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
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The Joys of Fall Gardening
The joys of fall gardening include planting bulbs, planting cool season vegetables, planting trees and shrubs, and getting the garden ready for the winter to come. That's because fall just happens to be a great time in the garden. Even novice gardeners know that spring is a wonderful time for planting. Spring is Mother Nature’s season for rebirth, as new leaves emerge and flowers bloom. In Spring, every garden center is filled with annuals and perennials for planting. And seeds are sown for millions of backyard vegetable gardens. But experienced gardeners know the joys of fall gardening. They know autumn is also a wonderful time for gardening. And especially for planting. The summer days have cooled down, and plants are growing roots to help them hunker down for the chilly winter weather. Mike Lizotte is an experienced gardener. He is the managing partner of American Meadows, one of the top gardening companies in the United States. Mike is also known as "the seed man," … [Read more...] about The Joys of Fall Gardening
Tree Watering Made Simple: The Root Quencher Story
The Inventors of the Root Quencher Want to Spread the Word about Deep Tree Watering to Save One Million Trees. Trees are the anchors of a landscape. Their awe-inspiring size and stature are the first things we notice about a property. But trees need special care, and trees need deep watering to stay healthy and beautiful. Quite simply, when trees don’t receive enough water, they become stressed. And when tree roots don’t receive periodic deep waterings, trees can die. Robert Summers and Maria Caceres know first-hand how devastating it can be to receive bad news about water-stressed trees. They consulted an arborist about the 50-year-old trees planted by Robert’s father on the family-owned property in Pasadena, California. The prognosis was not good. Many of the mature trees in the landscape were dying and aging out. They would have to be replaced. Robert and Maria rejected that idea. Rather than cutting down the trees, they embarked on a concerted effort to revitalize their … [Read more...] about Tree Watering Made Simple: The Root Quencher Story
Best Trees for Small Yards
The Best Trees for Small Yards include some real surprises, including a small magnolia tree and a gorgeous Japanese maple tree. Most trees just don’t fit into small yards. At mature size, popular trees such as oaks, maples and magnolias get too large for today’s suburban lots. That’s why the editors of HomeGardenandHomestead.com have created this list of the best trees for small yards. In addition to being small enough to fit into small yards and smaller spaces within larger landscapes, these best trees for small yards also offer extra benefits. Most of the trees on our list put on a colorful show of flowers each spring and/or summer. Many of the trees on the Best Trees for Small Yards list offer colorful fall foliage. And all of these trees are distinctive enough to become cherished horticultural focal points in your yard. So if you’ve got a small space that needs a bit of pizzazz, we’ve got the trees for you. Once you have selected the small trees that are perfect for … [Read more...] about Best Trees for Small Yards
How to Remove a Tree Branch
Knowing how to remove a tree branch is an important part of yard maintenance. That's because having trees on your property is one of the best things you can do to stay connected with nature. Trees become permanent residences of birds and squirrels, and make your home and property feel more wholesome. A window in your home that overlooks a majestic tree can be the perfect place to relax. It's also a great view for your home office. Moreover, trees can also provide your house with some much-needed privacy if you live in a humming neighborhood. However, having trees can requires some effort. One of the most common problems with having trees in your yard is falling branches. Natural occurrences such as storms, heavy winds, rain, or a thick layer of ice can cause trees to lose their branches. At times, branches do not completely fall off the tree. Instead, tree branches can break, but hang onto the tree by a thin layer of bark. This can become a potential threat to property and … [Read more...] about How to Remove a Tree Branch
