Do you have problem areas in your garden? It could be that spot under a tree where the soil is dry or a slope with erosion. Groundcovers are a living mulch that can fill these tricky spots with colorful blooms and unique texture. They also control weeds and help your garden stand out. Like any planting, the right groundcover depends on your site conditions. How To Use Groundcover Plants Years ago, my family put in stepping stones in our backyard. Between the stones, we had wood mulch that kept the weeds in check. After a couple of years, the wood […]
Category: Flower Gardening
Spring Garden Planning: Landscaping & Vegetable Garden Tips
What are your garden plans for spring? Perhaps you’re filling the landscape of a new home or starting your first veggie garden. Today, we’ll look at some tips to make those plantings successful! Tips For A New Home Garden If you’re a new home owner, you might be starting with a clean slate or updating the existing landscape. This allows you to be creative and make the landscape your own. Before you dive in, think about your goals for the property. Almost 20 years ago, my family moved from a wooded lot to a home on the prairie. We missed […]
Vertical Gardening Tips: Smart Strategies To Train And Support Climbing Plants
Planning a garden makeover sometime this year? Instead of spreading out, think about adding more climbers to your backyard as vertical gardening is going to be a huge trend in 2025. Using vertical space is a great way to make the most of your garden. While most people put up structures to support climbing vegetables like peas, tomatoes, and cucumbers, gardening experts say that planting flowering vines can also help to beautify your outdoors. In an interview with Real Simple, landscape designer Cate Singleton said that vertical gardens “can be used to screen unsightly views and add color to a […]
Create A Cottage Garden
Imagine yourself sitting outside and enjoying the warm air on a summer evening. Now picture yourself sitting outside surrounded by an oasis of flowering and edible plants. Perhaps there’s a meandering path weaving through the flower beds, allowing you to enjoy the different colors and fragrances. The sight of pollinators gathering nectar from native flowers adds even more life to the space. Whether your property is large or small, cottage gardens bring a sense of tranquility and beauty to any space. They also allow you to break the rules and run wild with creativity. Historically, these spaces are filled with […]
Create a Patriotic Planter: Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting an American Flag with Flowers
Celebrate the Fourth of July by bringing a touch of patriotism to your home with planters that resemble the American flag. Using vibrant red, white, and blue flowers, you can create a beautiful and festive display that honors the spirit of Independence Day. Follow this step-by-step guide to craft your very own American flag planters. Step 1: Select Your Planters Before you begin, gather all the necessary materials. Choose three small to medium planters (or one large planter divided into three sections) deep enough to accommodate the roots of your chosen flowers and wide enough to create distinct sections for […]
New 2024 Summer/Fall Garden Catalog Review
Summer has arrived! Time to start planning what you will plant in the summer/fall to have a beautiful flower garden by spring. Our Jung Seed catalog review explores new arrivals, cherished customer favorites, and the return of popular flowers and bulbs. The catalog is a treasure trove for gardening enthusiasts. Accent Bulbs Accent bulbs are a versatile and valuable addition to any garden. They come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, adding visual diversity and texture to garden beds, borders, and containers. The bulbs can be layered with other perennials and shrubs to create depth and dimension. Certain bulbs, such […]
Dahlia Gardening Guide
Dahlias, with their stunning array of colors, shapes, and sizes, are a favorite among gardeners looking to add vibrant, long-lasting beauty to their landscapes. Growing dahlias might seem daunting, but with a little guidance and patience, you will be rewarded with a spectacular display from mid-summer to the first frost. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to successfully grow and maintain these captivating flowers, ensuring your garden flourishes. Understanding Dahlia Tubers Dahlia tubers are bulbus storage roots. When fully mature they grow in a circular starfish-like pattern with several tubers attached to a central crown. […]
Discovering & Growing Woodland Wildflowers
There are many plants we can talk about this time of year, so let’s take a moment to enjoy the early-season natives that are filling the forests with color. Their appearance is brief, but these beauties are a great source of joy after a long winter. One of my early childhood memories is traveling to our family cabin in spring and seeing carpets of trilliums covering the forests along the highway. I encourage you to explore your local forests and look for woodland wildflowers. And guess what? You can grow these plants at home too! What Are Woodland Wildflowers? This […]
Easy Ways To Create A Mindful Garden From Scratch
Gardening is a wonderful way to enhance your well-being while connecting with nature. Not only is it a great way to get some fresh air and exercise, but it can help you to relax since caring for live plants can relieve fatigue and stress. Moreover, it can be an excellent mindful activity since gardening requires focus, and you need to be physically present for it. In an interview with The New York Times, English psychiatrist Sue Stuart-Smith explains how gardening, which enables people to work with nature’s energy, can be a form of meditation. “People often describe losing themselves in the […]
How To Create A Rain Garden
Picture this: it’s a hot summer day, and you’re heading to the garden to water your plants when suddenly, a rainstorm arrives, and you don’t have to water them anymore. For many of us, that’s a dream come true. However, the excess water from these rain events can end up on roads and sidewalks, causing less water to be absorbed by the soil. As the water runs along the road, it may pick up pollutants and other debris, which may end up in lakes and rivers. A great way to reroute some of this water is creating a rain garden, […]