Smart Garden

Eco-Friendly Garden I've heard the same refrain over the years: You can't have a beautiful garden that isn't environmentally friendly. Many people think that native plants are too wild-looking, and that taking a light-hearted approach to cleaning or maintaining a garden can lead to a messy, untidy landscape. I argue that everyone can take small steps to encourage more biodiversity in their place. 1. Give proper laws The move is less about being environmentally friendly and curbs the wild look that sometimes comes with natural gardens. Simple sculptures, stone paths, a two-chair seating area, and neatly pruned evergreens like the boxwood (Buxus cv., Zones 4-9) shown above are all important "care notes." Joan Nassauer. They are essential elements in letting others know that the garden's appearance is intentional and helping them embrace the unconventional "mess" of an eco-friendly garden. 2. Make your containers work harder Pots and plante...

Best New Garden Plants If you're stumped on what to grow in your shade garden, you don't have to settle for the same old hostas or impatiens. These new varieties are a great way to spice up borders that don't get much sun. Looking to add color to a shady area of your garden? Some perennial flowers thrive in areas with little sunlight and come back every year. Astilbes are easy perennials to grow and open their filamentous flowers in partial shade. They will grow even in full shade, although you won't get as many flowers. Hostas are a good choice for shady spots. Some may take more sun than others, depending on how much sunlight your garden actually gets, but most are happy in morning sun and afternoon shade. Available in green, blue, cream, yellow, gold and white, they require little care and add color to beds and borders. Remember that even plants labeled for full shade need some sun. Usually, they do best with no more than three or four hours of sun each ...

Stunning Border Garden When planting a mixed border garden, there are tons of wonderful plant varieties to choose from. The easiest (and often most economical) choices for planting in your border garden are hardy perennials and fast-growing annuals. The annuals and perennials in the following list make colorful border plants because they look great together. Additionally, they are low maintenance, have similar growing requirements and offer plenty of color throughout the growing season. They are the perfect addition to any garden design. 1. Angelonia Angelonia is also known as the "summer snapdragon," although it is not related to true snapdragons. This annual plant is drought tolerant and thrives in heat, blooming all summer long. For a cool look in a warm garden, try 'Angelmist Dark Plum' (shown here) or 'Archangel Dark Purple,' two varieties with beautiful purple flowers. Grow them in drifts of multiple plants for a more stunning effect. 2. Ast...

 10 Eye-catching Lilac Varieties  When looking for lilacs (Syringa spp.) to add to your garden, you have hundreds of varieties to choose from. To help you narrow down the list, all of these selections have eye-catching and wonderfully fragrant flowers that will scent the air in spring. 1. Angel White In addition to their powerful scent, the pure white flower clusters of 'Angel White' pink have an almost frothy appearance. This variety performs best in warm winter areas; Many lilacs don't bloom in the South, but 'Angel White' doesn't need the winter chills that other lilacs do. With a heavenly scent to match its visual appeal, this variety works well in hedges, screens or as an accent in your landscape. 2. Beauty of Moscow Pink, pearly 'Beauty of Moscow' lilac (also sold as 'Krasavitsa Moskvi') buds open into beautiful double white flowers with a strong fragrance. It is a large plant that grows almost like a tree, so 'Beauty of Mo...

 Colorful ground cover plants  Low-maintenance groundcover plants offer a simple solution for filling in bare spots under large trees, on sunny slopes and other challenging areas. In addition to adding welcome color, these plants act as living mulch, protecting the soil from erosion and drought. The following perennial groundcovers work well in a variety of situations without requiring much care. 1. Armeria A beautiful plant not seen enough in gardens, Armeria (Armeria maritima) offers low, grassy leaves and clusters of pink or white flowers in late spring and early summer. Look for 'Rubrifolia', which offers burgundy-tinged foliage for added interest. 2. Baron Strawberry Native to eastern North America, barren strawberries (Waldsteinia fragariotis) have dense, spreading strawberry-like foliage. In spring, they produce small yellow flowers, followed by inedible fruits. 3. Basket of gold Basket-gold (Aurinia saxatilis) likes to grow between paving stones, on the si...

Pollination Garden for Butterflies and Bees With these tips on how to grow a pollinator garden, welcome all kinds of beneficial wildlife to your yard — and enjoy a beautiful landscape. One of the best things about gardening is bringing beneficial wildlife into your yard, especially pollinators. Bees and butterflies may come to mind first, but many insects like moths, wasps, and beetles also help plants produce fruits and seeds by transferring pollen from flower to flower. Most of these creatures don't sting, so you don't need to worry about them when welcoming nature into your garden (if you're allergic to bites, you should be extra careful). However, no plant will attract pollinators to your yard; You should include species with nectar-rich flowers. The more you know about how to create a pollinator garden, the more you can enjoy butterflies and other attractive insects. Best plant varieties for a pollinator garden In addition to perennials and annuals, many v...

Night Blooming Plants for Magical Moon Gardens Night-blooming plants are the perfect way to enhance any garden by engaging your senses in the evening. The plants often have white flowers that reflect light from the moon and natural lights, so they are good choices for moon gardens. Many night-blooming flowers have strong fragrances and attract nocturnal pollinators. Whether you're sitting on the patio at the end of the day or entertaining guests in the evening, plants that bloom the following night can help create a magical atmosphere. 1. Flowering tobacco Blooming from June until frost, flowering tobacco (Nicotiana alata) is commonly grown as an annual in gardens and pots in northern zones. It needs afternoon shade in hot, sunny climates. The flowers are sweet-smelling at night, and the white-flowered varieties almost glow in the moonlight. 2. Evening primrose Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) is a night-blooming plant native to most of North America. It blooms bie...

Save Money at the Garden Center We've all been there: You walk up to the checkout counter at the nursery, and there's a general ballpark number in your mind—$40, $50, or $100 over your budget until check-in. How does that happen? You think you're justified in everything you put in your cart, but the credit card bill says otherwise. If you're looking to cut costs (who isn't?) or looking for a way to make shopping easier in your garden, the following tips can help. Best of all, they'll lower your landscaping bill without sacrificing the high-quality plants, potting soil, and other landscaping you love. 1. Become a Facebook friend of your nursery Many garden centers offer "reward bucks" or similar shopper rewards programs with shoppers, or they may post special coupon-type offers on their website or Facebook page. Take advantage of your retailer's generosity and make sure you sign up. There is usually no charge to do so, and the payoff is...

That Will Add Value to Your Home Even though the real estate market is booming and home prices are already at record highs, it doesn't hurt to increase the value of your property, especially if you want to list it for sale. One way to add value to your home is to invest in a well-chosen landscaping project. Choose an upgrade that will appeal to potential buyers and entice them to pay a little more to seal the deal. "When it comes to getting the best price for your home, you can't ignore the power of landscaping to increase your home's value," says Beatrice de Jong, broker and consumer trends expert at Opendoor. "First impressions are everything, and curb appeal is the first thing potential buyers notice...it signals to buyers that they can expect the same from the interior and exterior of the home." Additionally, data repeatedly shows that curb appeal goes a long way in the form of attractive landscaping. De Jong says sellers with a well-mai...