Gardening

All winter we look forward to having the chance to sit outside once again, lounging with a cool, refreshing drink in hand, surrounded by friends and family. But while each summer brings new opportunities, new memories and new experiences, one thing that stays the same are those pesky critters creeping up on us, biting us until we can’t take the itch any longer. Yep, you guessed it, we’re talking about mosquitoes. While some bug spray may hold you over for a while during your time outdoors in the summer, we have something else that can be helpful in keeping these blood-sucking pests away – plants! Here are the top 10 mosquito repelling plants that we recommend:

Marigolds

Marigolds are known to give off a rather distinct smell that mosquitoes aren’t a fan of. You can either plant new seeds or grab a potted marigold from a nursery nearby – either way, just make sure you place your marigolds in the area where you and your guests are probably going to spend most of your time.

Citronella

If you usually keep a citronella candle on your deck or patio, you know how helpful citronella can be in deterring pests. In fact, citronella is known to be one of the most commonly used ingredients in various insect repellents! Instead of a candle, this time try using an actual citronella plant to keep mosquitoes away – either plant it in the ground or place it in a pot.

Lavender

Lavender can be your biggest saving grace when it comes to keeping any type of pest out of your garden – other insects and rabbits are just a few things that tend to stay away from lavender plants in addition to mosquitoes. Although you might enjoy their smell, mosquitoes can’t stand it! For the best results in growing a lavender plant of your own, make sure it’s placed somewhere that receives full sun. Continue Reading…

For those of you who garden, you’re well aware that an annual flower bed (though very beautiful) can be a lot of work. You have to fertilize the soil, plant the seeds, nurture the flowers, only to pull them out once Old Man Winter comes knocking on your door. Then, you start the process all over again when the temperature begins to rise. That’s why even avid gardeners and plant enthusiasts have found a fondness for perennials. With summer around the corner, starter plants can be purchased for faster results!

What are Perennials and Why do we Love Them?

Contrary to popular belief, a perennial isn’t the name of a flower, but rather a term used to describe a broad range of flowers and plants that live for more than two years, while annuals only live for one growing season. Every homeowner wants a beautiful garden in front of their home, but busy schedules prevent most people from having the time to care for one. Perennials’ low maintenance and annual blooms have made them a popular choice for homes across the country.

Some of our Favorites

Black-Eyed Susan

With a black-eyed susan, you get the best of both worlds. This plant has become extremely popular over the years because while it closely resembles a sunflower, it requires almost none of the maintenance.

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Dorm rooms aren’t exactly known for their open spaces and lavish comforts. So you may be thinking to yourself, “I can barely get my bed and clothes in my room, how am I supposed to fit a garden?” But, luckily for you, we’ve got all the tips and tricks you’ll need to set up a beautiful garden right in the comfort of your new home away from home.

Why You Should Start a Garden

The benefits of having greenery in your room are surprisingly extensive. From improving your health to boosting your mood, these are just a few of the many things plants can do for you:
Increase productivity. Is your new change of scenery making it difficult to concentrate? Studies have shown that when workers can see just one plant from their desk, it makes them more creative, attentive, and productive. Continue Reading…

Although the weather is starting to cool down, that doesn’t mean you have to put an end to your gardening efforts for the year. In fact, fall is one season in particular where some gardens look their best! But, since outdoor conditions are different during this time of year, it’s important that you’re planting the right types of flowers if you want your garden to pop.

Below, take a look at some of the flowers we recommend as you work on your garden this season. Continue Reading…

Most people would probably agree that plants and flowers bloom in certain colors, because, well, they just do. And while this may be true for some plant and flower species, one in particular that you have some control over (and can even change) is hydrangeas! How so? It all has to do with your soil.

pH Levels 101

In scientific terms, a soil’s pH level refers to the acidity or alkalinity of the soil – pH is the units this reaction is measured in. pH levels are measured on a scale from 0 to 14, and soils with a pH of 7 to 0 are considered to be more acidic, while a pH of 7 to 14 labels soil as being more alkaline. Continue Reading…

There’s just something about gardening that we can’t get enough of. Maybe it’s the health benefits we reap from gardening activities, the joy that we get from spending time outdoors, or the excitement that is watching our gardens grow – no matter how we look at it, gardening is something that we’ll always love! Do you share similar feelings?

In honor of this passion of ours, today we’d like to share some of our favorite gardening quotes with you – take a look below! Continue Reading…

When most of us think about planting flowers and maintaining a garden at home, we think about doing so in either our front or backyard, perhaps along our walkway or up against our fence. However, there’s another type of garden to think about, one that is a bit more unique – a rooftop garden.

Although rooftop gardening isn’t necessarily new, it’s something we hear more about lately. If you’re hoping to get on board with this garden trend, take a look at our tips below before you get started!

Things to Consider Before Starting a Rooftop Garden

Since rooftop gardens aren’t like a traditional garden in the sense that they’re located somewhere different, there are a few things you need to consider before making any decisions; they are:

1. Are you allowed to build a rooftop garden? Depending on where you live, there may be certain rules and regulations about growing a garden on top of your home. So, before you do anything, make sure your speak with your landlord and/or research building codes for your neighborhood – there may be restrictions on things like how tall your garden can be.
2. Can your roof support a garden? Your roof is designed to support a certain amount of weight, but keep in mind that a garden can push the weight over that limit. That’s because soil is heavy to start with, and as you add water and pots (and ultimately, as your plants and flowers grow), things will start to feel even heavier.
3. Is your roof easily accessible? The time when you actually build your garden and complete your planting isn’t the only time you’ll need to access your roof – you’ll also need to be able to reach it when it comes time to do things like water. That said, you’ll need to think about the ease of accessing your plants and flowers, including whether or not it’s easy to get your garden hose up there.
4. Do you have room to store your gardening tools? You probably aren’t going to want to carry your gardening tools up to the roof each and every time you need to do some maintenance, so you’ll want to think about leaving some space for storage. If you do have the room to add things like shelves or bins, again, don’t forget to think about whether or not your roof can support the added weight.
5. Are the growing conditions ideal? If the answer to all of the above is “yes,” think about the growing conditions plants and flowers will experience on your roof – is the area shaded by trees or nearby buildings? Does it receive too much sun to the point where the heat is extreme? You wouldn’t want all of your hard work to be compromised by nature, so you’ll need to figure out if your plants and flowers could survive under the given circumstances.

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We’re all born with special skills and talents – some of us can sing, some of us can dance, some of us can draw – but that certainly doesn’t mean that we can’t learn to be good at something else as we go throughout life.

Take gardening, for example. Some of us naturally have a green thumb and are able to grow and maintain everything from flowers, to exotic plants, to fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, some of us have trouble getting just one seed to sprout!

If you’d like to take on the challenge of growing a garden but don’t have too much experience, we’re here to help – check out our top gardening tips for beginners below!

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