Top 5 Tips for Planning your 2023 Garden

Before you know it, spring will be here and so will all the joy and beauty of the season. However, you shouldn’t wait until temperatures creep back up to dig in, dust off your trowel, and give in to your green thumb! A new year presents the perfect opportunity to begin planning your garden. There’s no need to delay. With these tips, your 2023 garden will glow with blooms, buds, and boundless beauty.

1. Put Pen-to-Paper to Plan for Plant Perfection

Laying out your 2023 garden now gives you the opportunity to truly embrace your yard’s full potential. It also allows you the chance to take inventory of what perennial plants you can anticipate returning to life and where your garden needs a little extra love. Plus, beginning the year with a well-thought-out plan will ensure your year of gardening will go smoothly.

To create your 2023

The Ideal Winter Interest: Conifers & Evergreens

Many gardeners do not look forward to winter because they think that all their plants are dead or sleeping, but if you pick the right ones, you can have plenty of color throughout the cold months. Not sure which plants are perfect to light up your winter landscape? Here are 14 that will do a great job of coloring your winter months.

Fantastic Flowers & Color for Winter

Not all things that are green during the winter come with needles and cones. Some come with beautiful foliage, berries, and flowers. If you want more than just green during the winter months, here are some plants that will give you more color, both in winter and the rest of the year.

Azalea

There are many evergreen varieties, some bloom in the spring, but they will give you lovely color all year round. As you look for the right ones for your yard, note that some prefer shade but others will do well in full sun. Add a few to your

12 Bulbs to Plant in Fall for the Best Spring Blooms

It’s time to plan ahead and plant your bulbs for a colorful, lively spring! Unsure which bulbs will give you the biggest blooms for your buck? Whether you’re looking for rare colors, the biggest blooms, or classic color schemes, we have you covered. To make the most of your spring, we chose top-ranked bulbs that will fill your garden with dazzling color and cheer! 

So grab your gardening gloves and get ready. Fall bulbs planting season is here!

A Quick Guide to Planting Bulbs

1. Give Them Space & Plant Them Deep Enough

Planting bulbs is pretty straightforward. However, there are some common mistakes some gardeners make. So, if you’re new to planting bulbs in fall or just need reassurance that you’re on the right track, remember to:

• Plant your bulbs with their roots down and their sprouting ends up. Most bulbs look a bit like an onion or garlic.

Top 7 Privacy Shrubs

Looking to create a little more privacy in the coming year? Well, there are a lot of things that you can plant to keep you out of sight. Here is a variety to pick from. Some have beautiful foliage, others come with lots of blossoms. Just take your pick–all will add beauty and privacy to your yard.

1. Arborvitae 

Emerald Green

Size: 15 feet high, 4 feet wide

Growth: Moderate

Zones: 4-9

Tall and lush, they have dark green foliage throughout the year. They like full sun but will be happy with partial shade, and they do well in most types of soil. Plant as a border or screen, or along the house or garage. Add beauty and color to your yard 12 months out of the year.

Green Giant

Size: 50 feet high, 12 feet wide

Growth:

7 Roses to Color Your Autumn World

Don’t be under the mistaken impression that only experienced gardeners can grow roses well. Many of the newer varieties require little work and are disease resistant. With just a little work, you can get your roses in the ground before winter sets in, then begin to enjoy an explosion of color next summer and fall. Here are 7 seven varieties that you might want to try.

Planting and Growing Roses

Roses really don’t require a lot of work, so spend a little time preparing your soil, and they will make a welcome addition to your landscape.

Conditions

Roses like rich, well-drained soil that is full of organic matter and slightly acidic. Most varieties need at least 8 hours of sun. In hot climates, you might want to put them where they can get afternoon shade, and for zones where there can be damage from frosty winter nights,

20 Things to Plant for Fall Color

Fall is almost here, and few things are better than all the vibrant and natural color that the cooler fall weather brings. Many people hit the road looking for spectacular fall colors. But when you plant for fall color in mind you can skip the trip and get front-row access to a kaleidoscope of autumnal beauty. There truly is nothing better than walking out of your back door and having an explosion of fall color that’s all your own. 

Need some inspiration for what plants will add some fall-time pizazz to your yard? Here are some of our fall-time faves:

The Best Trees for Fall Color

There are many trees that will light up your landscape with wonderful color in the fall. From the weird and wonderful to the traditional, there are plenty to choose from as you plan your fall color display.

1 American Sweetgum (Zones 6-9)

Tips to Reduce & Prevent Common Garden Pests

Many people grow their own fruits and vegetables so that they can eat fresh and healthy food from their backyard. So using poison to kill insect pests on the things that you are going to be eating isn’t too appealing.

There are many natural pesticides that you can buy to spray on those pests that will keep them under control, without endangering your health.

Benefits of Natural Pesticides

Natural pesticides, whether homemade or store bought, are good for you, your garden and the earth. Among the many benefits:

• They are better for your health
• They won’t damage the environment
• They break down quickly
• They will not build up in the soil
• The pests are less likely to build up a resistance
• And in most cases, they are significantly cheaper than chemical fertilizers

Composting 101: All You Need to Know About Composting

Composting: Mother Nature’s favorite hobby! If you’re considering getting into composting, you’re not alone. Many people are making the move to a more sustainable way to keep their gardens greener and make a positive impact on the environment. Plus, composting helps you connect with the natural order of things. 

Making your own compost is anything but difficult. Start composting today with our simple suggestions for creating your own compost to enrich your garden and yard.

Composting In Nature

Believe it or not, some animals are into composting. Alligator moms build a massive pile of compost, then use the heat that it gives off to keep their eggs warm. The brush-turkey in Australia does the same thing, so they don’t have to spend as much time minding their eggs.

Getting Started with DIY Composting

6 of the Best Summer-Bearing Apricot Trees

What could be better than strolling out into your backyard and picking a handful of apricots, golden spheres kissed by the summer sun, and enjoying them with coffee for breakfast? Not only do you get delicious fruit, but apricots can be a great edible addition to your landscape. Read on to learn about their history, care, and varieties.

History of Apricot Trees

The apricot originated in China and slowly made its way west to Europe along the old spice road. It was brought to the US in the 1700s and spread across the continent as the country grew.

You can count on a good harvest, especially if you plant more than one variety to help with cross-pollination. The fruit has many uses:

• Eaten fresh
• Canned
• Frozen
• Dried
• Baked
• Turned to jam or jelly

Not

Lilacs and You: Planting and Care

Are you looking for a fragrant, easy to grow shrub that will add beauty to your yard? Look no further than the old fashioned (or should we say “timeless”) lilac. They are easy to grow and covered with wonderfully scented blossoms during the spring. Plus, lilacs are a great long-term investment–they often last longer than the house that they are planted near.

A Brief History of Lilacs

In Greek mythology, a nymph named Syringa was pursued by Pan, the half-man, half-goat god of groves. She found that she could not get away from him, so she turned herself into a flower–the lilac.

Lilacs were introduced to Europe in the 16th century and to America about 200 years later. They are in the olive tree family and will grow to 20 to 30 feet high and usually have shoots growing from the base so that they form a dense bush. Most are various shades