Gardening Simplified - Easy Gardening Tips for Real Life

Shuttin' Her Down - 5 Garden Cleanup Chores to Do This Fall

Shuttin' Her Down - 5 Garden Cleanup Chores to Do This Fall

I have a friend who is a just a hoot to be around. Every day when he is getting ready to leave work, he tells his supervisor - "Shuttin' her down boss". I keep hearing those words ringing in my ears as I look at my garden. Doing a few quick cleanup chores now can really feel good and set you up for success in the spring. 

Read on for my list of chores and helpful tips if you are going to be 'shuttin' her down' too!

Transform Your Garden Year-Round with These Stunning Shrubs

Transform Your Garden Year-Round with These Stunning Shrubs

In our effort to add really unique perennials and annuals to our gardens, we can overlook the value of shrubs. Maybe it's because they can seem a bit boring.

But shrubs can provide a great filler for larger beds and become a nice backdrop for flowering perennials and annuals. They are an important addition for curb appeal in your front yard. And, can really add to the backyard landscape if chosen for low maintenance and interesting textures and colors.

My favorite reason to grow shrubs is that they can provide multiple seasons of interest.


Read on to find 4 of my favorite shrubs that add color, texture and interest to my yard throughout the year.

Posted in beginner gardener, garden design, garden planning, landscaping, shrubs

Using Ornamental Grasses to Enhance Your Landscape

Using Ornamental Grasses to Enhance Your Landscape

Fall is definitely a great time for planting. As we decide on what to plant, most of us think of flowering perennials, trees and shrubs. But as you consider your choices, consider perennial grasses.

Read on to find out why ornamental grasses are a great addition to any landscape.

Posted in gardening, ornamental grasses, perennials

Bloom Smarter, Not Harder: How Perennials Slash Your Gardening Costs and Chores

Bloom Smarter, Not Harder: How Perennials Slash Your Gardening Costs and Chores

Fall is a great time for planting and a great time to take advantage of plant sales. By planting perennials in the fall you get a jump on spring.

Read on to find out how to get the best value for your dollar when buying and planting perennials.

Posted in flower gardening, gardening, perennials

Planting Bulbs for Spring Color

Planting Bulbs for Spring Color

Fall is a great time for gardening. Cool temperatures make for a great climate for both gardeners and new plants. While it may be tempting to put away your tools and forget about gardening until spring, fall is the perfect time to plant for spring color. And one of the most colorful spring plants that do need to be planted now are spring flowering bulbs.

Read on to find out how to plant bulbs this fall for spectacular color next spring.

Posted in bulbs, fall planting, flower gardening, tulips

Fall Projects for a Stunning Spring Garden

Fall Projects for a Stunning Spring Garden

 

Fall is a great time to prepare for spring! You see there are so many things going on in the garden in the spring, that it’s almost too much to get done. And while spring is a really inspiring time to start new things in the garden, fall is actually a better time for certain garden tasks.

Read on for details on 5 Fall Projects that you can do in the fall to make spring gardening season a lot easier. 

Posted in gardening, new garden, perennials, planting

Cozy Up Your Home: Fall Decorating with Fall Flowers, Gourds, and Pumpkins

Cozy Up Your Home: Fall Decorating with Fall Flowers, Gourds, and Pumpkins

As autumn’s crisp air settles in, it’s time to cozy up your home with vibrant mums, asters, flowering kale, quirky gourds, pumpkins, and stunning flowering kale and cabbage! 🍂🎃

Our guide shares expert tips on selecting the perfect varieties—think tight, colorful kale rosettes and firm, hollow-sounding pumpkins. Learn how to carve jack-o'-lanterns like a pro, keep your decor fresh through the season, and care for mums and kale to keep them blooming until the first frost.

Ready for a festive fall vibe? Dive into the full post for all the details!

Posted in fall decorating

20 Gorgeous Perennials to Plant This Fall for a Blooming Garden Next Spring

20 Gorgeous Perennials to Plant This Fall for a Blooming Garden Next Spring

Perennials are one of the most popular types of flowering plants, both for the beginning and experienced gardeners.  And fall is a great time to plant them.

But there are so many varieties, choosing can be overwhelming.

Read on to find out about some of the most popular varieties to plant and how to get started.

Posted in fall gardening, flower gardening, gardening, perennials

Maximize Your Herb Garden: Tips for Preserving Your Herb Harvest

Maximize Your Herb Garden: Tips for Preserving Your Herb Harvest

If you’re like me, when fall rolls around and frost is on the horizon, you hate to just throw the plants away.

And if you've grown herbs you probably have a lot of wonderful foliage on your plants. So what’s a gardener to do with all of this beautiful herb foliage?

Happily there are lots of ways to preserve your herbs for use during the cold of winter.

Read on to find out how!

Posted in herb, herb gardening, herbs

Easy Steps to Create a Stunning New Garden Bed

Easy Steps to Create a Stunning New Garden Bed

Knowing that Labor Day is just around the corner usually makes me sad. But this year I am really looking forward to cooler temperatures and planning ahead for the spring. You may have heard that fall is a good time for planting shrubs and perennials. The fall is also a great time to create a new garden bed. My method uses some very simple steps and time to create a bed that is ready for spring planting. Read on to find out how to create a new garden bed The Easy Way!

Posted in flower bed, garden, gardening

Illuminate Your Garden: Simple Outdoor Lighting Tips to Transform Your Outdoor Space

Illuminate Your Garden: Simple Outdoor Lighting Tips to Transform Your Outdoor Space

One of the best things that we’ve added to our exterior landscape was lighting. I love coming home and seeing the front of our house beautifully illuminated in a way that highlights the plantings and architecture of our house.

Read on to find out how we did it and how to get started.

Posted in garden design, landscape lighting design, landscape up lighting, landscaping, led landscape lighting, low voltage landscape lighting, outdoor landscape lighting, solar landscape lighting

Banish Garden Pests the Natural Way: Smart, Safe Solutions for a Healthy Garden

Banish Garden Pests the Natural Way: Smart, Safe Solutions for a Healthy Garden

As gardeners, we deal with lots of challenges in our gardens.

Unwanted insects in your garden are just that: unwanted. Unwanted insects may eat and destroy your vegetables and prized flowers, something both farmers and home gardeners have in common.

Organic gardening is a means of controlling unwanted insects naturally, without the use of dangerous pesticides.

Read on to find out how to control unwanted garden insects naturally that are also cheap, easy and good for the earth.

Posted in garden, gardening, insects, organic, pest control