Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Category: Landscaping and Lawn Basics

How to Make a Compost Pile

Making a compost pile in your yard yields one of the most effective and affordable tools for gardeners looking for eco-friendly alternatives to using harmful chemical fertilizers. Even better news – composting is easy. By reducing your yard and household waste, you can create the perfect, nitrogen-rich soil for thriving flower and vegetable gardens for free! So, read on for some of our favorite tips for how to make a compost pile in your yard.

Green Compost Materials

As you start the planning to make a compost pile in your yard, note that you will need to create a blend of biodegradable matter that falls into “green” or “brown” categories. Your kitchen is likely to be the primary source of green material, which is typically food waste like vegetable peels, fruit scraps, and coffee grounds.

Is all kitchen waste suitable for composting? No. Try to avoid oily foods or meat and dairy. Why? EatingWell explains: “animal products such as dairy, bones, and meat, … can attract pests,” and food like “mayonnaise, peanut butter, salad dressing or vegetable oils” can present difficulties during decomposition. Fish should not be composted either.

Experts are often asked if the green material that is sourced from the kitchen should only be organic. While that is a great goal, don’t feel pressured to throw out viable produce scraps just because they weren’t organic. The next time you shop, Real Simple suggests that you “look for ‘pesticide-free’ signage even more so than ‘organic’ labels.”

Also, before you toss your banana peel or leftover store-bundled greens into the compost pile, be sure to check them over. Real Simple warns: “If you’re making the effort to compost, take extra care that scraps (fruit and veggie peels, and paper bags) are free of labels, twist ties, rubber bands, and other synthetic, non-biodegradable parts.”

Yard waste can also be part of your green supplies. Are you looking for a good use for your grass clippings? Keep them for your yard’s compost pile. Are you forever pulling weeds from your garden? The good news is that your compost pile will thank you for them.

Brown Compost Elements

Brown compost materials include carbon-rich elements like wood chips, straw, and pieces of bark. Martha Stewart Living reveals: “Newspaper and hay make good brown matter,” but be sure to shred the newspaper so that “it doesn’t form a mat” and “avoid glossy or colored paper.” Falling autumn leaves can be one of the most readily available forms of carbon available. And the leaves are free! Martha Stewart Living offers this helpful tip for leaf-gatherers: “Since they’re abundant for a short time, … stock up once they fall and use them throughout the winter.”

Do you know those cardboard pizza boxes that you cannot place in your blue recycling bins? Good news! As long as you rip the boxes into small pieces, the experts at EatingWell give the thumbs up to including them as your brown compost materials.

A Shovel-Full of Neutral Soil

While not absolutely necessary for starting the composting process, Martha Stewart Living does recommend having at least a small supply of neutral soil on hand. They reason that when neutral soil is added to the middle of the compost pile in your yard, it “helps to protect the compost while supplying the organisms needed for the breakdown process.”

Cold Composting Method

Cold composting, also known as anaerobic composting, is often the easiest and cheapest way to begin to make a compost pile in your yard. The actual method is quite simple. As EatingWell advises: “[Anaerobic composting] involves piling the greens and browns and letting nature handle the decomposition process unaided.” While the compost pile should not smell particularly intense, there will be decay, so choose a spot away from your home and your yard’s leisure spaces, just in case. And although starting a composting pile takes relatively little time, the entire decomposition process using cold composting can take up to two years.

Aerobic Composting

Aerobic composting is very similar to the cold composting approach, but it requires an infusion of oxygen into the process, which increases the internal temperature of the pile. The higher temperature then speeds up the decomposition process. While this sounds like it could be time-consuming, it really isn’t. According to EatingWell, this just “requires turning (or mixing) the materials every so often to give it exposure to oxygen.” A standard garden shovel will do the trick.

How to Make a Compost Pile in Your Yard

Start by laying down a bottom layer of your brown materials. Because this forms your base, you’ll want it wide enough to support the layers above it without collapse. The next section should be from your collection of green biodegradable material. Expert gardener and herbalist Leslie Bish recommended to Real Simple that the general composting rule is to employ a “two-to-one ratio of brown to green materials” as you build the pile. When you reach what is projected to be the middle of your compost pile, shovel in a small amount of neutral soil.

Your yard’s compost pile should be kept damp, but you do not want it to be waterlogged. Heavy bouts of rain can not only impede decomposition but displace some of your biodegradable material. The last thing you want is for your pile to fall and spread to other areas of your yard. If you live in a region with abundant rainfall, consider putting up a protective tarp to keep the pile from being soaked. The pros at EatingWell also suggest “[adding] sawdust to dry it” as needed.

If it looks like your compost pile is not beginning the decomposition process after a reasonable amount of time, it might need some attention. Leslie Bish advised Real Simple that in these cases, “‘It might be too dry, or not have enough nitrogen, so add a little water with the hose and more green material.’”

When is the Compost Pile Ready For Use?

If you chose the turning (aerobic) method for maintaining your compost pile, you might have compost ready for use within six months unless you experience a sustained winter. Cold compost piles can take up to two years before they are viable as organic fertilizer. In general, Martha Stewart Living recommends not using the compost until it is “dark brown, free of recognizable ingredients, and safe to smell.” While you might be eager to start using your new soil enhancer, it is essential to wait until decomposition is finished. Otherwise, professionals warn, it could prove dangerous to your trees or garden plants.

October 27, 2022
Cultivating a Pet-Friendly Yard

The key is to create a pet-friendly yard, where dogs and cats can have their freedom without risk to their well-being or your property. Of course, you wouldn’t want to leave them to their own devices for hours on end, but a well-thought-out plan will save you from having to be a “helicopter” pet owner.

What Plants are Harmful to Pets?

Better Homes & Gardens provides a list of plants that are harmful to dogs, including azaleas, rhododendron, tulips, foxglove and lily of the valley. Some of these are also toxic to cats, and others include daffodils, amaryllis and ivy. Plants that have sharp objects like thorns or spines (think rosebushes or cacti) can also harm pets by wounding them. Those wounds can also become infected, which can cause very serious problems for furry friends.

When planning a pet-friendly yard, it is best to become familiar with all the potentially harmful plants in your yard. It is also wise to have a good look at your cat or dog when they come back inside. If they are drooling, vomiting, twitching, have a strange odor or are acting in an unusual way, a call to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) could be warranted.

A Pet-Friendly Yard Master Plan

Continuing along the safety theme, it may be a good idea to install a fence if the pet will be outside on their own for any significant periods of time. Not only does it protect them from escaping into the street, it keeps unwanted predators from getting in. This may not work for cats, who are known to be good climbers. In any case, make sure that your pet is always wearing a collar that includes their name and your contact information.

Your dog will appreciate having his or her own doghouse, which will provide shelter from the heat and rain, as well as a comfortable place to spend time. Otherwise, be sure that there is plenty of shade for them to rest under when they need to take a break. Dogs also like wide-open spaces, so be sure to leave them enough room to run around.

Dogs and cats both love to explore, so you might also consider creating a path for your pet to meander down. Smooth rocks, brick, concrete and flagstone are all easy on paws, but rocks or pebbles will make more of a mess. Mulch is another choice, but this can get dug up and kicked around.

Safe Trees, Safe Plants

There are many safe trees that dogs like, such as crepe myrtle, red maple and – of course – dogwood. Pups also do well with Gerbera daisies, zinnia and petunias. Dog-friendly shrubs include rose of Sharon, forsythia, lilac and mock orange.

Cat owners will be happy to know that some of the best-known cat-safe plants are snapdragon, sunflower and bamboo. Herbs like basil, mint and dill are thought to benefit cat health, so go ahead and plant those, as well, along with some catnip. Again, if you are unsure about a plant or tree’s toxicity to your pets, check with the ASPCA website.

Think Like Your Pet

To create a truly pet-friendly yard, you have to think like a cat or a dog. They love to explore, dig, hunt and hide, and they tend to get into more trouble when they do not have any opportunities for structured play. You might want to build a dog run if you have enough room; this can be done by enclosing part of the yard with a fence and lining the ground there with artificial turf. If you have a cat, Martha Stewart likes the Kittywalk outdoor cat run.

Cats need to scratch and stretch their claws, so you can install some vertical logs or scratching posts to save your trees. Kitties also love to perch in high-up places, so try building them a safe spot they can access easily that is no more than 8 feet from the ground. The landing area should be soft – avoid putting perches above concrete or asphalt.

Canines and felines will all appreciate a selection of well-chosen pet toys in the yard, too. They might also enjoy an obstacle course, tunnels to run through and other equipment that can turn your yard into a pet-friendly playground. Use your imagination!

May 1, 2022
Planning Your Spring Vegetable Garden

The key to a successful spring vegetable garden lies in the planning stage. Once you have the spot picked out, you have to prepare the ground, create a layout, get vegetable ideas and buy supplies and plants. For the best chance of success, choose easy-to-grow vegetables like lettuce and zucchini. You can expand your horizons by adding some herbs and fruit plants, as well.

If you are starting the plants from seeds, you will have to have the right containers to start them indoors. Otherwise, buy young plants with established root systems. Depending on what USDA plant hardiness zone you live in, certain vegetable plants will be recommended for spring planting. Martha Stewart explains that warm-season crops like beans, tomatoes and eggplants do best in the heat, and some vegetable plants have longer growing seasons than others.

Growing Plants From Seeds

Martha Stewart also advises gardeners to check the plant-by dates when purchasing high-quality seed packets to ensure that they are for the current year. You can use any type of container for planting seeds, but it must have drainage holes. You may wish to plant several seeds in larger pots, which is a convenient way to start them. Another choice is to use planting trays, which are divided into smaller sections.

Use regular potting soil, a sterile, soilless mix, a seed-starting mix or make your own if you are a skilled gardener or growing plants with specific requirements. Do not add compost or topsoil into the containers at this stage, because either can ruin your seeds.

Put your potting mix in a large bucket and add some water until it is moist. Place the containers on newspaper, fill them up with the mix and tamp down gently. Dig out the seed holes with a pencil, making them twice as deep as the seeds are thick.

The containers can be covered with clear plastic wrap to encourage germination, though you may wish to poke a few holes in the plastic to avoid mold growth. Place the containers or trays in a warm room by a sunny window. You can also use grow lights, provide the full UV spectrum of light to your seedlings. Mark the containers with labels so you don’t mix up the plants. Check them daily and water as needed – you can also add some diluted fertilizer when they begin to sprout.

Making a Garden Blueprint

Take some graph paper to draw out your garden plan before you do any digging. Vegetable plants like tomatoes and corn can grow quite tall, and you don’t want them to block the sunlight from their companions. You do not have to start with a large number of plants, because you can also add more later if you have the space.

The number of inches required between the same kinds of vegetable plants varies, and you can find vegetable spacing guides online. Zucchini needs about 24 to 28 inches, while spinach only needs 2 to 4. If you are planting multiple rows of vegetables, these distances also vary; check the guide or your seed packet for this information, as well. You will need room to walk back and forth between your plants if planting in a traditional rowed garden.

You can dig stakes into the ground at the ends of your garden rows, and connect each one with string. This will help you dig the plant holes in a straighter line. If any of the plants came with information tags, stick those in the ground alongside them.

Preparing The Garden Soil

If you want to transplant seedlings outdoors, plan ahead by placing them outside two weeks before the planting. Leave them out for a few hours at first, and gradually build this up to strengthen them. Your plants will need a sunny garden that gets from six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. Do not choose a spot that gets a lot of wind, because this could damage the plants and keep pollinators like bees away.

The best kind of soil for vegetable plants is packed with nutrients. The best way to ensure this is to mix in organic matter like compost or manure when the soil is moist (not wet). Check the soil for rocks and weeds, and rake them off and away. Then, use a shovel to loosen up the soil, digging down to 8 to 12 inches.

Spread at least 2 to 3 inches of compost or manure onto the soil. You can work it into the earth if you like, but this is not necessary. You can level out the soil with a rake, or build up the beds slightly. Now you can dig the holes and start getting those plants in the ground. Before you know it, you will have plenty of fresh produce to bring to the table.

April 12, 2022
Creating Patios that Serve as Gathering Spaces

Spring is well underway, and summer is just around the corner: How does your patio shape up? If it looks a bit rough around the edges, sparse or outdated, you may want to make it more welcoming. It does not have to cost you a small fortune, as there are many exciting, inexpensive backyard patio ideas that will refresh your outdoor patio and turn it into a fabulous gathering space.

How Can I Perk Up a Small Patio?

If you have a smaller space, you can start by adding a trellis around it for an attractive border. Choose some well-made, well-priced patio furniture that will fit in the area. A charming bistro table set and a matching umbrella could create a romantic little nook for you and your loved ones. Just make sure you leave enough room to move about comfortably.

If you want to be even more creative, you can paint the patio floor, if it is made out of concrete. Older patio furniture can be given new life with a can of spray paint as long as you buy the right kind. You may also need primer and paint brushes for a project like this. Also remember to put some thought into the outdoor lighting and sound setup on your patio. Candle lanterns and string lights will make things look more inviting, and Wi-Fi speakers can add background music.

Small patios can also be given new life by adding water features. Small patio fountains can go a long way toward creating ambiance. Buy a fountain pump from a garden center and place it in an urn. Surround it with some pretty flowering plants, and voila! –you have created a miniature, relaxing oasis.

More Backyard Patio Ideas

Midwest Living also suggests adding flowering plants to outdoor patios. You can shop for standing planters and colorful outdoor vases to place them in. Midwest Living also recommends UV-protected outdoor rugs. These can make patios feel homey and comfortable, as long as you remember to keep them clean and maintained according to the manufacturer’s directions. For an extra dose of coziness, you can also tuck a chiminea into one corner; these take up little space and provide warmth.

If you have an unattractive wall or fence bordering the patio, you can purchase some screening that will look much more appealing. This is also referred to as “outdoor wallpaper,” and it is often sold at home and garden centers. Should that idea not be suitable, try camouflaging the wall or fence with tall potted plants.

The ground can also be revamped with some pea gravel. Before laying it down, you will have to install landscaping fabric (also inexpensive) – this prevents mud and weeds from coming through. You can use this gravel for the whole patio, or to accent focal points like planter arrangements.

An Outdoor Mini-Bar and Seating

Your guests will love an outdoor patio bar. You can actually make this yourself, out of cement blocks, cedar boards, screws and concrete glue. The base is made from the cement blocks and cement glue, and the top is made from the boards. This easy DIY project from Better Homes and Gardens takes about three hours and only requires about five different tools.

You may want to add a few outdoor bar stools to use as seating here. Also take a good look at any chairs and couches you may already have. Patio cushions do not last forever, as they are outside in the sun and rain (if you forget to bring them inside). Replacing the cushions is much more affordable than buying new furniture.

Look for patio cushions that are designed to withstand the elements, and feel free to mix solid colors with patterns. You can also invest in a waterproof outdoor storage box. Take off the cushions before it rains and store them inside, then simply pull them back out when ready to use again. Your cushions (and your wallet) will thank you for it!

A Few Final Touches

Many homeowners understand that the best way to encourage outdoor gathering is to bring some of the inside out. As mentioned, rugs can add decorative interest and comfort. You can also get some cozy blankets and drape them over your seating. Mix-and-match outdoor pillows are another decorative touch that will make your guests feel right at home.

To make guests want to linger longer, treat them to real tablecloths and dishware. Cloth napkins and light stoneware dishes are not expensive, and they can be tossed in the laundry or dishwasher afterwards. When all is said and done, you, your friends and family will want to spend more time outside on the patio than in your house.

July 23, 2021
Creative Ideas for Building Thriving Small Gardens

Victory gardens are experiencing a resurgence. People are turning to gardening to help ease the stress associated with the coronavirus and safe-at-home restrictions while enjoying getting their hands dirty — literally. Join people all across the country who have taken up gardening, be it on windowsills or raised beds, even while following re-opening guidelines. Whether you are new to the craft or already have a certified “green thumb,” read on for inspiring small garden ideas that you can try no matter where your state is in the re-opening process.

Consider Your Space and Climate

If you have a small, empty greenhouse, your gardening options will be significantly different than if you are clearing off a few window sills. Balconies and patios can comfortably support raised beds and container gardens, while a kitchen wall that enjoys plentiful sunlight could make a vertical pocket garden your best bet. And, of course, nothing is stopping you from taking advantage of multiple locations around your property or apartment, as different herbs, vegetables, fruits, and plants will require slightly (or dramatically) different conditions.

It is a wise idea to assess your climate if you have plans for starting an outdoor garden. As Real Simple points out: “not everything grows everywhere.” If you live in a hot, dry climate with little seasonal change, you will want plantings that require little water. If you live in a Southern state that has a long growing season, options like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and even rhubarb should be up for consideration. Whereas areas like the Pacific Northwest that experience significant rainfall and cooler temps are the perfect areas for small outdoor gardens filled with vegetables like spinach, artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, and beets, to name just a few.

Balcony Herb Gardens

Herb gardens are one of the most flexible small garden options. Do you have a short, open shelving unit that you no longer need? Repurpose it by placing it on your balcony. This will allow you to stack a variety of containers and give you easy access to each for consistent watering. If your sunniest balcony is a cozy space, consider creating a hanging system, either by repurposing mesh fruit containers or buying hanging pots for seedling transfer. If your state allows for curbside ordering at nurseries or garden stores, you can order window box systems that can also be used with balcony frames. Martha Stewart Living suggests using organic potting soil and planting “herbs like sage, basil, and mint.” Try to avoid planting the same type of herbs in the same window boxes or pots. The magazine warns that “they will eat up the same nutrients.” Keep them separated for better results.

Porch Gardens

Porch gardens have become increasingly popular during the coronavirus pandemic. They give you the space to grow bright blooms, hearty culinary herbs, and fresh vegetables while adding instant curb appeal. Done well, your porch will become an inviting retreat that will almost feel like a getaway, without the travel. Among Martha Stewart Living’s favorite edible plant options for small spaces are peas and onions, not only because each is delicious but because their flowers are eye-catchingly beautiful.

The experts at Southern Living love the idea of bringing herb trays and pots to porches. What is their favorite combination? The Magazine raves about creating a container filled with “fragrant rosemary, basil, and [lemongrass],” as well as flowering blue plumbago. Southern Living recommends planting lemongrass in the middle of a round container and then surrounding it with the soft plumbago. The edges of the container are enhanced with basil and rosemary. Not only does this combination bring a delightful scent, but “it could also help keep pests at arm’s length.”

Think it is impossible to have fruit trees without a yard? Not so! If you have access to a nursery, you can find fruit trees, such as Meyer lemon trees, that are compact enough to thrive in containers. They bear fruit twice a year, are surprisingly cold tolerant and can grow in cans as small as five gallons. Porches, back patios, terraces, and even sunrooms are perfectly hospitable. Dwarf avocado, kumquat, and Satsuma mandarin trees are also unusual, yet delightful ideas for bringing fruit to your porch or patio.

If your nurseries or garden supply centers are not yet open, take a look at social media pages or postings from local gardening groups. You’ll be amazed at how many of your neighbors are hoping to enjoy contact-less trades of cuttings, seeds, or seedlings, making starting your garden both safe and inexpensive.

Border Planters

Are you looking for an interesting idea for defining a backyard space while still giving it a sense of serenity? Consider creating a border out of brightly colored planters. The planters can be ceramic, rustic metal, clay, or a variety of other options. This is a terrific time to repaint and reuse older containers that would otherwise just take up space in your garage, shed, or patio. Plus, painting each of the planters with a unique design is a fun, at-home activity for the whole family. Southern Living recommends planting variegated silver grass in brilliantly colored pots to form a border around your patio or other garden beds. Visually, this technique is favored because the grass brings a verticality to an area filled with low plant beds or raised pallets. The Magazine applauds this approach as “grasses in containers can also add soft texture and billowing form when placed directly into a border.”

Hanging Gardens

Do you have a pergola that creates a small yet inviting space on your patio or in the backyard? This can be the perfect place to introduce a variety of hanging vegetable plants. In fact, as Southern Living reveals, “there are … many plants that grow better in a [hanging] container than they do on the ground.” Succulents, ferns, begonias, and periwinkles, as well as dozens of other flowers and plants, would thrive in a hanging basket. If your state allows for visiting the garden center, the options are plentiful. Just remember to get a selection of ropes or chains and S-hooks to hang the containers securely. If your state has not yet reached that phase of coronavirus re-opening, take a look around your apartment or home for easily repurposed items like empty paint cans, unused wicker baskets, metal buckets, or even plastic containers that can be redecorated.

Flowers and hearty, decorative plants are not the only things that will dazzle in your pergola’s hanging garden. If you live in a warm, sunny climate, you’ll love growing upside-down tomato plants, which are more resistant to disease and pests. Small peppers, eggplants, chives, and mustard greens are all ideas that will yield not only lush visuals but also delicious results.

Raised Bed Gardens

Raised bed gardens have significant visual appeal. They offer neat separations between crops and relieve you from digging into hard or depleted soil. They also allow you to start growing vegetables, herbs, grasses, and decorative plants organically, using nutrient-rich dirt, because the raised bed won’t expose your new crops to soil previously treated with chemical fertilizers. But those aren’t the only advantages. As expert Annie Novak reveals to Martha Stewart Living: “‘[Raised bed gardens] also improve drainage and decrease your chance of pesky weeds and pests.’” These small gardens are also a popular idea for those living in more urban areas with patios or terraces, rather than yards.

Novak warns that gardeners should choose untreated wood if they are growing edible crops and use a blend of organic soil and compost whenever possible. Onions and legumes should not be next to one another because “‘onions and their kin exudate chemicals which limit the growth of beans,’” as Novak explains to Martha Stewart Living. Thyme will thrive near rosemary or sage, as well as oregano and other culinary herbs that like drier, sandy soil. Potatoes should not be planted near asparagus, turnips or squash, but should do well near garlic, beans, and peas. And always plant those with a longer growth cycle toward the middle of the raised bed, while keeping the faster growers closer to the edges (making them more accessible).

Vertical Gardens

What is vertical gardening? Martha Stewart Living explains: “Vertical gardening is the art of using vertical space to grow and display plants, whether that’s finding the right mix of containers, shelves, and hooks to hold your collection, or installing a full-scale living wall.” Vertical gardens are ideal for small areas, whether inside or outside because they bring lush greenery and vivid blooms without sacrificing valuable floor space. Outdoor vertical gardens need consistent access to sunlight, as well as protection against the elements. Otherwise, you will have to plant and harvest based on the weather and typical growing seasons.

Does your kitchen wall revel in dazzling natural light each day? Does your bedroom window shower the room with full sun? Edible plants generally require six to eight hours of light, while purely decorative options can thrive with as little as four hours. Indoor vertical gardens have the benefit of climate control. Because you are less dependent on the weather, you may find a surprising variety of options available, despite your region.

If you have decided to create a small, indoor vertical garden, decide which design makes the most sense for your chosen room or rooms. For instance, if you have a mostly empty bookshelf that is warmed by abundant natural light in your den, it is a terrific option for small decorative and edible plants. Just be sure that you have access to each shelf for easy watering.

Recycled wood pallets with mesh stabilizers can be placed upright against a wall, with the slats open for small plantings. Pallets can be ordered from big box stores, as well as smaller nurseries. Naturally, they will need to be lined, but woven landscaping fabric will do the trick.

Another popular idea, particularly in areas that are still under more restrictive coronavirus orders, is a pocket garden. As Real Simple reveals: “[A] pocket garden [features] plants tucked into pockets made from felt or canvas.” You’ll be amazed at how effortlessly items around the house can be transformed for this use. For instance, you can quickly repurpose a canvas hanging shoe divider as a small pocket garden. If light allows, keep the original hooks and hang it over the back of a door. Pocket gardens are also quickly made (and personalized) if you have access to a sewing machine and canvas or felt fabric. They can then be attached to the ceiling using S-hooks or to walls using a variety of picture-hanging accessories, many of which you may already have in your home. Most states are currently allowing for curbside pick-up for environmentally-friendly, organic potting soil, should you otherwise not have access to compost or enriched soil.

When plotting the crops that you want to grow in your small vertical garden, look for herbs, vegetables, and decorative plants that do not need deep root systems. They won’t develop in the relatively shallow pockets or containers of a vertical system. What are some of the best planting ideas? The experts tell Martha Stewart Living: “Crops that do well are leafy greens like lettuce or spinach, herbs and small fruits like cherry tomatoes and strawberries.”

Kitchen Scrap Gardens

If you aren’t comfortable or able to explore your local nurseries or garden centers, but want to begin your small garden adventures, there is one idea taking hold with sustainability advocates: re-growing kitchen scraps. Do you already have produce such as lettuce or celery in your refrigerator? You are in luck! As Real Simple explains: “The bottom cores of celery, bok choy, cabbage, and lettuces can be placed in shallow dishes of water in a sunny window until they take root, and you start to see growth in the leaves.” For potatoes, cut larger samples into smaller chunks and bury them in a container of potting soil. Smaller potatoes need not be cut. Are you a fan of root vegetables like turnips or beets? Real Simple advises: “Simply lop off the top off beets, turnips, or fennel and place it in a shallow dish in the sun until root growth develops, then plant.” Don’t forget to harvest seeds from produce like tomatoes or winter squash. Once dried, you can start them in soil – often in containers as small as a three-ounce paper cup. By the time you see seedlings, your state’s conditions are likely to have eased, allowing you to replant into larger containers.

July 13, 2020
Fall 101 with Outdoor Pro Carson Arthur

I can’t believe that I am about to talk about a fall checklist…but according to the calendar and according to the nip in the air at night, its time to start thinking about the end of summer <<Gasp>>. I’m personally a little torn by this. I love the gardening season, but there is something very special about the turning of the season that I also really love. Maybe it’s the autumn leaves or the smell in the air or even the fact that the outdoor temperature is now comfortable even at noon; whatever the case, I’m not too upset that its time to think about putting the gardens to bed.

There are a few things that home gardeners get wrong at this time of the year. First off is bulb planting. I love tulips and daffodils in the spring, but I never plant the bulbs in the ground until the soil temperature is below 4 degrees Celsius. Being patient when planting your bulbs is so important to ensure that they stay dormant until spring. Also, remember that the squirrels will probably dig your bulbs up if you are not smart about how you plant them. Squirrels like to steal food from other squirrels. They look for areas of disturbed soil thinking that this is where their neighbor has hidden something edible. When you are planting your bulbs, make sure to disguise the area with some leaves so that it looks like the ground is still undisturbed.

Speaking of your leaves; KEEP THEM. I know that some homes have huge maples or other deciduous trees in the yard and the amount of fallen leaves far exceeds any needs that you may have. However, mulched or composted leaves are the best fertilizer you can get for your gardens. Leaves that have been running through the mower are also fantastic as an insulator. A few years ago I bought a Black and Decker 3 n1 leaf vacuum, blower, and mulcher, and it’s become my go-to tool for creating my own free fertilizer.

Don’t forget to wrap your plants and trees! Once again, Mother Nature is giving us some early warning signs of another hard winter to come; specifically, all of the cone-bearing evergreens have them at the tops of the trees. This is a sign that we are in for another rough season, which is going to be hard on your plants. Go out and invest in lots of tree wraps and burlap. Having a windbreak is crucial for plants like rhododendrons, cedars and even your rose of Sharon. The key is to wrap your tree snuggly enough that the burlap will stay up in the wind, but not too tight as they break branches. You should also wait until your plants have gone dormant, which is tough for your evergreens. I like to wrap my tender shrubs and bushes at the end of October.

You may not have to start thinking about these jobs now, but trust me, winter is really just around the corner!

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October 9, 2019
Fall Lawn Prep with Outdoor Pro Carson Arthur

Fall is the perfect time to get your lawn prepped for spring, and now is the time to do it! Most homeowners ignore their lawns in the fall but the cooler weather is fantastic for your grass. During this time of year, your lawn is actively storing water, nutrients and generating energy so that it can make it through a long winter. If you take care of it now, you’ll have a healthier, lusher looking patch of green in the spring!

Now is the time to lower the blade on your mower. I keep mine between 3 and 3.5”s during the warmer months. In the fall, it is time to drop it down to 2”s to allow more sunlight to get to the crown of the grass. There are a couple of things to remember; never cut off more than 1/3 of the blade length at a time. This is really hard on the grass. You can lower then mower once by a third, and then again by a third in the second cutting. If you have a bagging option, now is a good time to put it on. Removing some of the cuts blades will help your lawn can more oxygen down to the roots as better airflow can occur without the build-up of cuttings (called thatch).

Aerating in the fall is also a great solution for getting oxygen, moisture, and nutrients the roots. The best aerators remove plugs of soil that are 3”s long. This is the perfect depth to reach the roots below the ground.

Feeding the lawn in the fall is actually more important in my mind than doing it in the spring. The fall fertilizer helps the roots grow below the soil, encouraging an earlier and deeper flush of green grass once the snow melts. Look for fertilizers like a 0-6-6 combination. Make sure to avoid a fertilizer with a high first number as this encourages more leaf growth above ground. Instead, get a high middle and last number. This promotes root growth and improves the overall health of your lawn.

I wait until early October for my last fertilizing of the year.

I like to top-dress the bald spots on my lawn at the end of September. The occasional rainfall and the cooler temps are perfect for seed starting. When buying your grass seed mix, also get a bag of topsoil. By blending the two BEFORE you spread the mix on the lawn, you get a higher rate of germination of the seeds because you’ve ensured the “seed-to-soil” contact that they need to grow.

Weeds are also getting ready to go through the winter months. This makes them extra susceptible to herbicides and natural treatments as they are in full “absorption-mode”. Just be careful and follow the instructions on whatever weed solution you decide to go with and wait until the end of Oct to apply. This is extra important in the areas that you’ve planted new seeds so that they have a chance to get better established. Finally, rake those leaves! Getting the leaves off the lawn before they become a wet mat that smothers your lawn is so important. Try these steps and you’ll be the envy of the neighborhood with the greenest and happiest lawn on the block!

October 9, 2019
Best Outdoor Patio ideas

Whether you plan to spend the rest of the summer working from your outdoor home office or just want to have a few moments of peace with your morning coffee before beginning your commute, here are some of the best outdoor patio ideas.

Summer Kitchen

You may want to use your deck or patio as an outdoor summer kitchen. If so, think about things like being set back from the house when planning where to put the grill and how much space to assign to your patio’s food prep area. Don’t forget, everyone wants to hang out in the kitchen at parties. Being able to observe and talk to the chef is a bonus.

If you don’t barbeque much and prefer drinks and nibbles or potlucks for your outdoor entertaining, think about building a small bar with its back against the exterior wall, facing out. This works well on a small patio or deck where you don’t want your guests milling about.

If you’d rather focus on eating outdoors while continuing to do your meal prep in your indoor kitchen, create a casual dining area where people feel comfortable lounging both before and after meals. You can serve them more formally after doing all the food prep indoors. Think bench seating and well-cushioned rattan or metal outdoor chairs, rather than traditional wrought iron, which can be very unforgiving. Those wrought iron sets are best saved for tiny bistro tables where you have a quick coffee but don’t plan to linger.

Add a Calming Element

When you retreat to your patio, you’re looking for a change of scenery and perhaps even a new perspective. Creating an outdoor patio that nourishes you is just as important as using your outdoor space as an entertainment extension to your home. If you want your patio or deck to be a retreat, consider adding a calming element like a Zen or herb garden or a simple but elegant waterfall.

Zen gardens come in all sizes and shapes, from smaller than a placemat to large outdoor constructions. All you need is a rectangular wooden box or tray, a small wooden rake, some sand, some shells, rocks, or twigs, and, if you want to get fancy, a succulent or two. Bonus points if you can use some of that sand you brought home from your last Caribbean vacation. As you trace patterns in the sand you can pretend that you’re back there, even though you haven’t left the patio.

Waterfalls can be as simple as two bowls cunningly arranged so one overflows into the other. The sound of trickling water is one of the most soothing there is, right up there with a soothing breeze that rustles the tree leaves. Don’t invest in anything too complicated or anything that’s likely to require a lot of maintenance. Keep it simple and clean, and make sure your water feature has an off switch for guests who may not appreciate it.

Fragrant lavender, rosemary, and mint are three of the best herbs to grow on a patio or deck in containers. Lavender and rosemary provide a tall, spikey visual element, while mint just cascades lushly as it spreads. Make sure you’ve got the right exposure for the herbs you choose—not all, like mint, want full sun.

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September 13, 2019
Coordinating Your Garden to Your Home

While architects have often noted that landscape architecture has lagged the modernist building movement since the late 1930s, these days, there’s consensus that your garden should, if not match, at least coordinate with your home.

An English country garden may work just as well with a Cape Cod style home as it does with a thatched Tudor cottage. However, it really doesn’t suit a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired angular home with clean lines and lots of glass.

Try to match your garden’s style to your home when it comes to size, color, and style for a clean, comforting appearance.

Size

If you’ve got a tiny little porch, don’t flank your home’s entryway with massive flower pot sentinels. That will only emphasize how small your porch is. Similarly, if your front yard is the size of a pocket handkerchief, perhaps bursts of color from small petaled trailing plants like lobelia are a better idea than a hibiscus bush. Save the big, showy flowers for those you can train to grow on a trellis against the house, like a clematis.

If, on the other hand, you’ve got a huge front yard, you may want to create interest by designing winding pathways that delineate different kinds of gardens: flower from herb, annual from perennial, rose garden from mixed flowers, Zen garden from rock garden. Also, you’ll want to scale up the size of your plants as well. If you’re working with a big space, you can invest in plants like hostas and hydrangeas, which will grow and grow and grow until you cut them back.

Try to scale the size of your plantings to the size of your home. If tiny and perfect works for your house, it’ll work for your garden too. Make sure, if you have a small home on a small lot, that you keep both evergreen and deciduous trees trimmed. Letting them get too tall isn’t just an aesthetic faux pas, it can be dangerous, given the severity of many storm events.

Color

Repeating your home’s paint colors in your garden’s foliage or flowers is one way to link interior and exterior. Think of the house color as the flower painting’s backdrop. You can echo your home’s color scheme, or you can choose contrasting colors to make your garden pop.

The easiest house colors to integrate with foliage are, of course, greens and browns. But you can use your garden flowers to both amplify and contrast with your home’s exterior wall color.

White has a commanding presence in a garden, and some landscape gardeners think it should be used with care, to create a focal point or unite a space. Trim and roof colors should be repeated throughout a garden, with white or off-white plantings as accents or unifying elements with any house that has white or cream in its paint scheme.

Style

The warm texture of a red brick house with gingerbread trim and deep overhangs calls for one kind of garden and a specific range of plants, while the neutral concrete and glass angles of a modern, custom-built home would look silly adorned with petunias.

If you’ve bought a heritage home, honor its stature with traditional and vintage garden designs. Make use of arbors and hanging baskets on the porch. Flank a colonial style home’s front door with large planters bursting with trailing flowers. Create a rose or hydrangea or French herb garden. Build a latticework gazebo.

Landscape architects suggest using foliage as building blocks with modern design, and some of the best examples of this are of rectangular planters filled with wild and spikey decorative grasses. The abundance, movement, and deep true colors of the grasses provide contrast to the neutral color scheme. They also supply texture, movement, and a wildness that works well with a very precise and sometimes coldly confrontational architectural style.

Modern architecture lends itself very well to xeriscaping, and once a xeriscape lawn has been designed and planted, it matches the spirit of modern architecture: clean lines, low maintenance, and a lack of ornamentation. Vertical gardens and green walls work very well with modern architecture too, providing a shot of color and free form design, adding a bit of warmth and interest to hard edges. Planning, planting, nurturing, and appreciating your garden should be a voyage of exploration and discovery, something you perfect over the course of years. Don’t be afraid to try new colors, plants, and accessories to see what works and what doesn’t. Most importantly, don’t forget that gardening can be a year-long passion. After all, the important work gets done in winter: planning, poring over seed catalogues, and researching patio stones, water treatments, wind chimes, and lawn furniture.

September 4, 2019
How to Outfit your Outdoor Living Area for Summer

Whether you’re lucky enough to live in a home with a wraparound porch and a huge backyard that backs on a bird sanctuary or you live in a modern condo with a small but lovely patio, outfitting your outdoor living area for summer is a fun challenge. Decorating a patio is sure to make you appreciate your home more, regardless of its size.

Principles of Outdoor Home Decor

There aren’t really many rules about outdoor home decor other than those imposed by HOAs and condo associations. Within those bounds though, the first principle of outdoor home decor is to define how you want to use the space. If it’s your escape from the chaos that reigns within, your design choices should reflect that secret garden approach to make it your own personal sanctuary.

If, however, you want your outdoor space to be the place you do all your summer entertaining, you’ll want to emphasize the openness of the space and create gathering points within it.

Remember not to try to make a small space serve too many purposes at once. Your small patio can’t be a children’s play area and a quiet reading space simultaneously. If you want to use the patio primarily for entertaining, decide whether you want the space to be formal, with a sit-down table, or informal, with guests eating on their laps or small side tables.

Here are some other tips for outfitting your outdoor living area for the summer.

Scale Your Furnishings

No matter how comfortable an overstuffed chair is, if you’ve got a small patio, you’ll want to make sure it isn’t overwhelmed by décor. Try choosing chairs without arms and, if possible, use stackable chairs so they take up less space when not in use. Consider using benches as seating, since their backless nature means they take up less room visually and allow unobstructed views when not occupied.

If you’ve got a huge backyard, consider creating several different outdoor spaces: one for entertaining, one for getting away from it all, and one for making mud pies or playing tag.

Take Lounging Seriously

Whether you want to sit outside for 10 minutes every morning with a cup of coffee or retreat to your backyard sanctuary after a hard day at the office, don’t forget that the whole point of this outdoor space is to help you relax while you feel the breeze and can admire the trees and flowers comfortably.

Invest in a hammock, a really comfortable lounge chair, or a swing. It’s up to you whether you want to control the sounds you hear while enjoying your outdoor space, but if you find water features or wind chimes soothing, indulge yourself. Both items lend themselves to individualization, and there are lots of DIY water feature and wind chime projects you can create that won’t break the bank and will give you a sense of satisfaction every time you see and hear them.

Create Some Shade

Whether you’re a sun worshipper or not, you and your guests are going to want some shelter on hot days. There are so many ways to achieve this, whether it’s buying a patio umbrella, building an open-air gazebo, or just placing large potted plants at strategic intervals outside.

You can also attach a sun-resistant fabric canopy to your deck railings to keep the sun from beating down. If you start early enough in the season, add posts to your deck and create a pergola or lattice canopy by building an overhead frame with chicken wire and growing scarlet runner beans to provide shade (and color, since they have beautiful scarlet blooms).

A sail shade is also a quick, cheap and easy sun deflector. Cut a piece of fade-resistant fabric into a triangle, punch eyelets in the corners, and attach the shade to nearby trees, poles, or the side of the house.

Alternatively, you can enclose your entire deck in canvas shades for shelter from the sun and enhanced privacy (sort of like being inside a four-poster bed with the curtains closed).

However you decide to decorate your outdoor living area for the summer, make sure you create a space you and your guests will be able to use comfortably. You’ll probably need more small tables than you realize so guests have somewhere to put their drinks.

Additionally, you’ll want to pace out the furniture placement so the traffic flow makes sense—if you’ve decided on a formal dining area, track the way you move from kitchen to barbeque area and from barbeque area to table to make sure you’re not going to trip over either guests or furniture. But most importantly, make your outdoor space comfortable so you can enjoy the lazy, hazy days of summer while they’re here.

August 29, 2019