Want your home to feel like a warm welcome before guests even knock? A few well-placed flower pots on the front porch can work magic—instantly boosting curb appeal and turning your entrance into a cheerful, colorful oasis. A beautiful flower pot can turn an ordinary front porch into something you’ll enjoy coming home to. It’s…
Without a doubt, weeding is one of the worst parts of gardening. You’ve worked hard to get your plants in place and are looking forward to the rewards, only for invasive weeds to strangle your efforts. While weeding can be satisfying, there’s no denying it’s hard work. If only there were plants that could do…
Periwinkle, also known as Vinca major, makes a beautiful ground cover that doesn’t require much attention. That’s until it takes over your entire yard (and probably the neighbor’s). If you find your yard overtaken by these pretty purple flowers, you’ll be glad to learn how to get rid of periwinkle. What does Perwinkle (Vinca major)…
Because all types of squash belong to the same family, the best companion plants for winter squash and the best companion plants for zucchini and summer squash are the same. Looking for the best companion plants for pumpkins? They’re squash too! The main consideration to keep in mind is that, typically, zucchini and other summer…
There’s something really special about growing sage in your garden. This Mediterranean herb (Salvia officinalis) has silvery-green leaves and purple-blue flowers that look beautiful in any garden. Sage, which grows wild on the mountain slopes of southern Europe, once had an important place as a medicinal herb. In the Middle Ages, it could be found…
Trees are beneficial in every landscape. They freshen the air. They provide shade and protect the soil. They do double duty as a home for wildlife, and they can provide a palette of colors that bring the rest of your backyard oasis together, especially if they bloom in purple, violet, lilac, or lavender colors. Below…
Invasive plants wreak havoc on local ecosystems, outcompeting native plants that feed and shelter wildlife. But they’re not just found in wild spaces, and they cause problems for humans, too, in everything from agriculture to recreation. Many invasive plants were introduced as ornamentals before escaping cultivation, and some can still be found in our backyard…
Many invasive plants began as garden plants and escaped cultivation to wreak havoc on native ecosystems. Put into numbers, 21 species officially designated as noxious weeds in the state of Oregon cost around $125 million per year in control, fire damage, and production losses, according to a 2009 study — and the amount is probably…
English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a deliciously fragrant purple perennial that needs to be in every garden. To make planting a few in your garden easy, here’s how to care for English lavender: it’s easier than you think. This plant is a favorite of gardeners and flower lovers all over the world – and for…