ARE YOU THINKING about the possibility of transitioning an area of your lawn into something more diverse, like maybe a meadow? A question I’m asked a lot is how to go about it—the actual preparatory steps. So I invited Benjamin Vogt, a specialist in natural landscape design, to walk us through the process.
Benjamin, based in Nebraska, is owner of Prairie Up, formerly called Monarch Gardens. And besides offering garden design to clients nationwide, he teaches online classes and webinars as well. He’s the author of two books, “A New Garden Ethic,” and more recently, “Prairie Up: An Introduction to Natural Garden Design” (affiliate links).
Plus: Enter to win a copy of “Prairie Up” by commenting in the box near the bottom of the page.
Read along as you listen to the July 15, 2024 edition of my public-radio show and podcast using the player below. You can subscribe to all future editions on Apple Podcasts (iTunes) or Spotify (and browse my archive of podcasts here).
getting a meadow started, with benjamin vogt
Margaret: Are you sweltering out there or no? We’ve got the heat this year. Is that the deal?
Benjamin: Our sweltering starts on Friday and only lasts four days, thankfully.
Margaret: So before we get started: Congratulations on your new website, which is so loaded with information. It’s not just beautiful, but it’s got lots of great stuff in it. So you just survived that big process too, right? Making a meadow, making a website—they’re sort of the same.
Benjamin: Oh my gosh, yes, yes. That was over a four-month process to get that website going and make sure it actually worked. And there’s still hiccups as you know, that’s how it goes. But I just wanted to be sure that I did something really different. I felt like
The website greengrove.cc is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Renting can be difficult for a whole host of reasons: Rental costs are rising, landlords can be strict or unhelpful, there can be pretty high upfront costs, and it can mean you move more often, which can become pretty expensive. And on top of all of that, you have to be very careful with how you decorate your home—that is, if you want your security deposit back.
Deadheading your hydrangea blooms can help your plant use its energy to produce more flowers and new growth. This is why it is essential to know how to do it the right way, which is what this article is about.
Has this ever happened to you? You purchase a gorgeous hanging basket overflowing with colorful blooms in late May, only to find that come midsummer it’s looking a bit... droopy and sad, with far too many leaves and not enough flowers? There are many reasons why a hanging basket might not be performing as well as it did earlier in the season, as they have several needs that should be met on a consistent basis. Typically, hanging baskets are made up of annuals or tender perennials. In the confines of such small containers as hanging baskets, these plants are much more demanding than they would be in a larger container or in the ground. But never fear: as long as you provide them with the right amount of sunlight, water, fertilizer, and pruning in the form of deadheading and pinching, you have the greatest chance possible to keep your basket a blooming powerhouse until the first frost. But first, you have to start with the most ideal plant material possible.
Autumn is a key time in a gardener's calendar. It's the time of year when you plan ahead for the following year with flower bulb planting and sort out some garden maintenance after the summer. Here are some top tips to help you get ready for autumn:
Foot care is crucial in managing diabetes and greatly affects our overall health and well-being. Almost 50 percent of people living with diabetes do not have any symptoms of neuropathy in their feet. This means that they are living with neuropathy and the effects of it without even noticing. Although different types of diabetic neuropathy can affect people who have diabetes, research suggests that up to one-half of people with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy. More than 30 percent of people with diabetes have autonomic neuropathy.
Tips for Growing Mint Mint is an excellent addition to any cocktail garden! Learn the secrets for growing this classic herb and how to keep it from taking over your garden. Add mint to your cocktail garden!
Southerners love their gardening and landscaping, but if you really want to make your outside space feel welcoming and ideal for entertaining, it's time to figure out a hardscape plan. Unlike landscape which refers to the living elements like grass, trees, and flowers in your outdoor design, hardscape is the «non-living» elements like concrete, stone, and more.
Are you passionate about gardening and looking to elevate your green space? Discover how a GardenAdvice.co.uk course can help you transform your garden into a vibrant, low-maintenance haven. In this GardenAdvice is helping an aspiring gardener with a garden in Hemel Hempstead after the gardeners owner attended a GardenAdvice gardening course in the garden.