Ground Ideas, Tips & Guides

What Are Underground Pit Greenhouses?

Juniper ground cover is a great way to fill in garden gaps around borders, patios, pathways and rockeries. Different juniper varieties offer a wide range of dense, mat-forming foliage in heights to suit any need. These plants come in steely blues, minty greens, cheerful golds and variegated options. In winter, juniper foliage takes on purple, burgundy and copper tones to add interest to quiet corners.

Skunks are easy to identify from appearance—and smell! But these handsome mammals typically mind their own business and are more interested in excavating their dinner than in what you’re doing. “They’re primarily insectivores so they provide a useful ecological service, digging up insects in the soil,” says Sheldon Owen, PhD, wildlife extension specialist atWest Virginia University. “The issue is if they decide to den under your porch or crawlspace.”

While there are lots of shrubs that will do perfectly fine over the winter, sometimes they need a little help to make it through. And that may not be just as a result of cold temperatures. Hungry wildlife could be after some of those tender branches, too. My cedar hedges in the backyard are consistently turned into lollipops because the deer enjoy nibbling the lower branches if they pass through our yard. Winter shrub covers are a great way to protect vulnerable bushes. In this article, I’m going to share tips on choosing winter covers, and how to safely wrap your shrubs.

Hardy fuchsias are commonly grown in UK gardens, and it’s no surprise – many flower from June to November and need very little care. Native to Central and South America, most hardy fuchsias survive UK winters (RHS hardiness rating H4), although some may still require protection from the harshest weather (RHS hardiness rating H3 or H2). In milder parts of the UK, hardy fuchsias can grow into a shrub up to 3m in height but in colder regions they may be damaged by frost and require cutting back to the base, from where they regrow in spring.

With their vibrant red leaves, these plants are more than just a festive holiday decoration – they can be a gardening project where you can experiment with their leaves (bracts)!

We’ve got the scoop on Chicken Dust Bath Ideas for Homesteaders that’ll make your feathered friends flap joyfully! What are you waiting for? Scroll for easy and simple ideas.

Creating a garden is, initially, an introverted process. It takes a while to imagine a garden and to develop it into its final form. For much of that period your thoughts are just part of an evolving dream of a future reality. It takes longer to build a garden and a whole lifetime, or more, for that garden to mature. To embark on making a garden is an act of faith. The creative journey is made unique by the relationships we have with those we enlist to help us. Without other people there would be no garden. Together, we generate a great alchemical soup of ideas, we consider constraints and we discuss details that ultimately coalesce into the new garden. Landscape gardens can express themselves in myriad ways. I have always enjoyed the freedom landscaping offers to explore what the land, the people and the circumstances ultimately reveal.

Growing these Cold Hardy Vegetables in your garden will ensure you enjoy a fresh harvest in the midst of the chill, right from your backyard!

Growing healthy and vibrant plants is every gardener's dream and goal. It is also crucial to preserve the environment and use resources responsibly. Water management is one of these responsibilities. Thankfully, advancements in technology have paved the way for sustainable gardening practices. 

If traditional Christmas carols were given a modern spin, «Deck the Halls,» would really mean deck the halls, roof, porch, and lawn. While a Christmas tree in the living room is still the star of interior holiday decor, front yards are often the next hot spot for holiday decor displays.

Tiny pink flowers are often overlooked in the grand scheme of landscaping. Despite being small, they offer a remarkable show of colors and are also a haven for pollinators.

If you have never heard of blueberry sod, this is your chance to simplify the way you approach lawn care. Beautiful and delicious, using blueberry sod as ground cover is a great alternative to planting a new lawn. It is much easier to grow and care for, and a unique way to enhance your garden’s fruiting potential.

If you've ever sat by the edge of a pool, your back begins to hurt after a while. Ladies (or men in Speedos), we all know how the seat of our swimsuits gets those little pullers in them… so here's the perfect poolside solution!

As a result of the very wet weather over the last few months, I still haven’t got around to planting the spring-flowering bulbs that I bought months ago. Is it too late to do it now? — EM, Kerry

Autumn crocuses (Colchicum spp.) look like spring crocuses but are actually members of the lily family. They most commonly bloom in autumn, with flowers ranging in colour from purple to the palest of pink and even pure white. They look good naturalised in grass, beneath trees, or at the front of borders. The flowers come up without any leaves which gives them their other common name of ‘naked ladies’.

From ancient myths to modern-day interpretations, peacock feathers carry a rich history of meanings that resonate deeply with gardening enthusiasts. Let’s dive into their significance and find out What is the Meaning of Peacock Feathers.

Welcome to the world of Creeping Charlie Look-Alikes and the surprising reasons they’re often mistaken for this common ground cover!

Feeding the birds is such a rewarding activity, and a great way to support local wildlife. However, too many gardeners are making potentially harmful mistakes when trying to appeal to feathered friends.

If you’re already looking ahead to spring flowers, then you’re probably also well aware that right now is the ideal time for planting bulbs.

We all have that one spot in our house that tends to accumulate random clutter every single day. Normally, that’s the spot near the front door—but really anywhere can become a dumping ground, including the garage, kitchen drawer (aka the junk drawer), dining table, and living room sofa. 

If you hate raking your yard during the fall, you might be in luck. The appropriately named «Leave the Leaves» initiative says it’s better to avoid touching the leaves in your yard, instead leaving them to decompose naturally over the winter.

If you like the beauty and impact that ornamental grasses bring to a garden design, you will love the many shapes, forms, and colors that North American native species offer. Whether you need a practical ground cover, a dramatic focal point, or an airy filler to knit a matrix planting together, Danielle, Carol, and guest Paula Gross have some options that will inspire you to start your spring shopping list now.

We’re back with Susan Warde in St. Paul, Minnesota! Yesterday we looked back at the year in her front garden, and today we’re taking the same tour through the seasons but in her back garden, where things are a bit shadier but no less beautiful.

Encountering a squirrel during your garden adventures is a delightful surprise and may carry more profound spiritual significance. These spirited creatures embody joy and resourcefulness – virtues highly relevant to passionate gardeners and nature enthusiasts!

From erosion control to weed suppression, ground covers play an important role in the garden. They benefit neighboring plants by shading the ground, which helps keep soil cool and reduces moisture loss to evaporation. Many ground covers provide nectar to pollinators and shelter ground-dwelling insects and vertebrates. From an aesthetic standpoint, ground covers lend gardens a finished look. They can be used to emphasize focal points or to soften transitions between garden elements. Evergreen ground covers provide these services all year long, while creating a bridge from one season to the next. Here are a few fabulous evergreen ground covers for the Southwest.

Cold frames are a great way to get a jump-start on or extend the gardening season. An easy way to get started with cold-frame growing is to put it to good use cultivating herbs through the winter months. Cold frames create a microclimate by utilizing the sun and insulation. This environment creates conditions so that plants grown inside are protected from frost and can take advantage of warmer soil. Though it takes a bit of effort to set up and maintain, it is well worth the reward of having fresh and flavorful herbs during the coldest months of the year. Even in a Midwest winter, you can grow fresh herbs that will tolerate this chilly but snug situation. Here are some tips and easy herbs to grow in a cold frame.

For gardeners, glancing to the months ahead is part of the course. We’re always keeping one eye on what seeds will soon need to go into the ground, anticipating the vegetables that will soon be sprouting, or preparing for our next round of pruning. With 2024 fast approaching, a calendar that not only keeps you organised and motivated throughout the year, but is as informative as it is beautiful is a worthwhile purchase. We’re rounded up some of our colourful and eye-catching favourites below.

These Partial Shade Perennials are the perfect choice for those garden spots that enjoy the dappled sunlight of a canopy or the gentle shade of a building.

Evergreen climbers can add beauty and value to your garden, providing vivid colours all year round and enhancing privacy. By taking up minimal soil space and thriving in shady areas, they help you get the most out of your garden area. Not only do they look good all year round, but they can also attract beneficial wildlife into your outdoor space

These majestic birds of prey are known for their keen vision and power. Whether perched on a tree branch or soaring above your garden, a hawk’s presence can be interpreted as a significant sign from nature. Let’s explore – What Does it Mean When a Hawk Visits You?

From fragrant herbs promoting deep sleep to small, garden-inspired tokens that soothe the soul, explore how these items can elevate your nighttime routine to a blissful, botanical experience. Keep reading to know about the best Things to Keep Under Your Pillow.

My name is Tingshu Hu. I live in Dunstable, Massachusetts (Zone 5b), but I love plants for warmer regions, such as canna (Canna hybrids, Zones 8–11 or as tender bulbs), crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia, Zones 7–10), Cordyline ‘Red Sister’ (Zones 9–11), and lotus (Nelumbo nucifera, Zones 4–10). I started my cannas indoors and planted them outdoors after the last frost. They started to bloom in July 4 and ended by the first frost. This year the first frost came on Oct. 31, about a month later than normal, so the cannas’ flower stems grew very tall. Most of the pictures were taken on Oct. 27 and 28.

Encountering the symbol of a Batman while sleeping can be a fascinating and mysterious experience, often stirring a mix of emotions and curiosity. So, is there any Spiritual Significance of Seeing a Bat in a Dream? Join us as we explore this topic, exploring one of nature’s most enigmatic and misunderstood animals!

A solitary feather lying amidst your blossoms can spark a sense of wonder and curiosity as you wander through the lush greenery. This seemingly small discovery may lead you to ask: What Does it Mean When You Find a Feather? Is it a mere coincidence or a sign from nature? Let’s find out!

When a tree starts showing signs of distress, it’s not just about saving a plant—it’s about preserving a piece of nature that benefits us all. In this guide, we’ll explore practical and effective steps on How to Save a Dying Tree.