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Which are the best front yard trees? While every landscape and climate is different, we’ve got some great front yard tree ideas for you to consider. Best Front Yard Trees All trees have their beauty and might be perfect in a particular environment. That is why it’s important to consider your home’s site and setting when choosing wooding ornamentals for the front yard. The best front yard trees are species that are happy in your location and climate and that fit your family’s needs....

Yet, some plants go above and beyond, removing harmful chemicals from the atmosphere, boosting mental health, and even offering alternative remedies to common ailments. You must never use plants to replace regular medications or treat a medical condition without consulting with a doctor. However, these therapeutic houseplants can be appreciated for their health benefits and enjoyed as attractive additions to a room. 1. Aloe vera Aloe vera is a widely prized houseplant with myriad benefits – its gel helps to soothe burns and scrapes, has anti aging properties, can be used as a digestive aid, and even helps to lower blood sugar....

When choosing plants for a cutting garden, the goal is to have an unending progression of blooms and interesting foliage for the entire growing season. This means you often need quite a variety of plants. Annual plants are usually the show stoppers, blooming all season but dying at the end of it. Perennial plants, bulb flowers, and herbs continue to give year after year but are sometimes less striking and have shorter bloom times than annuals....

Growing a vegetable garden can be rewarding and fun. All the work you put in results in fresh, healthy produce you can eat and share. Unfortunately, there are others who want your veggies, too. Local wildlife will take advantage and eat your harvest if they can get to it. Choose from among several vegetable garden fencing ideas to keep them out and to keep your vegetables for yourself. Easy Vegetable Garden Fence Ideas There are many different veg garden fence ideas to choose from....

Good orchid care is about more than just taking care of your plant – it’s about creating a safe environment for your home’s occupants. There are edible orchids that humans can enjoy eating, but of course, not everything we eat is good for our pets. Are Orchids Safe For Cats? The short answer is no, orchids are not toxic to cats – or dogs for that matter. But, there are some exceptions to be aware of....

Can You Grow a Coconut Tree Indoors? A coconut palm tree indoor plant is probably not a true coconut. However, they are available. A coconut palm houseplant is fairly slow-growing. Outdoors they do not reach maturity until they are around 8 years old, which is when they begin fruiting. Plants in the landscape can live up to 100 years. However indoor coconut palm plants are short-lived and limited in their height by the container in which they are grown....

Choosing Grass for Northeast Lawns As mentioned earlier, lawns were cultivated out of necessity around the 16th century. Trees would be felled, shrubbery removed and wild grasses allowed to grow naturally around the castles. The reasoning was so that enemy soldiers couldn’t sneak up on the castle and so that the castle inhabitants could keep an eye on the surrounding countryside. The grasses we grow today weren’t part of the lawns of the 16th century....

How Do You Make a Small Fruit Orchard in Pots? When you decide to create a mini orchard in pots, the fun begins. Yes, you can grow trees with normal-size, colorful fruit in containers in a small yard or patio. Many of the regular orchard fruits - like apples, peaches and plums - are happy and grow well in pots. These container plants not only provide you with fresh fruit, but also are appealing ornamentals that make your backyard look lovely....

Lawns in the West Many people know well-clipped, weed-free turf-grass as the “forever” standard for the American lawn. But history disproves this. This short, neat lawn was largely the result of the popularity of the game of golf, and it didn’t move into the backyards of residences until the development of the garden hose and sprinkler. The standard was promoted by the American Garden Club that described the desired result as “a plot with a single type of grass with no intruding weeds, kept mown at a height of an inch and a half, uniformly green, and neatly edged....

Gardening Gets Me Outside Research has proven what many people and cultures have long known: Being outside, being in nature and around green, growing things is good for mental health. I don’t have to garden to go outside, but when chores are waiting to be done daily, it forces me to get out there. Being outdoors provides a big boost to mental health. It’s not necessary to get deep into the wilderness....

Selected as the official bird of seven states – the most of any bird – cardinals are commonly seen in the eastern and central states, and can occasionally be spotted in southern Arizona and New Mexico. If you want to know how to attract cardinals to your yard, then be prepared to take a multi-layered approach. In general, attracting birds to your garden involves providing the right food, and a safe environment for them to relax....

Flower For Pastel-Colored Flower Arrangements Romantic flower arrangements are a popular gift. Depending upon the season, however, many more traditional flowers used in these types of bouquets may be unavailable or difficult to find. Fortunately, local movements towards farm-fresh flowers have made it easier than ever to source beautiful alternatives, even during the winter and very early spring. Below, we will discuss some of the most popular flowers for use in pastel floral arrangements, and their significance....

Papaya Indoor Plant Care Before you tackle the task of growing a papaya tree indoors, be sure you understand its care needs and ensure you can provide them inside the home. Light Papaya trees require full sun, so you should have a window that provides bright, direct sunlight for at least six to eight hours every day. Water Papaya trees also require a lot of water. The container you choose should drain well, but don’t let it dry out....

The Burden and Blessing of Shade One of the toughest lessons I have had to learn as a gardener — honestly, I’m still working on this one — is that some areas are just too shady to grow much. Some plants do better in shade than others, of course, but the hard truth is that these corners of the garden will never be as lush and full as the sunnier areas....

What is a Reel Mower? A reel mower is the type of lawn mower your grandparents would have used to cut the grass. It is a man (or woman) powered grass cutting machine that consists of multiple blades that cut grass vertically rather than horizontally as modern gas and electric mowers do. These vertical blades make a scissor-like motion to cut blades of grass as the machine is pushed manually. For those who eschew the labor involved in pushing a reel mower there would seem to be no benefit, but there are other benefits of a reel mower beyond exercise....

Beneficial Birds: Northeast America Our feathered friends help gardeners in many ways. Some birds consume the bugs and insects which plague our plants, and many birds are important pollinators. Seed-eating species can help us cut down on our weeding chores, especially when we’ve been a bit negligent in removing weeds before they mature and set seeds. Bluebirds These beautiful blue feathered insectivores sport a red breast and white belly. A portion of the bluebird’s diet includes poke and sumac berries....

What Is Night Gardening? Choosing to garden after dark isn’t for everyone. But for some, it’s the only time they have to spend outdoors. Modern busy lifestyles often leave little extra time for simple pleasures. Gardening after dark may not only be the only time you have available, but it opens the senses to a whole different world. While we are unwinding and getting ready for bed, a host of animals and insects are just waking up....

A mature, lower orchid leaf turning yellow is usually nothing to worry about. This is typical behavior, as the plant is getting ready to shed the leaf so that new growth can form. Leaf loss may intensify as the plant enters its dormant stage in winter. However, excessive yellow leaves – particularly affecting new growth – is one of the most common orchid problems. It’s a sign of plant stress and usually signifies an issue with orchid care....

How Much Mulch Is Too Much? Almost every article about mulch extols its virtues and there are more than a few. A layer of organic mulch not only keeps down weeds and locks in moisture, it also insulates the ground from cold and hot weather. Finally, it disintegrates into the soil providing both nutrients and organic content. But too much mulch around trees or too much mulch in flower beds can create serious problems....

Are Bulbs Perennial? Many flower bulbs are considered to be perennial. The term “perennial” refers to plants that return seasonally, rather than needing to be replanted each year. Perennial flowering bulbs are among the most popular kinds for early spring blooms. Once established, these plants require little to no additional care from gardeners before beginning to flower. This makes them a great addition to home landscapes or even decorative containers. Perennial flower bulbs are also a good choice for established flower beds and mixed borders, as they begin to bloom before many other species have even started to break dormancy....