Are you overwhelmed by pests? Pests can make the best landscaping job look like an amateur stepped in. In actuality the pests create the mess. This post is going to give you some ideas to consider to keep pests away from your landscaping.
Did you know the best way to keep pests away is to take preventative measures? You can use pesticides to control pests when they arrive, but what if you can cut down on pests before they even make a home in your yard?
There are certain plants you can plant that actually repel pests, such as marigolds, petunias, and dahlias, to name a few. If you plant some of those you have made your first step in getting rid of pests. You should consider keeping all plant life and trees at least six inches from your home, as this helps with the creepy crawlies who can live indoors as well as outdoors.
If you use mulch, consider changing it out for red stones. If you really think about it, mulch is nothing more than decaying vegetation. And it can bring in a whole host of unwanted pests. Sure it’s nice to look at but it is also a tasty treat for bugs and pests.
These are few things to consider when landscaping, if you don’t want to have to deal with pests. This is not to say you won’t have a pest problem at some point but it will certainly cut down on unwanted visitors.
Source: Lifehacker
Image ℅: Wikimedia Commons
Sponsored by: Scenic Landscaping
Tags: Landscaping, mulch, pests, red stone
You can buy herbs from a store. But have you thought about creating an herbal wonderland of your own? You can pick and choose herbs that tickle your fancy. This post is going to discuss building an herb garden with plants that grow and thrive in New Jersey and New York.
You should start with what would you like to plant. What would you like to have in your herb garden? Herbs are good for cooking and often used for medicinal purposes. I am going to list a few herbs that you may want to consider adding to your garden.
- Echinacea – great for boosting immune systems
- Sage – delicious!
- Lavender – wonderfully relaxing
- Thyme – versatile in recipes
- Mint – makes a great tea
- Chives – a kitchen staple
- Dill – fabulous on fish
- Parsley – more than just a garnish!
These are some of the many varieties of herbs you can plant in your herb gardens. People have big plots for herb gardens, or you can settle with a window sill herb garden. You can reach right outside your window and pick some fresh herbs for your culinary dishes. Most of the above plants will grow well and survive in New York or New Jersey.
Source: Herb Gardens
Image ℅: Wikimedia Commons
Sponsored by: Scenic Landscaping
Tags: Garden, herb garden, New Jersey, New York, thyme chives
Knowing when or when not to plant anything in your garden can be a tough thing to figure out. After all, you do not want your new vegetables or plants to whither away and die because you planted them at the wrong time. Still, that doesn’t answer the question, when can I plant in the state of New York
If it is fruits and vegetables you are worried about, the exact time can vary. The best method isn’t to guess and hope for the best, but instead do some research and find out what is the best time. This is a great resource for planting food crops in New York. Most farmers will already know this, but if you are just planting a small garden for vegetables, this information can come in handy.
Now we have the decorative plants. For this, there margin of error is really a lot less. The general rule of thumb is to plant in the spring while everything is growing back. This gives it the maximum amount of time for it to grow before the dormant season. However, there are some plants and trees that should be planted in the colder seasons, they are rare, but they do exist. To be on the safe side, ask the person that you are buying from. They would most likely know and can even give you advice for keeping your plant or tree healthy. That way your new addition to your garden can grow big and strong!
References
1. almanac.com
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Tags: Garden, Gardening, Gardening Tips, gardens, Landscaping, Lawn care, New York, Scenic Landscaping, when to plant
photo by KENPEI
If you are searching for a tree that will create an explosion of color, then the Red Dogwood will beat all your expectations. The Red Dogwood Tree produces beautiful pink and red flowers that will be the main showcase to any landscape. These hardy trees are easy to plant and recommended for zones 5 – 8. Red Dogwoods are sun lovers which should be planted in full sun for exceptional performance. They may also be planted in partial shade, but be aware that the foliage will be more dense with fewer flowers.
For a longer lasting Dogwood, be sure to plant it in slightly acidic and well-drained soil. Be careful not to plant in wet, heavy soil unless you plan to prepare a raised bed to allow drainage. If you don’t have the proper drainage system then the roots will slowly rot.
The best part about Red Dogwoods is that the blooms will outlast other flowering trees. The flowers bloom in spring and remain in bloom until late fall, then turn bronze and produce tiny red fruits. This gorgeous tree’s mature height is 20 – 25 feet, making it perfect for small yards or tight spaces. Paired up with hostas, lilies, gladolias or flowering shrubs, it will create a show stopper for admirers driving by and neighbors all around. So hunt down this award winner today and it will become one of your most favorite gems.
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Tags: dogwood in my yard, dogwood tree, flowering dogwood, how to grow dogwood, how to plant dogwood, red dogwood
Thanks to Fresh Home Magazine, here are some useful tips directly from a magazine dedicated to help you make your house look nice without spending a lot of money. It does not take an expensive flower shop to be able to put together a great arrangement of flowers.
Gather Far and Wide
Look to different grocery stores selection as well as the great outdoors for a variety of flowers, as well as greenery.
Snip and Bathe
First and foremost, diagonally cutting the stems on the way home is a must. If you do happen to have the extra time for preparation, allow the stems to soak by plunging them into water for half of a day filled up to just below the flower. After getting the flowers into the vase, add a little bit of soda to the water. The acid from the soda gets the water to the flower faster than neutral water would, and the sugar helps to feed the flower. Then, adding one drop of bleach will help to kill any potential bacteria growth.
Think Outside the Crystal Vase
Mason jars, old teapots, and wine bottles are all great for holding bouquets. Be creative with what you choose to house the flowers.
Build your Bouquet in Order
First, add fluffy flowers like baby’s breath, Sweet Williams and asters. Add enough to create an airy nest above the vase opening. Next, add straight stems, using the first batch of flowers as support. Next, fill in with textured greenery _ think ferns, ivy, tree and shrub branches, and ornamental grasses. When finished adding, stick your spread-out fingers into the arrangement and lift flowers up a bit to make the bouquet less stiff. The height of the flowers above the vase should be about equal to the height of the vase itself.
Be Odd
That is, use odd numbers of straight-stemmed flowers. For some reason, the eye is more comfortable looking at groupings of three or five rather than two, four or six.
Homemade Bouquet
Here is a great example of a homemade bouquet, which looks really good. It has variety of flowers straight from her back yard, a unique and vibrant vase, and some greenery too.
Have fun putting your own bouquet together(:
References:
- Information: tmsspecialtyproducts.com
- Picture: lifetransplanet.com
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Tags: Budget bouquets, homemade bouquets
In recent years people have been switching over to organically grown produce, farmers markets have sprung up practically over night, and people are starting to grow vegetables in their backyards. With such a push toward self-servant agriculture people are learning to incorporate a food rich garden into a stunning garden, creating an edible landscape.
Ripe red roman tomatoes replace roses, while grape vines look like morning glories. All the colors and life of a vegetable garden is organized to create a breathtaking landscape. You would hardly know that it isn’t flowers you are staring at, but vegetables.
This type of garden doesn’t just provide a pretty site, but it also gives you delicious vegetables that you know were grown without harmful pesticides since they came from your backyard.
Both a flower garden and a vegetable garden take a lot of hard work, so why not reap the benefits of the latter. You can grow your corn and your sunflowers, plant your carrots and your cosmos. This mix of beauty and function will create a wonderful landscape wherever you live.
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Tags: edible landscape, flower garden, vegetable garden
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