Tag: yard

Get Your Garden off to a Great Start

Posted on by Jordank

Mid-May is when most areas put the threat of frost or freeze in the rearview mirror, meaning that it’s finally safe to #plant your favorite #flowers, herbs and #vegetables for summer enjoyment. But whether you’re a beginning grower or a longtime green thumb, it pays to do some prep to get those pots and plots off to a good start.

A container garden is (relatively) easy. Pick a good potting soil and the starter plants you wish to grow. Better Homes & Gardens suggests color-coordinating flowering plants and mixing up heights for a dramatic presentation, while paying attention to their individual demands for light and water. And if you like to cook, try growing your own herbs!

A vegetable garden can be a little trickier. It’s basically a small-scale farm, and farms can’t succeed just anywhere. Start by testing your soil, Almanac says, to make sure you have the right pH and nutrients for optimal plant growth. When you test, you can add fertilizers and other amendments to improve the soil’s texture and viability.

For example, manure enriches the soil with essential nutrients and organic matter, This Old House says; compost improves soil texture and fertility by adding a balanced mix of nutrients and enhances the soil’s water-holding capacity; and peat moss aids moisture retention and aeration while acidifying the soil.

Once your soil is ready, plant the vegetables and flowers you want, paying attention to which are compatible and have similar needs. For example, tomatoes and basil — good together on the plate — are great garden companions because basil deters the pests that target tomatoes, says House Beautiful.

If you want a one-and-done garden plot, try planting a bunch of perennials. Plants such as hostas, daylilies and coneflowers will thrive and spread with little attention, says Epic Gardening, lending splashes of color to your yard. Plant them in the right spots, and all you’ll have to do is thin them occasionally.

Whatever your #gardening goals, now’s the time to get started. Summer won’t last forever, so take an afternoon to plant, and you can enjoy your garden for months — or years — to come!

Start Your Fall Deep-Cleaning Outdoors

Posted on by Jordank

The temperatures are cooling and the leaves are turning — it’s #fall. Before you head indoors for the chilly weather, however, consider making a fall #deep-cleaning checklist. Start outside, says The Spruce: Clean and store any outdoor furniture; service and store gardening equipment and tools; #clean gutters and downspouts; drain pools and water features; swap out screens for storm widows; and wash windows. To be absolutely certain you’re ready for winter, ask a professional inspector to check your roof, foundation and weatherproofing. And to ensure optimal comfort, schedule a maintenance checkup for your HVAC system. #FallCleaning

Make a Kondo-Quality Outdoor Space

Posted on by Jordank

Take a cue from celebrated declutterer Marie Kondo to bring order to your outdoor space. Set aside time to examine each category of goods populating the patio, yard and shed — tools, furniture, plants, etc. — and ask yourself Kondo’s quintessential question as you encounter each item: “Does this spark joy?” If it doesn’t, get rid of it. In doing so, you’ll free your mind of the need to make everything somehow fit into a perfect scheme. “Let go of the ‘what-ifs’ and ‘somedays,’” says the Houzz blog. “Toss that half-dead plant into the compost bin and tidy up the debris of an unfinished garden project.”

Fall Cleanup Goes Beyond Raking the Leaves

Posted on by Jordank

Fall is the time to go apple-picking, carve a jack-o’-lantern, and watch the leaves change colors. Those falling leaves, of course, herald another chore for the home gardener; left unraked, they can create a dense, moist barrier that prevents grass from growing.

But a good fall cleanup only begins with raking the leaves. Savvy homeowners should clear gutters of fallen leaves and other debris to keep them flowing through snow melts, according to True Value’s maintenance tips. Also dethatch and aerate the lawn to ensure it gets a healthy start next year, and plant any bulbs you want to bloom first thing in the spring, such as daffodils and tulips.

On the deck or patio, clean and store garden furniture, flowerpots and tools that you don’t want exposed to the elements through the winter. Cover up that outdoor grill or move it indoors to avoid rust and debris. And to rid the deck’s surface of mildew, simply sweep and wash it with a detergent/peroxide solution or power washer.

If you have a vegetable garden, give it a good tilling before the first freeze sets in, the SafeWise Report says. Prune tree branches—especially those likely to buckle under the weight of snow and ice. Thin out, divide and redistribute perennial plants, and they’ll pop up in new places next year without costing you another cent. Protect cold-sensitive plants and new plantings with a heavy layer of mulch.

To clean up your outdoor space in an eco-friendly way, compost raked leaves and other garden detritus, says Rodale’s Organic Life. Given the chance to break down over the winter, they will create a rich source of nutrients for new plants. Also leave a few spots for beneficial insects to winter such as brush piles, and leave leafy green plants in the ground or plant a cover crop of rye grass to eliminate pests and nourish the soil.

If you find that you have more planters, tools, lawn furniture and garden gnomes than you need during the course of a thorough fall cleanup, contact ClothingDonations.org to schedule a pickup. A truck will come and whisk away those extra items (along with clothing and other housewares), and you will no longer need to worry about where to store them for the winter.

Then, kick back with a cup of hot chocolate and the warm feeling that comes with knowing you’ve contributed to a good cause. Enjoy the fall!