The “perfect garden” is simple. It’s the garden you imagine with vegetables or flowers or a mix of both. It’s the garden in a size and location and design that suits your needs and wants. In reality, the perfect garden is where, how and when you want it – because there is no right or wrong way to garden. There is only your way. There are, however, ways to make it more perfect in terms of success so your time, energy and money are put to good use. Here are 5 tips for the “perfect garden,” all gleaned from my decades of successes and failures and training as a Virginia Master Gardener and horticulture student. For more specific tips about vegetable gardening, read How to Start a Victory Garden 2.0. Tips for a Perfect Garden Perfect Garden Tip 1: Know your zone. When I first started gardening in southeastern Virginia, I lived in USDA cold hardiness Zone 7. Tender plants were likely to freeze and die in a typical winter that often dipped below 32 degrees. Oh, … [Read more...] about 5 Tips To Grow The Perfect Garden
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Enjoy Your Backyard All Year Round
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
How to Plant a Tree in Your Yard
Many homeowners have questions when they decide to plant a tree. Just follow these easy steps when planting shade, ornamental or fruit tree. By using these expert tips as your guide, your tree should thrive and provide years of enjoyment in your yard. Select the Right Tree for Your Location Before you plant a tree, you need to decide what kind of tree to want to plant. Do you want a tree for privacy or to provide shade? Maybe your tree is meant to be an ornamental focal point in your yard. Perhaps you want a fruit tree to produce and edible crop of fruit. Another key consideration in selecting a tree is how much space you have in your yard. According to Jeff Dinslage, president of Nature Hills Nursery, which grows and sells all types of trees, many homeowners buy small trees that become too large for the space available. “Nature Hills lists the mature sizes of all of our plants right on the web page,” said Dinslage. “Compare the mature height and width of the tree to the space … [Read more...] about How to Plant a Tree in Your Yard
