Want to enjoy your backyard all year round? Your backyard should be a comfortable space where you can lounge and enjoy precious moments with your family and friends. It should also be a welcoming area where you can entertain guests and make many great memories. With that in mind, here are six tips on how you can enjoy your outdoor space all throughout the seasons of each year. 1. Choose Hardy Plants When landscaping your garden, it is best to choose plants that can withstand changing seasons. Selecting plants that can survive changing seasons and weather can also allow you to save on maintenance and upkeep. This is also the best way to make sure that your backyard looks lush and colorful at most times of the year. Hostas, coral bells, and viburnums are known to be hardy, and they can easily add a splash of fresh color to your backyard. 2. Highlight A Backyard Feature to Enjoy Your Backyard All Year Round Research and do more reading to gain ideas or explore … [Read more...] about Enjoy Your Backyard All Year Round
Garden
Bamboo Plants and How to Grow Them
Bamboo plants are popular garden plants because they are both beautiful and easy to grow. Some types of bamboo plants are great for tropical landscaping, while others fit well in more modern or urban designs. Different bamboo plants for your yard can work well as natural screens in a landscape. Many bamboo varieties grow quickly, so they can be used to block unattractive views. Bamboo can also or create a privacy barrier between you and your neighbors. The dense canes (culms) are both beautiful and prolific. The canes can range from green to yellow to brown to black. Bamboo is a fast-growing evergreen plant that looks good all year long. Two Types of Bamboo Plants: Running and Clumping There are two basic types of bamboo plants, commonly called running and clumping. Running bamboo spread via underground roots. These species can quickly outgrow their intended growing space. Running bamboo grows quickly. The roots are fairly shallow, and they spread with abandon. (See … [Read more...] about Bamboo Plants and How to Grow Them
Preparing Your Garden for Winter
Preparing your garden for winter is a fall activity for millions of gardeners and homeowners. If you are reading this story right now, you are in good company! Most people tend to think of spring when it comes to planting and gardening. However, autumn is a great time to get a head start on your garden for the following year. Here are a few things you should consider when preparing your garden for those cold winter months. Trim Hedges and Shrubs Preparing your garden for winter can begin with trimming your hedges and shrubs. The growth rate of plants slows down due to the cooler temperatures and reduced daylight. If you complete some prep during autumn, you won’t be faced with a lot of yard tasks during the winter. Pruning your hedges and shrubs in autumn makes them less vulnerable to freezing. And autumn is not bird nesting season, which is an important consideration when cutting back hedgerows. Working with heavy power tools can be dangerous, so you may want to … [Read more...] about Preparing Your Garden for Winter
Reduce Water Consumption in Your Garden
In times of water shortages, you need to reduce water consumption in your garden. Everyone needs to do their part in conserving this valuable resource. Many states in the United States are experiencing severe drought conditions, including California, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Kansas and Oklahoma. Even if you're not in a drought-stricken area, it's still important to conserve water whenever possible. In this article, we'll give you tips on how to reduce water consumption in your garden – from xeriscaping to using targeted irrigation. Let's get started! Xeriscaping A xeriscape is a type of garden that uses native plants adapted to the local climate. These plants require less water and maintenance than non-native plants. High Country Gardens is a terrific online source for waterwise plants and preplanned waterwise gardens. Xeriscaping can also include using rocks, gravel, and other materials that require little or no watering. If you're not ready to xeriscape your entire … [Read more...] about Reduce Water Consumption in Your Garden
Lawn Fertilization Tips for Spring and Fall
Lawn fertilization is necessary for healthy, green grass lawns. A well-fertilized turfgrass lawn is healthy enough to withstand stress from pests, foot traffic, and environmental factors. Quite simply, regular lawn fertilization is necessary to maintain optimal health. Here are some quick tips that will help you maintain a healthy green turfgrass lawn. Then I will give a more in-depth explanation of key lawn fertilization principles. Home, Garden and Homestead receives a small commission (at no cost to you) from product links in this story. Thank you for supporting this website! 5 Quick Lawn Fertilization Tips Fast-Release and Slow-Release Fertilization Depending on your lawn’s needs and your preference, you can choose between fast-release inorganic lawn fertilizers and slow-release organic fertilizers. You can even use the blend of multiple fertilizers if you wish. For example, some homeowners use fast-release fertilizers, followed by a top dressing of organic … [Read more...] about Lawn Fertilization Tips for Spring and Fall