Flowers, with their spectacular blooms and eye-catching colors, often take the leading role in the flower bed with many people entranced by their intricate designs. However, foliage plants are often equally, if not more beautiful than their floral cousins. Here are 11 foliage-only plants that round out your garden, serve as stunning filler, and stand on their own as exquisite attractions.Â
Though cats are carnivores and love eating meat and fish-based foods, you may have noticed your feline friend snacking on grass or chewing up your houseplants. If you have an indoor/outdoor cat, you’ve probably seen them rolling around in the yard munching on blades of grass like any hungry vegetarian. If your cat stays inside all day (like most domestic cats), you’ve probably had to place your plants on shelves out of their reach due to voracious snacking. Don’t worry! This behavior is totally normal and may even have health benefits. However, it is crucial to provide the right kind of foliage to protect your precious feline. So why does your cat eat grass, and how can you grow your own? Read on to find out.Â
Epsom salt is familiar to gardeners as a fertilizer. When you find your plants looking tired, giving them a small dose of Epsom salt is a quick way to rejuvenate them. This is particularly true for ferns and palms. Roses, azaleas, tomatoes, peppers, and fruit trees also respond well to its regular application with increased flowering and yield. If that’s not enough, this inexpensive non-toxic solution can help keep pests out of your garden, too.
Pesticides are a bitter pill. Without them, our lawns and gardens could quickly become overrun by pests. When we use them, they pollute the soil and water and even the air we breathe.
If you are anything like me, there is nothing more enjoyable to you than sitting on your patio in the warm twilight air, sipping a cup of tea and watching the birds and insects trill around your garden. You don’t have to live in the heart of the country to enjoy this vision, either. Even if you are in an urban area, there are ways that you can, and should, be encouraging wildlife to find sanctuary in your yard. Here are a few tips and tricks to make your garden a natural paradise…no matter where you are.
You are ready, shovel in hand and your tree beside you. If you have already read our tree shopping guide, you are indeed ready to plant. Here are a few basic guidelines that will contribute to the long-term health and growth of your tree.
If only it were as easy as purchasing the perfect tree, digging a hole and waiting for your tree to take root and come to life. In fact, there are more technicalities to purchasing and planting a tree than most people understand.
Xeriscaping is all about designing the garden to minimize water usage. Drought tolerant plants are the obvious choices, but that doesn’t mean you should fill the yard with just cacti and succulents. Many flowering shrubs, grasses, and plants that have underground rhizomes or bulbs can manage with occasional watering. Some plants may need to be watered when they’re young but can go without water for extended periods once they’re established. Others can completely manage with seasonal precipitation, requiring no additional supplement because they go dormant during the dry season.
Water features can add a lot to any backyard space or garden. They can create an aura of tranquillity on a soothing, atmospheric patio, or bring a unique flair to your garden oasis. While ponds, water fountains, and other more extensive water features are impressive, the cost and time involved can certainly add up. This simple bubbler water feature is budget-friendly and can be assembled in an afternoon. Plus, it is highly customizable and can be personalized to fit your individual style. Here’s how to make an outdoor bubber water feature in just 7 easy steps.
Just as there are trends for fashion, makeup, and home design, there are yearly garden trends as well. It can be difficult to keep up on all of the exciting developments in the yard and garden. Keep in mind that, ultimately, the true heart of gardening is a timeless act. The therapeutic process of selecting a plant or seed and placing it into the ground, tending it with care and diligence will always remain the same. These steps of gardening have been around since the dawn of agriculture and contribute to the fact that gardening will never go out of fashion.
If your yard is on the small side and you don’t have a lot of square footage, it’s still possible to have a beautiful small space garden. With a little creativity, you can make the most of a small space, even if it consists of a postage stamp yard, a front step, or a tiny apartment balcony.
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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