Cover Ideas, Tips & Guides

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We design gardens in northwestern Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills, and many of our clients’ properties have sections that are rocky and steep. Embracing the unique contours of each site, we have built rock gardens, terraces, and plantings that flow downhill. We see each hillside as an opportunity to put together a satisfying plant palette that is easy to maintain and beautiful to behold. A bonus with slopes is that they provide good drainage by their very nature.

Want to show a little love to your local bees with an easy-care lawn? You don’t have to keep bees to create an environment that helps them thrive. Bee lawns are a great way to improve the look and care of your yard while also helping bees.

Image: Newby Hall Gardens. Credit: Newby Hall Gardens.  Wondering what there is to do around Yorkshire this spring and summer? There are plenty of Gardens to Visit in Yorkshire, with lots to see and do — including impressive gardens, glorious stately homes, and much much more!  Here are just a few picks that might tickle your fancy this season.  Newby Hall Gardens Newby Hall and Gardens is located in Ripon, just a 40–50-minute drive from York and Leeds.Their gardens cover 40 acres and includes a whopping 15 areas of interest — including one of the UK's longest herbaceous borders! Not only that, but they also have a miniature railway, boat trips, an adventure playground and more to explore. Perfect for a family-fun day out, whatever the weather. Sheffield Botanical Gardens Image: The pavilions at Sheffield Botanical Gardens. Credit: Sheffield Botanical Gardens. Opened in 1833 and spanning over 19 acres, are the impressive Sheffield Botanical Gardens. They’re a Grade II site of special historic interest, featuring traditional glass Pavilions and sweeping gardens. There’s lots to see and do, including a Mediterranean Climate Garden, a Rock and Water Garden, and even a traditional Victorian Garden display. A must-visit if you’re near the area! Did you know that Manchester once had a Botanical Gardens? There’s even remains of the epic entrance, which can be seen at the front of the White City Retail Park near Trafford. You can read all about Manchester’s Lost Royal Botanical Gardens here. Harlow Carr (North Yorkshire) RHS gardens are a gem of the UK, and RHS Harlow Carr is no exception. This Harrogate-based Garden has lots to do and see throughout spring and summer – a perfect pick for all the family. Their main borders

As someone who shivers at the thought of a chilly breeze, I’m well and truly done with our long, wet, cold spring. So much so, that I find myself daydreaming of brilliant sunshine, blue skies and warm breezes.

If you don't have a green thumb, are in an environment that’s hard on plants, or are just tired of gardening, you might want to look into a garden that isn’t alive at all. Rock gardens are trending (especially in hot, desert planting zones) as a way to design your garden with little or no greenery required. 

ICYMI, sustainability is in this year, and unsustainable gardening practices are out. Not only are sustainable gardening practices more eco-friendly, but they are also more affordable and result in a low-maintenance and ecologically balanced landscape.

Ever dreamed of having a beautiful honeysuckle vine climbing up a trellis? Well, dream no more! Our guide is packed with Honeysuckle Trellis Ideas that you can use to grow your Honeysuckles.

Wisteria flowers can help you showcase pretty meanings, and they look absolutely gorgeous on your skin. Don’t believe us? See for yourself with these designs.

Making a Trellis for Potted Plants isn’t exactly rocket science but you do need to create a structure that can take the weight of the plant without breaking.

Architectural indoor plants are great to use them as a part of the furniture or overall design element of any room in the house, where they form a perfect camaraderie with the space.

Are you planning to install a pergola to enhance your outdoor space? Whether it's creating a shady retreat in your backyard or adding an architectural element to your patio, installing a pergola can be a great way to improve your outdoor living. But before you start building, there are some key things to consider to ensure your project is successful.

If you want a year-round climber that covers up the bland space in your garden, well, we have vines that will win your heart!

Ground cover plants are low-growing plants that spread easily to cover areas where nothing much wants to grow.

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If there’s any crop (and flavor) that says “spring,” it’s asparagus. Asparagus is one of the earliest vegetables you can harvest in springtime, and it only lasts about six to eight weeks. If you’re new to growing this perennial vegetable, it’s hard to know exactly when to plant asparagus. In addition to being harvested in the spring, it’s planted in the spring, as well. But timing is important. The part of the plant you have come to know as the asparagus vegetable—the spear—is actually the succulent, immature stem. The st

Legginess in plants can be due to many different reasons. But don’t worry! We’ve covered all the bases for you in our How to Fix a Leggy ZZ Plant guide.

Hebes are popular evergreen shrubs, mostly native to New Zealand although some are native to Australia and South America. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and are suitable for growing in a range of sites and planting schemes. Hebes are excellent in shrub borders, used as ground cover or low-growing hedging, and are relatively low-maintenance.

Julie Soefer

Cicada Brood XIX has arrived in Greenwood County. Enjoy the amazing photos taken by HGIC Agent, Ginger Long. Brood XIX is one of the largest broods in the country, covering the greatest geographic area. In South Carolina, the emergence is projected to be in many upstate counties and counties along the Savannah River basin down to Aiken County. The adults live only for a few weeks, and after about a month, they will disappear as mysteriously as their arrival.

If you're craving a bit more color in your living room but are renting your home or are not looking to make any major, permanent changes, by no means is all hope lost.

Today’s photos are from Connie Raines in Georgia.

Repotting aloe vera becomes necessary for a few reasons, especially when your plant starts to outgrow its pot. It can also be done when you have a baby aloe plant growing alongside the original. Referred to as a pup, this wee little aloe can be separated and repotted in its own container. Aloe plants require repotting anywhere from every three to five years or so. I often will save two or three houseplants to repot at the same time while I have my soil out and the table covered. In this article, I’ll explain how to repot an aloe plant—and a pup if you have one. Aloe was among my first houseplants when I got my first apartment. Having watched aloe vera gel applied to friends’ cuts and burn

You might have spotted different vines on trees, and must have wondered what sort of plant they are. Well, we will give you the list of the ones that are notorious for this habit!

Decorating your living room on a budget doesn’t mean downplaying your style. In fact, there are plenty of ways to give your living room that wow factor without spending a ton.

GardenAdvice one-day gardening course for beginners

We have had a few days away visiting my Mum, and although I wouldn’t usually choose to leave the garden at this time of year it was a case of needs must. Fortunately, one of our neighbours can be relied on to water everything in the greenhouse in our absence, my main concern, and this is where I hot-footed it to on our return. Not only were the seedlings still thriving, but they looked increasingly sturdy and bursting with health, necessitating several hours in the last couple of days potting them on.

Kale is one of my favorite vegetables to grow. These versatile greens can be steamed or stir fried, chopped into soups, or baked into chips. And the young leaves are delicious in salads. It’s a perfect double-duty plant, because it adds interesting foliage in various shades of green to a garden or an ornamental container, with the added bonus of being able to harvest some of the leaves. Plus it’s super-healthy. Kale is a good source of fiber and high in vitamin C. Learning how to grow kale is pretty easy. Unfortunately its nemesis, the cabbage worm, can crush—or rather eat—all your kale-growing dreams very quickly. Here are some tips on raising healthy kale plants. Varieties of kale to grow There are many different varieties of this member of the Brassica family (Brassica olerace

Kritsada Panichgul

Growing spider plants vertically is the best way to save up the floor space while adding greenery to the room!

Pothos Vs Philodendron has always been a hot topic of discussion, and we are going to list out all the pointers that set these plants apart!

Although growing thyme from seed isn’t difficult, it requires patience, since this versatile, fragrant herb takes a while to germinate and grow. However, with the right know-how, you can start your own thyme seedlings and subsequently grow them into mature plants. Plus, seed is much less expensive than established bedding plants, so you stand to save a lot of money by starting thyme seeds yourself. This article is going to cover starting seeds indoors and direct-sowing seeds once the soil warms up in spring. A member of the mint (Lamiaceae) family, thyme contains a chemical compound called thymol which contributes to its stron

An effective approach to weed removal begins with accurately detecting and identifying various types of unwanted plants in your garden. From dandelions to thistles, each weed requires a specific approach. Take the time to familiarise yourself with the characteristics of weeds growing in your area. This enables you to apply targeted strategies and prevent them from further spreading.

One of the major benefits of gardening in a raised bed is you get to control the soil that goes into it. This is especially advantageous for gardeners with a property that has hard-packed or clay soil, issues with tree roots, or concerns about pollutants. It also comes in handy if you want to place your raised bed on a patio or driveway. Since good soil is the foundation of a healthy garden, you want to make sure you’re setting your vegetables up for success. So, what is the best soil for a raised garden bed? In this article, I’m going to share some advice on figuring out how much soil you need, what to purchase, amending a soil delivery, and more. Another raised bed benefit is that the soil will remain friable. In an in-ground garden, the soil can become hard-packed over tim

Chasing Paper

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