Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens

Elevated brick garden beds can add interest to your outdoor space and can be a solution if you have poor quality soil. They are easy to maintain and can be be less stressful on your back when...

Ornamental grasses add an interesting dimension to any garden or landscaping plan. They provide much needed color in winter and serve to fill in areas where other plants are difficult to grow....

Rooftop gardening is expanding as city-dwellers look for space to grow flowers and vegetables. Many cities encourage rooftop gardens as a way to improve air quality. Simple rooftop gardens consist...

An outdoor planter can improve the appearance of your home and save you money on herbs and vegetables. Designing and building a planter box is an easy project that can be accomplished in an...

Greenhouses have been used for centuries to cultivate new seedlings and for showcasing rare species of plants. People are constantly looking for ways to extend the growing season, and better ways...

Thick ground cover can be a beautiful addition to your landscape that doesn't take a lot of care. The most difficult thing you may experience is dealing with fallen or dead leaves and removing...

Planter boxes add style and color to your home's landscaping. Build drama with large boxes and over-sized plantings at the start or end of a path. Use topiary boxes to introduce a sense of fun....

Raised beds are custom-built planters that are no wider than four feet across. The soil in the raised bed is higher than the surrounding soil.

Mulch is a popular feature for flowerbeds and outdoor planters. When purchasing commercial mulch, there are typically three main colors to choose from, one of which is black.

The sound of water splashing into a pond can be relaxing. It masks unwanted sounds of nearby traffic, neighbors, or children playing. Visually, a waterfall is soothing and adds another element of...

Many chefs and apple lovers dream of having a yard full of apple trees that they can pick from. Most commercial apples trees are grown through the grafting process, but it is possible to plant...

There are many options for installing a flower bed as part of your landscape. For ease of maintenance and less strain on your back a raised flower bed works best. There are complete kits available...

Rock gardens are customarily filled with various textures, from soft moss to scruffy juniper bushes entwined with the harsh gray coolness of rock features. This blend of colors and textures makes...

It would be hard to find anyone who does not love wildflowers for their sheer beauty, but planting our native species---including grasses---can be beneficial too. Not only are they already...

Rubber mulch is achieving popularity with commercial landscapers and homeowners alike. Rubber mulch resists disease, doesn't decompose, and is often heavy enough to remain in place during normal...

A garden pond with a waterfall or fountain can complete a relaxing atmosphere for the home and garden; falling water creates a soothing sound. Additionally, the fountain oxygenates a garden pond...

Preformed ponds are a convenient way to build your own water garden. They are made from flexible, permanently shaped waterproof material that will last for many years. Shelves for water plants are...

Thanks to the inexpensive nature of PVC and greenhouse plastic, it's easier than ever to construct your own greenhouse. However, like their Victorian counterparts, modern greenhouses still need a...

Whether you want the simple look of a Japanese courtyard garden, or a showy flower-filled courtyard, be sure the style reflects your preferences. Knowing your design style will produce a courtyard...

Seems we must always be a step ahead of ourselves for us to maintain some sense of organization be it inside or outside. Now is the time to get your yard and flower beds ready for winter. Doing...

Flexible liners allow water gardeners to make their pond almost any shape--a benefit if the property has an odd shape and, therefore, is not suited for a molded liner. Flexible liners come in a...

Resin outdoor statues are decorative items used in gardens, yards and other outdoor spaces. The statues are made from epoxy plastic and come in a variety of different shapes and forms, including...

There is a drought in many parts of our country, causing sinkholes, dust storms and arguments between farmers and the neighboring cities. Despite this, most Americans waste water every day in...

Brick edging is excellent for keeping grass from growing into a cultivated bed, to add style to your yard or to delineate the beginning of the garden. Well-placed brick edging adds a professional,...

The Midwest is a large area with a lot of variability of climate and terrain, so choosing the right annuals might seem a daunting task. On the positive side, it also means that there is a huge...

It's not difficult to achieve the look of a woodland garden in your own backyard. Woodland gardens mimic the way plants grow in natural areas without any cultivation. The key word here is...

Ornamental grasses are an attractive form of vegetation that saves space, improves the quality of the soil and adds interest to your garden. Ornamental grasses are classified and described by how...

While regular plastic sheeting will certainly kill weeds, it may kill everything else in your garden too. Plastic sheeting will not allow the soil to breathe and will trap in so much heat and...

Historically, cottage gardens were built by farmers or estate workers who had little plots of land for their own use; they planted gardens packed with vegetables, herbs and some flowers. Today,...

With Suburban sprawl taking over farmland the Monarch butterfly is losing it's habitat. How can you attract them? What do you need to get them to lay eggs that mature? Read further and I'll tell...

There are many garden styles such as Mediterranean, Cottage, Tropical, Rock, Tuscan, English Formal, Informal, Classic British and Secret. The garden style you choose should make you feel good....

White-tailed deer are a constant nuisance in suburban neighborhoods these days due to overpopulation and lack of predators. The main victims of the wandering herds of neighborhood deer are gardens...

Butterflies exist wherever there are flowers, and are often referred to as “flying flowers.” They are beautiful, help to pollinate plants, and often are the food source for birds, bats and other...

Container gardening is a way to grow almost any kind of plant in a setting where one might not normally be able to have a garden or any types of plants. Surprisingly, container gardening can be...

They're in the magazines, in the movies, and in your best friend's yard. But now it's your turn. You're ready to escape into your very own Jane Austen world, your miniature estate complete with...

With concerns about water supplies and drought a reality in many areas, the popularity of low-maintenance gardens has grown. A Mediterranean garden's plants grow well in sunny, arid conditions, ...

The trend of garden design involves decorating surfaces with other materials besides shredded hardwood mulch or pine needles. Stone mulches provide an alternative for gardeners to update the look...

Topiaries are sculptures produced out of trees, shrubs and sub-shrubs. Trees or shrubs used for topiaries are evergreen with small leaves or needles and thick foliage---features that are needed...

Adding landscaping to a fence increases the beauty of the area. Landscaping can also be used to increase privacy, add fragrance and visually define the perimeter of your property. Choose the right...

Decomposed granite happens naturally and starts out as a solid piece of granite. Over millions of years, the granite is compressed and breaks down creating natural gravel. Some companies crush...

Although perennials are lovely and don't require much work, annuals have the bright colors that are truly the focal point of a flower bed. Annuals bloom from early summer to fall, giving you a...

Pond plants add beauty, interest and color to a water garden. Make sure the plants you wish to grow in your water garden will have adequate sunlight, and then choose plants such as water irises or...

There is a lot more to watering a garden than just getting out the hose or turning on a sprinkler system. You can save water--rationed in some areas--by making sure your soil has the proper...

Turn nonworking refrigerators into grow boxes using either soil or hydroponic systems. Using a fridge as a grow box is one way to recycle an appliance. People with limited space can use this style...

Retainer walls add to the design of your landscape while providing a spot to plant vegetables and herbs. Use creeping flowers such as sweet pea and moonflower vines along the wall for an added...

Clean an outdoor fountain regularly to provide clean water for the birds and wildlife. They count on the water here in Central Texas, particularly in the heat of the summer. We have a purchased...

Trellises can take on various sizes and shapes. Even a chain link fence can serve as a trellis for many vines such as honeysuckle or morning glory. For heavier vines, such as trumpet or wisteria,...

Fix bare spots in your yard and landscaping with a little thought and action. Think through why the spots are bare and then take action to eliminate them. You can have a beautiful landscape, but...

Making neat edges between a flower garden and a lawn is an important part of landscaping. It helps keep grass out of the flower beds, and flowers out of the lawn. One of the easiest and least...

Defining your garden with an herb garden border will create a visually inviting and dramatic design that will thrive for many years as well as contrast with bright and bold colorful flowers. Mix...