Outdoor Gardening Tips

In this before & after project, one clever couple in Los Angeles upcycles an old, abandoned dresser, turning it into a garden of succulents. I think you’ll agree it’s a huge improvement.Curt and Jessica of the blog Grizzly Bear Modern took advantage of an old dresser left behind in the garage of their new home by drilling a few drainage holes in the drawers to create a sturdy vessel for a garden of succulents.

Tim and D’arcy’s backyard makeover is a great example to keep in the back of your mind when buying a house without landscaping. It is a case of turning “nothing into something” illustrating looking beyond what’s there and the potential of an outdoor space…We took a tour of the inside of Tim & D’Arcy’s Modern Eclectic in The Junction and now we’re back to see what they’ve done with their backyard.

Carolyn Chadwick is a master of making beautiful feminine gardens — one of my all time favorite dream gardens was designed by her and it resides in the Greek isles. This garden, which also brings to mind Mediterranean delights, resides in Cologne, Germany.Not only is the design beautiful, but I feel I must point out a few details that make this a real masterpiece.

Weeds. They’re polarizing little things, met with hatred by some and indifference by others. I, for one, am not loving the dandelions popping up in my yard this spring, as we’ve been working on a grassy (albeit imperfect) area for our son to play in without resorting to chemicals, and dandelions are foes of grass (especially tender new shoots). Once they spread their ground-hugging leaves, they stifle what’s around them, leaving only dirt behind.

Planting season is upon us, so let me tell you a little story of how this garden came to be. When we bought a house last year, I failed to inquire about the summer weather, thinking it would be just as warm and clear as it was on our open house day. NOPE. Instead, I encountered summers full of chilly fog and harsh winds, much to the dismay of my aspiring green thumb.

Most people think that having a green thumb is just something you’re born with. Little do they know all it takes to keep your household foliage alive is a little 411. Are you chronically killing your leafy friends? Here are a few reasons why another one might be biting the dust.  Watering: Most folks tend to water their plants when they remember. The watering schedule you should stick to depends on your lighting and your humidity level.

I took a trip to the craft store a couple of weeks ago with the intention of picking up a few Christmas decorations. On a whim I decided to DIY my own succulent wreath, and walked out with my arms filled with supplies. I love the idea of decorations that can easily be modified and used year round. When the season is up I plan to remove the bow and hang my wreath outside.

Notice the raised, brown growth on my Sago Palm. This is an example of scale. I’m currently dealing with a really sticky problem — yes, pun intended! — and anybody that has discovered one of their houseplants has a case of scale knows exactly what I’m talking about. While you may think scale is only attacking your plants, think again. Yes, it is first and foremost a plant pest, but this little creature can also wreak havoc on your home. So what exactly is scale?

As the last of the daffodils, tulips and other spring bulbs fade away, there is a natural desire to clean up the remaining shriveled flowers and the inevitable floppy leaves that were so welcome just a few weeks ago, but which now appear old and messy. But don’t do it!! Here is why. Bulbs need that greenery because as the flowering ends, those greens stay on and continue to collect energy from the sun, feeding it back into the bulb.

Product: Click and Grow Smart Herb Garden Price: $99.95 Rating: Strong Recommend* I love growing my own food. Sadly though, I have spent most of my adult life in tiny apartments with limited light and no outdoor space. Enter the Smart Herb Garden, a setup for growing herbs indoors in even the smallest and darkest of spaces, which promises success for even those with the “un-greenest” of thumbs. Originally launched via Kickstarter, the Smart Herb Garden ($99.

Strawberries are the quintessential summer fruit. Juicy, flavorful, and packed with vitamin C, they are a must-have for any summer garden. Organic berries can often be on the expensive side at the grocery store, so grow your own, cut down on packaging waste, and keep that extra cash in your pocket! Strawberries love the sun, they need at least 8-10 hours of direct sunlight each day, so keep that in mind when placing your containers, or tilling up your bed.

Few things are more satisfying than growing food that you can eat. If you’re living in an apartment or any other place without a backyard, you may think that this is an impossible dream, but you might be surprised by the variety of edibles you can grow in containers. The following is a list of things I’ve had good luck growing in small(ish) containers, along with some other plants that have been recommended to me as good small space growers.

When Danielle’s side yard was about to be paved over by management, she saved as many plants as she could. She then looked to her apartment’s small, enclosed patio, transforming it into an outdoor oasis: From Danielle: While the majority of my plants and flowers are in containers, I had no place to store them while the work was being done, which meant much of it was going to be sacrificed. My husband and I only had 2 days to clear the side area and salvage what we could.

This sad-looking border in front of my house is the first proper gardening project I ever tackled. My previous experience of growing things was limited to a couple of window boxes and some short-lived herbs in pots, so when I put a few plants in the ground last spring, I wasn’t sure how they would turn out… One year on, I have a blooming border of three different types of lavender, alliums, agapanthus (African lilies), nemesia, and daisies.

Depending on what part of the country you’re in, you still might be enjoying the delicious harvest from your backyard, but here in the Midwest, I’m tearfully waving goodbye to, well, almost everything fresh. While it’s probably impossible to keep gorgeous heirloom tomatoes growing, I’m looking on the bright side at the plants and herbs that will continue to thrive indoors during the dreary winter months.

Cut flowers offer a lovely, if ephemeral and short-lived pleasure—while fresh, that is. Preserved flowers keep on giving, and several fresh picks that can be found in markets now have a gorgeous extended life when dried. The long-lasting, low-maintenance loveliness these preserved blooms offer might sway those looking for the never-ending flower. Here’s a guide to five varieties with decidedly current appeal and timeless potential.

Now that it’s officially fall, it’s probably about time to bring your green friends inside for the season. I’m talking about the houseplants you put outdoors to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. But if you’ve ever gone on a tropical vacation during the winter, then flown home to snow, you’ll realize that sudden changes in climate and temperature can be shocking.

I know, I know. We too get sick of hearing that [insert anything here] is the new black. But I think we’ve truly found the perfect alternative to the ubiquitous fiddle leaf fig which — although admittedly lovely — is somewhat hard to take care of. If you are looking for a new plant hero to transform your interior, without demanding too much of your time, please allow me introduce you.

Cat Meschia of ctrl + curate is a craft blogger based in Gainesville, Florida where she spends her time creating beautiful things that encourage thoughtful living. Known for her affordable small-space solutions and practical yet artistically-driven designs, Cat shares everything from DIY planters to no-weave wall hangings through simple tutorials and inspiration boards.

With end of Daylight Savings near, you’re not the only one anticipating (or rather dreading) the harshest months of the year. Pretty soon, your houseplants will be busy dodging drafts and soaking up every last ray of dwindling sunlight. To give your ferns and fiddle leaf figs a fighting chance at survival, follow these ten tips for winter plant care to get your plants through the worst of it. 1. Move plants away from vents, radiators or drafty windows.

It seems everyone and their brother has plant fever these days, and the only cure is MORE PLANTS! We’ve mastered the art of watering, they’re all stayin’ alive. Now we’re onto more cosmetic issues, like: just how shiny and clean can I get my plants? Can I buff them with banana peels? According to an old folk remedy (and a few people on YouTube) shredded banana peels draped all over plants can help to rid it of an aphid infestation.

Keeping your plants clean (and dust-free) is vital to their health and happiness. Along with attracting harmful pests, too much dust on your plant’s leaves can make it hard for your houseplants to absorb light and properly photosynthesize (remember that from elementary school?). That’s why experts recommend dusting off your plants at least once a month by using a clean microfiber cloth. But for the healthiest houseplants possible, the cleaning shouldn’t stop there.

It looks like those plant lady vibes may actually be improving your lifespan. Recent research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital dives into the results of an eight year study covering the possible link between vegetation and life expectancy—and the data suggests it’s time to turn over a new leaf. Spoiler alert: Women who live in homes surrounded by vegetation not only have lower mortality rates, but improved mental health, too.

Back in October 2016, IKEA’s external innovation hub Space10 announced the Growroom, a spherical structure that allows people to grow their own food locally and sustainably. Last week, Space10 made the plans available to anyone who wants to build their own circular farm.

We love our pets, even when they are annoying little troublemakers. So when our furry friends start munching on our plants and digging around in the dirt, it’s our job to keep them safe (even when we want to strangle them). Being the human in the relationship means doing the research and only populating our homes with non-toxic varieties of plants. We’re making it easy for you. Below are some of our favorite pet-safe plants that are non-toxic for both dogs and cats.

Okay so I’m admittedly a bit of a black thumb. For starters, my apartment—like most in New York City—has windows that directly face the brick exterior of a neighboring apartment, which means natural sunlight is, well, reserved for time outdoors. Throw a busy schedule and life in the mix and remembering to water your succulents is not as easy as it sounds . So although it’s upsetting that I can’t even keep an air plant alive, it’s not terribly surprising.

Vertical gardens are an exciting outdoor project because they show off your flowers and plants beautifully and aren’t difficult or expensive to make. In fact, they can easily be made out of mostly recycled (and recyclable) materials. Vertical gardens are also especially well-suited to small outdoor spaces so no worries if you don’t have a whole yard or deck to work with. Below are the basic instructions for how to make a vertical garden planter using scrap wood and a pallet.

The highly-anticipated Pandora: World of Avatar opens officially to the public on May 27 at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Park. While most will beeline it to the two new rides, the photos we’ve seen of the incredible landscape make the argument to slow down the pace (just a little bit —wouldn’t want to lose your spot in an up-to-six-hour line).

When you live within city limits, it’s rare to have access to private green space. In a perfect (and sustainable) world, we would all have our own backyards, overflowing with lush shrubbery, robust herbs, and fruit-bearing trees right next to our cute little chicken coops. In reality, we’re forced to get a little more creative – vertical gardens, hanging planters, and fruit purchased from the local market.

Nothing adds life (literally and aesthetically) to a space quite like plants. And in a kitchen, plants can serve a double purpose, because if you choose to grow herbs, you can look at them and eat them, too. You may think that having a teeny-tiny kitchen means no room to grow things, but that’s where you’d be wrong. If you’ve got the light, we’ve got nine ideas for ways you can find the space.

Is it just me, or was 2017 the year everyone became obsessed with plants? I can barely remember to drink enough water myself, let alone keep houseplants alive, but I so admire the plant lady lifestyle. I want to fill my apartment with ferns and flowers and feel a little extra life in my home, but without a naturally green thumb, I need a little help, and I can’t be alone in that, right?

Get growing, even if you have a completely black thumb, thanks to these new smart planters that connect your container gardens to an app that tells you when to water, prune, and harvest food plants and constantly monitors the weather, soil conditions, and your plants’ every need for you.

I’m both unwilling to store artificial christmas tree supplies, as well as insecure about going out to buy a live tree. Past years, I’ve either foregone holiday decorating, or DIYed some sort of makeshift faux tree. While those choices may work for some folks, it’s always left me wanting. That’s why when I came across this houseplant at the hardware store a couple of years ago, I knew it would be the perfect “Christmas tree” for me and my small space.

When we’re busy making cookies, wrapping gifts, and brewing hot chocolate, we sometimes forget to look after the quietest living things under our care: our plants. But there’s no time like the present (ha) —when guests are around, and when the greenery inside looks even greener because of the barrenness outdoors — to give our plants some extra love and attention. Turn over a new leaf (another ha) in 2018 and become the plant parent you’ve always wanted to be.

I love finding overlooked products in hardware and garden supply stores that I never knew I needed. I recently discovered one hiding right under my nose that’s a clever, inexpensive way to add life and style to a living space. I, for one, can’t wait to use it at home. What is it? A flower pot clip. They are a quick, easy and cheap way to hang plants. Simply drill a hole, hang the hardware onto your chosen surface, then clip on a planter.

Plants add vibrancy to our living spaces like nothing else quite can. And although tending to them isn’t necessarily hard, they are living things that require our time and attention. Anything that makes caring for plants a bit easier is a plus in our book — because this means we can add a few more! Here’s how coffee filters contribute to smart, less-mess plant maintenance.

Name: Ron Goh Location: Auckland, New Zealand Size: 2142 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned Ron is a digital designer… and a plant addict, as evidenced by the Auckland home he shares with his partner, and two dogs (a mini schnauzer and chihuahua). He describes their loft, located in a 1920s converted factory in the Victoria Quarter, as packed with character and featuring cityscape views. There are two levels: an open plan kitchen/dining/living area below and two bedrooms above.

Bloomscape, a newly launched startup out of Detroit, wants to help you become the plant parent you’ve always wanted to be. If you’re a beginner who is kind of befuddled about what plants to buy, where to buy them and what to do when you get them into your home, Bloomscape might be for you. If you think you’ve got a pretty good handle on the situation but could use a little moral support and loving advice, Bloomscape might also be for you.

While most people think it’s neglect that does house plants in, over-watering is actually the most common way to kill your green friends. Keeping them alive means figuring out how to not drown them, and that’s where charcoal comes in. Without proper drainage, water will linger at the bottom of the pot, and roots become water-logged and susceptible to rot, fungus and bacteria. Unfortunately, when it comes to water, not all flower pots and planters are created equal.

As spring ushers in all the flowery feelings that accompany rebirth, renewal, and fresh signs of life, we’re going to turn our attention this weekend to the living decor that graces our homes: our plants. With the advent of the season that most houseplants will begin their growing seasons in earnest, the extra TLC we give them now will be repaid with lush, thriving greenery.

Green thumbs might seem to have an innate knack for caring for plants, while black thumbs appear to be doomed with a Midas touch of death. But the only difference between green thumbs and black thumbs, really, is just familiarizing yourself with both your particular plants’ specific needs and also some general plant-keeping guidelines.

Choosing the right houseplant for your space isn’t exactly a science. Also not a science? Astrology. But much like covering your apartment in greenery, exploring what your zodiac sign might reveal about your personality is a ton of harmless fun (for not a ton of money). We’ve taken the joy of mapping sun signs to their houseplant counterparts based on the traits of both the plants and the personality that will be caring for them.

There’s no shortage of plant-obsessed accounts to follow on Instagram. The hashtag #plantsofinstagram alone produces more than 1 million posts, most of which come straight from the hands of plant parents across the globe. And if you’re anything like us, you depend on Instagram posts to help inspire and inform all of your gardening endeavors. So to ensure that your feed is always filled with helpful plant info, we rounded up 10 of the coolest plant accounts to follow on IG.

This past Valentine’s Day, my boyfriend gave me a potted orchid instead of the usual bouquet of carnations and roses. Having never owned an orchid before, I checked the tag for care instructions and learned I was supposed to water it with three ice cubes, or about ¼ cup of water, once a week. I’ve been feeding my orchid its ice every Friday, and it’s been blooming spectacularly for the past three months. But are the ice cubes really the secret to orchid success?

Most of us have that one friend or family member who reliably texts you with life updates, posts Instagram Stories about her commute to work, and generally goes out of her way to keep you informed. And then there’s the friend who’s a bit more private about her feelings. You can usually recognize the signs when something’s bothering her, but she makes you guess to figure out what the problem is. Your houseplants are like this second type of friend.

Fun fact: Pineapples are actually a member of the bromeliad family, a tropical species long popular with houseplant enthusiasts for their dramatic spiky leaves and neon-colored blooms. And, it turns out, you can even grow a pineapple as a houseplant, too. You don’t need to make a special trip to the nursery either—just add a pineapple to your grocery list and you’ll have exactly what you need to start growing a brand new pineapple plant.

I live in a one bedroom “garden” apartment, which means that I get to have my own front door, porch, and small strip of flower bed. The only downside? The flower bed is under the porch roof, which means it’s constantly damp and shady, and also an ideal mosquito habitat. So this year, after frantically trying to squash a few rogue mosquitoes that snuck indoors while I was carrying in groceries, I’ve decided to get myself some mosquito-repelling plants.

Though it certainly feels like it when you watch people with the gift of making every plant under their care flourish, no one is born with a green thumb: There are only black thumbs who become green thumbs, and black thumbs who haven’t yet. If you’re in the second category, knowing these dirty little secrets hidden in the closets of your green thumb friends will speed you on your own path to that enviable star plant-parent status.

Do you dream of fragrant green herbs sprouting on your kitchen windowsill? Cherry tomatoes ripening on the vine just outside your door? If you’ve got a least a little patch of sun on a porch or balcony, you can grow a container garden. But before you head out to buy seeds, you might want to check with your local library to see if you can “check out” a pack or two. Yep, libraries aren’t just for books and movies anymore.

Have you ever peeled back the leaves on a bunch of homegrown kale to discover hundreds of scaly little bugs? Those are aphids and the sight of them will make you throw away your kale and order pizza instead. And anyone who’s had a houseplant infested with spider mites will have been tempted to chuck said plant, pot and all, straight out the window. The damage they cause can eventually kill the plant, and the mites spread quickly.

Adding a few houseplants is a foolproof way to brighten up your decor while adding a aura of serenity to your space. Unfortunately, houseplants can get pricey, especially for big showstoppers or unusual varieties. Let’s be honest: it’s tough to pull out your credit card when you’re not sure a plant will actually survive your apartment’s environment, or the blunderings of your black thumb. But that doesn’t mean you have to live without indoor greenery.

Houseplants have gone from an accessory to a lifestyle, and having a wall full of plants is becoming more “millennial” than millennial pink. The only thing that could make it more trendy? If there was a subscription box associated with it. Well, wonder no further when such a thing will exist—The Sill has launched a Plant Parent Club.

Whether you’re dyeing eggs for Easter, or you’re just really into packing hard-boiled eggs with your lunch lately, here’s a smart tip you can use soon: Save your egg water for your plants. Plants love calcium. When it’s present in a plant’s soil, calcium helps to keep the pH in check—a neutral soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5 provides plants with the ideal environment to soak up all the nutrients they need. You know what naturally contains calcium? Eggshells.

Great news, plant parents: the Instagram favorite fiddle leaf fig tree appears to be back in stock at select Costco locations across the country. You might remember how excited we got to spot them at a Michigan location last year (Auburn Hills) where they were around six feet tall and under $50 ($46.99 to be exact). Our plant sleuth Kaitlin Flannery just let us know that the leafy tree is back at Auburn Hills, though they are smaller in size and in price.

They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression, and the saying holds true for homes. When your house is on the market, you want potential buyers to fall in love at first sight—and that means having major curb appeal. While the house itself is the focus of curb appeal, keep in mind that landscaping is an important factor to consider as well. Thoughtful use of plants can create visual interest and enhance the overall look of your property.

Plants and macramé go together like white fur blankets and Scandinavian homes. With the reemergence of Boho and trending #plantlady tags, it’s only natural that macramé plant hangers are popping up everywhere. They were big in 2018 and we predict they aren’t go away anytime soon. Macramé is such a beautiful craft that can be the perfect finishing detail to a room and we’ll kickstart your hunt with some of our favorite DIYs and buys.

We all have been swooning hard for a while now on cacti. Not only have we been loving the image of the iconic desert plant on interior wall murals and bedspread prints, but we love the cactus itself, too. Robust and relatively easy to care for, these wonderful additions to the home bring a lovely southwestern vibe into any space. Luckily for all of us, most cactus dealers—online and off—are responsible. They grow their plants from seeds and wouldn’t dream of poaching.

Ready for your next weekend project? With summer slowly winding down, all I can think about is spending my evenings outdoor, whether in a friend’s backyard, a restaurant patio, or a city park. Patrick Davis, consultant by day, DIY carpenter by nights and weekends, has just the project to get your outdoor space ready for those early fall hangs. The best part? It only takes up a few square feet!

IKEA hacks are often inspiring, but there are so many I’ve never tried myself because they take too long and require tools that I don’t have–and they’re often furniture pieces that I just don’t need. So when I found myself wandering the floors of IKEA recently, and the TOPPIG lantern presented itself as a possible hanging planter, I knew it was a hack I was willing to try because I could do it quickly and with minimal supplies.

There's ALWAYS room for another one of these.