10 Items That Made My Backyard Look Expensive for Under $100

A deep clean of your home calls for a celebration—that takes a lot of time and energy! But, even with sparkling-clean surfaces surrounding you, there are some commonly missed (but very dirty) spots around your home.

When many gardeners hear the word “modern,” they often scrunch up their noses like they’ve suddenly caught a whiff of something foul. It’s true that many of us classify our landscapes as something other than contemporary. But even the most traditional of designs can benefit from an infusion of plants that one might describe as having a “modern look.” These plants serve as dynamic elements in a bed, easily becoming a focal point where perhaps one was missing. They can also seamlessly impart a space with a distinct sense of sophistication. With sleek architectural forms or moody foliage hues, these botanical elements give order to chaotic borders or simplicity to a color palette that has gotten out of control. Embracing these novel plants can help a staid design come alive. If you already have a modern home or landscape and are looking to fill in some blank spaces, the following selections are just what you need. But if you’re more of a traditionalist in search of some perennials that can breathe new life into tired beds and borders, the options below can also do the trick.

High humidity is one of the Southeast’s cornerstones, right there with country music and sweet tea. While gardeners have learned to wear its dewy sheen like a badge of honor, humidity can take a toll on the plants in our gardens. Fungus and disease can run rampant without proper airflow, and arid-loving perennials like lavender (Lavandula spp. and cvs., Zones 4–10) and Russian sage (Salvia yangii syn. Perovskia atriplicifolia, Zones 5–9) can simply melt away in our wet summers. If you’re struggling to find plants that will not only tolerate high humidity but thrive in it, start with these plants.

If you’re like me as soon as you plant your seed potatoes you’re already anticipating the harvest of tender tubers. However, potatoes are a long season crop and you’ll have to practice patience. So how long does it take for potatoes to grow? Generally the potato growing season is three to four months, but there are a few strategies you can do to encourage an early harvest. In this article you’ll learn about the different types of potatoes, which ones grow the fastest, and discover six ways to speed up the homegrown harvest. Types of potatoes Potatoes are categorized according to the length of their growing season. To ensure the longest season of homeg

Name: Hydrangea arborescens ‘Kolpinbel’

Name: Cornus kousa var. chinensis

Name: Mahonia repens syn. Berberis repens

Name: Pycnanthemum albescens

A city garden by Luciano Giubbilei, where an interesting mix of shapes and textures is provided by the foliage of a multi-stemmed Acer palmatum, a wisteria and a mound of Euphorbia mellifera.

At the back of the house, Adirondack chairs are placed beside a border with a small standard wisteria, a box spiral and purple Iris ‘Art Deco’ set off by lime-green euphorbia. An unknown red rose on the wall is from Mark Rumary’s 1960s scheme.

From Left: Sara Lee. Neilson Barnard / Staff / Getty Images.

Today we’re exploring more of Jay Sifford‘s lesser-seen back garden. We’ve toured and featured the award-winning landscape designer’s immaculate stylized meadow front garden, but now we’re wondering why the blooming bogs at the back of his home aren’t getting more attention.