David's Landscaping Blog

If you're like many homeowners, you've wondered about how to get rid of crabgrass. In this week's featured posting from the Landscaping Forum, you'll find a discussion on crabgrass control ... Read More

No, intersectional peonies are not peonies grown at street intersections to spruce up the neighborhood! Rather, intersectional peonies, writes horticulturist, Tim Kornder, "are the result of crossing two different species ... Read More

Marie Iannotti reports that the 2007 Thompson & Morgan catalog has introduced to the plant-loving public the first black hyacinths, known as ‘Midnight Mystic.’ "Some gardeners love dark flowers and ... Read More

'Tis the season of "smice." That's my name for the hellish substance one finds in the North this time of year, a conglomeration of snow, mud and ice. In bad ... Read More

The experts don't seem to agree on the issue of mulching near house foundations, in the context of termite control. How cautious should you be when mulching foundation plantings? At ... Read More

Caladium plants are those shade-loving beauties with "leaves splotched and speckled in greens, creams, pinks and reds," as Marie Iannotti describes them. About's Gardening Guide notes that, although native to ... Read More

Steve Nix, About's Forestry Guide, blogs that "tree owners have been hit especially hard the last several years by tornados, hurricanes, ice storms and other U.S. disasters. Remember, trees damaged ... Read More

Your lawn is brown, or perhaps hidden under a blanket of white. Your garden plants have been eaten, or else rest snugly in the compost bin, waiting to pass on ... Read More

Who better to turn to for concrete-mixing tips than a retired inspector? An expert on mixing concrete, Ed Adams relates the importance of water in the curing process. Those who ... Read More

I am sometimes asked what I recommend for landscaping for the elderly -- something that looks good, but that is less labor intensive than the typical landscape that "looks good." ... Read More

If anyone knows deck railings, it's Lawrence Winterburn.In this interview, Winterburn, founder of GardenStructure.com, provides an overview on the styles of deck railings now available. Do-it-yourselfers will especially appreciate his ... Read More

This week's featured poster in the Landscaping Forum has privet hedges (see picture) and "would like to incorporate some small to medium trees into the hedges that would look good ... Read More

Traditionally, foundation plantings were installed to hide the raised house foundations that were popular at the time in some regions. While some may feel they are no longer necessary (because ... Read More

Have a mystery tree in your yard? If you're tired of referring to it as "that tree over there" and would like to attach a name to it (other than ... Read More

Mention of English lavender plants immediately brings to mind the employment of their aromatic quality to lend a romantic fragrance to linens, sachets and potpourris, once the herb is harvested ... Read More

Having problems with landscape drainage? Well, take heart: your yard needn't look like a swamp. This year you can do something about your landscape drainage problems. Learn how to build ... Read More

Many people may need a crash course in the meanings of flowers in order to express themselves properly for Valentine's Day. As About's Gardening Guide, Marie Iannotti, writes, "The Victorians ... Read More

Looking for an upgrade in patio design? This tutorial on building tile patios from Better Homes and Gardens takes you through all the steps involved. From avoiding glazed tiles (because ... Read More

When people plan their landscape designs for spring planting, the season most likely to be overlooked is winter. Winter may be a Scrooge when it comes to providing greenery, ... Read More

This week's featured poster in the Landscaping Forum had a question on how to build terraces. "Do I start at the bottom and work up or vice versa"? See what ... Read More

There's a fine line between merely displaying decorations and displaying whimsy in your landscape design. How do you know when you've crossed the line from the former to the latter? ... Read More

When trees are damaged by storms, it's a hassle -- and a bite out of your pocketbook. Steve Nix, About's Guide to Forestry, offers tips "designed to help you quickly ... Read More

With the 2007 National Cherry Blossom Festival of Washington, DC approaching next month, let's consider some of the cherry blossom trees you can plant in your own landscape, including weeping ... Read More

"Ever wanted that dream backyard? A pool? A deck? A nice stone patio? Or maybe all of it!!! One of the most common things I find in my business is ... Read More

Wood fences serve a number of practical functions in your yard. But in choosing between types of wood fences, you'll want to consider their compatibility with your house style. For ... Read More

Borders play an important role in landscape design. Whether we're talking about the whole yard or just a planting bed, a defined area catches the eye more readily than does ... Read More

This week's featured poster in the Landscaping Forum had a question about yard drainage. "My home sits at the bottom of a hill and during a heavy downpour the water ... Read More

As I walked around my neighborhood throughout this past January, I saw old Christmas trees unceremoniously strewn all over the curbsides. Sadly, they were awaiting their spot in the local ... Read More

For optimal success, do-it-yourselfers should first learn the basics of landscape design. Unfortunately, the meaning behind those basics is often obscured by off-putting technical terms. This article explains the fundamentals ... Read More

Northern white cedars are slow-growing trees native to North America. Going by the cultivated name, "arborvitae," white cedars are "commercially sold and planted in yards throughout the United States," writes ... Read More