Outdoors Gardening

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.

Some people think that soil health only affects the way their plants grow and look. However, soil health can affect everything from your yard’s grading to your home’s structural integrity. That’s why it’s important to know what signs to look for if you’re worried about soil erosion.

There’s something about autumn that makes you want to spend more time outside. Perhaps it’s the cooler weather, the changing leaves, or the impending holiday season, but there’s something almost magical about it. And it gets even better when you don’t have to go any further than your own backyard to have some fall fun.

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?

Most of the world’s stunning blossoms require plenty of sunlight to thrive. This is because sunlight gives plants the energy to create stunning and intricate flowers, but sometimes, too much sun can have fatal consequences. With intense sunlight and long days, the dangers of extreme heat and dehydration become very real. If you live in an area with very hot summers, then you need to find flowering plants that can withstand these arid, sunny conditions.

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?

Lush emerald-green lawns don’t magically appear in the summer out of nowhere. This scenario is often the final result of months of care and maintenance that started the year before. Late fall is a crucial time for a lawn because you need to winterize it properly before the bitter cold arrives to keep it looking its best the following spring.

Part of the joy of having a greenhouse is that you can minimize external factors that would otherwise cause problems for your plants. That said, you can only enjoy these benefits if you stick to a consistent greenhouse maintenance schedule. Luckily, we assembled a list of essential greenhouse maintenance tips to make your life easier.

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. 

Using any type of gas-powered equipment should be done with caution. A leaf blower is no exception to this rule. It’s important to know the type of gas required so you don’t damage the leaf blower or injure yourself.

Starting a vegetable garden in your backyard is a labor of love. There’s a lot of work involved in getting a garden started, but it’s all worth it when you can pick fresh produce and cook it in your kitchen in the summer. Unfortunately, there are a lot of insects and animals that look forward to eating your vegetables as much as you do. 

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?

Moving dirt can be a big project. Most people will not have the tools, or equipment, needed for moving a large amount of dirt. There are a few options for getting the job done, some cheap, some not so cheap. It depends on how much dirt, and how far you need to move the dirt.

If your yard doesn’t naturally grow grass, you may have to turn to grass seed to revitalize your property. Having healthy grass around your property will increase your home’s value and make your space seem more inviting, too. However, like most things in this world, it comes with a cost.

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.

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.

Proper lawn maintenance often requires using a variety of tools. A lawnmower on its own may not be enough to keep your yard well-manicured. For many homeowners, the usage of a tool such as a string trimmer is also necessary.

Nowadays, modern automation systems have made it much more convenient to zero in on particular water usage and ideal watering times for sprinklers. While the initial sprinkler system cost – both for the system itself and the installation – is often a bit pricey, the rewards are guaranteed. These include, but are not limited to, an increased property value, long-term savings on your utility bills, and water conservation.

A juicy and flavorful tomato is the pinnacle of success for many home gardeners. Although there are squashes, beans, and root vegetables that bring joy to those who grow their own produce, nothing quite compares to a fresh tomato. But growing great tomatoes can be quite challenging, especially certain heirloom varieties. If you are just starting out as a home gardener, you will want to know the tomato varieties that are the easiest to grow. 

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.

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.

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.

Summer is the season when gardens are lush and robust. Flowers are in full bloom, vegetables are abundant, and there’s always something to do in your garden. While summer tends to be the most successful growing time of year, the weather can lead to a lot of devastating problems if you don’t know what you’re doing. To ensure your plants continue to thrive this summer, there are several common mistakes you must avoid.

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:

Lavender is an easy-to-grow herb with seemingly endless uses. It has a relaxing and intoxicating smell, beautiful purple blooms that you can eat, and so much more. Lavender has been used for centuries as a natural medicine for several ailments.

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?

While some weeds are annuals that blow into your yard each spring, others patiently wait out winter. The trouble with perennial weeds is that you may not know they’re yearly until they appear in the same spot next spring. You’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered how to stop perennial weeds from coming back.

When you hear about astroturf, you probably think of the type of places where people play sports. Artificial grass is rare for actual homes to have, but it does happen. When it does, it tends to be done for maintenance reasons. But, does this hard-to-find home improvement project actually increase home value or is it a waste of money?

Crusty clothes, dirty dishes, and toilet stains are common signs that you have hard water in your home. However, many people don’t realize that hard water is also not great for their garden. So, how does hard water affect plants?

Hydrangeas are one of the most iconic symbols of spring. They have beautiful and delicate large pom-pom blooms that come in various colors including blue, white and even purple. If you live in an area with mild summers and plenty of moisture, hydrangeas can make a perfect gift.

Monstera plants don’t drink a ton of water, and this is because they like to be surrounded by moisture. Unfortunately, most homes are significantly drier than a Monstera plant would like. While you don’t need to find ways to increase the humidity in your home, you should ensure your Monstera stays moist.

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.

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.

Lawn mowers are considered by many as simple machines, but that does not mean they are always easy to fix. If you have a lawn mower that runs for a minute then stops, you are probably wondering why that is happening and how you can solve the problem.

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.

The best thing a senior gardener can do is simplify their garden. While vast gardens are rewarding, they can be hard to keep up with and maintain. The more plants you have spread out over a large area, the more drained you will become while gardening.

As the days grow longer and the snow melts, gardeners become eager to get out in the yard and start planting. Spring is a period of rebirth, but this metamorphosis doesn't happen overnight. It takes time and patience. Before you start sticking seedlings and shrubs in the ground, check the soil and get it ready for a fertile year ahead.

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.

When I was younger, I quickly realized that I don’t want to have a front lawn simply because I didn’t want to mow the lawn. When I heard about artificial grass, I was pretty thrilled.

Herb gardens are essential for anyone who loves to cook with fresh ingredients. Without one, grocery bills can become quite expensive, and you are often left using less-fragrant dried spices. Some herbs might not even be readily available in grocery stores. If the only space you have for an herb garden has very little sun, you might wonder if there are any herbs you can grow that require very little light.

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. 

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.

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 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.

Whether you like bugs or not, some of them are good for your garden. The average homeowner doesn’t like having to navigate a sea of insects and arachnids while doing yard work. However, it’s unavoidable, and many of them are more beneficial than you may think. So, what bugs are good for your garden?

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.

The first major safety question you need to ask yourself when you notice a tick on your body is how long the tick has been there. This is an important for two reasons. First, the longer a tick has been in your skin, the more embedded and stubborn it is likely to be. 

Raccoons don’t build elaborate nests. Instead, they look for well-equipped shelters and then call them home. Hollowed-out trees and crawl spaces under decks and sheds are all ideal homes for these animals.

After several hot summers and significant changes in water levels in many areas, water usage has become a critical consideration for many homeowners. This is especially true for those who have gardens and lawns in drought-prone areas. There is not a whole lot one individual can do to increase the water levels in an entire region. There are, however, a lot of different ways you can create a stunning and thriving garden with very little water.

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.

Whether you’re trying to hide an ugly fence line or want to add beauty to your landscape, there are a ton of good things to plant along your fence. Planting the right things along your fence line requires planning and forethought. Simply throwing some trees or plants into the ground isn’t going to be enough.

Dry climates are notorious for their challenging and sometimes impossible living conditions. Instead of vast green forests, these regions often feature sandy deserts with a few cacti and drought-tolerant plants sprinkled throughout the desolate landscape. Therefore, growing an herb and vegetable garden in this environment can be challenging. However, if you select the right type of plants, it's possible to have a successful harvest.

Today, more and more homeowners look for clever ways to make the most of their garden resources. In many cases, that includes fallen leaves, which are more useful for a yard than some think. You’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered how to turn leaves into mulch.

If you love gardening but live somewhere with cold temperatures for most of the year, you have learned over time that your options are limited. Many flowers, shrubs, and fruit trees that thrive in many climates simply don’t survive in some places with short growing seasons. The same is true for vegetables. But if you live somewhere with a short growing season, you will be happy to learn there are several vegetables that you can still harvest successfully.

Exposed tree roots can pose a tripping hazard in extreme cases, which turns some homeowners off. Others simply cannot stand the visual, as it can throw off the aesthetic and curb appeal in their yard. That’s why you’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered how to cover tree roots that are protruding above ground.

Every gardener dreams of bountiful crop yields. It’s only natural to want every plant to flourish and provide you with endless fresh food throughout the summer. While it’s great to hope for lots of produce, be careful what you wish for. Several herbs, fruits, and vegetables can spread rapidly and overtake your entire garden.

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. 

You might not know it, but there is a good chance you have several items in your produce drawer or kitchen pantry that you can plant in a new vegetable garden. Several species easily sprout new life from existing plants. Potatoes that have grown eyes can be cut into several pieces that give birth to new potato plants, and in turn new potatoes.

Many things are placed on our property that we need but aren’t exactly the best things to see every day. Electrical boxes are one of those things that can be unsightly when we want to enjoy our front yards. However, many creative ideas to hide an electrical box in the front yard can divert people’s attention from those unsightly bulky boxes.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular species of tropical vine plants, distinguished by their glossy, heart shaped leaves and long, trailing stems. They are typically one of the first houseplants that novice plant parents own, and for good reason. These indoor plants are incredibly easy to grow, require minimal care, and are very versatile. For example, you can grow pothos up a moss pole, in a hanging pot and the leaves will drape downwards, or horizontally across windowsills, mantles, and tables.