Outdoors Gardening

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.

Millennials are known for their love of avocado toast as well as their love of gardening. It comes as no surprise, then, that many of us are now looking at growing our own avocado trees in hopes of getting a steady influx of avocados for breakfast. Of course, this is only doable in the warmer regions of the United States, and even then, it can take a while for avocado trees to bear fruit.

Countless homeowners take pride in their gardens up until the day they sell their houses and beyond. A nice landscape and garden are something to be proud of as a homeowner. So, does a garden increase home value?

Basil plants like soil that is constantly moist. Remember, moist does not mean spoaking wet. The ideal moisture level is similar to a wrung-out sponge. To achieve this, your basil should be watered moderately on a daily basis. 

If you have many leatherjackets in your yard, it’s likely because of the big local crane fly population. Crane flies lay larvae that people refer to as leatherjackets. They typically spawn the larvae near areas with lots of soil, and it goes on to wreak havoc.

Houseplants are more popular than ever, and they give homeowners the chance to create an indoor oasis. We all know that houseplants add character to a home, but many people use them for potential health benefits. So, do houseplants improve indoor air quality?

Whether it be seed trays and squirrel baffles or basic maintenance, it’s easy to keep pests away from bird feeders. Through trial and error, we found the best ways to protect bird feeders from pests, such as:

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.

Ticks are easily the scariest arachnids besides spiders, and they can be quite harmful to humans and animals alike. The sight of a tick on your body is enough to make you think twice about going outside during spring and summer. Most homeowners would do anything to keep ticks off their property. So, does mowing the lawn kill ticks?

When it comes to your lawn and the essential upkeep required to keep it looking nice, a lawn mower is an essential tool. It can help keep your grass looking just as you imagined and can save you a whole lot of time in the process, too.

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.

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?

Incorporating wood chips into your garden can be beneficial by increasing nutrients in the soil over time. Wood chip garden mulch is organic, so it slowly breaks down, typically between three to six months. However, if you want to compost your wood chips quickly, you will need to add nitrogen to the mix.

Spring is the season most synonymous with blooming flowers, but it certainly isn’t the only season full of color. Most blooms continue on through the summer, and fall is known for stunning foliage throughout many parts of the world. But leaves are not the only colors of fall. There are several beautiful plant species that bloom in the fall, and all the way up until the first frost.

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.

You are allowed to grow vegetables in an apartment unless your lease says otherwise. It’s rare for a landlord to specify that you can’t grow plants in an apartment. However, you should check your lease agreement to make sure before you start to grow vegetables. 

You can’t permanently get rid of poison ivy in your yard until you know where it all is. That’s because the poison ivy you see each day may not be all that’s on your property. Some homeowners mistakenly smother and kill poison ivy in certain areas and miss it in other parts of their yards. 

Chrysanthemums, a.k.a. mums are a wonderful, vibrant choice for a fall garden. Many gardeners love them because they are strong, hardy plants who thrive even when slightly neglected.

There are riding, push, and self-propelled mowers. There are mowers that self-bag, that have no bags, and that have built-in mulchers. There are high-powered and pricey riding mowers, and more affordable and basic pushing mowers, and seemingly a million different options for mowers in between. While having choices in mowers is a good thing, it also creates more potential for finding lawn tractor brands to avoid.

For those with outdoor space, the dawn of spring ushers in an exciting opportunity to plant a vegetable garden. Outdoor vegetable gardens are tons of fun to plan and execute. From selecting vegetables to mapping out the garden, and even purchasing the plants, there is never a dull moment. But when the garden is planted, the work begins. The key to a successful vegetable garden is watering it regularly. But what time of day is best to water a vegetable garden?

Hanging plants upside down in the open air is a method that has been used for centuries to dry all sorts of plants, and flowers are no exception. When air-drying flowers, as opposed to drying herbs, it’s important to take a few extra precautions.

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:

One of the best vegetables to plant in October is garlic. Garlic loves to begin its growth cycle in cool soil, which is why so many people choose to start it in October. It also thrives when temperatures are below 40 degrees for prolonged periods. These conditions all help it grow garlic you can harvest in late spring.

Sprinklers are a highly useful tool for keeping a yard or garden properly and consistently watered. They can even be scheduled and automated so that they require little intervention from the user. At the end of the day, they are quite effective for proper yard and garden care.

If you have ever gone out to mow the lawn and suddenly realized that your lawnmower wouldn’t start, then you know the pain of this situation all too well. Whether it is due to a dirty carburetor, you have a malfunctioning spark plug, not enough gas to the engine, or simply a clogged air filter, there are many reasons why this could be happening.

Spring is the most important time to plant most flowers. Not all flowers will thrive and grow if you plant them in spring, however, so it’s important to choose the right ones. What are the best flowers to plant in spring?

Attracting birds is much easier if you have a basic understanding of which birds live in your area. This can tell you a lot about their nesting habits and diet. From there, you can figure out what kind of plants and food you can use to attract birds. 

It’s no secret that butterflies are highly beneficial to any garden. They can help contribute to a healthy garden ecosystem, and they are great to look at. Luckily, there are many easy ways to attract butterflies to your garden.

The autumn holidays mark the best time of year to use items from your garden to create stunning and memorable decorations. This season is known for colorful leaves, iconic vegetables, and various flowers. It also features pods, pine cones, and grasses that you can easily transform into fall displays, as long as you have creative inspiration to guide you. 

One of the best ways to soothe the unbearable allergic reaction associated with poison ivy is to apply calamine lotion. This lotion is derived from the calamine mineral. It is pink in color and is one of the most popular lotions to treat itching associated with ailments like chicken pox, mosquito bites, and even sunburn.

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?

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.

Two names top the list for lawn tractors and mowers – Simplicity and John Deere. Both companies offer high-quality landscaping equipment, but which one outshines the other?

Orchids are some of the most beautiful and magical blooming plants in the world. They thrive in seemingly unbelievable conditions, often enjoying the struggle to stay alive. There are thousands of varieties of orchids. They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and every imaginable color combination. 

One of the most popular, resilient, and fastest-growing hedge plants is the English laurel. What makes English laurel such a popular choice is its size and growth rate. This plant can tower over your head, and grow three feet in a single year. This makes it ideal for those who want privacy fast.

There’s always some confusion when it comes to the cayenne pepper. What is it? Is cayenne a pepper or a spice? And when is the best time to pick cayenne pepper? We shirk away from the unknown, and especially from the spicy unknown. But in reality, we use cayenne pepper every day to flavor our favorite dishes. That pizza you’re enjoying? You can thank cayenne pepper for that fiery tang. 

Your riding mower needs to have its blades maintained to keep them working well. When your riding lawn mower’s blade wear out, you can easily change them by lifting the lawn mower up, removing the mounting nut and installing new blades. 

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.

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?

Bees are one of the most important pollinators on the planet. Not only do these famous yellow and black insects give us delicious honey, but they also help many plants reproduce.

The sponge gourd is a very unique and fast-growing gourd species. It grows thin and long like their relatives, the squash. It loves warm and tropical climates and requires full sun. While these gourds at first are edible, they eventually become very fibrous, and turn into a natural loofah. 

It’s no secret that many of the most annoying bugs are drawn to light. Bug zappers emit light that can attract such bugs, and that’s part of why they’re so effective. However, you must keep that in mind when finding a location for your bug zapper, or it may backfire. 

Composting is equally rewarding, exciting, and intimidating, especially if you’re new to it. After all, it takes a lot of preparation, and you must closely monitor it throughout the process, which can raise many questions. So, is it normal to have bugs in compost?

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.

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?

When it comes to gardening, we all want a landscape that not only looks beautiful but is also well taken care of. Mulch— no matter what kind— is necessary for a garden to flourish. Many gardeners are looking to lava rocks for their aesthetic and practical appeal.

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?

When you live in a region with freezing winters, then you're aware the end of fall marks a time of imminent death for many of your outdoor plants. While this is the circle of life for many annuals, it’s possible to save some of your treasured perennials from a cold and bitter end. The key is knowing which plants to bring indoors and which to let perish.

It’s no secret that hummingbirds can work wonders to pollinate the plants in your garden. These small, fast birds only serve to get rid of pests and make your plants grow to their full potential. So, which plants attract hummingbirds?

Pill bugs may look cute and harmless, but it’s easy to hate them when you see how much time they spend eating your plants. It can also be disheartening when you constantly see the pill bug population grow in your yard. That’s why we compiled the six best ways to stop pill bugs from eating your plants.

One thing that is on the want list for almost any gardener or plant enthusiast is a greenhouse. Among the popular styles of home and backyard greenhouses is the gothic arch design. Many gardeners considering their first greenhouse wonder about the advantages and disadvantages of building or buying a gothic arc greenhouse.

The most obvious sign that you have moles in your yard is if you spot a mole. Moles are fairly easy to identify, as they often have tiny or no eyes. Their claws are also unique, in that they look like scoops or shovels, making them perfect to dig their tunnels. They also have a long pointed nose.

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. 

Nothing is more annoying than when weeds from your neighbor’s yard spill over into your yard. This is especially true if you take pride in your yard and don’t have a problem with weeds yourself. It’s also an eyesore to look at a yard full of weeds. Understandably, you may struggle with what to do when your neighbor’s yard is full of weeds.

Storing your extra peppers is the best option after picking too many of them. That way, you can enjoy your peppers for a long time even after the growing season is over. Luckily, peppers hold up well if you properly store them in airtight containers.

Almost every kitchen has eggs in it. After you crack eggs, you may set them aside for your compost, or simply toss them in the trash. Moving forward, consider crushing them up and adding them to your soil.

When properly placed, trees in the backyard can make for a beautiful visual aesthetic. It can also provide quality privacy in areas where homes are closely bunched together. Maintaining privacy in those close quarters can be of the utmost importance.

If you live anywhere with four seasons, you know that it doesn’t quite feel like autumn until you’ve had a nourishing warm bowl of butternut squash soup. While soup is a popular way to utilize this squash, it certainly isn’t the only way.

Many people understandably want to import plants from other states and climates. However, you may notice that growing non-native plants doesn’t always go as planned, and it can be frustrating. That said, you can’t deny that growing native plants is typically worth every effort.

Blooming in shades of pink, purple, lilac, and white, vibrant wisteria vines and trees are beautiful flowering plants that are perfect for the nostalgic gardener. Their heavy, dangling clusters of flowers and twisted branches fill garden landscapes with fragrance and color. Wisteria grows up to an astounding 12 feet in a single growing season, making it very quick and easy to train the vine up a pergola or arbor.