by Jan Cashman 5/4/08 Trends come and go in gardening, just as they do in clothing and home furnishings. This year, we are seeing lots of plants with colorful leaves of burgundy, purple, yellow, gold, and variegated combinations of white or cream and green. These plants give color to our gardens even when no flowers … Read more
by Jan Cashman April is the time to start planting shrubs. This year, consider shrubs that are not just pretty, but have edible berries. Intersperse them in your landscape as ornamentals that will also put food on the table. Although most of the berries of these fruiting shrubs are for jams and jellies, some are … Read more
by Jan Cashman Every time I open a magazine lately I see articles about “green living” or “sustainability”. What do they mean by “green”? What is “sustainability”? And what is this thing called our “ecological footprint”? I wasn’t sure so I looked them up. Simply put, “green” means “environmentally friendly”. “Sustainability” means that we don’t … Read more
by Jan Cashman To us gardeners, the term “ground cover” means a low-growing plant that spreads. Although we seldom call it that, lawn grass is the most commonly planted ground cover. Other types of ground covers besides grass can add color and texture to your planting beds. These ground covers can provide a living mulch … Read more
by Jan Cashman Outdoor living rooms are not a new idea, but creating a unique outdoor living area is one of the biggest trends in landscapes today. Homeowners want areas outside their homes to enjoy life in the great outdoors. Some of these high-end outdoor living areas contain elaborate kitchens with huge barbecue grills, refrigerators, … Read more
by Jan Cashman Landscape edging is not the most exciting topic. But whether you are landscaping a new yard, or sprucing up your old yard, you should know what options are available to separate your flower or shrub beds from your lawn. Why edge at all? Jerry and I prefer no edging material between our … Read more