As you do a visual appraisal of your garden, do you realize that as far as green is concerned your garden just doesn’t make the grade? If you are looking for more ways to green up your garden and make it more ecological, here are some worthwhile suggestions. Allow these ideas to serve as a jumping off point for some ideas of your own!

If your yard does not have many trees (including smaller shrubs and bushes), then you need to plant some more. Trees are very good for the environment and are very pleasing to the eye. Plus, when strategically placed with the landscape in mind they are suitable for every yard and garden.

Trees provide oxygen, and they also protect your home from the harshness of cold winds and the sweltering rays of the sun. This means that your heating bill in the winter will be less, as will your power bill in the summer. Trees are your outdoor heater and air conditioner! This is one way to save more on your energy bill. Trees also provide shelter for small animals and birds. When you are outside gardening on a warm day with company- your family pet- your dog or cat is likely to enjoy the shade of a beautiful tree to lie under while you do your work!

Use natural materials in your garden at every opportunity. When adding any type of feature, use materials that are kinder to the environment. Use stone timber and decorative aggregate, such as granite chippings, slate mulches, sand, etc.). These substances are a more ecologically sound choice than are cement, brick, or any kinds of metals or plastics.

Choose local products and manufacturers whenever possible. Find out from your supplier where the materials you are interested in purchasing come from. For example, when you are looking for timber it is best to buy local timber that is certified as being from a sustainable source.

Compost at every opportunity! If you build a compost pile that is made up of vegetable scraps from your kitchen, as well as grass clippings and leaves, when these material meld together and rot they will prove very nutritious for your soil. Not only that but they will help a green lawn look as lush a green as you could want!

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If you have a garden or tool shed, then it needs to be cleaned out on a regular basis. It does not matter whether you use the shed strictly for storing your supplies or other purposes, it still cannot be left dirty or full of cobwebs. You may not relish the task, but get ready to roll up the sleeves of your shirt and start cleaning!

There are still other reasons why you need to clean your garden shed regularly. Sheds can attract any number of unwanted creatures including ants, bees, mice and squirrels. These pests like dark corners and are drawn to the unfinished wood that most sheds have. Many animals like to use sheds to nest. However, once one type of pest moves in, often others will follow. For example, if mice take up residence in your shed, so will snakes and other creatures!

It is wise to clean your shed out once a week. To start, give the floor a good sweeping. Let your eyes scan the inside and outside in search of anything that shows signs  that you have been, or are about to be, infested with unwanted pests. Knock down anything you see that could invite trouble, such as old nests or clumps of leaves. Make sure to get rid of all cobwebs in the corners of the shed.

One of the best all around cleaners is vinegar. This is true for your house as much as it is for your outdoor shed. Fill a bottle with vinegar and water and use it to clean the surfaces of the shed, as well as any windows. Vinegar is not harmful if your pets decide to join you in the shed as you work. It is non-toxic and is excellent at fighting bacteria, mildew and mold. It also will get rid of any trails that ants, mosquitoes or other insects have left on the floor.

Keep the door of the shed open as you work. It also helps to open windows in order to get the air circulating. If the stale air is very heavy in the shed, then you might want to plug in a fan to improve airflow even more.

Finally, look for anything that needs to be repaired, cleaned more thoroughly or replaced.

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If you have a real tree adorning your home at Christmas time, then you know how wonderful it can be and how much it brightens up the holidays. You also know the work that goes into taking it down and disposing of it! Gone are the days when you could just haul the tree out to the road after taking all of the decorations off of it and leave it at the curb for the garbage crew to pick up.

If you are wondering what to do with you tree once it is taken down, then read on for some ways to recycle the tree in a manner that can benefit the environment.

Your tree can be used as a source of mulch. If you own a wood chipper or know someone who does, then you can turn the tree into garden mulch. Take your saw and cut the tree into pieces that are small enough to fit into the wood chipper.

If you like birds and birds like your yard, then use your tree to create a bird habitat. This will only work, however, if you have sufficient room in your backyard. After you take down your tree, double check it to guarantee that all of the decorations have been removed from it. Prop the tree up in your yard with some kind of stand. Whatever you use is up to you. Twine and stakes are one option. Once it’s up you need to get some food for the birds to enjoy. Hang bird feeders with different types of bird seed, as well as suet. You might want to add a variety of fresh fruits, as well as strings of popcorn.

Wreaths and garlands may be Christmas decorations, but they also can be ways to give your home some cheer throughout the winter months. Use the branches from your Christmas tree to create lovely wreaths and/or garland and then hang them on your doors. Your garage or shed would look more charming with one adorning it as well. To further add spice to your wreaths add some scented pine cones.

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We already have learned some of the mistakes that can cause problems for your container garden. Here we continue our look at other common no-nos that you should work hard to steer clear of!

Look for plants that are healthy and strong looking. Stay away from sickly looking plants or ones that appear to be very weak. The best place to buy healthy plants that are disease-free and pest-free is at a local nursery that has a good reputation. The knowledgeable staff at the nursery can help answer your questions about which plants are best to buy.

Price is often a consideration when buying plants for your container garden, and often nurseries charge higher prices than do department stores. If the price is right at the gardening department of a big box store, then it would be best to purchase them as close to the date on which they were delivered to the store as possible. Find out ahead of time when the delivery for new plant stock is expected to come in.

Do not be fearful of pruning your plants when they look like they could use it. If your plants are starting to look ragged or worn down, cutting them back can make it possible for them to be even healthier. Think of it as a haircut for your plants!

All of the plants in your container garden need to have certain things in common for them to live together in harmony. Check to make sure that all of your container garden plants have the same requirements when it comes to soil, sun and water. To find this out ahead of time read plant labels, seed packets and/or speak with an employee at the nursery or plant store.

Beware of starving the plants in your container garden of the proper nutrients they require. The majority of potting mixes are deficit in essential nutrients, so you will need to add extra nutrients to your soil by way of fertilizer. Be choosy in the type of fertilizer you buy for your plants. Herbs and vegetables require a different kind of fertilizer than flowering plants do, so let this figure into your decision of what type to buy.

The more you know about the needs of your container garden, the fewer mistakes you will have to worry about making!

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If you enjoy container gardening, you need to learn what not to do! Trial and error is a part of the learning experience, but you do not want your precious plants to pay the price for the mistakes you make.

The plants in your container garden need to be watered, but you do not want to drown them. If you tend to be heavy-handed when it comes to watering then purchase containers that have a large number of drainage holes. It also makes sense to read the water requirements for your plants because they will not be the same for every plant. Make sure you follow the directions!

Before you water a plant in your container garden make sure it needs it. Some plants absorb moisture more quickly than others do. Push your finger down into the soil approximately an inch deep. If the soil feels on the dry side, then it is time to add some water.

On the other hand, do not leave the planters in your container garden parched and crying out for a drink! The vast majority of container gardens need to be watered at least once daily during the summer months. If you have a small container or a hanging planter, you may need to water it more than once a day. This is because the less soil there is the less moisture can be held onto, and therefore it needs to be replenished more often.

When you do water them do not be afraid to give them a good soaking. Remember how good it felt to run through the sprinkler and get drenched on a hot day when you were a kid? Your plants love that feeling, too! If you are too stingy with the water you give them, only the top layer of soil will get wet. Continue to water until a small portion of it finds its way out of the bottom of the container.

Consider carefully the plant to pot ratio of your garden. In other words, the planters you choose should be in proportion to the size of container you buy. Chose at least one (or even two) plants that are as tall as the container they will be planted in. Also choose a few plants that will spill over the sides and give the container more character.

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Winter yard work must be done whether you look forward to it or (*groan*) do not. As long as there is no snow on the ground, the middle or end of winter is an excellent time to do some of landscaping and yard work.

Renovate Your Lawn

Start with a lawn renovation. Give the ground a good raking in order to expose the soil, so you provide new seeds with the opportunity to do what they need to- germinate. You then should level your lawn. Do this by covering the lowest spots with new soil. If specific areas of the lawn need patching, do this now. This is also a good time to add fertilizer to the ground to help the seeds grow. The ground is wetter in the wintertime, which will provide the adequate amount of water to the seeds.

Prune Your Trees

This is an excellent time of year to prune both your trees as well as your rose bushes. To ensure the proper growth of both, pruning must take place before your trees begin to bud. You also need to get your shears out and do away with any overgrown or dead bushes. Always trim your trees that don’t bear fruit before they start to show signs of life again.

A professional pruning job done by yourself or an individual qualified in this area consists of removing any branches that cross over each other and tidying up your trees from the inside out.  Branches need to be thinned out so when the fruit begins to grow it will not make them so overburdened that they break.

Dormant oil needs to be sprayed on your fruit trees approximately three times a year. Do so around the Thanksgiving holiday, around the Christmas holiday and shortly after pruning. Dormant oil is a kind of horticultural spray that is used to kill many pests in your garden, such as aphids, whiteflies, scales and other types of harmful mites.

Other

Winter is a good season to clean your flower beds and ready them for spring. Get rid of any fallen leaves or any debris that can lead to the growth of fungus or molds. Always plant your roses and your bare-root trees before spring starts. Winter is often the best time of year to buy trees at a low price.

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Your backyard looks exactly the way you want it as far as landscaping goes. You are very pleased with the care, effort and time that you have put into it, but it is still not complete. What is missing is a garden shed where you can store all of your outdoor supplies and the like.

When it comes to buying a garden shed for your backyard the most important elements to getting it right are good organization and an appropriate design. Always plan on a long-term basis as opposed to a short-term one. Figure out where the best location for your shed is on your property, how much space you will need,and how to keep it as clean and tidy as possible. As well, ask yourself how many more items will you accumulate in the next two to five years?

If you plan to use your garden shed for more than just storing gardening supplies, then you are better off with a medium to large sized shed. For example, you might want to use your shed to do carpentry or crafts. If you plan to store electrical tools in the shed, your lawnmower or a flammable substance, then a bigger shed is definitely the best choice for your yard.

On the other hand, medium to smaller sheds tend to be cheaper to buy or build. If you do not have a great deal of gardening tools or if your tools are all on the small side, then you are better off with a shed on the smaller size. If you have a knack for organizing, then you will be able to store your Christmas decorations and other miscellaneous items in the shed!

Paying attention to the appearance of your garden shed is important. You want it to look appealing enough that you will want to spend time in it. Consider putting in appropriate shelving unit(s) that will accommodate all of your needs. You also might want to paint it a color that is cheerful and makes you feel happy.

If you decide to erect a wooden backyard shed, then you will need to winterize it by adding weather stripping, replacing shingles and caulking any obvious leaks. Only then will you be ready to enjoy your shed!

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As the coldness and darkness of winter descends, it is important to remember all of the animals and birds in the forest who struggle with the many challenges of the season. They do not have the advantages of warm homes and ample food supplies as we do.

Perhaps you look out the window into your backyard and see two birds scrounging for morsels of food or a deer walking through your yard during the dead season of the year. Is your yard  ready to be kind to these creatures when they wander through looking for food or shelter?

In order to make your outdoors a sanctuary for wildlife during the winter months, read on for some things that you can do to help.

Make sure your birdfeeders are kept as full as possible and also make sure you sprinkle some birdseed on the ground. There are still plenty of birds that will come in the wintertime looking to see what nourishing seeds you have to offer. Having some seeds on the ground is good because this will feed the squirrels and also the birds that are not as inclined to inspect the feeders. These include sparrows, towhees and juncos.

Deer, squirrels, birds and other critters that may venture into your yard come looking for winter treats to please them. Delight these animals by offering treats in your yard. Take dried corn cobs and lay them about your yard. Put a plentiful amount of peanut butter on pine cones, and hang some up and place others in strategic spots throughout your yard. It also helps to have suet in your yard. Woodpeckers really like this tasty snack, as do squirrels.

Birds and wildlife need to drink plenty of water just as people do. For this reason, place hot water in all of your birdbaths in order to get rid of the frozen water. Whenever water freezes again do the same thing. Having a source of water to drink, bathe and play in will make the birds happy and will suit other animals as well.

Do your part to take care of the precious creatures from the forests!

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If your yard has started to look drab because the color has drained away now that fall has set in, then don’t despair- there are things you can do to give your yard the panache it needs to look happy and alive!

Summer is the time for blooming flowers while fall brings multicolored leaves and then dullness, darkness and soon after … snow. What many people do not realize is that fall is an excellent time of year to plant while winter provides the opportunity to transplant trees and shrubs. Let’s look at some of the best options for fall plantings.

Brighten your yard with a yellow flowering evergreen shrub called Euryops pectinatus. This uplifting shrub will delight your yard by blooming all throughout the year. It is not deterred by the chilly temperatures of winter. Plant it in a spot where it will get plenty of sunlight, and give it ample room to grow. It needs an estimated three to four feet to spread, but oh, how this plant will make you smile!

The Cercis occidentalis (Western Redbud) is a lovely tree that also can put a smile on your face all year! It is a small tree that changes color to coordinate with the seasons. In the spring time it yields magenta flowers, which give way to blue-green flowers in summer that retain their magenta seed pods from the spring. When the fall rolls around, the tree becomes a beautiful red or light yellow color that suits the season to a tee. When it is time to welcome winter the branches of the trees are bare but are still beautiful to behold. This tree should be planted in a dry area of your yard but needs to be watered often for the first two years of its life.

If you are looking for ground cover to give your yard a boost, look no further than Scaevola (Mauve Clusters or Blue Fan Flower). This cover yields small evergreen leaves that produce a collection of tiny purple flowers that last from January to November. If you want hollies to decorate your home for the Christmas season, then having this plant around is very wise and makes you holiday savvy! The evergreen leaves are a beautiful color, and the berries that come from them can adorn many areas of your home.

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A greenhouse is ideal if you wish to grow a large amount of flowers or a large amount of vegetables. If you wish to plant only a few, then there are plenty of planters that would do just fine for your purposes. However, there are some plants that make having a greenhouse a necessity. If you decide to build a greenhouse in your yard, you need to learn about the dos of making this happen.

Do (if at all possible) build your greenhouse in such a way that it leans up against one of the walls of your home. In this way it will come to look like an extension of your home. If this is not something you can do, then build it where it will not look like a conspicuous structure.

Do choose a design that is as simple and as unpretentious as possible. Excellent choices are patterns that are a three quarter span or a lean-to design. Brace it against a wall (as previously mentioned) or a fence. Stay away from elaborate high-pitched, ridge-roofed structures that look more like doll houses because they will add an element of ridiculousness to the greenhouse. Go for a basic design with no frills.

Do paint the woodwork on the outside of the greenhouse a light and subtle shade of green. It is all about green, so let that be reflected by your choice of paint.

Do consider the shape and size of the yard you have to work with, as well as your outdoor garden. Be proud of your greenhouse by giving it a place of prominence in your yard, but do not let it overwhelm the rest of the surroundings. It should fit in with your yard but not stand out like a sore thumb. Good taste is the name of the greenhouse game.

Do choose good quality material to build your greenhouse. Plastic is a good choice. Glass is even better, albeit a more expensive choice. If you choose low quality materials for the structure of your greenhouse, you will have to deal with decay, malfunctioning parts and the potential for leaks much sooner than if you had chosen a more suitable material.

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