Bring on the Birds!

I love birds. I am somewhat less than fond of the woodpecker that’s making a loud drumming sound just outside my window, but I know that it’s just trying to advertise, letting other woodpeckers know what’s up this spring. The little winter wren that’s warbling in the tree can stay, though. Birds are beautiful, but they’re also an asset to your garden. Birds in the garden eat up bugs that eat your plants, creating ecological connections that help your garden grow. How can you attract birds to your garden? Natural Bird Feeders Natural bird food – what is it? Well, … Continue reading →

February in the Garden

It’s February, and that funny little groundhog is out doing his rounds again. While there may be weeks of winter yet, it is time to start planning for your garden. If you’re a long time gardener, I’m sure that your fingers are itching to get out there already! If you’re new to this gardening thing, what do you need to do to prepare for a new year in the garden? Get some seeds. Start looking at seed catalogues if you haven’t done this already, and plan what you’re going to plant this year. Take a hard look at what your … Continue reading →

Maximize Your Garden Space

Since it’s winter, that means it’s time to work on garden planning. If you’re like me and you have a small space to work with, one thing you’ll want to do is to stack functions. What does that mean? What is a function, and how do you stack it? Stacking functions is multitasking for the garden.While you can throw a few shrubs into a small garden and call it a day, if you’d like to grow food in your garden or create a multidimensional and beautiful garden that’s packed with color, you’ll probably want to add a little bit more. … Continue reading →

Determining Proper Fence Height

How high of a fence do you need on your property? Fence height is determined by how you plan on using your fence, as well as the style of fence you are choosing, since some styles have limitations on height. Here are some guidelines to help you determine how high your fence should go. Don’t forget to factor in the extra height that will be needed when your fence posts are installed in the ground. You Need to Enclose a Pool Regulations are pretty clear on the height and type of fence that is needed when you enclose a pool. … Continue reading →

Getting a New Fence? Here Are Your Installation Options

Hopefully, you have already chosen the style of fence that you like. (If not, click here to read about how you can choose a fence type.) The next step is to get that fence installed. When it comes to installing a fence, you have three different options. Which one is right for you? Craft It Yourself Crafting a fence and assembling it yourself can be the best option for a number of reasons. The first is that it is usually much cheaper to craft your own fence than to have one installed. It can be a little more expensive than … Continue reading →

Gorgeous! This year’s new annual flowers

Annual flowers are the perfect way to add some color to your flowerpots, hanging baskets, or the edges of a perennial garden. They’re a low-commitment way to garden that’s perfect for summer gatherings. Need a beautiful addition to the garden for a party? Add a splash of color with annual flowers. Annuals also provide gardeners with a lot of scope for experimentation. After all, they’re only there for the season, then you can change them again. Here’s the list of what’s coming up for 2012. 1. Verbena: The Superbena Royale Iced Cherry Verbena is a flower variety with bounce! This … Continue reading →

Perfect Perennials: This year’s new finds

As spring creeps in here in the Pacific Northwest and hits other parts of the country with a bang, it’s time to think perennials. What will you plant in your garden this year to delight you for years to come? These top five perennials are forever favorites that come in new colors and sizes for 2012! 1. Hibiscus: The new “My Valentine” variety has less of a tendency to spread, so you can enjoy the lush hibiscus blooms without stressing over its tendency to take over your garden! The Berrylicious hibiscus is a new color variation that features a pink … Continue reading →

Weird Berries for Your Garden

You’re a lover of blueberries, an eater of raspberries, and a forager of blackberries. Yes, you adore berries, and your summer-stained face shows it. But have you forgotten a few? Here are some berries that you may already be growing in your garden, but you might be completely unaware that they’re edible! 1. Edible honeysuckles – While you might think of honeysuckles for their fragrance and for their ability to attract pollinators, did you know that there’s a shrubby honeysuckle that’s also edible? It’s called the honeyberry, or Lonicera caerulea edulis. The flavor is a mixture of blueberry, currant, and … Continue reading →

How to Create a Beautiful Lawn

Taking control of your lawn now in the spring will help keep it in the best shape for the entire summer. Here are the steps you can take to get your lawn back in shape. Start by cleaning things up. Take your rake and rake out the lawn. This will serve a couple of purposes. First, it will remove dead grass and other debris. Second, it will open up the lawn to allow the soil to absorb both water and nutrients. Your lawn has probably become compacted over the last year, especially if people have been walking on it. Compact … Continue reading →

Time To Get Out the Pressure Washer

A pressure washer is a great tool to invest in for use around your home. It can make short work of clean up of your outdoor environment. Spring is the perfect time to use a power washer, too. Bright sun and gentle breezes help dry anything that you wash. Put a quick, clean shine on things. What is a Pressure Washer? A pressure washer is a machine that sprays out water at high volume. It can be used to remove dirt, mildew, mold, dust, grime and even chipping paint. The home pressure washer attaches to a common garden hose for … Continue reading →