Expert Advice on Home Improvement

Fall gardening is an exercise in delayed gratification – new plants will barely put down roots before going dormant, cleaned and amended beds won’t show their gratitude until spring, and bulbs disappear underground, making you wonder if they’ll ever reappear. Don’t despair – instead, use this season to clean up, organize, and take stock of your lawn and garden. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

Fall is a great time to wind down the growing season with a little preventative maintenance for your yard and garden. The topic of fall cleanup is a matter of much debate among gardeners – some believe in keeping things tidy, while others prefer some organic clutter. Whatever your style, a little fall housekeeping can go a long way in preventing disease and insect problems next year. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

In October, gardeners have a color show unequaled in any other season. While many summer annuals are still blooming, trees begin their yearly show of fall color. Berries and nuts add polka-dots to shrub and tree borders, and fall-blooming perennials explode into bloom. The shifting angle of sunrays provides a gorgeous backlight in late afternoon, and the crisp air wakes up the senses. Read in full.

If you grow perennials in your garden, you’ll soon encounter the need to divide and transplant them. Perhaps they’re overgrown, or crowded, or you’d like to spread them around or share with a friend. Most perennials can be divided quite easily. Read on to find out how to successfully divide and transplant your garden perennials. Read in full.

September heralds the fall gardening season with cooler temperatures and a first taste of autumn in the air. Now’s the time to be outside to enjoy the beautiful weather while taking care of some of the following lawn and garden tasks for September. Read in full.

A “spill pot” brings a playful touch to your garden – and it’s also a great way to recycle cracked or broken flower pots! It’s a fun way to use up those last few plants after filling your other containers or beds. Read on to find out how. Read in full.

August begins right in the middle of the “dog days of summer,” the hottest and most sultry time of the year. Ancient cultures believed that the excessive heat was caused by the alignment of Sirius, the Dog Star, with the sun during the summer. These are the days when everything seems languid and still – except mosquitoes, of course – and the sun threatens to bake lawns, gardens, and gardeners alike. Read in full.

If you enjoy working or playing outdoors, chances are you’ve come in contact with either poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac. Here are some tips for identifying, removing, and coping with poison ivy and its relatives in the lawn and garden. Read in full.

Rainfall is scarce in July, and soaring temperatures can cause your garden and lawn to slow down and conserve energy. Vegetable gardens kick into high gear and need some extra attention to stay happy. Other plants in your garden can benefit from special treatment as well. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

If you’re looking to add color and life to your garden, perennials are a great long term investment that won’t break your budget. A well planned perennial garden offers a constantly changing variety of flowers for years to come, making it well worth the initial time and work involved. Read more to find out how to plan, plant, and care for perennials in your garden. Read in full.