Around Our Yard
Dogwood in Summer
Why would I write about dogwood in summer? Probably because my big, hulking dogwood are growing like crazy and I need to remind myself how much I love them from November through April. I have three Arctic Fire dogwood in our front bed. During the winter months these stems are a bright red. They almost look fake with their fire engine red color and they are the first thing your eyes find in the garden during these months. As soon as the cool weather comes and the leaves fall off, the branches transform into these amazing colors. This photo shows the same dogwood in early April. Until the leaves begin to grow they remain their bright red color. However, these same dogwood in summer turn in to the big green masses in my front bed.… Read Full Post
Beneficial Garden Insects
Insects can be helpful as well as harmful. Helpful insects control the populations of harmful insects while harmful insects destroy gardens, property, and infest your home. Aphids, potato bugs, whiteflies, slugs, caterpillars, and grasshoppers can invade your property and cause the aforementioned damage. Gardens provide a complex and diverse ecosystem of insects and beneficial insects can prevent an overflow of pests. This article will help detail the helpful bugs you might find and the harmful bugs they prey on. Ladybug Of all the beneficial garden insects, ladybugs are among the most well-known. Their shells range from the iconic red, yellow and orange, always complete with black spots. Ladybugs eat aphids, whiteflies, and Colorado potato beetles. Aphids and whiteflies will bite into the stem of a plant and drink the sap, leaving open wounds that don’t heal and can eventually lead to the death of the plant.… Read Full Post
Grasses that stand up in winter
What can I say? Its been a long winter. We had a blizzard on Sunday– a real one. All of this snow is giving me a new appreciation for grasses that stand up in winter. The photo above shows the ‘Northwind’ switchgrass standing strong with about 8″ of snow at the base. The photos below show the same plants with about 15″ of snow at their base. I have other grasses in my garden, but none of them seem to hold up like these. What use is a floppy grass if you can’t appreciate it in the winter? Grasses that stand up in winter are something to be appreciated, quite honestly, all year long. Their vertical punctuation in an otherwise flat landscape is exactly what is needed.… Read Full Post
Garden Gifts to make Mom smile
Yes its early, but now is a great time to start thinking about garden gifts for the special people in your life. I am getting so stir crazy for spring that I might start getting garden gifts for myself soon. Garden Gifts This might sound boring, but its hard to beat a gift certificate to a local garden center! Yes, I know what you’re thinking, that this would be the easy way out, but what if you include yourself and a lunch after? How cool are these?!? I would love to get these Marimo Moss balls as one of my favorite spring garden gifts. They are easy– you simply take a cool container and drop them in. The folks at The Sill have these available.… Read Full Post
4 Great Reasons to Install Retractable Awnings
When we first purchased our first home we felt that it was big enough for what we needed. However, things change and circumstances change like the growth of our families. This means we need more room, but we may not have the necessary cash to build additional rooms to provide more space. However, there is an answer and it comes in the guise of an awning. Retractable awnings are becoming increasingly popular and are a great way to create new space in and around your home or business. There are a number of reasons why installing one makes sense and we will look at just some of them here. 1. Additional Shade from the Sun Escape the intense heat of the sun with outdoor shade.… Read Full Post
Common Gardening Mistakes
Gardening is a fun and rewarding task, but it can be incredibly stressful and complicated too. No gardener is perfect just like there is no such thing as the perfect garden, so, whether you’ve been gardening for six days or sixty years, we all make the odd mistake here and there. Of course, making mistakes gives you the opportunity to learn, but it’s always better to learn beforehand and avoid them when you can. Keeping that in mind, here are four common gardening mistakes everyone makes. Planting Way Too Early Once you’ve bought your seeds, soil, and everything else you need, it can be tempting to get planting right away. We all get impatient now and then, but you have to hold yourself back and resist the urge to start planting.… Read Full Post
How to Help Your Lawn Look Its Best This Summer
If you would like to impress your guests this summer and make your garden look amazing then now is the time to focus on your lawn. This greenery is a great space for kids and pets to run around, but – if not looked after – it can turn into a depressive green and brown patch. To make the most out of your garden space this summer, you should look after your lawn to look its best. Below you’ll find a few tips on getting started. Get Rid of Weeds Before you start organizing your garden and tidying up your yard, it is important to look out for the signs of damage. In the winter when the ground had little or no chance to dry out, moss might have started to grow in your lawn, and it is hard to kill.… Read Full Post
What Will Make The Most Difference To Your Yard Today?
If you’re someone that tends to look out into your yard and sigh, then you may find that you tend to get frustrated with the state of your outside space. And it happens. Because our yards always seem to take a lot of work and maintenance to look and feel great all of the time. But when you’re busy it’s not always easy to prioritize your yard maintenance – particularly when you’re just trying to stay on top of your interiors. So, instead, find a few things to make a difference right away. If you don’t want to wait forever or put too much time and money into your yard, but you want instant results, here are five things that can make a difference in your yard today.… Read Full Post
Building The Right Boundaries For Your Garden
When it comes to the garden, there’s a lot you can do to make sure it stays looking fresh, growing food, supporting any animals you have, and simply remaining your own at the end of the day. However, if you’re building a boundary for yourself, there’s a lot of things you can do wrong that means your plants and trees will spill out, and you won’t have any security from the rest of the outside world. Thankfully, this post is here to bridge the gap for you. So if you’re out to make the garden of your dreams, work your way from the outside in. Trim and Edge Your Lawn This is more of an inner boundary of course, but it still matters quite a lot when concerning both the look and functionality of your backyard space.… Read Full Post
Using Pinterest for easy garden design
Today I am writing a short article on how I use Pinterest for easy garden design tools. Yes, Pinterest can become a black hole of time spent looking endlessly at home decor, gardens, plants, pets and everything else I never even knew I wanted. But, it can also be inspirational, insightful and help you organize your thoughts. I swear, Pinterest really can help with easy garden design and especially plant selection. Plant Selection Okay, I admit that some direction is needed. Do you have an idea in mind? One of my projects last summer was adding a new mixed perennial and shrub bed outside of our kitchen window and near our back deck. One new bed a year has been my self imposed limit! … Read Full PostFollow Me
About Me
My name is Keri and I am as comfortable speaking to a group about color in the garden as I am covered in dirt.
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