The next time you’re at the nursery, or browsing for seeds online, be sure to check out where you are on the USDA Hardiness Zone Map, which divides North America into 11 separate zones. Each zone is 10°F warmer (or colder) in an average winter than the adjacent zone. When you see a “hardiness zone” in [...]

Right now, as I look out onto my front patio, I can see a squirrel sitting on top of my box planter, which is a permanent patio fixture, and happily chewing on something from the cache that he stashed there in the fall. It isn’t a big deal, at least right now since the planter [...]

If you have ever read any of my articles involving activities with my children, you will probably be aware that I am a huge fan of backyard science.  I love all the things that you can find in a backyard and there are a thousand and one things that you can find in a yard.  [...]

There are many different types of fertilizers on the market and it can be a little expensive to purchase the various blends that are available.  Not only that but it can be a little daunting to figure out what the best fertilizer is. To save your nerves and to create your own wonderful blend of [...]

I’m not sure about you, but I live in a place where snow in winter is not an uncommon thing. In fact it is so common that backyard ice rinks are common and so are winter tires and antifreeze.  For a few months of the year, my little piece of earth can safely be called [...]

Every year, as I stumble to the cash register under a dozen plants, I often forget to grab the fertilizer that I prefer to use.  I mean, there are a hundred and one different things that I like to buy for my garden every year and I tend to forget about purchasing anything else, except [...]

Do you want gorgeous, giant blooms with lots of “boom color” right up until fall’s first frost? Would you like bold blossoms of color cascading from hanging baskets, decorating garden beds and sizzling around a trellis? This season you can have it all by planting your own “show-stopper” right in your own backyard with Sun [...]

You may be wondering what I am doing writing about Christmas trees in January but the fact is, this is actually a perfect time to discuss Christmas trees, or more specifically, what you can do with your Christmas Trees.  Every year, after Christmas and New Years has come and gone, most people will pull off [...]

Don’t let fall stop you from maintaining a green garden. The following top ten environmentally friendly tips from The Home Depot will get your lawn and garden geared up for fall and help repair summer damage. 1. To prevent disease on your lawn rake up fallen leaves and make your own compost. 2. Seeding your [...]