Greening Ideas, Tips & Guides

White ZZ plants are not exactly “White” but have a tint of yellow and white on the leaves, which makes them appear very different from the regular green and rare black types.

If you are not sure whether indoor plants attract bugs or not, and don’t have any idea on how to spot them on your green friends – well, we are here to help!

If you've always wondered how to fully bring the outdoors into your home, designers are here to help. Below, pros weigh in with handy tips for how you can add natural touches to your space, whether it's large or small.

Home is where the heart is—and where all my favorite decor items are, too. Being a design writer means I take creating a comfortable, stylish home seriously. I’m well aware of the transformative power a cozy-as-can-be throw blanket or brilliant organizational item has.  In case you are in the market for decor that balances fun with functionality, I recently took stock of my favorite home items, ones with my forever stamp of approval. Some are investments, some are steals, and all make my house feel a little homier.  Scroll on for 12 of my must-have home products. 

We bought an old house and have been working extra hard on a self-build extension and house renovation for the last seven months. We have installed a big fixed window pane with the idea of looking out on to a lovely green back garden, but at the moment it is just a mound of earth, derived from the dig to get foundations done. What can I place here that will green quickly and also be bee and bird friendly and give us some nice colours and view for this summer? Would a wild flower meadow be the way to go until we figure out what to do with space or what can you recommend that is eco and purse friendly? RH, Co Dublin

Brightland

We’re back for more of Cherry Ong’s visit to a great garden today, one that she saw on a tour organized by the Vancouver Hardy Plant Society last summer. This is a collector’s shade garden, full of lots of beautiful and unusual plants, including a stunning collection of Podophyllum (mayapples; hardiness varies, but mostly Zones 6–9).

Plant pots are a staple of the garden and are fantastic for displaying your favourite flowers and plants both indoors and out. They’re great for all types of gardens and allow those without the luxury of green space to display their work on balconies, decked areas, and conservatories.

We’re visiting another garden with Cherry Ong today, one that she saw on a tour organized by the Vancouver Hardy Plant Society last summer. This is a collector’s shade garden, full of lots of beautiful and unusual plants, including a stunning collection of Podophyllum (mayapples; hardiness varies, but mostly Zones 6–9).

Yellow ferns are not entirely of that color but have a mix of green, canary, and orange in their fronds. Do not mistake them for ferns that have diseased and yellowing leaves, though!

Overwatering is one of the biggest issues that can result in a demise of any plant. To ensure your green friends are safe from it – here are some home items for your rescue!

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Home-grown garlic takes up little space and requires hardly any effort to get a good crop. It’s an easy crop to grow, spouting from a garlic bulb separated into cloves, which you plant individually. Certified, disease-free garlic bulbs are sold at garden centres or online.

A weed is often described as ‘a plant growing in the wrong place’. But with growing awareness of the many benefits of ‘weeds’ to wildlife, along with the increasing popularity of naturalistic planting styles, the concept of a ‘weed’ is becoming looser, and can vary from one gardener to another.

IKEA

The plant kingdom is full of surprising doppelgangers, and these fruits that look like tomatoes are no different! Let’s learn how to differentiate them for good!

The Ole' Rhubarb Switcheroo! Find out how a friend with extra «rhubarb» turned sour in this hilarious plant mixup. Rhubarb: The taste of nostalgia

If you are bored of growing the same plain plants, then try these Houseplants with Zebra Print that will surely look amazing with every type of decor!

Common beech (Fagus sylvatica) is one of the most majestic of European native trees, yet also makes an excellent formal hedge as it tolerates regular clipping. Although deciduous, beech is still good to use as a screening hedge as growth is dense, twiggy, and the dead leaves usually remain on the branches for much of the winter, often until the new leaves appear in spring. There are both green and purple-leaved varieties of common beech which are suitable for hedging. The purple-leaved form (Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’ is commonly known as copper beech. To grow as individual trees, the common beech species becomes too big for all but the largest gardens, but there are columnar (fastigiate) and weeping forms of beech that are much more compact in size.

Being the third largest state of the United States in size, it has diverse climate, this is why this list includes drought tolerant, sun loving, cold hardy, tropical, and temperate trees for the “Golden State.”

It is so satisfying snipping fresh greens from a garden for a salad. And it’s fun to add flavors to different salads beyond your standard lettuce varieties. Certain greens, like mustard and arugula, can add a spicy kick to salads, sandwiches, pizzas, stir fries, and other recipes. In this article, I’m going to share some tips on growing mustard greens from seed.

Penstemons are valuable garden plants, grown for their long-flowering season and popularity with bees. There are many different types of penstemon, with some suited to the alpine garden while the majority are at home in the heart of a herbaceous border. Border penstemons have tubular late summer flowers in a wide range of colours. The flowers look very similar to those of a foxglove.

From earthy new potatoes and bite-sized salad varieties, to floury bakers and roasters, the humble potato remains the nation’s favourite vegetable. If you’re a potato aficionado, there’s a huge number of exciting potato varieties you can grow that you’ll never see in the shops. You don’t even need a garden to grow them – many grow very happily in large bags or pots on a balcony or patio.

Ferns are one of the most versatile plants to add texture and softness to a shade garden. Northern (Adiantum pedatum) and Southern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) maidenhair ferns are native to the Southeast. When planted in the right conditions, they add an airy and ethereal touch to a shady area.

Have you ever wondered where plants, including fruits and vegetables, get their vibrant colors? Well, the answer is from phytonutrients! Phytonutrients (also known as phytochemicals) are compounds produced by plants that provide health benefits to our bodies and are displayed through a plant’s pigment. Phytonutrients contribute to not only a plant’s appearance, but also their taste, smell, and immune system. These compounds strengthen the plant’s immune system by protecting it from dangers such as sun damage and disease. While phytonutrients are beneficial to keeping plants healthy, when consumed by humans through a varied diet, these compounds may also aid in keeping us healthy too. Let’s explore the potential health benefits that each phytonutrient has to offer through their distinct hues.

Starbucks | Design: Better Homes & Gardens

These flowers that look like fire have petals that mimic the appearance of a flame or might have a hue that gives out flickers of yellow, red, or a combination of both!

Pothos is a fantastic pick with its vibrant green or variegated leaves and lush tropical vibes. While generally easy to grow, you might face challenges, like pothos leaves turning pale yellow or white. Don’t panic! White leaves are a common issue, and most times, you can rescue your plant.

What is this cool-season weed that is turning fallow fields purple right now?

Perfect for picking, fragrant sweet peas are easy to grow and come in a range of beautiful colours. You can grow them in pots or in the ground, training them up a frame for a beautiful display. Plant sweet peas near a seating area so you can smell them as you sit and relax in the garden. Or pick some for the vase – even a small amount can fill a room with fragrance.

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This list is divided into two parts–Geraniums and Pelargoniums! Each variety brings grace and beauty in the form of flowers, especially when paired with other colorful species.

 

Carol in Hendersonville, North Carolina, is sharing some beauties from her winter garden with us today:

A tablespoon of sugar is quite a common thing in the kitchen or dining table, but what if we tell you that having it handy in the garden can be beneficial for your green friends?

Given their small size and the fact that they need to be highly functional, laundry rooms are often ground zero for decorating mistakes. They also tend to be closed off from the rest of the home, meaning it's easy to shut the door and forget about how glum yours truly makes you feel.