What most people miss about the lowly trellis is all of the benefits certain plants get from climbing up this wonderful piece of art.  Yes, the trellis is a full functioning work of art!  If you are smart, you can fully use the trellis as a climbing anchor point for both flowering vines and also with vegetables that vine as well like tomatoes, cucumbers and pole beans.  We forget that these wonderful veggies grow very well when trellises are used; sometimes even better than you ever expected!

Trellises are sometimes incorporated into other garden structures like arbors and pergolas as well and lend themselves too many decorative alcoves in a garden.  Because they are also wonderful against a wall, some tend to imprison their trellises next to their homes.  However, a trellis is best used wherever you have the need for one.  They can be found as stand alone features; used to build flowering walls of protection; and the small trellises can be found in flower pots!  There are many to choose from and all you have to do is look.

It’s easy to look around and see what native plants are growing in your area.  All you have to do is go to a park in your neighborhood and look around or go out into a protected area and take pictures of the plants that you would like to incorporate into your yard or garden.

Get in touch with your state agriculture or extension department and show them the photos and ask if the species is available to plant and how to best take care of it.  That’s just one of the great services they provide to families in their state.  Take advantage of this and other services to improve your yard and garden for the coming year.

You work hard from early spring throughout the fall to have a healthy and flourishing garden. You buy the best seeds, bulbs and plants from local garden centers or your favorite online store. But with the onset of winter you start to worry about your plants.

If you have planted roses and are living in an area which has harsh winter, then you need to over winter your plants. That means you must add mulch to them to protect them from frost and snow. You will want to first remove the old mulch from around your rose bush. Next put four stakes Long around the plant and tie burlap around the stakes. Fill the inside of the burlap with dry leaves and organic mulch. This will ensure that your rose plant is protected from cold winds and will not suffer.

You can find various other kinds of containers available to do this job. You should be able to find them at garden centers in your area.

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… C: wait… SD: wait…

They are now calling me and asking me for advice on gardening, freezing, canning and drying herbs.  Though I am not an expert on any one thing, I have done some of all of them.  I have recommended using the library, of which one son was floored when he found out that’s how I learned to can, suggested the internet and to buy a book on processing home grown food.  With a new baby, they have also looked into making organic baby food and to think, it all started with a garden.

You work hard at turning your space into a place that is yours and yours alone.  You want others to know, by the furniture you choose, what the space says about you.  Are you an avid gardener looking to meld your garden onto your patio?  A cook who wants to use this space to barbeque and entertain?  The great thing is you can decorate using the usual patio and garden furniture or you can be different and use the unusual object or furniture.

You can stick with the simple plastic furniture that can be easily carried anywhere and can be stacked and put away when not in use.  You can choose the traditional iron furniture or the hand-crafted Adirondack chairs that make your home yours.  Or you can go way outside the box and get old truck front seats or tractor seats and use them for your seating pleasure.  Whatever you want to make of your outdoor space, you can.

There is also some great wicker and cane furniture that blends with so many decors at your fingertips.  You get to choose your outdoor furniture according to your personality and what makes you feel closest to nature.  It improves you life and the look of your outdoor space.

There is a variety of herbs you can grow in planters and raised beds.  This allows you to grow your own even if pressed for space.  Some of the best herbs that are sometimes better contained in planters, window boxes or raised beds are mint, coriander and rosemary.  The herbs will thrive and easily satisfy the requirements of the gardener and/or the cook!  You will get so much satisfaction cooking with and eating something you have produced. 

Planters can be fun as well as easy to manage because you can move them wherever there is adequate light and mix and match as you please.  Because planters and raised beds are movable and flexible enough to experiment with and to plant many different varieties of plants, herbs and vegetables, they are a must for any serious gardener and great for the beginner.

Have you ever heard a Realtor talk about showing a home?  They often tell their client to bake cookies or bread right before someone comes to the showing.  This wonderful fragrance reminds them of home and childhood.  Just like that fragrance, flowers bring the smell of freshness and wonder into your home and it’s so easy to do.

There are species that enjoy shade; cineraria, salvia and hosta’s that can be placed in entry ways or breezeways or anywhere where they improve the interior of your home. You can bring in the fragrant bulbs of freesia or hyacinth when they bloom if you have planted them in planters.  Why you can even makeover a room by placing few planters at suitable locations.

Having plants in the house also improves the air quality in our home through the plants natural processes thus giving us better air to breathe.  This can all be possible by using planters for your plants both inside and out.

Pergolas are terrific out in a lawn area, entwined in a garden or covering a patio.  They give just enough protection form the sun without blocking all the light and in time, with a little planning, can be covered with your favorite vines and blooms to be the addition to your backyard space you have always wanted.

The Wallington Pergola goes one step further and gives you the ability to create an outside covered picnic table that will delight the cook in the family and give you additional seating outdoors.  No more moving the lawn chairs about and balancing your plates on your lap.  You now have a sturdy, secure place to eat that is remarkably beautiful as well as functional.

Think about mixing natural elements to build the entire space.  If you have wrought iron furniture, get some wood and stone elements in the mix whether they are planters, window boxes, candle holders or patio flooring or decking.  There is such a variety of options these days to choose from for both garden and patio furniture.

Another growing trend is concrete work.  There are some fantastic concrete stains and stamps that can be done to enhance your outdoor space as well as birdbaths and planters that are beautifully done.  If you also have a shed, greenhouse, arbor or pergola, think about how to accent these outdoor structures with wind chimes, trellis’, flowers and planters and window boxes. 

You will find this a fun and exciting way to add enjoyment to your yard.  Accents can be used to soften up hard edges of masculine up a very feminine yard or visa versa.  You can always place planters with lovely blooms as accent pieces around your outdoor furniture and bring the beauty of your garden to your patio and oh the smell…

Design your garden so that the taller plants are in the back and shorter in the front. Also, be aware of when the plants will bloom so you can have continuous blossoms over the spring months into early summer.  In order to have a natural looking garden, stagger the placement of the bulbs rather than plant in straight rows. One way is to toss the bulbs on the prepared soil so they land in random positions.

Choose bulbs that are firm and have no signs of decay on them. Bulbs should be planted in well drained soil. The depth of the hole will depend on the type of bulb you are planting. Water the area after planting to ensure any air pockets are eliminated so the bulb is in contact with the soil.