Outdoors Gardening

Every step you take to prepare a garden ultimately determines how well your plants will thrive. Whether it be the consistency of the soil or the nutrients you use, everything plays a role in your garden’s longevity. So, does a garden need to be level?

Not only is composting great for the environment, it’s also a rewarding process. Nothing feels better than reducing your carbon footprint at home. However, it can be alarming and discouraging when your compost pile smells foul. So, why does my compost smell like sewage?

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.

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.

One key factor to remember is that English gardens are inspired by gardens from more than a hundred years ago. In those times, everything in the garden was natural and often handmade. 

Raised garden beds have grown in popularity, and it’s with good reason. Not only are they beautiful, but they’re also easy to take care of if you don’t have a lot of gardening experience. The improved soil drainage, accessibility, mobility, and weed control make raised garden beds quite enjoyable. 

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. 

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.

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.

Vitamin C is one of the most essential nutrients for human health and wellness. It can help boost the immune system, is vital for skin repair, and it’s a powerful antioxidant. You can find vitamin C in everything from face creams to energy drinks. If you want to find natural ways to consume more of this vitamin, then consider planting fruits and vegetables that are loaded with vitamin C.

Whether it be a simple conversation or involving an HOA, there are several ways to approach your neighbor who has a dangerous tree. The end goal should be for your neighbor to remove the tree without straining your relationship. Each of these methods is non-combative and can be quite successful:

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. 

The conventional sprinkler system found on residential properties does the majority of the work under the ground, and out of view. Despite their enigmatic nature, irrigation systems aren’t particularly complicated. In fact, they consist of only a few main basic components, each of which has the primary goal of distributing water to the correct place at the proper time.

Vegetable and herb gardens are a great way to have the freshest ingredients at your fingertips while also saving you a few dollars in the process. While these gardens tend to save you plenty of money in the long run, they do cost money to maintain. If, however, you plant herbs and vegetables that grow back every year, you’ll save time and money year after year.

One of the best places to find cheap or free materials is by searching online marketplaces. Places like Facebook and Craigslist are wonderful resources for those looking for dirt-cheap or even free garden containers.

The sight of ants in your yard or home can understandably be discomforting. Not only are ant hills ugly, but they can indicate that you have an upcoming ant problem on your hands. Many homeowners have asked themselves the question: why are there so many ant hills in my yard?

It’s summertime and that means dragging your trusty lawnmower out of the shed and of course, it won’t start. When it does start, it only does once and never again. Typical!

Carpenter bees make nests in wood, and they like wood that’s easy to drill into. Untreated wood happens to be one of their favorite types of wood for building their nests. If you have a deck or unstained fence made of wood, then that’s a lot of surface area that carpenter bees can turn into a home.

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.

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.

Dahlias are a beautiful perennial flower that can last for a long time if you properly care for them. They come in a variety of colors and are a lovely addition to any garden.

Weather conditions these days are unpredictable. Just as there are record-high temperature records each year, there are also shocking cold snaps in unexpected places. These cold snaps can reach below freezing and happen rather suddenly. So, if there is an overnight frost, and you have left vulnerable plants outside, you will want to know what you can do to keep them alive.

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.

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.

Whether you simply love gardening or want to reap the benefits of indoor plants, adding greenery to your space is a popular design choice. But if you’re starting from scratch, you might want some ideas on how to make indoor plants grow faster. After all, nobody likes waiting, so if you can speed up the process, you’re all for it.

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.

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.

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?

Both soft touch holly and boxwoods are common choices for homeowners looking to liven up their landscape. For many homeowners, however, it can be quite difficult determining the difference between the two.

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.

Everyone wants a lawn that looks beautiful. It instantly increases the curb appeal. A well-manicured lawn guarantees that you’re not the only yard on the block that looks bad. While no one wants their house to be an eyesore, there is a learning curve to maintaining your grass seed while you attempt to eliminate bald spots on your lawn.

When you imagine a back yard, the first image that comes to mind is likely a sprawling outdoor space with lush green grass. While many back yards look like this, sometimes grass simply isn’t a possibility. Arid climates, for example, make it difficult and expensive to grow grass. Some soil does not allow for it as well. You might even live in an urban area where your “yard” doesn’t even have soil at all. While at first this might seem less than ideal, there are lots of amazing ways you can make a back yard beautiful without using grass.

Many plants thrive indoors, but every plant can benefit from nature’s elements. Whether it is nutrient-rich soil or plenty of sunlight, indoor plants require outdoor ingredients even when they are inside. But what about when you water your indoor plants? Many plant owners use tap water to water plants inside the home. While tap water is not likely to kill your plants, you might wonder which is better for your plants: Tap water or rainwater.

One of the most deadly reptiles in America is the rattlesnake. This snake is known for its shaking tail that makes a loud, rattling sound. The snake often makes this sound when an animal (or human) gets too close for its comfort.

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. 

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?

Home landscaping design varies significantly based on climate. A garden in the desert won’t resemble one built in a tropical or coastal region. Foggy climates are particularly unique and tricky for anyone looking to cultivate a beautiful and thriving outdoor garden. While these humid regions present challenges, foggy climates also present fun gardening opportunities for homeowners.

There are tons of different types of bonsai trees. Just about any tree can be altered into a bonsai form. Therefore, there is not a universal growing condition that bonsais enjoy. There are, however, a few challenges to growing bonsai indoors.

One of the most common reasons for a lawn to look unhealthy is due to too little or too much water. Grass, just like every other plant, requires water. Remember that rain alone is often not enough water to keep your lawn thriving, especially in the warmer months.

Rabbits may be cute, but the cuteness wears off when they damage your plants and lawn. Not only do they eat soft flowers and vegetables, but they can also burrow into your soil and damage it. So, why are there so many rabbits in my yard?

The key to a successful spring and summer garden is planning. If you want your vegetables and flowers to grow better, you should start gathering supplies and mapping out your ideas in the winter. March is a great time to prepare for your gardening projects, but the key is knowing which items to buy before the planting season begins.

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.

Are you one of the countless homeowners who have been torn about what to do with your compost pile for the winter? This is a common dilemma for many homeowners who don’t want to let their compost go to waste as temperatures plummet. Understandably, many homeowners struggle with how to store compost in the winter for later use.

The best way to make money gardening is to propagate your plants and sell cuttings. Gardening has become more popular in the last 4-5 years, and people love to obtain rare plants. Monsteras and philodendrons are especially popular right now, and they are big sellers.

If one thing is for sure, it’s that the weather is never certain. Just because it’s springtime doesn’t mean that you should start watering your yard. Use this as a guide to determine the best time to turn on your sprinkler system. 

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

I’m blue, da ba dee da ba die… Well, not quite. I’m a fan of blue. My hair is blue, ya know. I like blue decorative items, too. When it comes to finding garden decor that is blue, things get dicey. Not many flowers are blue, at least…not naturally. Want to find out what the most popular blue flowers are?

A greenhouses is a great luxury, but that doesn’t mean running one is always easy by any means. Many people worry about disease, fungi, and pests infiltrating their greenhouse and wreaking havoc. That’s why we put together a list of the most common greenhouse pests and how to get rid of them.

There are many benefits to having a birdbath in your yard. This garden feature attracts various species of birds, which is great for bird watchers and for the plants in your garden. Birds and other pollinators flock to these pools of water, pollinate your garden, and eat many garden pests at the same time. To ensure your birdbath continues to serve a vital function on your property, you need to know how to properly clean and fill it.

Whether it be a collection of houseplants or an outdoor garden, plants can trigger allergies and asthma. Most plants produce pollen and many of them even release spores that can irritate some people. Understandably, many homeowners with allergies and/or asthma, want to know the best plants to have.

Robotic lawn mowers are among the latest technological innovations to reach mainstream consumers. It's no surprise these remote-controlled mowers are growing in popularity, as they let homeowners stay inside on hot days while the machine does all the work. Robotic mowers certainly have many benefits, but there are also potential downsides you should know before investing in one.

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.

Known for its signature star shape, Nelly Moser Clematis is a favorite of gardeners everywhere. This pink floral vine is easy to grow and adapts easily to its environment. Because of this, Nelly Moser Clematis’s growth can get out of hand if not tended to properly, so it’s important to know how to prune a Nelly Moser Clematis.

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.

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.

Spring looms like a faint light on the horizon that grows stronger every day, and this brightening light serves as a friendly reminder that gardening season will soon be upon us. When planting a vegetable garden, planning in the late winter and early spring can make all the difference in yielding a bountiful crop of vegetables in the summer. To ensure you are taking care of all your needs in advance, it is important to know all the common vegetable garden mistakes you should avoid this spring.