Smart Garden

Combinations for Late Season Gardens Discover amazing plant pairings that will end the growing season with a bangFall is pure magic at Swift River Farm, a private ranch in Petersham, Massachusetts. A range of gardens including woodland, a more formal area with hedges and stonework, an alpine setting and a sweeping meadow combine to c reate this dynamic space. These different areas lend themselves to unique plant palettes and designs, but still work together as a unit. While the place sparkles during the growing season, the cool nights of autumn bring a spectacular beauty. As the foliage in beds and borders begins to change, it echoes the changing colors of the New England hills in the distance, while fall-blooming plants bloom. Looking for new and interesting additions and digging up plants and moving them around has helped create wonderful combinations that prioritize complementary and contrasting colors, textures and patterns. Fall doesn't have to be a quiet time in th...

Perennial Plants for Your Garden Keep your garden beds and borders beautiful year-round with our top 9 plant picks for multiseason interest. Create a garden with year-round beauty It's easy to create a beautiful garden in May, June and July, when many perennials are at their peak. But the rest of the year can be challenging. Should you give up and move in for the other nine months? Absolutely not! You should pick some multiseason plants! Many seasonal plants have interesting flowers, foliage and more Of course, the first thing most people notice about a plant are the flowers. This is a great starting point, but don't stop there. Many plants offer other great displays: colorful bark, excellent fall foliage, a bold overall shape, attractive structure, beautiful seed pods. Choose a variety of plants that interest you in multiple seasons, and you can easily have an impressive year-round garden even in a small space. Let's take a look at 9 plants that will add pop to...

 The best garden sprays  Do Garden Decos Really Work? Some of them do. Here are 7 of our favorites for keeping the garden pest-free. I love a garden pup as much as the next person. They're a fun way to add some personality around peas, or add cool kitsch to cucumbers. But when it comes to pest-repelling garden decoys, they aren't all that effective. In fact, I'm pretty sure the bunnies around my house are taking selfies with the gnomes. It also brings up the fact that there are different garden pests depending on where you live. If you live in a more suburban or rural area, deer, skunks, rabbits, gophers, voles and a variety of other birds may need decoys in the garden. In cities, you won't necessarily have to deal with deer or gophers, but birds are definitely a problem, and it's not unheard of for rabbits and skunks to wander into backyards and community gardens feasting on strawberries or tomatoes. However, here is the catch. While some of these creatu...

Improve Drainage in Wet Gardens Is your garden muddy? Learn the best soil combinations to drain and use water more efficiently. After a rainy season (or even overwatering), does your vegetable garden resemble the third day of Woodstock? Soil drainage may be a problem! The good news is that there are soil additives to improve drainage in wet gardens. But how do I know how well my soil drains? Time for a science experiment! A quick soil drainage test can be done by digging a pit one foot wide and one foot deep. Fill the hole with water and wait for it to drain completely. Less than 10 minutes is considered fast, and the water may run off and not penetrate your plant and vegetable roots. On the other hand, if it takes an hour or more to drain, it means that the water will sit on the roots of the vegetables for too long and cause mold and rot. In any case, soil additives should be used to improve drainage. Here are five soil additives that can help your garden use water more ef...

Vegetables to eat daily for a healthy lifestyle 1. Broccoli: Broccoli is a vegetable with very high nutritional value, it contains all the nutrients required by our body and is known as the "King of Vegetables". Broccoli is rich in isothiocyanide and vitamin C. Isothiocyanide and Vitamin C are powerful antioxidants that can scavenge free radicals in the body, ensuring our health and delaying the aging process. 2. White radish: White radish is rich in vitamin C and trace element zinc, which helps to strengthen the body's immune function and improve immunity. White radish contains lignin, which increases the vitality of macrophages and engulfs cancer cells. In addition, white radish contains various enzymes that break down carcinogenic nitrite and have anti-cancer effects. 3. Chinese Cabbage: Chinese cabbage is rich in vitamins and riboflavin. It has 5 times and 4 times more vitamin C and riboflavin than apples and pears respectively. Chinese cabbage contain...

 Air cactus chessboards  If you're looking for that coffee table centerpiece, the air cactus chessboard trend has you covered. It allows you to show off your plant collection and sense of interior design style—along with your chess skills. With the popularity of checkerboard prints, shows like The Queen's Gambit, and the now-viral visuals of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ("Not me, Hermione, you!") chess has entered mainstream pop culture. These chessboards in particular offer a fresh take on the decor trend, featuring air cactus in minimalist pots to mimic traditional chess pieces. Varying in heights, styles, and cacti varieties, plant strips aren't just a clever way to show off your greenery—they actually work. Air cactus does not mind handling and is soft to the touch, which makes the game of chess especially attractive. A few plant enthusiasts are also drawn to other options: using miniature cacti in ceramic pots allows even prickly suc...

Perennials That Can Survive Cold Winters You can take these cold-hardy perennials through a polar vortex or two and come back strong in the spring. Before freezing temperatures arrive, it's important to know which cold-weather plants are hardy enough to survive your region's winter climate. Here are some great picks for the most dependable, cold-hardy perennials that can quickly take a polar vortex or two and come back strong in the spring. Before purchasing, check that any perennial you plan to plant is hardy in your zone. 1. Showy Stonecrop Want a colorful tall plant for the back of the border? Try exotic stonecrop (Hylotelephium spectabilis) that can take hot summers and cool winters. It is a drought-tolerant perennial, so it is a good choice if your area receives little rainfall. 2. Peony Northern gardeners can count on peonies to provide a colorful spring festival. These plants are hardy enough to survive long, cold winters. Peonies are available in a wide var...

Indoor garden with succulents Imagine entering a sanctuary where vibrant succulents blend harmoniously with artistic decor, in a place that exudes natural beauty. With a little creativity and a touch of inspiration, you can turn your indoor succulent garden into a mesmerizing display of botanical art. Dive into the world of succulent decor and explore the endless possibilities that await. Begin your journey by carefully selecting containers that reflect your personal style. Terracotta pots exude a rustic charm, while elegant ceramic planters offer a modern touch. Embrace unique shapes Consider reusing vintage tea cups, mason jars, or glass terrariums for an eclectic twist. The container itself becomes a canvas for your creativity, so embrace unique shapes, colors, and textures that complement the succulents they hold. Next, create a focal point that draws the eye and evokes a sense of wonder. Choose a unique succulent with captivating colors or an unusual shape and place i...