It could be called the Rule of Five, Seven, or even Nine because the rule is actually about planting in repetition in odd numbers. Most people prefer the look of garden beds, borders, and planters containing an odd number of plants. The rule can be applied to any space – include it in your small front yard landscaping ideas or backyard landscaping on a budget. It can be applied to one bed or even just one area of a bed, as well as in container gardening schemes....

This year, consider going beyond the usual care to truly pamper your houseplants. The winter months are a great time to take stock, take a beat, and indulge in a little tender loving care. The dry air and colder temperatures are hard on everyone in winter, including houseplants. So make time for some houseplant winter care and follow this action plan to find out how to make your plant love you back for years and years to come....

The No Mow May movement was started in the U.K. by Plantlife, an organization that supports a healthy environment. The concept is simple: refrain from mowing your lawn in May to encourage certain plants that are important food to pollinators. Does No Mow May work, and what are the aftereffects? You don’t have to be a lazy gardener to want to participate in No Mow May. It’s actually very proactive....

About the Venus Fly Trap This unique species of plant is one of just a few carnivorous plants that gets much of its energy from trapping and consuming animals, usually insects. The Venus fly trap is native to boggy savannas in North and South Carolina. It grows in wet, sunny, humid conditions in soil that is slightly acidic and sandy. The native conditions for the fly trap are nutrient poor. The soil is poor, and the acidity makes it difficult for plants to take in nutrients....

What Do Honey Bees Do in Winter? Bees have a fascinating life cycle. They begin as eggs, progress to larvae, then pupa, and finally become adults. Honey bees during winter are still active and do not hibernate. Instead they stay in the hive and continuously fan their wings. This activity keeps the hive warm during winter. When temperatures drop to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 C), the colony kicks out the drones or males....

So what’s a home gardener - in search of an easy-care landscape - to do? Low maintenance hillside landscaping is possible! Here are some low maintenance hillside landscaping ideas for you to consider. Problems with Hillside Landscaping Mountains and hills can offer gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside, and they add interest to a landscape. But nobody will tell you it’s as easy to plant and tend a hillside as a flat lawn area....

2024 Flower of the Year Anyone who has ever grown a peony will understand why this gorgeous garden favorite is the pick for Flower of the Year 2024. Peonies have large, luscious blooms that emerge in late spring and smell amazing. They look beautiful in bouquets and arrangements or planted next to irises and hostas in the garden. It’s no wonder gardeners around the globe are smitten with these stunning spring bloomers....

Are Banana Peels Edible? Before modern sanitation techniques, refuse was simply discarded in the street. This included the banana peel. In the early 1900s the item was the scourge of big cities across North America and Europe. People claimed to have fallen and injured themselves, racking up considerable lawsuits and payouts. Street vendors sold bananas with the claim the peel was a sanitary wrapping. The popular snack resulted in discarded peels across cities....

Flower Colors There are lots of examples, of which fuchsia is one. When the word “fuchsia” is said, who doesn’t conjure up an image of the hot pink hue? Speaking of pink, pink is also a word for both a color and a plant. Pink was first used as a color name in the late 17th century. The pale red color got its name from a flower of the same name....

Gardening for Mental Health A few years back I wrote an article: How Dirt Makes You Happy. It was about the science behind the concept. Apparently there are some microbes in soil that boost our serotonin levels. This is the mental equivalent of giving your brain some vitamins and increases the feeling of happiness. It’s basically a natural antidepressant which comes from the soil. One of the things I loved about the science is that it confirmed what I already knew....

“A biophilic design approach allows us to create indoor environments that directly nurture our physical, emotional, and mental well-being,” says Mitch Meiners, biophile and manager of the Caine Conservatory in the Wanek School of Natural Sciences at High Point University. “By incorporating natural elements into our built environments, we can reduce stress, improve cognitive function, and foster a greater connection with the world around us – all while increasing aesthetic appeal and sustainable involvement....

Native Plants of Australia Australian plants have some of the more colorful names in common nomenclature. Over 80 percent of the plants of Australia live nowhere else on earth. One of the more common Australian trees, the wattle or Acacia, contains over 1000 types, each a legume capable of fixing nitrogen in the soil. Many native Australian plants are drought tolerant, making them perfect for arid locations. They often produce flowers and fruits that attract pollinators and feed birds and other wildlife....

The History of Tomatoes Tomatoes are one of most popular plants to grow in the home garden. Native to the Americas, the fruit of this member of the nightshade family was consumed by the Aztecs as far back as 700 AD. Yet when tomatoes were introduced to the old world, many Europeans feared the fruit was poisonous. Today, we know tomatoes are not only safe to eat, but nutritious as well....

That said, it can be hard to know how to keep this precious water supply the sole preserve of birds. After all, you don’t want to be cruel – you just want to make sure the water is going where it should be going! For anyone looking to enhance a bird garden, bird baths are essential resources. This is true at any time of year, but they are especially important for birds during the winter months, when other supplies might be scarce....

Best Time to Harvest Herbs Before you dry your herbs, you need to harvest them. To get the best-tasting tea herbs, you need to know precisely when to harvest them. Herbs get their flavor from essential oils that are located in the cells of the plant. When the leaves, flowers or other aromatic parts of the plant are crushed, their flavor is released. Essential oils are at their peak in the early morning....

Some lifestyle changes are expensive while others are more budget-friendly. Take gardening for instance, a perfect example of when affordability and sustainability work together without sacrificing the end goal. It’s true, there’s no need to break the bank to utilize greener practices in the garden. Keep reading to learn our top nine sustainable garden ideas on a budget. How to Be Sustainable on a Budget Tips for Affordable Sustainability in the Garden Additional Budget Friendly & Sustainable Garden Tips title: “How To Be Sustainable On A Budget Save Green In The Garden” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-30” author: “Ruth Watts” Some lifestyle changes are expensive while others are more budget-friendly....

Can Tropical Plants Survive Winter? Tropical plants can only survive outdoors in winter under very specific conditions of temperature and sunlight. Depending on where your garden is and the local climate, some plants might survive outside with some extra protection. In most locations, you’ll need to bring tropical plants indoors. Some you can keep inside as houseplants. For others, it’s better to find a place where they can go dormant until the next spring....

History of Goatscaping The practice of using goats or sheep for weed and noxious vegetation control isn’t new; in fact it’s been around for centuries. A more recent historical use for these livestock dates to WWI when sheep were used at the White House. At this time most able bodied men were serving in the war in some capacity, and thus were not available to mow the vast lawns of the “People’s House....

What is a Feng Shui garden layout? Read on for the basics of creating a Feng Shui landscape. Feng Shui Garden Many gardeners find peace and harmony in their outdoor space. But you may be able to increase that serenity and the benefits it brings by using Feng Shui for gardens. While this ancient Chinese art is often associated with indoor spaces, it works for the garden as well. For thousands of years, Feng Shui has been used in China to facilitate and increase the flow of positive energy into a home....

Many houseplants originate from tropical regions, and so thrive on humidity. While overwatering houseplants can lead to root rot, misting is a gentler way to help retain moisture levels However, by adding a few simple household ingredients to the water, you can easily create a foliar spray that contributes to feeding plants, repelling pests, and cleaning leaves. Some experts argue that the effect of misting houseplants only gives them a temporary uplift in moisture levels, and is not an essential part of their care....