Garden & Lawn

Red mulch is commonly used for growing vegetables, especially tomatoes. The light reflected from the plastic red mulch has a lower red to far-red ratio than sunlight. The lower ratio results in an...

Plastic mulching has been shown to have many benefits, including weed control, increased soil temperature and less evaporation. These conditions can make it possible for plants such as tomatoes,...

Compost is a mixture of plant refuse, kitchen scraps and sometimes manure which is meant to be turned back into a good soil nutrient. Compost, when made properly, can be spread over a garden or...

Mulch prevents weeds and retains soil moisture, but after a few years it begins to look tired and worn in ornamental beds. Instead of tossing it out and wasting all that organic material, compost...

Earth worms are nature's gardeners. They cultivate, aerate and fertilize, all without any effort or payment from you. Raise or buy them, then add worms to your lawn and garden and let them go to...

Several varieties make up the onion family, including the Egyptian onion that not only grows bulbs underground, but forms infant onions on its stems to replant. The best way to grow an onion is...

Keeping your soil moist is essential for plant growth. Soil harbors many bacteria and other microbes that require moisture to thrive. These miniature communities keep plant roots healthy. If the...

Wood chips make an ideal mulch for use in planting beds, around trees, and in decorative gardens. They also aid in maintaining adequate soil moisture and preventing weed infiltration. The...

Purple fountain grass is an ornamental grass known for its cascading leaves and dramatic color. Because these grasses grow as clumps, they stay within the confines of their designated growing...

After a tree is removed, a stump can be left in the ground, which can become a dangerous obstacle to trip over or damage a lawn mower. For a safer and more aesthetically pleasing lawn, there are a...

Growing bananas outside in cold climates may seem crazy, but with variety selection and some winter protection, you will soon have your own jungle.

Dandelions can be the bane of your landscape because these weeds can get out of control in no time. The seeds of these yellow flowers can travel from your neighbors' houses via the wind and they...

The Chinese Windmill Palm, also known as Trachycarpus fortunei, is a cold-hardy palm tree than can be cultivated as far north as Southern Virginia and Tennessee. This palm is known to withstand...

Hydroseeding is the practice of combining seeds, fiber mulch, fertilizer and water in a tank. The mixture is sprayed onto the ground where you want grass to grow. The fiber mulch and fertilizer...

Mulch in your garden or in your yard has many functions. It can provide a weed barrier, improve appearance, help retain moisture in your soil and for your garden or yard plants. It also can help...

Flowering plum trees feature beautiful green leaves, a rounded shape, light pink flowers and decadently sweet fruits. They generally reach 20 or 30 feet in height, with trunks that are 6 to...

Ponds with waterfalls contribute a certain amount of tranquility and beauty to any backyard garden setting. No matter the size of your water feature, something about being able to see and hear the...

To ensure a full, green lawn, seed the grass and then mulch it. Over-seed a fledgling lawn to begin initial growth, or re-seed a mature lawn to increase the density and health of your established...

Tree roots in the lawn can be a trip hazard and a mowing hazard if not solved. Roots are vital to the survival of the tree and any solution must take into consideration the health of the tree....

Pine trees are large, gorgeous, smell nice, and stay green. They also drop pine needles everywhere, all year long. Pine needles are acidic, can ruin your grass, and are dense enough to not blow...

Planting a new lawn, or even repairing bare spots in an established lawn, can be a time-consuming and expensive process. Taking the right steps to provide your newly seeded area with a good...

Two problems are associated with magnolia leaves: they are easily blown by the wind and because they are thick, waxy, and fibrous they take substantial time to decompose into a workable mulch or...

English Ivy is vine plant that can look beautiful but can also be very deadly to surrounding plants, trees and even the lawn. The ivy can grow at rapid rates and can seem nearly impossible to get...

Blue fescue is a tolerant ornamental grass that grows in mounds. It is valued for its unique, semi-evergreen blue color and radiating shape. When mature, it can reach 10' by 10', the perfect size...

Passiflora is a wildly popular vine plant producing unique ad beautiful purple and yellow flowers. Some species of the plant are used for medicinal purposes as a calming agent for anxiety and...

Ivy is a great ground cover for large areas. It is dense enough to prevent weeds, grows well where lawns cannot, prevents soil erosion and is low-growing enough to simply accent other ornamental...

The slope of a beautiful lawn is not only visually appealing but very essential to a healthy home. Lawns are graded, that is sloped, away from the foundation of a house to prevent water build up...

Outdoor plants in direct sunlight require plenty of water. Because of the intense heat, water can quickly evaporate before the plants have a chance to absorb it. Whether your plants are in pots or...

Originally designed to age alcoholic beverages, whiskey barrels are often used as garden containers. The barrels are sold to garden enthusiasts after many years of service aging liquor. Their aged...

Nothing beats the taste of a homegrown tomato, and growing your own tomatoes is a great way to enhance the health of your family. When you grow your own tomatoes at home you can avoid the...

Whether you want to eliminate an area of invasive grass such as crab grass or clear an area for a garden, there are several natural methods for killing grass. The one you choose depends on the...

Both pine and cedar mulch are commonly used in gardening. Though they offer similar benefits, there are some important differences between them that home gardeners should be aware of.

Erosion refers to the natural yet harmful effects that wind and water have on the soil over time. Erosion can be aggravated by human intervention and must be controlled in order to prevent...

The artichoke is a cool weather perennial thistle plant from the sunflower family. Artichoke plants have long, arching leaves that are silver-green in color making them look like a giant fern. A...

Mulch is a non-growing cover that you spread over the ground and around cultivated plants. It provides moisture retention, helps resist weeds and gives your garden a finished look.

Altheas are a beautiful blooming shrub commonly found growing in Southern U.S. states. They can be trimmed as hedges, bonsai or left to grow on their own as stately, uniform bushes. Altheas come...

Black mulch provides rich contrast to the foliage of plants in a garden landscape. Mulches also provide benefits such as weed suppression, moisture retention and soil temperature modification as...

Adding mulch around your plants gives you added benefits that many are not aware of. Mulch is a good source of weed control and can help cut out those unsightly devils completely. Black mulch...

Grass that has become overrun by weeds in your yard or garden can be detrimental to the health of new plants. Weeds steal moisture, sunlight and nutrients from seedlings, keeping them from growing...

Leaf galls are abnormal growths caused by insects, bacteria, mites, fungi and viruses. They do not often seriously affect the health of the plant, but they do discolor and disfigure the leaves....

Epimediums come in many colors, providing a hardy and attractive ground covering for spaces where, for example, large tree roots prevent any deep root plants from growing. Epimediums are...

The shady hosta is a very low maintenance perennial plant that does well with little attention. The plant will die back in late fall, and gardeners could allow the leaves to decompose naturally...

Mulch is an organic material that is spread over the landscape and can be composed of bark, leaves and other waste products. Some plant leaves, such as those from an oak, are more acidic than...

There are as many reasons to use raised beds as there are ways to create them. Vegetables and ornamentals alike get more air circulation in raised beds, and tend to make more efficient use of...

Killing horsetail weeds, regardless of type or temperament, is a matter of making the garden an uninviting breeding ground for this common weed. With an aversion to simple chemical destruction,...

The horsetail plant's varieties and hardiness can make it a garden pest regardless of geographical location. This ancient plant, also known as scouring rush, has very deep roots and can survive...

Container gardening is convenient for many apartment dwellers or homeowners who have poor ground soil. Many vegetables and flowers can easily be grown on a patio or even indoors in pots. While...

Rubber mulch has a reputation for looking fresh for several years. Normally made from recycled materials, it does not require trees to be harvested. It does not fade or decompose over time and can...

Creating a mulch border in your yard can make it look more appealing. It's also a great place to plant trees, flowers, shrubs and ground cover. With your plants and trees all in your mulch borders...

When weeds or unwanted grass creep into the crevices of our driveways and landscaping projects, it should be eradicated. Killing grass in stone or gravel driveways is a process that involves the...