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

The Complete Guide to Hydrangeas

Watering Tips for Hanging Flower Baskets 

Summer is near, and as you move outside, you might want to move your hanging baskets outside too. Whether inside or outside, you will need to water your hanging baskets properly to keep your plants happy and healthy.

Types of watering cans for hanging baskets

The first thing you want to consider is the watering can. There is a wide variety out there, so you will want to find the right can or cans for your needs.

Styles

There are generally two styles of watering cans: free-flow and rose. Free-flow will have long narrow spouts and usually works better indoors because you can put the water exactly where you want it, and the rose variety has a wider spigot with a lot of holes, which is more appropriate for outdoors.

The watering can’s handle should feel comfortable in your hand because water is heavier t

While landscaping isn’t the most important thing you can do to enhance your home’s value, it can surely help someone who is already interested to place an offer, and all things considered, might be the point that gets them to make you an offer on your home instead of someone else.

You wouldn't put your home on the market if plumbing needed work or rooms needed to be painted, and the same goes for your landscaping. Your yard is the first thing that people will notice, so you need to put your best trees and scrubs forward.

Plant a Tree

Trees can do a lot for your home's curb appeal. If the buyer doesn’t like the color of a room or the carpeting, that is easy to change, but you can’t just drop a 30-year-old oak tree in the front yard to provide instant shade, so you need to think long-term as you are considering adding trees to your landscape.

Look for trees that grow well in your

Explosions of Color: All You Want to Know about Crape Myrtle

The crape or crepe myrtle is a beautiful, sun love, drought-resistant deciduous tree that is popular with homeowners. 

And it’s no wonder so many people love these bountifully blooming trees! The crape myrtle is small to medium-sized and has flowers that range from yellow to orange to red to lavender. They are easy to care for, and many are disease resistant. They grow quickly, up to 2 feet per year, and are loved by pollinators and birds.

What else should every gardener and homeowner know about these beauties? This article covers all the colorful facts about crape myrtles!

History of the Blooming Beauty

Crape myrtle, also called “crepe myrtle” originally grew in south and southeast Asia but has spread around the world to wherever the climate is suitable. They range in size from a 3-foot variety suita

Citrus is a genus of tropical and sub-tropical trees that are known around the world for their tasty fruit. They originated in Southeast Asia and have been carried around the world because they are so delicious.

They are popular with both commercial farmers and family hobbyists because they are not too difficult to grow, and they provide a wealth of healthy snacks and can be used in a wide variety of recipes.

But once you have them planted, and they are growing, how do you fertilize them to keep them happy and productive?

What do you need to know?

If you know when to fertilize, what fertilizer to use, and how to apply it, you will be in great shape and have a good crop to share with your family and friends.

When do you need to fertilize?

If you want a bumper crop, you need to feed your citrus. It varies depending on the species and location, but

What could be better on a hot summer afternoon than an ice-cold glass of lemonade made from freshly squeezed lemons from your own tree? 

If that puts a smile on your face, you can make it happen! As long as you have a little room in your yard, patio, deck, or apartment. Depending on the size of the tree that you start with, you can enjoy the deep green foliage, the beautiful blossoms, and the tangy fruit in a couple of short years.

To Pot or Not to Pot?

If you have plenty of yard space and you live in zones 9-11, you can plant yours outside! 

If you don’t have the outdoor space and live in zones 9-11, you can p

Tired of buying limp, dull vegetables from the supermarket? Don’t want to pay high prices at the local farmer’s market? Don’t want to eat produce that was sprayed with chemical fertilizers or pesticides?  

With a little sweat and some easy-to-find supplies, you can be growing your own veggies that are just minutes from your backyard to your table. And grown just the way that you want them.

What Is Square Foot Gardening?

To understand how to start a square-foot garden, it’s important to understand exactly what this unique garden form is. This will also give you a clearer idea of whether or not square foot gardening is the right choice for you–before your shovel ever hits the dirt.

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