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The Ins and Outs of Indoor Seed Starting

The Ins and Outs of Indoor Seed Starting

The Ins and Outs of Indoor Seed Starting Indoor seed starting can be a rewarding experience, especially for the new gardner or a gardener who has a hard time waiting each year for Spring to come! If you are new to indoor seed starting, here's our step by step guide to get you started. Get Your Timing Right The goal to indoor seed starting is to have seedlings ready to go outside by the time the weather is favorable. This means that timing is everything. You will need to plant your seedlings early…continue reading →
Tips for Creating an Outdoor Living Space

Tips for Creating an Outdoor Living Space

Outdoor living spaces are peaceful spots that allow homeowners to enjoy fresh air and open space. Approximately 70 percent of homes in the United States have some kind of outdoor living space, and about 70 percent of those spaces are used at least once during the season. Are you looking to add an outdoor space of your very own? Whether you want a professional team to create your outdoor haven or you prefer the DIY approach, here is a handy guide to outdoor living room ideas. The Biggest Considerations for Planning an Outdoor Living Space…continue reading →
15 Gifts Plant Lovers Will Adore

15 Gifts Plant Lovers Will Adore

The end-of-year holidays may be long since finished, but Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and that means it’s still gift-giving season. Have you decided what to buy your valentine this year? There are all the classic options. There are chocolate, flowers, dinner and a romantic show, or a fun night on the town. All of these are great choices any significant other is sure to love. But there’s something to be said for gifts that have a slightly more personal and individualized feel to them. Often, the presents that feel the…continue reading →
How to Care For Succulents – A Handy Guide

How to Care For Succulents – A Handy Guide

What is a Succulent? If you ever stroll through a greenhouse, you will likely walk by a selection of plants that look like they are from another world.  Their leaves look plump and rigid and they often have vibrant, almost iridescent, colors or patterns.  These, my friends, are succulents.  Succulents, by definition, are plants that store water in their leaves or foliage - hence the thicker, more substantial looking leaf.  When I think of a succulent, a cactus is always the first thing that pops into my mind - one of those big…continue reading →
Best Trees and Shrubs for Birds in the Winter

Best Trees and Shrubs for Birds in the Winter

During the colder weather here in Maryland, birds have to find their own food. Berries, seeds, and habitats in protected tree limbs are not as plentiful as they are during the warmer summer months. But, there’s an easy solution to this problem: planting trees and shrubs for birds to get sustenance from throughout the cooler weather. Let's talk about the best trees and shrubs for birds in the winter! Great examples of smaller shrubs that attract the birds in the winter are bayberry, winterberry holly and viburnum. All of these have berries that persist throughout…continue reading →
How to Build a Retaining Wall

How to Build a Retaining Wall

A retaining wall is used for supporting soil and allows you to maintain soils at two different levels. While retaining walls are considered structural, there is no reason they can’t be an attractive element in your landscape. These walls can be constructed from different materials, such as pressure treated timbers or segmental blocks. A basic block retaining wall relies on its own mass to hold back the soil behind it. A lot of block options have a lip on the back that allows for the wall to set back into the hillside for additional strength of…continue reading →
Feeding Backyard Birds in the Winter

Feeding Backyard Birds in the Winter

Do you enjoy watching the birds flitting about your yard?  I certainly do.  Folklore tells us that the robin is the harbinger of Spring.  But what about in the winter?  There is a definite nip in the air and natural food sources for the birds are becoming scarcer.  Holly berries seem to be the go-to snack for the robins in my yard. To keep the beautiful robins, cardinals, finches, jays and other backyard beauties in my yard, I feed the birds year-round.  The robins love the worms after the rains.  But because the ground freezes in the winter…continue reading →
Caring for Your Live Christmas Tree

Caring for Your Live Christmas Tree

Not much evokes the holiday feeling than the feel and smell of a live Christmas tree. If you are going to get a live tree this year, here are some easy tips to ensure that it’s as beautiful on day one as it is after the holidays are over. Step 1: Choose a Healthy Tree Avoid trees with a lot of dead or brown needles. Gently bend a branch to make sure the needles are flexible and remain on the tree. Step 2: Prepare the Base of Your Tree Prepare the base of…continue reading →
8 Steps for Successful Fall Lawn Renovation

8 Steps for Successful Fall Lawn Renovation

8 Steps for Successful Fall Lawn Renovation Early to mid-fall is a great time to take on the important job of a fall lawn renovation. The soil is still warm, which encourages quick germination, and yet the air is cool, which allows the young grass to grow without drying out. The perfect combination of grass seeds to germinate and turf to take root quickly. Why Renovate Your Lawn? There are many reasons to take on the task of a fall lawn renovation, first among them is because it will make your yard look…continue reading →