New Houseplants Before You Display Them Beautiful gardens aren’t just for the outdoors. You can create a lush garden inside your home by adding the right houseplants. Houseplants are a great way to bring a peaceful, natural feel indoors. Whether you have one plant or a bunch of them, it’s important to care for them properly. The right soil, the right amount of water, and the right light and temperature will vary depending on the type of plant. But there’s one task you can do for any houseplant you bring home: clean it. Give your new houseplant a gentle rinse with plain, warm water. Larger plants can be placed under a shower head for this task, while smaller plants can fit in the sink, where a hose sprayer can be helpful. After rinsing, wipe the broad leaves with a soft cloth or paper towel. This treatment will remove any dust or residue from hard water, fertilizers, or pesticides used by the previous grower or nursery. It can also kill hidden pests that you don’t want to s...
Perennials with Staying Power There’s a bewildering selection to choose from online and at garden centers, so how do you choose the right ones for your garden? One way to choose perennials is to choose perennials: This means they’re reliable, or have long-lasting blooms or foliage that makes an impact all year round. This is especially important in a small space where every plant needs to add value. This is especially useful if you’re planting in containers. Combine a small evergreen shrub, a trailing plant like ivy, and a long-blooming perennial for a mix that will look good for months. Change Up Your Garden This time of year, it’s exciting to think about plants that will change up your garden over the summer. Instead of choosing plants that look good for a month and then reusing them, choose hardy perennials like geraniums, salvias, or penstemons, which are not only low-maintenance but also bloom for months, often in early fall. This will save you time and money. Ot...