How to Start your Garden Design
If you are planning a new garden and are considering how to design it, remember it is always wise to begin with the end in mind! What kind of garden do you want to have when it is completed? Are you hoping to achieve a minimalist look in which each plant has plenty of space and invites attention? Do you prefer a fuller look with more crowding, more color, and an overall effect of abundance? In the former scenario, you’ll tend to choose unique, stand alone plants with lots of individual character. If the latter ...
How to Attract Birds to your Garden
This doesn’t sound like a great idea to all gardeners, those who don’t want the crows, jay, or song birds getting to the ripe raspberries or blueberries before they do. But to bird lovers, this is a very natural desire. Many bird enthusiasts who also enjoy gardening will grow a section of the garden or a separate plot just for their feathered friends. No scare crow will grace that garden, that’s for sure. You look forward to chickadees flitting around as you tend your plants, hummingbirds sipping nectar nearby, and grosbeaks enjoying the dried berries on ...
How to select garden plants
While there is more to a beautiful garden than just the plants, they are certainly the main attraction! Stones, trellises, barriers, statuary, and other items may dot your patch of paradise, but without plants you really cherish, chances are your garden won’t bring you as much pleasure as it should. Let’s take a look at how to select garden plants that will be just right for you. First of all, do some research in plant encyclopedias or online to discover the kinds of plants you think you’ll like the most. Plants have distinct personalities, and they are ...
How to Design a Flower Garden Around a Tree
Many gardeners look for creative places to add some floral life and color to their home’s landscape. Designing a flower garden around a tree is a wonderful way to do this. By following basic guidelines you will be able to build an attractive garden that will also save you from having to trim around that tree ever again. That’s a great trade-off in any yard! The first thing to realize is that the flower bed must be elevated. The roots may be just a few inches below the surface of the grass. Digging down ...
Mixing Flowers – Colorful Flower Garden Design
When you plan your garden for this season you will want to include a mix of annual and perennial blooms that will provide a wonderful array of dazzling colors that will last from the first blossoms in the spring until you say goodbye to your flower beds in autumn. By knowing when your perennials bloom, and selecting appropriate annual flowers to complement them, the color parade can continue unabated. You won’t have a 2-3 week stretch where everything seems to be yellow or red. There won’t be a section of your garden that sports mostly blue. By ...
10 Houseplants For Making Indoor Air Very Clean and Healthy
Homeowners concerned about indoor air quality have been turning to nature’s air purifiers, houseplants, for many years. Highly respected tests from NASA and other agencies have proven that they remove a wide variety of pollutants from the air including those commonly found in household furnishings and products, such as formaldehyde and benzene. These plants deliver the additional benefits of enriching your home’s oxygen supply and beautifying your surroundings. Experts suggest about 1 house plant per 100 square feet of living space, with a variety producing better results than choosing all the same plant. Here are ten houseplants ...
How to grow tomatoes
One of the tastiest pleasures for gardeners is a ripe tomato, picked at the height of flavor. Eaten by itself with a touch of salt or pepper, added to a garden fresh salad, or placed between layers of bacon and fresh bread in a BLT, this versatile favorite is one of the true delights of summer. There are dozens of tasty varieties to try, and all of them need just about the same requirements. Growing delicious, nutritious tomatoes isn’t all that hard if you follow these basic guidelines. First of all, choose a growing spot that features ...
How To Choose an Indoor Plant
When you are in the looking for the right indoor plant, whether it is your first or you want to add another one to a collection, there are 5 main factors to consider. First, what is your level of ability to care for the plant? A couple of things are important here. If this will be your first houseplant, then choose from among those that are easy to care for. Many fine indoor plants are very hardy and will thrive even as you develop the green-thumb touch. See our guide for plants that require little maintenance, and ...
10 Indoor Flowers
Gardeners who love their flowers hate to see autumn come, thinking the blooms are gone until spring. But with a plentiful variety of indoor flowers that can be easily cultivated, the blossoms will continue regardless of the weather outdoors. Here is our choice of ten indoor flowers that will give you something colorful to enjoy throughout the year. 1. African Violet (Gesneriaceae Streptocarpus): This lovely, compact houseplant is a favorite among gardeners for its majestic purple blooms that the experienced “thumb” will be able to bring forth several times per year. 2. Angel’s Trumpet (Solanaceae Brugmansia): This flowering ...
How to maintain indoor plants
Like all living things, indoor plants require an environment suited to their needs in order to thrive. With attention to these basics, you’ll soon have healthy, happy plants, adding beauty and cleaner air to your home or work place. Step One: Begin with healthy plants! When you shop, or receive plants you’ve ordered online, inspect them for disease. Check both the tops and bottoms of the leaves for insects or damage left by insects. Allow only plants that are in good condition to become part of your collection. Step Two: Select a pot large enough for the roots ...
Herb Gardening for Beginners
Every gardener should get an herb garden started! Herbs are easy to grow, aesthetically appealing, and offer so many useful contributions to cooking and natural home remedies. The good news for herb gardening beginners is that most herbs do very well all climates where outdoor gardening is possible, as long as they get good sun, adequate water, and an encouraging bit of compost or fertilizer. More good news is that indoor herb gardens do well, also, and deliver year-round bounty. See our guide on the Indoor Herb Garden for all the tasty details! When starting your herb ...
Flower Gardening Tips: Good Soil Produces Great Flowers
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The Earth laughs in flowers.” Any gardener who has known the joy of working with these bright, aromatic blessings of nature recognizes the truth of Emerson’s words. In this guide we want to help you get your next flower garden off to a great start, so the earth around your home will be merry with fragrant color from early spring through late fall. A great garden begins in the dirt. Preparing the soil to embrace your bulbs, seeds, annuals, or perennials will guarantee them the right start toward thriving beauty. It helps to ...
Gardening Articles
Taking Care of your Flower Garden During the Summer
If you want to have a gorgeous, healthy, garden that is full of life in the hot summer months, then there are important tasks that need to be done in every season. Winter requires final dead heading of spent blooms and the application of a generous layer of compost. Spring brings the need to turn some soil to mix in the remaining compost, remove or move some plants, prune plants ahead of initial growth, and transplant plants into the garden beds... [Read more...]
Attracting Butterflies
Many bird enthusiasts are also naturally taken with the beauty and characteristics of butterflies. These delicate, winged creatures are exquisite and rare, a short-lived wonder of the natural world. When you want to attract butterflies to your yard, it is all about having the right plants, plain and simple. Planning an entire garden, section of the garden, or separate bed for attracting butterflies is easier when you know what their preferred diet... [Read more...]
Bird Feeder Types
Birding requires birds to watch, and feeders bring in the birds! It’s just that simple! There are quite a few Bird Feeder types available today that will make your bird watching more successful and enjoyable. Here’s an overview, so you’ll know which types will work best for your setting. 1. Hopper Feeders: These large feeders supply the largest amount of feed to your feathered visitors. Usually shaped like a bird house, they contain a large... [Read more...]
Birds Baths
Water for drinking and bathing is one of the essential elements that every bird needs, so if you enjoy attracting birds to your back yard, having at least one bird bath for their use is important. In this guide we will look at Bird Bath types so you’ll have a place to start as you look for the one that fits your garden or landscape. There are many styles of bird baths from which to choose. Above ground bird baths continue to be the most popular,... [Read more...]
Breeds of Birds you can Attract To Your Backyard
If you are a bird enthusiast and want to see more of them in your back yard, there is almost no specie you cannot attract. If the breed is known to inhabit your area there will be a way to coax them into your yard to feed, nest, find water, or seek shelter. To be most effective in attracting the breed you want, it is best to focus on all four of these requirements so that the birds will come more frequently and even choose to nest or stay long-term.... [Read more...]
Birdhouse Types
Just like in human neighborhoods, not all birdhouses are the same, not one size fits all. Bird species are unique in their needs for shelter, and the kinds of birdhouses they will be drawn to reflect their individuality. While some species will not use any kind of birdhouse you might place in their environment, an astonishing 50 species, or more, will accept housing made by human hands. That number offers bird watchers and friends of these feathered... [Read more...]
Backyard Book Reviews
If you want to expand your understanding of your backyard world, and how you can make it a wonderful habitat for the winged creatures you love, we’ve got some books that will help you. From designing gardens that are welcoming to a variety of birds, to installing the right feeders and bird baths, these volumes offer a wealth of knowledge and practical information you can use to attract and enjoy all the birds found in your area. 1. Attracting Birds... [Read more...]
Best Flowers & Flowering Plants for the Middle Atlantic Region
The Middle Atlantic Region includes New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, sometimes Virginia and West Virginia, and, of course, New Jersey, the state that calls itself “The Garden State.” So what are the best flowers and flowering plants for the Garden State and its neighbors? Let’s consider the climate first. The Middle Atlantic, or simply Mid-Atlantic, region features a wide variety of growing zones, according... [Read more...]
Regional Flowers
vIf you have been gardening for any length of time you realize that the country in which you live will feature at least a few growing zones. These zones are designated by the lowest typical winter temperature, since it is cold that most threatens perennial flowers, shrubs, vines, and bulbs. For example, the United States contains 8 zones in all, out of the 11 found in North America. These extend from zone 3 in the extreme northern regions to zone... [Read more...]
Seasonal Flowers
When you are designing your garden you will want to select flowers that bloom in each season in your climate zone, whether that includes 3 seasons or 4. Wise planters will stagger seasonal flowers throughout their beds and garden so that no section is without blooms during the year, unless by design. Here is a list of seasonal flowers, based on when they flower, to get you started on developing a garden that will never lack in vibrant color. Let’s... [Read more...]
Tips on Placing a Birdhouse for Cardinals in your Garden
The male cardinal in his bright red plumage, and his more subtly attired, though just as pretty mate, offer an elegant, cheery addition to any back yard. They will delight you with their songs and their characteristics, such as the male offering seeds to his mate, and her eagerly accepting, or their swooping flight from bush to bush. Cardinals are among the most popular song birds in their territory, the Eastern U.S., and for good reason. Here... [Read more...]
Attracting Birds to your Backyard with less than $100
If you love birds, you’ll want your back yard to be a safe, inviting place for these creatures, and one they have every reason to visit and even nest in. There are three needs every bird has: Food, water and shelter. Providing these things can be expensive, but we’ve got a plan for attracting birds to your back yard for less than $100. In fact, you might have enough left over to pay someone to silence the neighbor’s cat…but we certainly... [Read more...]
How to Attract Birds to your Garden
This doesn’t sound like a great idea to all gardeners, those who don’t want the crows, jay, or song birds getting to the ripe raspberries or blueberries before they do. But to bird lovers, this is a very natural desire. Many bird enthusiasts who also enjoy gardening will grow a section of the garden or a separate plot just for their feathered friends. No scare crow will grace that garden, that’s for sure. You look forward to chickadees flitting... [Read more...]
How to Grow Fresh Flowers to Cut and Enjoy in your Home
If you are a passionate gardener you probably find ways to spend regular time in your garden on most days. You fit it into your routine from early spring to late fall because it is an essential part of maintaining equilibrium in a busy lifestyle, and you look forward to those moments with eager anticipation. Like most of us, you want to extend those moments in any way possible, and one of the best ways is to grow flowers that are easy to cut and... [Read more...]
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