"weed" yards, pictures, and ideas...
Have a Gorgeous Garden and Save Butterflies
Is there anybody who doesn't love butterflies? Even the most hardened gardener perks up when one of nature's beauties flutters by. They serve a useful function in the garden, too. They eat flower nectar and thus pollinate plants in the garden, just as bees do....
Safe, Free, and Easy Weed Prevention Techniques
When it comes to weeds, it pays to work smart. Pulling weeds is one of the most tedious and persistent chores of gardening. Spending time on your hands and knees eliminating these little pests is not just unpleasant; it also takes away from time that could be spent gardening. ...
Birds, Butterflies and Bats: Welcome Them to Your Garden
With the continued growth in population throughout our country, many wildlife species face increasing pressure from lack of natural habitat—the number one threat to wildlife today. So creating welcoming places for these wonderful creatures in your yard—no matter how small—will help......
Give Your Flowers Some Companions, Part 1
There are some people I just love to work with. No matter what we're doing, I always do better work when I'm with them. I'm sure you know how that works. And then there are some people who make all my ideas shrivel up and die. Plants are the same way....
Cut & Grow: Enjoy the Benefits of a Cutting Garden
Many gardeners grow flowers for the pleasure of having fresh bouquets to decorate their homes or to give away to friends. But they also enjoy the beauty that the flowers provide in their yards; here is the dilemma--to cut or not to cut. The solution may be to plant a separate flower garden just for cutting....
Landscaping With Stone
Stones can really add character to a yard and even save you money in the long run while being kind to Mother Earth. For example, stonework can help with watering costs....
Make Room For Nature On Your Patio
A patio is a transitional space between your home and the great wilderness (AKA: your backyard). Unfortunately, many of these spaces languish as barren concrete deserts. It’s time to think about ways to bring in the green without sacrificing the utility of your patio. ...
Springtime Yard Spruce-Up
Spring is just around the corner. How far around the corner depends on countless celestial and meteorological factors, plus, of course, whatever a certain furry resident of Punxsutawney, PA had to say about it this year. (Fun fact: Phil has predicted correctly only about 39% of the time since 1887. So you may not want to take him to the track and let him pick the ponies for you. Just sayin’.) Large rodent shadows notwithstanding, spring is, in fact, coming. I know you’re ready. But is your landscape?...
Keeping the Kids in Mind
I grew up next door to a vacant lot. On any given weekend, it was a football/kickball/wiffle ball field, home to dawn-to-dusk “capture the flag” marathons, a BMX test track, an obstacle course, hide-and-seek homebase, or the site of our neighborhood Olympics. Maybe vacant lots are just rare these days… or maybe today’s kids demand more than an abandoned field to play in. Whatever the reason, more and more folks are dedicating parts of their yard to the smallest members of the family....
Greenhouse Gardening
For gardeners in many climates, winter is the landscape’s off-season. The trees have dropped their leaves, the perennials have gone dormant, the thick insulating layer of mulch has been put down in the beds, and the lawn mower has been taken to the shop for its annual tune-up. But that doesn’t have to mean that you’re resigned to just twiddling those green thumbs until spring....
