One of the best things about growing your own melons, is that you can pick them at the peak of flavor, when the sugars are most concentrated. Unlike many other types of fruit, melons get softer once they have been picked, but they do not get any sweeter. The trick to harvesting melons is […]
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Gardening
When can I put my tomato plants outside?
Wait until the danger of frost has passed and the weather has settled. Use the last average frost date in your area as a guide. For example, in Burlington, VT, the average last frost date is mid May. So, we traditionally set out our tomato transplants around Memorial Day. About a week before transplanting […]
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When is it Warm Enough to Plant?
If you want to get your vegetable garden off to a fast start, you need to plant your seeds in soil that’s warm enough to ensure good germination. For each type of seed — beans, carrots, lettuce — there is a range of temperatures at which that particular type of seed will germinate (see […]
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Shop wisely
Secrets to Landscape Success Landscaping — labor, plants and materials — may be much more expensive than you think. Do some comparison-shopping at local #Garden centers, and check prices at online Nurseries, too. Create a budget and a priority list if you’re not able to afford everything at once.
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Think way ahead
Secrets to Landscape Success It’s sunny now, but will it be in a few years? Once the trellis is built, the Garden shed goes up and the trees get big, will you still have sunshine where you want it? That sunny #Wildflower patch you envision by the fence won’t work if you plant trees […]
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Gravel entry
Gravel’s earthy texture, its give underfoot, and its crunchy sound are the reasons why this oldest of #hardscapes will always be perceived as the softest of paving materials. This gravel entry is a clean casual foil for plant textures and colors. Japanese silver grass billows over the basalt wall at right beside climbing hydrangea. […]
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Striking steps
terraced stone steps in a mix-and-match pattern creates a strong focal point, while “character” plants create visual interest on both sides of the path. Rusty-hued Carex testacea softens the front path, while green kniphofia, plum Heuchera Obsidian, Libertia peregrinans Bronze Sword, and euphorbia surround the Karl Foerster grass. Across the path, drifts of Picea […]
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Around the Bend
Pretty plants supply a boundary for a walkway. A relaxing garden bench under a sheltered pergola supplies a scenic resting spot. Plant a dramatic tree to give height to a bed planted mostly with flowers. A Japanese maple, for instance, offers both color and seasonal foliage. Annuals, such as lavender and fuchsia petunias, fill […]
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Charming Curves
Undulating borders contain beautiful blooms. Mulch is an essential; it keeps weeds down and conserves moisture. Here, it also provides a tidy element between plants. Use geometry to contrast or complement; here, the flower bed’s curving borders repeat in the gentle edging of lawn. Plants chosen in mostly similar hues — lavender, light purple, […]
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Work With the Natural Setting
Make the most of your outdoor space by working with the surroundings. The lines of this garden and structures are geometric closer to the house and become wavy and organic as the cultivated areas blend into the natural forest.
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