August To-Do List for the Yard
Tuesday July 31, 2012
"Your garden is hardier than you think and there are plenty of gardening tasks for August that will keep your flower and vegetable gardens going longer, as well as opportunities ... Read More
Striping Lawns
Monday July 30, 2012
While watching sporting events played on grass, have you ever noticed how the lawns sometimes appear to be decorated with evenly spaced sets of stripes? It's an appealing look, and ... Read More
Perennials That Are Easy to Grow
Sunday July 29, 2012
Do you have a few high-maintenance people in your life? You probably don't mind too much, as long as they offer some sort of trade-off (high energy, creativity, etc.). It's ... Read More
Beach Plants
Saturday July 28, 2012
Many of us drool over the prospects of having a home at the seashore. Living near the beach may be glamorous, but it's not without its unique challenges -- especially ... Read More
Spice Up Your Yard With Variegated Plants
Friday July 27, 2012
Variegated plants are dedicated to the proposition that variety is the spice of life -- but not just any "variety." Specifically, variegated plants give us variety with efficiency, affording two ... Read More
Is Now the Time to Think About Fall Flowers?
Thursday July 26, 2012
I'm not one to rush the season (unless it's winter!). But because I strive to save money, I start thinking about fall flowers now. Planning ahead is almost always a ... Read More
Bougainvillea: One Striking Plant, No Matter How You Pronounce It
Wednesday July 25, 2012
Ever wonder what goes into the thinking of plant namers when they're deciding upon a name? Some plant names derive from physical characteristics: For instance, the "Cherry Parfait" rose has ... Read More
Poison Ivy, Meet Jewelweed
Tuesday July 24, 2012
Poison ivy needs no introduction. The itchy weed is so infamous that it spawned a villain in the Batman comics. You just might have another wild plant growing in your ... Read More
How to Build Small Retaining Walls
Monday July 23, 2012
New England is a region legendary for its rocky soil. The farmers who originally settled here toiled for countless hours to clear the land of all those stones. Later, they ... Read More
Getting Rid of Mimosas and Other Invasive Plants
Sunday July 22, 2012
Mimosas (also called, "silk trees") can be real pests in the landscape. A frustrated reader recently asked About's Forestry Guide, Steve Nix a question on getting rid of mimosas. Steve, ... Read More
In the Mood for a Chocolate Sedum?
Saturday July 21, 2012
The namers of newly-developed plants are no fools. Marketing wizards that they are, they often pick monikers that will entice. They know how many people with a sweet tooth exist ... Read More
How Did Boxelder Get Its Name?
Friday July 20, 2012
Boxelders (also called "box elder trees," "boxelder maples," etc.) are really a type of maple tree. Steve Nix says that, like silver maple trees, boxelders have weak wood, which may ... Read More
How to Make Your Garden Look Old
Thursday July 19, 2012
Many folks love to be surrounded by things that are old (but not decrepit). Thus there are aficionados of antique lamps, classic cars, and houses that date back centuries. ... Read More
Landscaping on the Edge
Wednesday July 18, 2012
Do you landscape "on the edge?" I'm sure comedian, Fred Stoller has, assuming that he's ever done any landscaping. In case you're not familiar with Fred, he's made appearances in ... Read More
Container Gardens for Beginners
Tuesday July 17, 2012
"From classic terra cotta containers to trash cans and laundry baskets, almost anything can make a great container garden," states Kerry Michaels in this resource on container gardens for beginners. ... Read More
Trees for Attracting Hummingbirds
Monday July 16, 2012
Why are gardeners always discussing which trees and other plants are best for attracting hummingbirds? Well, gardening and bird watching are siblings among the passions. There may be a few ... Read More
What's the Difference Between Conifers and Evergreens?
Sunday July 15, 2012
I'm enough of a geek to become interested in just about any "What's the difference between..." discussion. Landscaping has its share of those.
For example, do you know the difference between ... Read More
Pincushion Flower
Saturday July 14, 2012
"Pincushion flower" is a rather whimsical common name for Scabiosa columbaria. "First glance will tell you how this plant got the common name of Pincushion Flower," remarks Marie Iannotti. "As ... Read More
No Swimming Pool in My Landscaping, Thank You
Friday July 13, 2012
I'm not very good about keeping up with things that require periodic maintenance. That's one of the reasons why I don't have a big lawn in my yard. I'm as ... Read More
Tree Health: How Do You Know If a Tree is Healthy?
Thursday July 12, 2012
You feel fine, but you're not sure if you're really healthy. What do you do? You go in for a physical, of course. It's the same with tree health, only ... Read More
Bee Balm
Wednesday July 11, 2012
Do you have a wet area on your land where whatever you plant seems to struggle? Bee balm might be the solution for you. Bee balm is one of the ... Read More
Garden Railroads
Tuesday July 10, 2012
There's something poetic about the railroad. I suppose that's because the railroad harkens back to simpler times. Doesn't the sound of a train whistle strike a cord in everyone's heart, ... Read More
Vines on Walls: Problems, Solutions
Monday July 9, 2012
Do you like the idea of having vines climb up the side of a building? I do. It makes me think of old movies and people behaving in a very ... Read More
Stone Fountains: Landscaping for the Senses
Sunday July 8, 2012
Stone fountains combine two elements that nicely complement the plants in a landscape: stone and water. In my tutorial on stone fountains I show you, with pictures, how easy it ... Read More
Pictures of Poison Ivy
Saturday July 7, 2012
There is much confusion over the identification of poison ivy plants. Some folks mistake another plant, Virginia creeper vine, for poison ivy. Others, with less experience in the woods, aren't ... Read More
Stars of the Yard for July, 2012
Friday July 6, 2012
It's time for you, once again, to pick your own favorites from my list of late June and early July standouts. There's something on this list for everyone, whether ... Read More
Step Into Pepe Le Pew's Garden!
Wednesday July 4, 2012
People's opinions (positive or negative) of the scents of different flowers can vary dramatically. One person's nominee for the next great perfume sensation may be another person's candidate for a ... Read More
Plants Poisonous to Dogs
Tuesday July 3, 2012
The chances that you have a plant growing in your yard that is at least mildly toxic to dogs (as in causing them to vomit, for example) are very good. ... Read More
Deck Construction -- Practice Makes Perfect
Monday July 2, 2012
Deck construction is not as difficult as do-it-yourselfers may imagine, as long as you follow the KISS injunction ("Keep it simple, stupid!"). In his Lifehacker article on deck construction, Matt ... Read More
A Blue Rose of Sharon
Sunday July 1, 2012
Rose of sharon is a must in my yard. Why? Because it produces colorful flowers -- and masses of them -- at a time when few other shrubs are doing ... Read More