Vertical gardening has been around for years, but has recently become widely popular among environmental and gardening circles. Essentially, the concept is to use creative design to grow plants upward, instead of horizontally. This is crucial for growing plants in small spaces, including tiny yards and apartments in urban areas.
The easiest way to accomplish vertical gardening is by using wall space to make "living walls." There are many planters on the market for this project, but I recommend looking into two.
The first is a product called "Woolly Pockets." These are large cloth pockets made with a patented design out of recycled
Archives for July 2011
Lavender Has it All
by Heather Duchan July 26th, 2011 | Flowers
As far as flowers are concerned, lavender has it going on. This perennial plant blooms attractive, fragrant flowers ranging from white to blue to purple. It fits into a number of landscapes, and it is useful for crafts, cooking, cake decorations, aromatherapy, and alternative medicine. Best of all, lavender will survive a ton of rough conditions, even summer droughts.
If you live in zones 5-8, growing any variety of lavender is pretty easy, as long as it stays in full sun and keeps relatively dry. Cultivate this plant in arid and well-drained soils, surrounded with a dry mulch, such as gravel
If you live in zones 5-8, growing any variety of lavender is pretty easy, as long as it stays in full sun and keeps relatively dry. Cultivate this plant in arid and well-drained soils, surrounded with a dry mulch, such as gravel
Leaving the Lawn Behind
by Dennis Mayer July 25th, 2011 | Lawn & Yard Care
If you live anywhere that was affected by the week-long heat wave that just broke, you might just find yourself staring out the window at a brown, withered lawn. Grass looks great, and it's fun to run around on in a well-manicured yard, but is it worth the hassle? Is it even "green" to pump hundreds of gallons (at least) of water through your sprinklers, just to keep your yard lush and green?
If you're not sure, consider these easier-to-maintain alternatives, which will still leave your yard looking well-maintained:
If you're not sure, consider these easier-to-maintain alternatives, which will still leave your yard looking well-maintained:
- Mulch: If you've got a smaller yard, or a side yard, mulch
Growing Lilies
by Anna P. July 22nd, 2011 | Flowers
The lily is a flowering plant from the Lilium species. There are about 110 sub-species, all of which are considered true lilies, but did you know that not all flowers with the word "lily" in them are true lilies? Most types of this flower are characterized by their narrow trumpet-shape flower head and long stems. There is no denying the elegance and beauty of a lily, which makes them a popular choice of flower. Read on to find out about how to grow these types of flowers.
1- Choose Your Ideal Type of Lily
The first step to growing your own
1- Choose Your Ideal Type of Lily
The first step to growing your own
Ways to Conserve Water in Your Garden
by Heather Duchan July 19th, 2011 | Vegetables
July and August bring plenty of hot, dry days, leading to water loss in the vegetable garden. Using more water not only adds digits to your water bill, it has other consequences, including polluting ground water. During droughts in certain regions of the United States, irrigation bans and restrictions also come into play, making water conservation even more important.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to save water and still grow a bountiful vegetable harvest.
1. Keep a close eye on your garden as you water, making sure not to water too much. Not only is watering
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to save water and still grow a bountiful vegetable harvest.
1. Keep a close eye on your garden as you water, making sure not to water too much. Not only is watering