Growing Grapes in Your Home Garden
Whether you’re growing grapes for the fruit or their color and leaf texture, grape vines are a great addition to the garden. There are several varieties that produce delectable table grapes, and the large, lobed leaves provide a textural contrast when juxtaposed against plants with small leaves or the long, thin blades of ornamental grasses. […]
How to Create a Butterfly Garden
June 6, 2014
in Home Improvement Tagged butterflies, butterfly, garden, gardening, landscape, landscapingWho doesn’t love a butterfly? Most people think of aesthetic value when they consider the benefits of butterflies. But beyond their good looks, butterflies are an important link in the ecosystem. The adult insects and their larvae are critical to the food chain and provide nutrition for many birds, bats, and insect-eating animals. When butterflies […]
Creating a Garden Your Kids Will Love
Gardens don’t have to be off-limits to children. In fact, creating a designated garden area for your kids can provide hours of fun as well as opportunities for learning. If you have limited space, allocating even a small garden bed for your child to care for can give him a sense of accomplishment and an […]
Chemical-Free Weed Prevention Tactics
February 7, 2014
in Home Improvement Tagged garden, gardening, landscape, landscaping, organic, weedsIf there’s one thing all gardeners hate, it is weeds. Fortunately, there are a number of chemical-free tactics you can use to control weeds in your garden. And in the long run, most of them will be cheaper than spending money on toxic, synthetic chemical weed controls. A weed, by definition, is any plant that […]
Tips for Growing an Herb Garden
Herbs are some of the easiest, most versatile and useful plants to grow. If you’re going to start a garden for the first time, try growing herbs. Many of them grow with very little care, and if you live in a condominium or townhome with limited space, herbs can easily be grown in containers. Whether […]
Hummingbird Plants in the Garden
With wings that beat up to 200 times per second and the ability to hover straight up and down, sideways, backwards, and even upside down, hummingbirds need a lot of energy. Although hummingbirds will eat insects, most of that energy comes from the nectar of flowers, and you can invite these guests to dine in […]
Bird Feeders: Basic Considerations
July 19, 2013
in Home Improvement Tagged bird feeder, birds, garden, gardening, landscape, landscapingPlacing bird feeders in your garden won’t make up for lost habitat, but a well-placed bird feeder can allow you to see wild birds up close and create an awareness of nature. Before purchasing or building a bird feeder, there are a few basic things to consider, including which birds to feed, how much seed you […]
Is Your Garden Really Green? Creating an Eco-Friendly Landscape Design
May 17, 2013
in Home Improvement Tagged eco, eco-friendly, garden, gardening, green, landscape, landscapingYou may have the greenest lawn on the block, but is your garden really “green,” meaning ecologically friendly? Often the answer is a resounding “NO.” Just the fact that you have a lawn at all can be an indicator that your landscape is not as green as it could be. Lawns generally need more water […]
Your Garden is an Outdoor Room
March 1, 2013
in Home Improvement Tagged backyard, garden, gardening, landscape, landscaping, outdoor, patio, paving, privacy, yardUnless you’re a natural green thumb, you probably feel a bit daunted by what to do with your backyard. If you’ve moved into a new housing development, chances are you have a patch of lawn, a tree or two, and a few shrubs. If you just purchased an older home with an established garden, you […]
Garden Plants for Fall and Winter Containers
January 4, 2013
in Home Improvement Tagged container, curb appeal, fall, foliage, garden, gardening, plant, planting, plants, winterMost gardens start to fade as autumn arrives. The vibrant colors and activity of spring and summer are gone, and the garden feels like it’s going to sleep for a long winter’s nap. So, what do you do if you have garden containers? If you’ve planted them with summer annuals, these will soon be gone. What […]