Martinis & Marigolds | Refreshingly Simple Garden Tips

Creating a Low Maintenance Garden - Step by Step

Creating a Low Maintenance Garden - Step by Step

 

We all want to have beautiful gardens in the summer. But who wants to spend hours and hours tending plants that are high maintenance or just don't do well? Not me.

I love to garden but I also like to 'set it and forget it'. Meaning, I want to plant something and have it look great with very little maintenance.  Impossible, you say? Not really.

Read on for my secrets to a low maintenance garden.

Posted in beginner gardener, garden, garden design, garden maintenance, gardening, landscaping, new garden, planning my garden, spring gardening

What Are Those Brown Patches in My Lawn?

What Are Those Brown Patches in My Lawn?

 

If you live in an area that received snowfall this winter, you might be noticing circular brown patches like the ones in the photo as your your lawn tries to come back.

Read on to find out what is causing this and what you can do about it!

Posted in beginner gardener, landscaping, lawn, low maintenance gardening

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

Light Up Your Landscape

Light Up Your Landscape

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

Don't Forget The Foliage

Don't Forget The Foliage

As you’re planning your summer garden, don’t forget the foliage! Foliage plants are chosen for the beauty of their leaves, rather than their flowers. Some foliage plants have colorful leaves, such as coleus. Others have striking geometric patterns, like the canna lily (which also has showy flowers). Still others are selected because of their unique shape, such as cactuses or succulents.

Read on for three great ways to use foliage plants in your garden.

Posted in annuals, garden, garden design, garden planning, garden tips, gardening tips, landscaping, new garden