Garden Articles

Composting Fall Leaves Turns Garden Trash into Treasure

Composting Fall Leaves Turns Garden Trash into Treasure
(ARA) - Leaves turn brilliant colors, evenings cool and the kids go back to school. So long summer, hello fall garden cleanup.

You may already know that composting is a better way to deal with bags of leaves and backyard waste. But if you’ve avoided composting because it seems like too much work and mess -- or you just weren’t sure how to start -- fall is a great time to try your hand at turning this year’s yard debris into next year’s natural fertilizer. Read More...

Garden Design Tips from Better Homes and Gardens

(ARA) - Great-looking garden design doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming. If you don’t forget about the basics, it’s easy to create a professional look like you see in gardening magazines.  

Better Homes and Gardens magazine editor Justin Hancock reveals his time saving tips and money saving tricks for backyard beauty: Read more...

Tips for Green Summer Pest Control

(ARA) – Living green doesn’t mean yielding your yard to birds, bugs and critters that can be both a nuisance and a health hazard. It’s possible to keep unwanted animal guests away from your gardens, landscaping, lawn and outdoor living areas without contributing to the groundwater contamination associated with many chemical pesticides. Read more...

Pick a Feeder, Any Feeder

(ARA) - Backyard bird feeding is an easy way to enjoy wildlife up close and personal. Feeders, and the beautiful birds that perch upon them, can brighten up any garden or yard. More important, however, is that bird feeding is very beneficial to the outdoor pets we adore so much. Read nore...

Fountains Make a Big Splash in Your Garden

(ARA) - Ponce de Leon spent his life searching for the “fountain of youth.” Fortunately for us, we only have to search a local garden store to find that special fountain which will transform our own backyard into a private oasis.
Today when we relax in our gardens, the soothing sounds of flowing water from a fountain can calm our soul. We, too, are drawn to the spiritual qualities as the gentle sounds of flowing water wash stress from our busy days, restoring and relaxing us. Read more...

Use Vertical Gardening for Maximum Space

Vertical gardening is one way you can maximize the use of your garden space. Plants such as squash, melons, strawberries, cucumbers, and tomatoes will sprawl out on the ground taking up to 10 times as much area as growing them vertically. The exceptions being some varieties of beans, and tomatoes, not many gardeners will take advantage of this innovative gardening technique. Read more...

The Humane Way to Take Care of a Pesky Bird Problem

(ARA) – There’s nothing more pleasant on a warm, sunny day than sitting on a backyard deck and watching song birds, cardinals and blue jays fly in and out of the backyard bird feeder; but there are certain species homeowners would rather do without. One that comes to mind is the woodpecker, Named because of just that -- they peck wood; and the last thing you want is for one to attack your home. Read more...

Edging and Your Summer Garden

So, you've got your flower garden set up. You've planted the flowers, some perennials here, a few annuals there. You've added a gazing ball, a bench, and some other accent pieces to help make your garden unique. But you're still missing one thing. You're missing the edging around the garden. Read more...

Deer Resistant Perennials

Just as most of us have certain likes and dislikes when it comes to food, so do the deer. Planting perennials deer don't like to eat is one solution if you have this kind of damage.

Many repellents are currently available to prevent deer from feeding on prized landscape plants. However, gardeners who use these products find varying degrees of success. Fences to keep deer out are the most effective deterrents but also may be the most unsightly and most expensive. So what plants do deer prefer, or dislike? Read more...

Pruning Apple Trees is Essential to Successful Fruit Production

Successful apple production starts with proper fruit tree pruning which is done on a yearly schedule in late winter or early spring. Depending on a person’s schedule and the number of trees to be pruned, trees can be pruned any time between the first part of January and the end of March.One determining factor will be if a person lives in a southern or a northern state. Read more...

Summer Gardening Tips

Here are a few gardening tips for strawberries, roses and produce in the coming month.
The fertilizer you have administered to annuals in containers may have washed out of the soil in rain, so apply some more. Prune spent blooms and cut some stems back to promote lots of new growth. Do this every few weeks. Read more...

Gardening Anywhere, Tools and Ideas for Smaller Spaces

 
(ARA) - Whether it’s five stories up in an apartment building or in a tiny backyard, it’s possible to grow greenery. As long as there is access to water and sunshine, people with the desire to add a little plant life to their living space can break out the watering can and create a green space. Read more...

Fix up Your Fence

(ARA) - If you’ve watched home improvement shows that focus on “curb appeal,” you know that a coat of paint or stain on a fence can make a huge difference in the attractiveness of your home.  But visual appeal isn’t the only reason to renovate your fence --a worn out enclosure can also put the safety of your home and family at risk. Read more...

The Sting of Summer -- Take a Bite Out of Mosquito Myths

(ARA) - When it comes to summer most of us can't wait to hit the beach, hike local nature trails or even lounge in the backyard. In fact, according to the OFF! PowerPad survey, adults say they and/or their families plan to attend a barbecue (73 percent), watch fireworks (59 percent), attend outdoor concerts (33 percent), go camping (28 percent) and go to amusement parks (32 percent) this summer. With so many families spending time outdoors, it's important to stay protected from unplanned summer mishaps. In fact, adults named insect-related (25 percent) concerns like stings, bites and contracting the West Nile virus from infected mosquitoes among their top protection concerns during the summer. Are you one of the 78 percent of adults who believe in over a dozen mosquito myths, like eating garlic will repel mosquitoes? Read more...