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Small trees are excellent additions to small front yard landscaping ideas as they help improve curb appeal without hiding the house itself. However, compact trees work in yards of all sizes, allowing for a mix of different trees that complement the street scene. What to Consider When Choosing Small Landscaping Trees The best small trees for front yards should form an attrative landscaping feature without overwhelming or dominating the house....

Paige lived on her property in San Jose, CA for eight years before creating the oasis she lives in today, so she knew exactly what she was doing. Location: San Jose, CA Project: Building new California board-and-batten style house with redesigned garden on a flag lot Landscape design: Koch & Associates Architect: Brad Cox, Architect, Inc Birdsong Ranch is surrounded by houses on all sides. That’s because it sits on a flag lot – essentially two rectangular suburban lots interlocked at a right angle, making an L shape....

What Is Garden to Table? Garden to table is the practice of growing your food near the home where it is harvested fresh and brought in to enjoy in recipes. Small eateries made the concept popular by either growing their own produce or sourcing from small farms. Foods from the garden to the table were touted as healthier, but they also yielded unusual produce not normally or easily found. They also ensured that the small farmer would have a steady income while reducing carbon with short-distance shipping....

DIY greenhouse ideas may be simple and cost-effective, or more complex and costly. Before building a DIY greenhouse yourself, it’s a good idea to research various DIY greenhouse designs to get an idea of what you’re looking for and to establish a budget. Read on to learn how to build a greenhouse at home. Considerations Before Building a DIY Greenhouse A simple hobby greenhouse made with a polyethylene-covered framework can be put together in an afternoon....

How to buy plants is a personal choice; some folks are diehard nursery buyers, and others are big box stores or online purchasers. If you’re wondering how to buy plants online or how to buy indoor plants, keep reading. We’ve got all the information you need to know to make an informed plant purchase. Best Places to Buy Plants Where is the best place to buy plants? It depends on your location, budget and internet savvy....

Suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8, yew hedges perform best in a part sun, part shade location with slightly acidic soil. Yews respond well to shearing for a formal look or trimming with hand pruners for a natural shape. If you have a yew hedge that’s starting to look scraggly, learn how to “pinch” it back to achieve a bushier hedge. How To Prune a Yew Hedge for Bushier Growth Before trimming a yew hedge, it’s important to understand a yew’s growth pattern....

Its flowers, foliage and appealing bark contrasts make this crepe myrtle a stunning year-round tree to grow. Charming yet low maintenance, its smaller size means it is perfect for limited spaces, as well as Oriental themed plots. Here’s how to get the best from this highly ornamental tree. Quick Lagerstroemia Fauriei Facts: Botanical name: Lagerstroemia subcostata var. fauriei, Lagerstroemia faurieiHeight: 20-30 feet (6-9m)Spread: 15-19 feet (4.5-5.7m)Sun exposure: Full sun, at least six hours a daySoil requirements: Tolerant of most well-draining soilsHardiness zones: USDA 6b-9bWhen to plant: Plant in springtime or fall...

Growing basil in the garden is a popular activity in the spring and summer months. But, the plants are not cold hardy so quickly die off in the fall. You can get the best of both worlds by growing basil in containers outdoors, then bringing them inside during fall and winter. However, growing basil indoors is possible whether you have a garden or not. How To Grow Basil Indoors It’s not difficult to learn how to grow basil indoors....

About Seeds Seeds are a little miracle in and of themselves. They contain all the information to germinate and grow into a fully fledged bloom, vegetable or fruit. All flowering plants reproduce from seeds, although some are propagated via cuttings. Annual blooms and vegetables are most often started via seed in the spring and produce within the growing season, while perennials propagated in this manner generally need a chilling period and will not establish until the next year....

Orchids are often labeled as difficult to grow, and there is much confusion surrounding how to water orchids – and how often to do it. However, good orchid care is easy if you understand their needs. If you can position plants where they will receive their ideal temperature and light levels, they require minimal attention. Preferences vary between different types of orchids, so it’s best to choose a plant compatible with your home environment....

Though some species do not produce nectar of their own, others may do so in abundance. This occurs with the help of specialized glands called “nectaries.” But, what is a nectary? Below, we’ll explore this unique structure in greater depth, in hopes of better understanding its unique role. Functions of Nectaries in Flowers As the name would imply, plant nectaries are responsible for the production of nectar in plants. Combinations of simple sugars will vary by type, with the specific profile of the nectar differing across species....

Spring Clean Up and Insects As winter melts into spring, the rhythm of the garden starts ticking up again, and a gardener’s thoughts turn to the heavy workload ahead. It’s tempting to jump in as early as possible in spring. But that may not be the best idea.If you are considering when to clean garden beds in spring, think of the insects overwintering there. Insects use the plants in your garden in amazing ways during winter, some burrowing down in the soil to overwinter, others – in larvae or egg stage – use garden plants as hosts....

Even homes with no outdoor space can benefit from these beautiful window box ideas, making them an ideal solution for apartment living. Consider how much light the window receives, as it will dictate what you can plant. South-facing windows are likely to require sun-loving window box plants. They also need more attention when it comes to watering window boxes. You should also be guided by your USDA hardiness zone – unless you plan to plant annuals or can protect the boxes over a harsh winter....

There are many native types of ground cover from which to choose. These offer the additional benefits of ease of care and adaptability to the local weather, soil conditions, and resistance to certain wild animals. Whatever kinds of ground cover you have in your landscape, make it simple to grow and relatively carefree. Here are some of my favorite kinds of ground cover for every garden. Choosing the Best Ground Cover Plants The best ground cover plants offer year-round beauty and effortless greenery....

Milkweed and the Monarch Milkweeds are drought-tolerant plants that occur in nearly all of the ecosystems in California. Although the 15 native species of milkweed in California are best known for the role they play in the life cycle of monarch butterflies, the showy flowers with their high quality nectar actually help support a wide range of pollinators, from honeybees to hummingbirds. Milkweed gets its name from the sap, which is milky....

Community Garden Plans Community garden design ideas may be initiated for a variety of purposes. They may serve as spaces for people with little to no gardening space at home. A community garden can be a place to grow vegetables for a local food pantry or a community that’s situated in a food desert. It can be a locale for recreation and exercise, a source of much needed food, a haven for pollinators or simply a site that needs beautifying....

Trenching, layering, and cold composting are all reliable ways to break down organic matter. There is no need to move yard waste to a different location in the landscape with any of these. The material simply stays where it is and decomposes naturally. These methods are slower than a maintained “hot” compost system, but the job will still get done. Depending on the method, the material may be ready in a year, but the ease and lack of maintenance may be worth selecting one of these ways to compost....

Finding Inspiration in a Garden Sanctuary In the garden it’s easy to become lost in thought. Life’s stresses quickly slip away, leaving nothing but the sounds of nature. The cheerful song of visiting birds… the playful chatter from squirrels calling out to one another as they bob in and out of the trees… the subtle rustling of leaves or swaying ornamental grasses in the wind… or the blissful sounds of buzzing bees going about their pollination tasks....

Gardening has become an incredibly popular pastime. For some, it’s an artistic outlet, and for others a way to stretch the food budget, but there’s no reason you can’t have both. Keep reading to learn about edible container gardening. What Is Foodscaping? Foodscaping is a modern term for the commingling of ornamentals and edible crops in the landscape. It differs from having a vegetable garden or mini orchard in that it’s all about blending the two together....

Usually, the answer is pretty tricky. Some of you may be looking for specific trees and shrubs to accent your landscape or garden, while others may look for fruit trees to provide the occasional snack. Of course, others may want large shade trees to keep them cool during the warmer months. So which type of tree suits you? Click the image below to learn more about trees that meet your needs....