Pro-Turn Kawasaki mowers that costs upwards of $14,000.

Nothing beats fresh herbs when you are looking for a way to boost the flavor and freshness of a dish. Herbs from your garden are arguably the freshest ingredients of all, but for those living in a seasonal climate, an herb garden has a shelf life. While you can’t always grow fresh herbs throughout the year, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to dry and preserve your delicious home-grown ingredients for later use.

A big part of the joy of composting is that you get to see your progress week after week. Unfortunately, this becomes much less rewarding during the winter, when organic matter decomposes more slowly. However, you can avoid many common winter composting pitfalls if you keep a few simple tips in mind.

Many plant enthusiasts have toyed with the idea of installing a greenhouse at home. After all, they afford many opportunities you can’t enjoy if you live in certain regions, like the Midwest. So, is a home greenhouse worth it?

Your modern John Deere lawnmower has three safety switches that safeguard against a variety of situations. One protects breaking, another manages cutting blades or other accessories, and the final switch guards against operation without an operator. The latter of which is referred to as the seat safety switch, and kills the engine or keeps it from starting unless the rider is sitting in the seat.

One of the most common reasons why seeds in your vegetable garden don’t sprout is a lack of watering. Just like established plants, seeds need consistent watering. Vegetables like moist soil. Not soaking wet, but moist.

The first step to a successful vegetable garden is not wasting any time. As soon as it’s warm enough to get outside and garden, you should put on your boots, grab your gardening gloves, and get to work.

Lawnmowers rely on numerous components working in unison in order to deliver the performance expected of them. If even one of those components is not working properly, you may encounter issues while trying to maintain your yard.

When your lawn needs leveling and you are short of cash, you can take charge of matters and build your own leveling drag. There is no need to spend hundreds of dollars on a harrow or thousands of dollars on a garden tractor. In fact, you easily build a leveling drag that you’ll be able to pull yourself.

Weeds find a way of popping out of the tiniest cracks around your home, even if you have a small yard. If you are getting your home ready for guests, you might try pulling weeds in order to have the area looking its best. You will, however, quickly find weed pulling can be back-breaking work. This is where products like Roundup weed killer can come in handy. But how long does it take for Roundup to work?

You may be familiar with lemon balm if you know much about adaptogens. Adaptogens naturally trigger the stress response system to relieve anxiety. It’s a beautiful, tasty herb that provides a natural, healthy way to cope with stress and anxiety. 

January is not a month most people in cold climates associate with gardening. While it’s true the outdoor conditions are harsh this time of year, it’s still possible to get ahead on your spring vegetable garden by starting plants indoors. The key is knowing which herbs and vegetables will sprout when you start them from seed indoors.

Ticks are attracted to debris, dense grass, trees, heat, and moisture. Yards with tall trees and grass are most likely to have ticks, even if you can’t see them. The Midwest and West Coast parts of the country are especially prone to tick problems.

Have you noticed that your sprinklers don’t hit every part of your lawn? If so, that can explain why there are patches of dead grass in your yard. Sprinkler placement is everything when it comes to evenly watering your lawn.

Maintaining a garden is a big responsibility, as you must keep up with maintenance. Of course, watering is the biggest chore, and you may worry about how much water you waste each day. You’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered how to conserve water in the garden.

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.

You can stop your dog from destroying your plants with both household and store-bought remedies. The key is to make your dog want to avoid eating your plants altogether. Luckily, many of the best ways to stop dogs from eating your plants are easy, such as:

When you own a good amount of land, the upkeep can be a little more comprehensive. Mowing a larger lawn can become a little overwhelming with just a push mower at your disposal. Thankfully, there are riding lawn mowers that can make the job a bit easier.

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.

Nobody wants to taint their backyard wedding with dull, dead grass. You can avoid this problem altogether if you enrich your lawn to ensure the grass is as green as possible. Carefully walk around your backyard, check for patchy spots, and fill them in with grass seeds.

Boxwoods have been around in gardens for centuries, going all the way back to the mid-1600s in America. It makes sense that these popular shrubs would withstand the test of time since they have so many good points. They’re versatile, feeling right at home outside, inside, in the ground, or in a container, deer-resistant, and easy to maintain.

If you're a plant-lover, then you can relate to the pain of watching your favorite plants wither away when temperatures plummet. That doesn’t need to be the case, however, as many plants can survive and even thrive throughout cold weather. So, what are some of the best plants that survive winter?

Are you having issues with starting up your riding mower? When you go to start it, does it crank over but not completely startup? Thankfully, riding mowers aren’t very complicated pieces of equipment, and the owner can quickly resolve most issues. This will help save you money and time on bringing it into a shop. However, if this happens to you, what do you do?

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.

One major benefit to mulch is it is great at preventing weeds from sprouting in your garden. Mulch keeps the soil protected from the sun, which also keeps weeds from having the light they need to survive and peek through the layers of mulch.

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.

Making your own compost is a great way to help the environment, while also providing free nutrient-dense soil for plants. While your compost pile takes months to break down and develop into the type of compost that is ready to add to your garden, its benefits are worth the wait. If you have a lot of compost you are excited to use, but aren’t ready to use it quite yet, you will want to find the best way to store compost so you can use it later.

When winter gives way to spring, it’s time to clean up the outside for garden and barbecue get-togethers.  As you begin mowing unruly patches of grass, dead leaves, and the occasional twig, your lawnmower simply stops.  

Mulching is a great way to improve the health and appearance of your garden. Putting mulch over your rocks can be a quick fix for sprucing up your yard, but is it a good idea?

One important question you must ask yourself before choosing the perfect grass for your home is how much time you can dedicate to its upkeep. Some grass grows like weeds and can thrive in most weather conditions.

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.

If you are looking for an easy-to-grow edible flower to add to anything from pizza to salad, look no further than the nasturtium. This vine-like flower species grows quickly, and produces lots of blooms.

One way to ensure you pick healthy flowers without hurting the plant you are trimming from is to choose the right time of day. Try to pick flowers in the early morning, but before you water the garden for the day. This is when plants are fully hydrated, and the weather is typically cooler. Plants are strong, healthy, and happy at this time. Therefore, taking a few stems won’t hurt them as much at all.

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.

There’s something extremely satisfying about tending to a vegetable garden and growing your own food. Whether planting leafy greens, juicy tomatoes, or crunchy broccoli, it’s also a boon to your health. Mulch helps protect plants from the elements, among other benefits, but what is the best mulch for vegetable gardens?

If you have a garden or potted plants, then you know they need a little extra attention from time to time. In addition to watering your plants on a regular and scheduled basis, potted plants and gardens alike need nutrients for them to grow and thrive. These nutrients are often supplied through compost and store-bought fertilizer, but these costs can add up. You will be happy to know that you can add some household waste to potting soil to provide necessary nutrients.

Holly may be the most iconic colorful winter plant on the planet. Its signature pointed leaves and red berries are a fixture of winter holidays, centerpieces, and even Christmas songs. A holy bush provides shiny green leaves and pops of red all winter long, breathing life into your winter garden.

The average homeowner rushes to plant as many flowers as possible during spring and early summer. However, that’s not the only time of the year that plants can take root, bloom, and thrive. So, what are the best flowers to plant in late summer?

With grocery prices constantly rising and showing no signs of decreasing in the foreseeable future, it’s time for consumers to get more savvy. You might not be able to lower the prices where you shop, but there are still ways you can reduce your grocery bill. One great method to decrease your grocery spending is to grow more fruits and vegetables at home. When growing produce, the big question is, which plants should you grow to save the most money on your grocery bill?

You can grow tea at home, and it has become increasingly popular. Growing tea indoors is a great option because you can avoid some of the pitfalls of growing tea outside. For example, you may struggle to grow tea outdoors depending on where you live, like in zone 6. 

Greenhouses allow us to continue growing our plants no matter the time of year. We are no longer beholden to the whims of Mother Nature because we can control the conditions for our crops.