Do you walk around your neighborhood and stare longingly at the lush green lawns of those around you? Perhaps, you have just purchased a home and want to go to work on your lawn to make it healthy and beautiful. Before you get started, it is useful to learn what not to do with your lawn. Making any of the lawn care mistakes below can be a huge setback to the beautiful grass you long for.
You may have heard the term bog garden, but perhaps you are unsure what it is and whether or not it would fit well in your garden landscape. A bog garden is technically any area near a body of water that creates moist soil perfect for plants that thrive in such conditions. So, if you have a nearby body of water and wet soil surrounding it, you are in luck, a bog garden is a perfect option. Let’s dig into just how to create the most fantastic bog garden ever.
Depending on where you live in the country, you may be dreaming of spring soon to come. What a magical time of the year to plan and execute beautiful gardens. When I step into spring, new growth is appearing, buds are blooming, and it really warms my heart. This spring, why not focus on enjoying the entire process of breathing new life into your gardens? Here are some suggestions to really showcase your property this spring.
Garden irrigation is one of the most challenging areas to master. You don’t want to water too much, but you also don’t want to water too little. And solely relying on rain is usually not an option in most climates. A lot of people simply give up and water whenever and however they feel like doing it. Unfortunately, if you don’t make an effort to water properly, you’ll be shocked by your bill at the end of the month. Most gardeners on metered water systems are always looking for ways to get the most bang for their buck and keep their plants hydrated and happy without breaking the bank on the water bill. Here are a few helpful ways to do just that.Â
Years ago, gardening was reserved for those who had expensive pieces of land where they could create long rows for growing food. Today, however, there is a skyrocketing interest among urbanites to grow their food, herbs, and flowers. The good news is that gardening in 2020 has taken a whole new twist making it possible for more and more people to experience the joy and rewards of small space gardening. Even better, gardens are all about marrying the use of space with what is good for wildlife and the earth as a whole. It is indeed a great time to garden. Let’s explore some of the hottest garden trends for 2020.
Not everyone has the luxury of a bright yard, and finding shrubs, especially flowering shrubs with beautiful blooms to fill in shady spots can seem like a real challenge. Believe it or not, these six eye-catching, alluring shrubs flourish in filtered sun or shade and can bring a wild beauty to barren spots in your garden.Â
Planting a flower bed in a flat area is simple. Choose plants that complement each other, stick them in a pleasing arrangement, dig a hole, give them some water, and you’re good to go. You don’t have to worry about things like erosion control, root hold, and trailing tendencies. Slopes, on the other hand, can be the gardener’s worst nightmare, since you have to take all of these concerns into account and more. If you’re at a loss on how to deal with a slope in your yard, these plants and helpful ideas could be useful.
A unique, personalized, living wall adds so much interest and fun to any exterior design. Here are our favorite ways to create a living wall in your yard and a few tips to help you succeed.Â
Premade felt hanger
One of the easiest ways to create a living wall for your outdoor space is to purchase a simple hanging material with pockets for planting. This sturdy material usually comes ready to hang. All you have to do is add soil and plants, and you’re good to go. Though not necessarily as attractive, you can also use an old canvas over-the-door pocket hanger if you don’t want to buy anything and have a fence or rail to hang it over. Choose trailing plants and vines to plant in the pockets, and you’ll be able to cover it up in no time. Avoid plastic or plastic-lined pockets at these will not provide adequate drainage.
Large frame
On the other end of the effort spectrum is the planter frame. Unlike the premade choices, this one is DIY heavy and requires more supplies and a few tools. Search out plans to determine if this project is something you want to tackle.Â
Pallet gardens
To save money on supplies, and save time on constructing your own structure, use an old pallet for your wall garden. It can be attached to an existing fence, or you could attach pallets together to create a low, decorative living wall. This is also a great way to help save the environment by using recycled materials. Remember, you will need landscape fabric and wire to help hold the soil in, so keep that in mind as you budget for this project.Â
Potted wall
Attaching pots to an existing wall or fence is incredibly simple and may be the best option if you want to grow a variety of plants that don’t do well together. Cluster the pots so that the arrangement seems intentional, not haphazard, and utilize trailing plants to help fill in the gap. Be sure that the pots are removable for ease of planting and replacement.
Ladders
If you want to encourage vine growth on your fence or garden wall, attach simple wooden ladders to give them something to climb. Plant perennial vines below your wall, and within a few seasons, you’ll have a living garden wall straight out of a fairy tale.Â
Tips for a wall garden
Vertical gardening, in general, but wall gardens in particular, are a lot different than traditional container, or in-the-ground gardens. With that said, there are a few things you need to keep in mind while planning and building your living wall.Â
Don’t forget about water
Watering is one of the trickiest factors of a wall garden, and figuring it out can prove incredibly frustrating. If your water from the top and let it flow down, the plants on the bottom could become waterlogged; however, it’s often too big to take down and water, which rules out that option. Unfortunately, there’s really no sure answer for watering wall gardens other than installing a drip irrigation system as you build.Â
Another idea is to use arid plants such as succulents and desert dwellers. That way, water isn’t as much of a requirement, and you can leave your wall alone for weeks at a time. Or, you can place plants that need more water at the bottom and monitor your arrangements for any signs of root rot. Regardless, when designing your wall garden, drainage and watering are critical factors to take into consideration.Â
Consider portability
If you are installing a permanent wall garden, make sure that it is in an ideal spot with adequate sunshine and easy access to water. It may be a good idea to stick to more portable or disposable options at first while you are planning your garden and figuring out what looks best.Â
Grow horizontally
Unless you are using a pocket growing method, you’ll want to let your plants grow horizontally for a few weeks to let them establish roots. Otherwise, they may fall out or look weird as they grow with gravity pulling them down.
Don’t be afraid to take chances and try new things in your yard. After all, decorative gardening is all about expressing creativity and letting your personality shine, not about stifling your passion and following set plants. Be daring and bold and search for unique ways to use everyday objects for your new vertical garden.
-Susan Patterson
There is nothing quite like the perfect picture lush green lawn, right? Unfortunately, no matter how lovely lawns are, they are not particularly eco-friendly. The good news is, there are many super cool, attractive alternatives that are totally earth-friendly.
The chaos of the busy planting season along with a frenzied harvest and preparations for fall can leave your outdoor shed looking a little chaotic. Since you pretty much have to halt all other garden activities until spring, now is a great time to reorganize and reevaluate your garden shed and determine what you really need. Set aside some time on the next sunny weekend to create the ultimate storage shed. Your future self will thank you when you know exactly where to find that obscure weeding tool. Don’t know where to start? Follow these tips, and you’ll be organized in no time.
Drastically changing weather patterns can make it challenging for even the most skilled gardener to be successful. While at one time, seasons were relatively predictable – the same can not always be said for today’s strange weather outbursts.Â
Susan has been nurturing her gardening tips and advice for over 00 years, it’s fair to say she knows her beans. She’ll be sharing her knowledge from tried and tested methods.
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