I recently spoke to one of my neighbors who for the last two years have let his garden area go. I found out that he had hurt his back and was having trouble so much pain bending over that planting, weeding and harvesting was not something he could easily do anymore. As we talked I asked him about another small raised bed in his front yard that he continued to use to raise tomatoes and basil and he told me it was high enough that he could reach it and tend to it as needed.

I went home that night thinking about what could be done to help my neighbor continue to garden without pain and got an idea that I spoke to him about the next day. He was very excited!

His garden was 20 feet x 16 feet and located on a slope. He had used timbers to create a boundary around the space and had small areas portioned off to plant flowers around the garden. We went in and took the timbers out and created 2 raised beds that stand about 3 feet off the ground and run horizontal to the slope and are 16 feet by 4 feet. We were able to reuse almost all of the timber so there was little out of pocket cost and the dirt from the garden was used to fill the raised beds.

I was actually shocked that we were able to do everything with the dirt that was in the garden. The hardest part was pulling up the weeds and grass that had taken over but once that was done it was just a matter of good old fashioned shoveling. We took strawberries that had gone crazy in the old garden space and replanted them in one raised bed to create a strawberry patch. The other has an array of plants including more tomatoes, sweet potatoes and peppers of several varieties.

We used some trellises from the old garden as well so the tomatoes will grow up them and leave room for everything else to grow. I see my neighbor almost everyday out watering and weeding and he is extremely thankful that a solution was reached so he could go back and garden the way he loves to.

When faced with a challenge, use your imagination and see if you too can find a new solution to an old problem.

Humans tend to hibernate during the winter, because the weather is frigid and snow and ice make it difficult to get around. However, if you’re feeling stir crazy, explore your creativity and try some fun and easy winter crafts.

There is no shortage of pinecones available in the winter. Gather pinecones around your yard and fill a bowl with them for display. You can also string them together to create garland, or even paint them for a unique look. Other items that can be gathered for the same purpose are acorns and walnuts. If you notice a lot of extra pine tree trimmings, gather them together and create a beautiful centerpiece, or string them together for a winter wreath. Add to the centerpiece with scrap wood, and create a wreath with cranberries and smaller pinecones. Create your own birdseed from various seeds and nuts and enjoy feeding the birds in your own backyard. The weather outside may be frightful, but you can stay entertained while enjoying a bit of nature with these and other great nature crafts for winter.

Yard work is an essential part of spring and summer, and you must also prepare your yard during fall for the winter season. Just because your grass isn’t growing during the winter, there are things you can do to maintain yard throughout the cold, winter months.

If you live in an area that doesn’t get a lot of snow, or any snow at all, rake the leaves out of your yard periodically to keep it looking beautiful all year long, and to eliminate a heavy workload when spring finally arrives. If you have pets that go to the bathroom outdoors, be sure to keep your yard free of waste, and remove the waste regularly so your yard isn’t damaged. If you get a lot of snow throughout the winter, there isn’t as much you can do in the way of periodic maintenance, but it’s important to keep your yard free of pet waste to protect the grass and eliminate harmful bacteria. In general, a little bit of maintenance throughout the winter can save you an abundance of work in the spring.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that you can’t know everything. That is the conclusion I come to every year as I start to clean up and trim back trees, shrubs, vines and plants for the winter because every year I have new questions. I have tried to find answers on the internet but you get a lot of conflicting answers because we all live in such varied areas. What works in Texas doesn’t make since in Tennessee and so on and so forth. That’s why I turn to my friends at Teacup Gardener.

They are always open to design and consultation for gardens and landscape and I have yet to get bad advice. Of course they are local to the Nashville, Tennessee area where I live and have been in business here for over twenty years. This gives them the experience I can trust in and the staying power I need every year I go back to them for advice and help. It is rare to h=work with a company that you can consult with and do the work yourself or work with in any capacity. They realize that some people love to do what they can and when they can’t Teacup Gardener takes it from there. I also love that they are such believers in saving the earth through conservation and care. They just do it right.

Not everyone has the money to spend on getting laborers out in the yard to dig, tear out, rebuild and modify the landscaping, flowerbeds and patio areas even though most of us would love to do that.  The truth is that, right now, many families are hurting for money and do not need to go into anymore debt.  For those families there are alternatives that can get you through until you can do some of the major things to your yard.

Many people want a pool.  This may sound lame but get a small baby pool so the kids can play in and around it and you have a place to soak your tired feet and sip a beer or glass of wine in the evening.  Make some planters out of things around the house that you don’t need anymore.  For example; five gallon bucket make great patio tomato planters or you can turn an old fishing tackle box into a delightful planter of petunias!  This is a great way to be creative without feeling like you have to spend a lot of money or get left out this year on having a beautiful garden.

There are so many wonderful things to choose from that can enhance the experience in your yard and garden.  They range from some incredible large features like pergolas and arbors to the wonderful variety of garden benches and outdoor furniture that allow you to create delightful organic areas in and around your patio and yard.  It’s just so much fun!

Add to that the small touches you can add from garden gnomes, gazing balls and shepherd hooks that allow you to hang all of your favorite plants to outdoor lighting options that both amaze and amuse you.  There is just nothing you cannot do these days to make your yard and garden the perfect outdoor living space for you and your family.  Get started and have a great time doing it!

An arbor can be a great addition to any yard as they can even provide an excellent entry point to your yard or garden.  By positioning your arbor as a welcoming arch into your home, your guests will feel special as they enter under your beautiful archway.  This really sets the tone for your entire yard and your home.  You know that old saying, “You only have one chance to make a good impression”?  With a beautiful arbor, you definitely will!

Arbors add a touch of elegance and extravagance to your outdoor space that no other outdoor structures can.  They say welcome to all who enter here.  A great arbor can also change the whole perception of not only your yard but also of your home.  A good perception of your home translates to a good perception of you.

Give everyone who enters the wonderful experience of a welcoming yard.  You might be surprised at the difference something as simple as an arbor can make in your life.  Opening up your heart to those who enter your home is always a good thing. 

So you think that you have the perfect yard?  You know the one that would win first prize in any contest and is the envy of your neighbors.  Are your grass and flowers finely manicured where there is not even the hint of a weed anywhere on the premises?  It looks great, doesn’t?  Yes your yard is finely manicured, free of weeds and is the most stunning on the block!  Or is it?  Do you think something is missing?  It’s just not perfect yet and you just can’t seem to figure out why!  Then it hits you, that something is an outdoor structure to bring out the splendor that is your yard.  That structure could very well be a pergola.

A pergola can make your yard picture perfect; a truly extraordinary yard.  Pergolas add character and depth to any yard and make an otherwise dull landscape into something that is intriguing and inviting.  A pergola can transform your perfect, sterile looking yard into a place that draws you in and calls out to you and your friends.  The ordinary becomes the extraordinary.