Seasonal

Fall Decorating with Pumpkins

Fall Decorating with Pumpkins

Do you feel it? Fall has arrived and it's time to decorate, both inside and out, for the season. Bring the warm colors of fall into your home and your porch or garden with the help of pumpkins, gourds, mums, pansies, violas, corn stalks and hay bales. At the center of your fall decorating are pumpkins, pumpkins and more pumpkins! Jump-start your fall decorating with pumpkins. These versatile beauties help you celebrate fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving. Pumpkins come in all sizes, from smaller than a handful to about the same size as a straw bale to…continue reading →
The Best Shrubs for Fall Color

The Best Shrubs for Fall Color

Happy first day of Fall everyone! We just LOVE fall. It's the time of year when leaves start to change, perennials return to the ground, and some shrubs just plain show off with a beautiful display. Today we'd like to share our list of the best shrubs for fall color with you. Chokeberry Shrubs One of our favorite colorful fall shrubs is Aronia, or chokeberry, which has bright red foliage and has either a purple or a red berry, depending on the variety.  The berries can be used to make jam, pie, or syrup. The…continue reading →
Easy Steps to Fall Lawn Renovation

Easy Steps to Fall Lawn Renovation

Did you know that fall is the best time of the year to make your old lawn look better than ever or to establish a new lawn? Early to mid-fall is a great time to take on the important job of a fall lawn renovation. The soil is still warm and yet the air is cool; the perfect combination for grass seeds to germinate and turf to take root quickly. Here are some simple tips to renovate your lawn. Seeding or Overseeding an Existing Lawn If you are planning to seed a new lawn or overseed…continue reading →
It’s Time to Plant Fall Vegetables

It’s Time to Plant Fall Vegetables

Growing your own food can be a daunting task, and it is difficult to know when or how to get started. More experienced gardeners start their own seeds; however the easiest way to start growing vegetables is to buy starters, or small vegetable plants from a local nursery or greenhouse. When to Plant Your Cool Weather Vegetables Now is the time to get all your cool weather vegetables in the ground, even though it’s August and the weather is still hot. In Maryland, it’s a lot easier to grow cool weather veggies like…continue reading →
7 Easy Steps to Install a Soaker Hose

7 Easy Steps to Install a Soaker Hose

With the heat upon us, our plants are struggling to survive. Just like us, our plants need watering, some of them even daily. Let's discuss how to make this process easier for you. A soaker hose is a wonderful tool and much easier to use than you might think. Installing Your Soaker Hose Attach the soaker hose to a lead hose (a standard garden hose) that is connected to a faucet. Dig a path in your mulch big enough to sit a hose around your plants. Place the hose in the path and…continue reading →
How and What to Plant in the Summer

How and What to Plant in the Summer

Bet you didn’t know it’s more than okay to plant in the heat of summer. Well it is! We’ve always been told to plant in spring and fall but warmer temperatures don't mean you can’t add to your landscaping beds. It only takes a little extra attention and a few simple techniques to help new summer plantings thrive. You shouldn’t try to plant things like a bare-root, newly dug or newly divided plant. What you can plant are new perennials, annuals and shrubs if the plants have spent the past several months in…continue reading →
Canning 101: Preserving Your Vegetable Harvest

Canning 101: Preserving Your Vegetable Harvest

Ever wanted a taste of summer when it’s freezing outside? Want to make the best use of herbs? Want to learn a brand new skill? Consider canning your harvest. This week, we’re going to focus on canning, in preparation for our Canning 101 class on July 30th. 3 Main Steps to Canning Sanitizing Your Jars There are 3 main steps to canning: sanitizing, preparation and sealing the jars. First, it’s important to sanitize the glass jars that you’ll be using. The easiest way is to set the jars and the lids in the…continue reading →
Choosing Outdoor Furniture

Choosing Outdoor Furniture

Outdoor patio furniture comes in all shapes and sizes, not to mention prices. You’ve worked hard on creating your outdoor living space and now you want to enjoy it in comfort and style. Choosing comfy, long-lasting furniture can mean the difference between hanging out on the patio for a while or heading back in after a few minutes on an uncomfortable, cheap chair. While how it looks is important, how the furniture is built and the quality of it is just as important. What you buy for outdoors has to be able to…continue reading →