Outdoors Gardening

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:

We’ve all seen a bare patch of land where grass once grew, but now only contains a sad mound of dirt. Terrible, isn’t it? If you’re like many homeowners, you want to avoid that ever being your lawn. Sometimes, though, things happen. Then, you need to take care of that issue ASAP, and that’s where a hidden technique called hydroseeding comes into play.

Winter, for those who live in colder climates, is usually a time to give your garden and outdoor spaces a rest. Most plants either disappear under the earth or lay fairly dormant for the winter. But just because your plants aren’t doing much in the winter, doesn’t mean they don’t need attention now and then.

Redbud trees are vibrantly colored trees that can really change the aesthetic of a property. And like any other tree that would get planted in a backyard, there are things to take into consideration. Remember, you want the tree to be protected and healthy, but you also want to keep your home protected as well.

A fresh bouquet of flowers can breathe fresh life into even the dreariest spaces. Various floral arrangements are a great way to change the mood of a room and add elegance to your home. It’s easy to make free arrangements in the summer months, when flowers grow in abundance in your yard. Finding ways to create free arrangements in the coldest days of winter, however, can prove more challenging. 

A greenhouse lets homeowners expand their gardening capabilities and extend their growing season. However, a greenhouse can also attract many pests looking for shelter and food sources, including snakes. You’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered how to keep snakes out of your greenhouse.

While mushrooms are not necessarily bad, they can be a bit of an eyesore in your garden. If you have pets or young children, it’s good to get rid of mushrooms. Curious animals and kids might eat them, and that could lead to problems. 

You cannot save a tree if it is dead, but you can save a tree if it's dying. That said, a tree is beyond saving if the roots are completely mushy and destroyed. Some people replant dead plants in fresh soil and have success saving them.

One of the best ways to help your roses grow is to trim them back. This might seem counterintuitive, but roses need to be pruned to reach their true blooming potential.

Roses are the oldest flower ever recorded with archaeologists finding a rose fossil from 35 million years ago. In fact, the oldest living rose is more than a thousand years old! There are over two thousand types of roses from short ground cover to large rose bushes and heirloom to wild. That makes answering the question of when roses bloom a difficult one.

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?

One personal and easy gift you can make using herbs from your garden is to create spice rubs and signature herb blends using plants from your garden. The reason this gift is so personal is that you can take your spice blend in any direction you want.

When cultivating and caring for your garden, it can sometimes seem overwhelming. Every flower, every plant you choose needs different things to thrive. Shade, sun, soil, and how frequently you water are all things to consider when creating a backyard oasis. Perennials are a great way to fill your garden with color and beauty.

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.

Many plant lovers throughout the world dream of having a greenhouse in their yard. While it is a blessing, it can also turn into a nightmare if you find mold. You’re not alone if you want to know how to prevent mold in a greenhouse to avoid headaches.

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.

A greenhouse can give countless gardeners and homeowners the chance to grow their beloved plants in a controlled environment. This is invaluable for people who want to give their plants the best shot at healthy, fruitful lives. However, you’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered how to prepare a greenhouse for the winter.

Nothing quite says summer like biting into an ear of fresh, sweet corn on the cob. This vegetable is perfect for a cookout or popped to make popcorn. Corn is one of the most popular vegetables, and for a good reason. But all too often, casual gardeners do not believe that they have the time, resources, or space to dedicate to this plant.

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.

Outdoor curtains can be transformative pieces of fabric. They bring elegance, privacy, and protection to outdoor spaces. It’s no wonder they are so popular on patios and porches around the world. However, with numerous fabrics, designs, and colors to choose from, selecting the perfect outdoor curtains can be a daunting task.

Trees are the highlights of many yards. They’re big, beautiful, and offer a yard feature that you can plan your landscaping around. However, trees aren’t always wanted.

Your trusted and reliable Briggs and Stratton engine is showing signs of trouble.  You have noticed gas leaking around the air filter.  You begin to wonder if it is time to replace that old engine with a new one.

The sight of weeds is enough to ruin the perfect picture of your beautiful yard and garden. By summer, weeds are in full force, so it’s important to treat the root (literally) of the problem throughout the spring. Many homeowners understandably struggle with how to prevent weeds in the spring.

A weed can be any plant that’s growing where you don’t want it to, like your yard or landscape. One person’s beautiful, natural yard is another person’s eyesore. If your yard is overrun by unwelcome weeds, there are several options to eradicate them.

Being a homeowner means you not only have to care for the house’s interior, but you must also give some attention to your curb appeal! Who doesn’t want to come home to a lush, green lawn?

Few flowers symbolize the dawn of spring more than daffodils. These yellow and orange blossoms are everywhere as soon as winter passes. One reason these spring blooms are so synonymous with the change in seasons is that they are some of the first flowers to sprout from the earth after the ground thaws.

Whether you’re growing palm trees in your yard or a small palm plant inside your home, you likely selected them to enjoy their magnificent, lush green fronds. When palm trees flourish they are reminiscent of paradise and island getaways but have you noticed the leaves of your palm tree turning yellow?

Some homeowners embrace the fall and winter, whereas others dread the cold temperatures. However, many can agree that taking a break from many standard yard chores, like mowing the lawn, can be nice. So, when should you stop mowing your lawn before the winter?

Troy-Bilt makes a series of outdoor power tools and yard care equipment. They are one of the most recognizable and trusted names currently in the industry. Their line of trimmers and mowers are particularly revered.

Cilantro has many health benefits, whether you eat it or use it topically. You can turn cilantro into an essential oil, or simply use it as is. For example, some people mix ground cilantro with plain yogurt, rice powder, and coconut milk. 

There are several different kinds of flowers in the Dianthus genus. Some of these include carnations, Sweet Williams, and maiden pinks. Dianthus flowers have pink, lavender, or pink blooms and these flowers are extremely popular with gardeners.

Growing vegetables in a small garden can be beneficial. In addition to adding color to any garden, it can mean fresh vegetables to be used in the kitchen. It should not be surprising that one of the most popular garden vegetables are tomatoes.

Swales are man-made ditches that are built to help direct water away from the home, and allow it to pool up and drain naturally in the ditch. This type of drainage system can be built along a low slope to help channel the water in a certain direction.

Having a weedeater, also known as a trimmer, makes lawn care all the easier. Lawnmowers can only reach so many areas around the yard and the trimmer allows for precision trimming in those tough-to-reach areas.

Lawn care is often more complicated than many people realize. There are many invasive plants that look similar to desirable plants that you’d actually want in your lawn. For instance, St. Augustine grass and crabgrass look almost the same, but they are two very different plants.

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.

Named for Russian Princess Anna Pavlovna, Royal Empress Trees are kind of a miracle. They grow at a rate unmatched by any other tree and don’t care a lick what kind of soil they’re in. Some classify them as exotic invasive plants. Others are awed by their unique beauty and grand presence. I’ll let you decide.

There are countless amazing landscapers out there, but there as just as many shady ones, too. You can avoid giving them a dime if you know which red flags to look for, such as:

Nothing is worse for bulbs than soggy soil. Soil can become soggy due to overwatering and excessive rain, but it’s often a drainage issue. Some soil simply retains too much water and drains it too slowly.

When I was young, there was a nearby park that used pine straw mulch from time to time. I loved it. It smelled like summer to me. While pine straw mulch has its perk of being amazingly nicely scented, the truth is that it’s not for everyone. If you’ve been curious about whether it’s the right mulch for you, I totally understand.

One of the most underrated fast-growing flowers on the planet is the nasturtium. These reddish orange blooming flowers can be planted indoors from seed in late winter, and bloom in the spring. If you live in a warmer climate, they will grow back every year. 

You should never leave your grow lights on all the time. Grow lights are necessary to grow indoor plants, but you only need to run them for 8-10 hours. This lets you mimic the standard sunlight conditions that your plants would experience outdoors.

Gardeners are quite creative and often like to see how much they can achieve throughout the spring and summer. However, that sometimes results in an overcrowded garden that’s hard to take care of while balancing other responsibilities. That’s why you may understandably want to know how to downsize your garden.

You have finally decided to bite the bullet and install that long-awaited irrigation system in your lawn. You are ready to order your materials and the supply house salesman throws you a curve. Do you want SDR21 or Schedule 40 pipe?  What is the difference, and how do you tell?

The first frost of the year is enough to make the average homeowner accept that winter has arrived. However, that doesn’t mean your yard has to suffer, that is, if you adequately prepare it. That’s why we put together an easy-to-follow guide about what to do in your yard before the first frost.

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.

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?

Nothing is as annoying as going to water your plants and finding out that deer have been nibbling on them. This can hinder plant growth and will continue to happen until you address the problem. Understandably, many homeowners struggle with how to keep deer away from plants.

All new Toro mowers are auto choke which means typically, to start it, all you need to do is pull and hold the handlebar bail lever, then yank on the pull cord. Despite the fact that Toro builds great machines, but in the event, you pull your Toro Recycler 22 out of the garage and it won’t start, you are going to need to know how to fix it.

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.

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.

It is illegal to plant invasive plants in most legal jurisdictions. You cannot even legally plant invasive plants in your yard in most cases, as many invasive plants spread quickly. The regulations and fines for invasive plants vary between states, so you must research local laws. 

No homeowner is prepared for the day a tree falls on their roof. Not only is it a terrifying experience, but it’s also the first step in a long and expensive process that involves many phone calls and repairs. Understandably, you’ll want to know what to do if a tree falls on your roof.

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.

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.

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.

It’s important to remember how vital pollinators are, not just for your yard, but for the world. Although bees can be annoying sometimes, you’d surely miss them if they didn’t come back when winter ends. That’s why supporting pollinators throughout the fall and winter is essential for every homeowner.

Snake plants can grow just about anywhere with a bit of sun and pleasant temperatures. They require practically no maintenance, and can even grow hydroponically, with no soil at all. This makes them great for a bathroom, as they won’t leave soil residue like other plants.

Growing plants in raised beds offers numerous benefits. It allows you to control the soil type, makes fertilizing and watering easier, and even helps with weed mitigation. However, this gardening method has its challenges, which is why it's essential to know all the top tips for building and maintaining raised beds before you begin.

Because of their vibrantly colored blooms and the fact that they can thrive in shaded areas, impatiens are among the most popular annual flowers for gardens. While they are technically considered tropical perennials, these plants are typically grown as annuals in nearly all regions in the United States (except zones 10 to 12).