Outdoor Gardening Tips

What better way to welcome spring?

16 different flowering perennials that will give your garden charm year after year.

Six artisans from around the world pitched in to make this sustainably driven collection come to life.

Gardening is one of my favorite hobbies, but it can also be expensive when you start buying lots of plants and pots. What if you could double, triple, even quadruple the number of plants you currently have without spending a dime? If you have a little bit of time on your hands, along with a lot of patience, you can do just that. Let’s dig into cacti and succulent propagation!

There's no shortage of large windows, too.

Consider your jungle achievement level unlocked.

All the beauty, without all the hassle.

Tried-and-true tricks to keep your plants happy and healthy.

Grow everything indoors, from herbs to tomatoes.

Shopping for plants (and learning how to care for them) can be overwhelming even for the most experienced plant parents.

We’re not talking about making friends with your plants (but that could work too).

If you only have space for a few plants in your home, make sure they're unforgettable.

You just can't go wrong with these guys.

Cucumbers are one of the most refreshing things to eat straight out of the garden. Technically a fruit, this hydrating treat is made up of 95% water and can help keep you going on a hot day. Cucumber seedlings can be planted outside two weeks after the last spring frost. They love the hot sun, so be sure to make room for them in a bright area with fertile, well-drained soil. Plant a second crop one month after the first. Cucumber seedlings Organic compost Organic fertilizer Garden tools 1.

During the cold days of winter, I like to mentally fast forward to the lazy lounging days of summertime. So even though warm weather has just arrived, I’ve already been spending quite a bit of time thinking about outdoor spaces…This little courtyard before and after from Michelle over at Three Men and a Lady is just the thing to inspire me.

This garden in southern California, was designed by Shirley Bovshow for a client with a small budget (at lease for the size of the work needed). So, the initial vision for beautiful gazebos and country elegance with all the bells and whistles was ultimately fulfilled with budget friendly versions.

As the summer heats up, I thought I would try to inspire you to head outside and get your hands dirty with some inspirational and aspirational garden ‘before and after’ projects.The first is landscape designer Andrew Grossman’s garden. He shares the progress of his garden at his blog titled ‘A Year in My Garden’ — even though he admits that this garden was fully 12 years in the making.

Let me introduce you to Stevie who lives in Vancouver. Since 2004 Stevie has been transforming the back garden into something wonderful and taking readers of Garden Therapy along for the ride.Some basic background info about the garden transformation from Stevie:“While there is a wonderful mountain view from the deck, we decided to build a low, enclosed patio to gain privacy from the neighbours and some outdoor living space.

Name: Kelly Coyne and Erik KnutzenLocation: Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park/Silver Lake area)Years lived in: 13 Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen didn’t set out to become back –and front!– yard farmers. But once this Los Angeles couple discovered the pleasures of making things by hand and living close to the natural world, one thing led to another and today their ever-evolving urban homestead (if we dare call it that) is a true inspiration in the heart of the city.

Name: PennyLocation: Williamsburg — Brooklyn, New York One of the reasons we chose this condo when we moved from Manhattan, was the potential of the garden. We promised a garden to our dog Sasha and we delivered.We inherited it as a pit of tenacious weeds, specifically Japanese Knotweed, that had to be dug out and removed by hand before any planting or sod laying.

Name: Beth Knox and Bill Hutchins Location: Takoma Park, Maryland (just over the District line) Size: 2,100 square feet — 4 bedrooms + basement apartment Years lived in: 4 years, owned Other occupants: Tenants in basement, 20-something children from time to time, a variety of guests (extended stay), currently a Congolese pastor seeking asylum.

In lesson seven I reviewed the pros and cons of starting your garden from seeds or starts. If you’re feeling ambitious and want to start all (or at least a few) of your plants from seed, the question is: should you start them indoors or outdoors? Well, that depends on when you’re getting started and how long your growing season is.

One of the most common reasons people throw up their hands — and throw in the trowel — is the discouragement they feel when their plants die. But guess what: it happens to even the most experienced gardener. Don’t despair! Whether it’s your first time or fiftieth time planting a garden, these easy-grow, easy-care plants will make plant shopping a little less intimidating and a lot more successful.

Maybe you’re convinced you’ll never move beyond that notorious black thumb, or maybe you’ve tended a few herbs on your windowsill but feel too intimidated to try more. Whatever the case may be, let this year be the year you start your very own garden! From container gardening in a courtyard to vegetable gardening in a backyard, we’ve got you covered at Apartment Therapy with our step-by-step Gardening School.

Gardens can take many forms, but today we’ll tackle the three main types of gardens you can start with a basic supply list: container gardens, raised bed gardens, and in-ground gardens. You might already know what type you’ll be growing, since it’s usually determined by your space and your lifestyle. Each garden has its pros and cons, but in many instances, you can mix and match the type of garden to your needs.

Gardens and gardeners come in all sizes, shapes, and needs. We may be short or tall, left-handed or right-handed. We may be starting a few planter boxes on the deck or growing entire rows of vegetables in the backyard. Thus, the tools that work for one person may not work for another. Complicating (or perhaps simplifying?) matters even more are tools that can serve multiple purposes.

Though we often think of spring as a good time to prep and plant a garden, you can actually start planning well before the snow melts and continue planting all the way until the first freeze in fall. If you live in a frost-free region, lucky you — you can garden year-round! How do you determine the best time to prep or plant? The most reliable source is your local independent garden center, which can offer general growing guidelines for your particular climate.

The best-laid plans for a garden come after living in your home for a year, watching how the sun moves throughout the day in all the seasons, how much moisture you get and where it goes, and whether one area of your yard is more prone to wind than another. But if you want to get started right away, keep these things in mind as they’ll help you plot out a successful garden. Amount of sunlight and access to water are two major factors that go into selecting a good site for your garden.

Congratulations on making it this far and having a beautiful garden to show for it! But while the initial grunt work is done, your plants still need a little TLC to keep them looking and performing their best. Strive to spend at least one afternoon a week (or a few minutes a day) to walk among your beds, pick a few flowers, or simply sit in your garden and take it all in.

You’ve got the site and the soil dialed in, and now comes the fun part: the plants! Part of making your garden plan is deciding what types of plants you want to grow and how they’ll coexist in your space. All of the previous lessons — knowing how much sun your yard receives each day, what climate zone you’re in, and when you’re ready to plant — will aid a great deal in this process, so be sure you read them before you move on.

This is a no brainer.

Because plants make the world better.

We talked to a few plant experts to get step-by-step instructions on how to start your own pumpkin patch—or at least one. In any case, here are some handy tips for getting the results you want:

You'll want ten.

Before you can roll around in the grass or have a picnic in the backyard this summer, you need to prep your lawn. Just like you spring clean your house, now’s the time to get your yard in shape for the season by doing all those necessary tasks like removing debris, replacing grass, or taking out weeds. These ten items will help you give it a fresh start and set the groundwork for a beautiful, lush lawn come June, or you can always bring the great outdoors inside by growing grass indoors.

So sweet.

I’m in a traveling, outdoor mood, largely because I’m stuck inside an air conditioned office and longing to be outside. To soothe myself, I want to revisit a home we visited last summer — Margaret Roach’s year round retreat in upstate New York. I’ve included new pictures, and I think you’ll get a lot of vicarious pleasure out of this visit. Enjoy!

There’s nothing quite so satisfying as growing your own food—and nothing quite so frustrating as being a would-be gardener with a too-small outdoor space. I have known this pain myself, so I was particularly intrigued when Dabney, our Projects Editor, told me about Square Foot Gardening, a very efficient technique for growing things you can eat. Could this be the perfect way to grow a lot of veggies in just a little bit of space?

This Bay Area front yard had seen better days, but now it is an urban oasis worthy of major admiration—and envy, especially of their lucky friends who get invitations for sunset cocktails but didn’t have to do any of the actual work. If you happen to have a similar project to tackle, this reader submission has the most thorough process description ever seen in a Before & After post. Everything looks so lush and luxurious!

You might remember Jessica’s petite apartment, which was featured in a House Tour (and video) a couple of years ago. Off the bedroom, through that French door, is a teeny tiny balcony, which she just got around to sprucing up, and it’s so worth a look. This tiny balcony seems like it’s only large enough to hold a bistro table and chairs—or even just one chair perhaps?—but a clever makeover makes room for so much more. Absolutely amazing!

Even if you don't have a rooftop to use, you'll find garden inspiration from all the ways this couple and their neighbors made use of their shared outdoor space.

We’ve been enviously reading posts from the Northern Hemisphere about the lead up to summer and meanwhile down here in Australia, we’ve just entered winter. It’s getting really cold and frosty so not much is happening in our garden at the moment.

Red Fox We’re probably not the first to tell you that bees have been disappearing from their hives, never to return, at alarming rates. Colony Collapse Disorder has been an issue here in the US since the 1990s and it’s now occurring all around the world. Among the super-bummer factors believed to be causing CCD is habitat loss. While this is a really large scale issue, there are a few things the average gardener can do to help out.

During the month of March, we’re gathering some of our best problem solvers together into master “Home Remedies” posts to help you make your home healthier, solving one problem at a time. Today, help for all the indoor gardeners out there that struggle with keeping house plants healthy.

Succulents are all the rage these days, which means they’re popping up everywhere. In funky containers, concrete planters, wreaths, even bridal bouquets. But as cool as they are — they often come with a hefty price tag — which is why I decided to make my own. Instead of attempting the more common wreath form, I opted for a modern take on the traditional mistletoe kissing ball.

Live without much natural light? These off-the-radar options are for you.

You've got four options.

With the recent onslaught of hot weather, we’ve been scarfing the guacamole and thought it a shame to just chuck the avocado pits. We grabbed a couple of our trusty Spega yogurt glasses and did our best to recall the glory days of elementary school science class. Jump below for a refresher on how to turn your seed in to a little tree…. Straight from the official avocado website: 1. Wash the seed.

These are the best things we've bought for our plants.

On many occasions, we’ve been tempted to grow our own potatoes. They’re fairly low maintenance, can be grown in a pot or in the ground, last a fairly long time if stored properly, and can be very nutritious (high in potassium and vitamin C). Here’s more incentive: according to this article, you can grow 100 pounds of potatoes in 4 sq. feet.

We love the geometry and repetition of a terraced garden, and this little set-up, from the home of Susann Larsson of Purple Area, is an ingenious way to bring the look to your small-space deck or balcony garden. It works perfectly for herbs, which will stay small with constant harvesting… Susann’s lovely little garden benefits from the uniformity of the galvanized steel pots.

We’ve said it here before: plants bring life to all living spaces. If you’re concerned about killing plants, we’ve consulted with a plant expert, Debra Prinzing, to bring you the hardiest ones. 1. Dracaena marginata (also known as Dragon Plant) “It’s pretty sculptural,” Debra says. “Good for the young and modern.” She recommends getting two and putting them on your fireplace mantel or on your entry table.

There are a lot of options out there for apartment dwellers who want to compost, and like most things it’s not as simple as one style fits all. It’s about finding what works best for you. Try something! And if it doesn’t work for you… try something else! This is an easy indoor compost option for people who need something cheap, customizable and space friendly.MaterialsA container to house your compost. It can be as big or small as you like.

It’s ok, go ahead and laugh… and then get your mind out of the gutter. But if rare, unusual statement plants cause your heart to flutter, then the Platycerium is for you. This tutorial will show you how to mount your stag to a piece of wood, then properly care for your new living art! Like orchids, the staghorn fern (Platycerium) is an epiphyte, which means they do not require soil to grow but attach to and gain nutrients from other plants, while not harming the host plant.

As someone who has a tough time keeping indoor plants alive, I knew I would never use my antique plant stand for its intended purpose. Instead, it is used to hold an iron kettle (Image 10). Occasionally I shove some cut flowers in the kettle but that’s about as green as my plant stand gets. It seems I am not the only one who has found alternative uses for plant stands.

San Franciscans know Paxton Gate as one of the city’s best garden stores, but you may not know that they also do landscape design. Their portfolio is full of inspiring before and after photos, including gorgeous gardens that started out as leveled dirt lots, overgrown backyards, and scraggly hillsides. If you’re the owner of a weedy lot or an unkempt patio, these photos might just be the kick-start you need to plan an outdoor renovation project.

As spring drifts into summer vegetables like spinach, broccoli rabe, radishes, and peas will finish up, which means now is the ideal time to plant new vegetables in their place. This planting strategy is called succession planting and the goal is to plant food all summer long so you have a continuous harvest. I’ve listed some of my favorite crop combos after the jump, but I am also curious what you are planting in your garden right now.

There’s nothing to fuel inspiration more than a really great set of before and after images. We definitely find that here, with this wonderful front garden renovation at the home of Dee Randolph and David McQuaide in the North Park area of San Diego. Especially wonderful is the replacement of sod in favor of drought tolerant plants.The homeowners also changed the trim color and red tiles on the roof to better compliment the newly completed garden.

Most folks don’t realize how easy (and cheap) it is to grow your own baby greens, even with a very limited amount of space. Just think about all the plastic bags and clamshell containers used for packaged greens that you buy at the store (not to mention how long they’ve been sitting in that plastic before they even get to market). Why not save the packaging and transit time, and harvest your own baby greens at home?

Many traditional neighborhoods need a little boost before they’ll be able to move to grass free yards. This project serves as just that. The yard in front of this home goes from a terrible looking patch of dead grass to a sustainable rockscape. Check out the dramatic transformation after the jump.Without the huge water needs of a typical grass lawn, this yard looks great with minimal upkeep.

People are quite often very surprised at the cost of putting in an outdoor living space and garden. Generally to create a patio, planting areas around it and paths to access it, you might be looking at paying the same as if you were doing small kitchen renovation. It makes sense since you really are creating another room on your house but it also makes sense to go the DIY path in the garden….

What is a garden designer without a dirt level garden to do? Well of course, make the most of the available 150 sq ft balcony. Jenny Peterson, who lives and works in Austin, Texas transformed her ‘L’ shaped balcony from a mish-mash of outdoor ‘stuff’ to a cohesive and relaxing southern inspired place for her to enjoy the outdoors.

I had another post in mind today until a good friend called to tell me about her planting success. She and her husband are trying to move – they have found and made an offer on a new house, but needed to sell theirs. We all know that the market is still in a funny place and trying to recover, so they opted to pull out all the stops and plant a St. Joseph statue to try and ensure house selling success.I had never heard of planting a St. Joseph as a real-estate superstition, have you?