Designing a garden fence requires more than selecting an attractive material. The fence must support the garden’s layout, protect plantings, manage access, and withstand environmental conditions. A properly selected fence style improves usability, defines garden structure, and integrates visually with surrounding landscape elements.

Below are the technical factors that should guide the fence selection process.

Define the Functional Requirements

Before choosing a fence style, determine the primary purpose of the barrier. Garden fences perform different roles, and each function requires a different structural design.

Common garden fence purposes include:

• Security: Prevents unauthorized access using taller panels, minimal spacing, and reinforced gates.
• Privacy: Uses solid panels or closely spaced boards to block visibility and reduce noise.
• Decorative boundary: Defines the garden area while maintaining open views.
• Plant protection: Prevents entry by animals such as rabbits, deer, or pets.
  
  

For example, vegetable gardens typically require fences 4–6 feet high with narrow openings or mesh backing to block small animals. Decorative flower gardens may prioritize visibility, using spaced pickets or open metal rails.

Defining the primary function ensures the fence design supports the garden’s operational needs rather than simply serving as decoration.

Evaluate Material Performance

Fence materials determine durability, maintenance requirements, and environmental resistance. The most common materials used in garden fencing include wood, vinyl, and metal.

Wood Fencing

Wood remains a popular option because it integrates naturally with landscaping and can be customized easily.
Advantages include:

• Natural appearance that blends with vegetation
• Easy modification for custom layouts
• Wide range of styles including picket, lattice, and board fencing
  
  

Common structural woods include cedar and pressure-treated pine, both selected for improved resistance to insects and moisture. However, wood requires regular sealing or staining to prevent deterioration.

Vinyl Fencing

Vinyl fencing provides long-term durability with minimal upkeep.

Key benefits include:

• Resistance to moisture, insects, and UV damage
• Consistent color that does not require repainting
• Smooth surfaces that resist rot and cracking
  
  

The primary limitation of vinyl is reduced flexibility for structural modifications once installed.

Metal Fencing

Metal fences—especially aluminum and steel—offer strong structural integrity while maintaining open visibility.

• Aluminum: Lightweight, corrosion resistant, and low maintenance
• Steel: Stronger than aluminum but requires protective coatings to prevent rust
  
  

In humid coastal climates such as Florida, corrosion resistance is a critical factor. Working with experienced professionals such as fence companies Jacksonville FL helps ensure the chosen materials are appropriate for regional environmental conditions.

Match Fence Style to Garden Architecture

Fence design should complement both the garden layout and surrounding architecture. A mismatched fence can visually disrupt the landscape.

Common style pairings include:

• Picket fences – ideal for cottage gardens and traditional homes
• Horizontal slat fences – suited for modern landscapes with clean geometric lines
• Aluminum ornamental fencing – commonly used in formal gardens that prioritize symmetry and visibility
• Split rail fencing – fits rustic or naturalistic garden environments
  
  

The goal is visual continuity. The fence should reinforce the design language of the property rather than compete with other landscape elements.

Consider Fence Height and Spacing

Fence dimensions directly affect how well the structure performs its intended role.
Typical height ranges include:

1. L ow decorative fences (2–3 feet)

• Used to define garden boundaries
• Maintains clear visibility across planting beds

2.  Medium-height garden fences (4–5 feet)

• Provides moderate protection against pets or small wildlife
• Maintains airflow and sightlines

3.  Tall protective fences (6 feet or higher)

• Used for privacy or deer control
• Provides strong enclosure of garden areas
  
  

Spacing between pickets or rails also affects performance:

• Narrow spacing: Prevents entry by smaller animals
• Wide spacing: Improves airflow and visibility but reduces containment
  
  

In some designs, welded wire mesh can be added behind decorative fencing to prevent pests without altering the outward appearance.

Account for Soil and Installation Conditions

Fence stability depends heavily on proper installation and soil conditions. Poor installation can lead to leaning posts, structural stress, and early failure.
Critical installation factors include:

• Post depth: Posts should be buried at least one-third of their total height.
• Post spacing: Standard spacing ranges between 6–8 feet for structural stability.
• Concrete footings: Used to anchor posts securely in loose soil.
• Drainage management: Gravel backfill or grading prevents water accumulation near posts.
  
  

In sandy or loose soil conditions, deeper post installation may be required to prevent shifting over time.

Integrate Gates and Access Points

Gates play a critical role in garden usability but are often overlooked during fence planning.
Important design considerations include:

• Standard gate width: 36–48 inches to accommodate wheelbarrows and tools
• Placement: Should align with primary garden pathways
• Hardware: Use corrosion-resistant hinges and secure latches designed for outdoor exposure
  
  

Larger gardens may benefit from multiple gates to reduce travel distance between work areas.

Plan for Long-Term Maintenance

Maintenance requirements vary significantly depending on the fence material used.
Typical maintenance tasks include:

• Wood fencing
  • Periodic sealing or staining
  • Inspection for rot or insect damage
• Vinyl fencing
  • Occasional cleaning with water or mild detergent
• Metal fencing
  • Inspection of fasteners and protective coatings
    
    

Regular inspections help detect issues such as loose posts, panel damage, or hardware wear before they become structural problems.

A well-designed garden fence balances structural performance, environmental durability, and aesthetic compatibility with the landscape. By evaluating function, materials, fence style, installation requirements, and long-term maintenance, homeowners can create a fence that improves both the protection and visual appeal of their garden.

Nothing beats picking a fully-ripened tomato from your garden and popping it into your mouth — talk about tasty and fresh! But if your garden isn’t thriving as it should, one reason may be the way it’s planted. “Happy” gardens depend on plant selection, climate, soil pH, moisture, and direct sunlight.

But even garden failures can teach us what not to do during the growing season.

Companion Planting
Planting flowers, fruits, and vegetables in a garden or greenery bed is not something to do randomly. Companion planting pairs vegetables, herbs, flowers, and other plants with varieties that won’t pull nutrients away — helping them all to thrive in their environment.

Basic garden vegetables, flowers, herbs, and fruits that grow well together include the following:
●      Beans — corn, sunflowers, rosemary, nasturtium.
●      Broccoli — cabbage, dill, marigolds, sage, oregano, thyme.
●      Corn — peas, potatoes, beans, dill, squash, sunflowers.
●      Cucumbers — corn, peas, beans, radish, sunflowers.
●      Lettuce — onions, garlic, strawberries, chives.
●      Peppers — carrots, onions, oregano, basil.
●      Tomatoes — peppers, onions, parsley, celery, carrots.

Planting the wrong kinds of fruits and veggies together can have them competing for food. Choosing like-varieties will help gardens to thrive in spring.

Climate Change?
Climate change – is it real? That depends on who you ask, but in any case, learning more about this concept might be helpful. Climate change is defined as “a long-term shift in the Earth’s average temperatures and weather conditions,” according to Pennsylvania State University (PSU) Extension. 
 
PSU’s research claims droughts, extreme rainfall, warmer temperatures, and changing ecosystems are the result of climate change. What climate change means to the home gardener remains to be seen. But while warmer winter temperatures may prompt us to start our gardens earlier in spring, mid to late frosts are always possible.  Saving plants after a freeze is hit or miss.

Soil Luv
Soil matters. Vegetables, flowers, herbs, and shrubbery have different nutritional needs.

Gardens may fail if the ground soil is overly acidic or “blandly” alkaline. Soil pH is a scale where 7.0 is neutral — below that is acidic.  Above 7.0 is alkaline. Ideally, the soil in your garden should range anywhere from 6.8 to 7.2. Testing at least once every 3 years is recommended. (Testing kits are available at your local garden or hardware store).

Amending soil’s pH depends on the dirt itself.  Adding limestone to acidic soil provides magnesium and calcium as it neutralizes the “spiciness.”  Sulfur lowers soil pH. The amount of sulfur or limestone to use depends on whether soil is mostly made up of sand, clay, silt, organic matter, or something else. Water, oxygen, and temperature play a part, too. And changing soil pH is a long-term battle.

Nurturing soil with the right nutrients will help the garden thrive.

Sunlight
Let there be light ... it’s a basic and necessary element for growing (almost) everything. Gardens and greenery need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. If your property has large shade trees (like oaks, pines, and maples), their canopies can spread over the bed, blocking out the sunshine.

Move the garden to another part of the yard if it is affected by landscaping. (It’s easier to dig a new plot than to tear out the trees).

Planting Mistakes
​When planting your garden, here are a few things NOT to do.

1. Don’t ignore the soil. Soil preparation, testing, improvements and amendments, structure, and supplying natural nutrients are imperative for garden health. Microorganisms provide the environment for plant food. Soil’s actual structure lets the dirt absorb or drain water.
2. Don’t place plants too close together. They need room for roots to spread, foliage to grow without covering nearby plants, and not fight each other for sunlight and water. Thin out the herd when plants start overcrowding each other.  
3. Don’t use the wrong kind of pesticides (or ignore package directions). Timing is everything when it comes to killing bugs. Spraying to interrupt insects’ life cycles helps to stop infestations.
4. Don’t use the wrong kind of fertilizer (or ignore package directions). When used improperly, organic and chemical fertilizers, fungicides, weed killers, and insecticides can damage plants, groundwater, and surrounding ecosystems. Whether organic or synthetic, some insecticides kill off beneficial insects like lacewings, lady beetles, and damsel bugs. Beneficial insects feed on eggs and larvae of plant-damaging insects.
5. Don’t skip the mulch. Covering open soil with shredded leaves, straw, grass clippings, or wood chips keeps moisture in, feeds the soil, and controls water runoff and erosion. 
6. Don’t skip the watering. But don’t overwater, either. Rainfall isn’t always reliable, especially during hot, dry summers. Watering the garden may be necessary but too much moisture will damage root systems, overflow into other areas of the yard, and break down the soil. Water-logged plants are prone to various diseases.

Learn From Your Failures in the Garden
Life’s occasional failures teach us what to do and what not to do — gardening is no different. What may not have worked then will surely work now if we accept the lesson with grace, determination, and a willingness to try, try again.

By Teri Silver

Months of winter’s snowy cold weather has us all waiting for the warmer temperatures of spring – and boy, are we ready! But some gardens truly thrive in spring while others seem to stall. Reasons for a faltering garden could involve early-season preparations, pH balance and soil condition, plant selection, and timing.

Prepping the Soil

Garden dirt from previous seasons may still have bugs and disease nesting in it — which can hinder new growth.

Getting the soil ready for planting starts with cleaning the garden bed. Remove trash, rocks, sticks, dead leaves, and other debris. Use a sharp spade to edge out dead grass and weeds.
●      Loosen the soil with a hoe or rake
●      Dig through the dirt
●      Grind up wads and clumps
●      Remove old roots, rhizomes, and stolons.

Cleaning up the soil is somewhat similar to dethatching yard grass (although dethatching in spring may be bad for the lawn).

Soil pH

Healthy spring garden plantings start with testing the soil for pH — the measurement of alkalinity and acidity. The pH scale, from 0 to 14, indicates neutral at 7.0, right down the middle. (Anything below 7.0 is acidic — above 7.0 is alkaline).

The pH scale is logarithmic, which the University of Connecticut’s College of Agriculture explains this way: Soil with a balance of 5.5 is 10X more acidic than soil at 6.5. (If pH is 4.5, it’s 100X more acidic as soil with a pH of 6.5).

In any case, if the acidity doesn’t mesh with the plant, your greenery may not grow well.

Test your soil to determine the best pH for flowers, fruits, herbs, and vegetables in your garden. These tests are available for purchase at local nurseries, hardware stores, and online.

Plant Selection

How does your garden grow? That depends on where you live and what types of vegetables, flowers, fruits, and herbs can handle your climate.

For example, bramble fruits — druplets that grow on woody canes like raspberries and blackberries — grow best in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 to 8.

In a nutshell, average minimum winter temperatures determine the kinds of plants that are most likely to survive in any particular area. Cold weather climates are suitable for most green veggies.

Timing is Everything!

Planting too early could mean your greenery is destroyed by a late frost. Planting too late in the season threatens your crops with an early frost or late harvest. Check the seed germination and sprouting dates of the fruits, herbs, and veggies you want to plant.

Easy produce to grow? Peppers, tomatoes, green beans, lettuce, peas, carrots, onions, and other colors of the fruit and veggie rainbow. Read seed packages for information on the best time to plant your garden oasis.
        
Poorly Performing Gardens

Stale-looking gardens may have a few more problems beyond soil acidity, choosing the right kinds of greenery, and when to plant. For example:
●      Gardens need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Poor sunlight leads to weak, floppy stems.
●      Soil health and the food web are made from a combination of nutrients, decomposition, minerals, and organic matter. Decayed plant and animal matter make up healthy soil — purchasing the right kind of fertilizer should help garden herbs and veggies thrive.
●      Overwatering or underwatering. Monitor rainfall to determine how much to add every week. Poor drainage means flooded soil.
●     Insects often damage and destroy plants. Caterpillars, mites, and aphids are just a few types of bugs that chew through leaves and stems, sucking out the nutrients. Inspect the greenery as often as possible. Organic insecticides may help keep pests under control, but chemical products are sometimes necessary. 
●     Disease can spread throughout your garden plant with fungi, viral, and bacteria-borne spores. Space out each plant so that air can circulate properly.  Diseases on foliage include powdery mildew, dark spots, and rot. (Tip: Too much water can drown roots and encourage fungal diseases).
●      Weeds grow quickly, suffocating “good” plant roots. Weed your garden as needed, or at least once a week. Mulching helps to suppress weeds, regulate soil temperature, and keep the ground moist.
Although the ultimate picture comes from Mother Nature, gardening is an art form. Still, when you do your homework, your green thumb will come out — bringing a wonderful daily garden harvest to the dinner table. 

Healthy grass isn’t just about having the best lawn in the neighborhood (although that’s a nice
bonus). A healthy lawn with strong root growth can actually prevent pests across your
landscape, keeping your lawn and garden safe from invasions.

However, in a weakened lawn, pests multiply quickly, spreading to your ornamental and edible
plants. We’ll discuss how to achieve a healthy lawn to fend off pest problems before they start.

Integrated Pest Management Offers Natural Pest Control

By implementing good lawn care practices, gardeners can prevent many fungi and pest
infestations. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an environmentally-friendly pest control
approach that incorporates natural control methods, such as preventive lawn care practices and
organic products, as a first line of defense.

By planting pest-resistant plants, introducing natural predators, and caring for your lawn, an IPM
approach helps prevent pests or keep them at manageable levels. The first step in an IPM
approach for lawns focuses on proper maintenance, including:
● Irrigation
● Aeration
● Dethatching
● Mowing
● Fertilization

IPM uses pesticides only as a last resort, though in some cases, chemical pesticides are
necessary to manage severe infestations.

Healthy Grass Reduces Chemical Use

Healthy grass requires few, if any, pesticide applications, which is safer for the environment.
Avoiding pesticide applications is also better for your garden, since the chemicals in pesticides
can contaminate soil or local water resources and kill beneficial insects that keep ecosystems in
balance naturally.

When your lawn is brimming with robust, healthy grass growth, it decreases the chances of a
pest infestation and reduces the need for potentially harmful pesticide applications.

Beneficial Predators Prevent Unwanted Pests

Encouraging natural predators, including predatory insects, toads, and frogs, can promote
healthy grass. Certain bugs, such as ground beetles, lacewings, or the praying mantis, prey on
insects that eat your grass. To improve pest control, gardeners can introduce new predators into
the yard or create habitats that attract natural predators.

Dethatching and Aeration Boost Lawn Health

Dethatching removes thatch, a thick layer of dead grass and organic matter. When thatch levels
are too high, it weakens grass by preventing nutrients and water from reaching the roots. Thatch
also provides habitat for unwanted lawn pests to shelter and lay eggs.

Aeration alleviates compacted soil and makes it easier for water, nutrients, and oxygen to reach
the soil. By reducing soil compaction, aeration improves grass growth and health.

Fertilizer Promotes Robust Root Growth

The garden pest forecast for this fall and winter has summer pests hanging on for a longer period in fall along with the usual four-legged animals trying to feast on your garden’s delights in winter.

Fall insect pests and how to protect your garden

Why will insect pests be a problem for a longer period? Warm, dry weather – which we’ve had more of this year – lengthens the stay of ants, aphids, bees, flies, mosquitoes, spiders, and other bugs.
 
In the garden, aphids may hang around if the temperatures are warm. Slugs also may be active, feeding on the dead debris in flower beds. They shelter in fallen leaves and other plant debris.
 
What can you do to keep these pests away from your garden? Raking the debris from your garden removes a lot of these insects, but raking also eliminates nature’s way of wintering over beneficial native insects, like bees and butterfly pupae.

Four-legged winter garden pests 

It’s not so much insects in the garden you need to worry about as much as four-legged pests, like rabbits, squirrels, voles, and deer that will munch on plants in winter. Protecting plants from these pests in winter takes a little more effort.
 
In winter, animals chomp on trees and shrubs. They also take bites out of perennials and stubs of vegetable crops. They usually do this when there’s little food available in nature, such as when snow covers plants.
 
The critters eat lower branches or they gnaw on tree trunk bark. Male deer will rut their antlers and scrape away bark.
 
Plants become deformed, injured, eaten to stubs, or even killed by wildlife feeding.

How to protect your garden from four-legged pests

There are two general ways to protect garden plants from these common pests, no matter where you live.
 
Barriers

Physical barriers, like fencing and other enclosures, keep animal pests out of the garden. Deer exclusion requires an 8- to 10-foot-tall fence around the area you want to protect. Or electrify a fence.
 
Rabbit fencing has a tighter grid at the bottom so the critters can’t get through.
 
Use hardware cloth to deter deer, rabbits, squirrels, and other small mammals from gnawing on trees. Small animals can easily crawl through regular grid fencing.
 
If voles are a problem, bury the hardware cloth around the plant to keep them from eating roots.
 
Barriers also are important to keep animals out of your compost pile in fall and winter. Screening is one of the best ways to accomplish this.
 
Spring bulbs may also require protection from four-legged pests, especially deer, rabbits, and voles. When planting, some gardeners make baskets of hardware cloth to plant the bulbs in. This protects the bulbs from underground vermin, like voles.
 
Anchoring chicken wire over new plantings of spring bulbs deters digging animals, like squirrels. Remove the wire when plants begin to emerge. Once the bulbs start to bloom, rabbits, deer, squirrels, and chipmunks take delight. This is where repellents become useful.
 
Repellents

There are many good repellents on the market and they usually are labeled for specific animals, such as rabbits or deer. Some may be labeled for more than one type of critter. These usually smell gross and may have an irritant animals don’t like, such as cayenne pepper.
 
For best results, start applying repellents early as the season changes. You want to create an environment that deters animals before you see any damage. It’s also important to change repellent brands about every month to make sure the animals don’t get acclimated to a particular scent.
 
Most repellents require regular applications, such as after a rain or snowfall.
 
Repellents, such as Deer-off, PlantSkydd, or Liquid Fence, can be a granular or liquid product. Read and follow the label directions when applying repellents.
 
They usually smell bad because they are made from animal urine or blood. Some are safe to use on food plants, but others are not.
 
Solar-powered repellers emit sound or ultrasonic waves critters find annoying. Other solar-powered devices may startle animals with motion-sensor activated lighting or sprays of water.
 
Wireless Deer Fence uses three, 18-inch-tall stakes armed with pheromones to repel deer. Think about psychologist and behaviorist B.F. Skinner and operant conditioning. The deer are attracted to the pheromones but when their noses touch the stake, they get a light shock. Eventually, the deer are deterred from the area.
 
Not recommended
​
I don’t recommend using poisons to control garden pests. Poisons have a way of moving up the animal food chains, such as when an owl eats a dead vole that was poisoned. Now the owl becomes poisoned, too.
 
Also avoid any repellents that aren’t science-backed. There are a lot of practices, such as using EPA-regulated moth control to control animals, that contaminate the soil along with critters, which could be your dog.
 
Act now to protect your garden in fall and winter 

​There’s still time to protect your garden this fall and winter. Rake the debris carefully to limit insect pests doing damage. To block four-legged pests from getting at your garden, buy your barriers and repellents, so barriers are in the ground before the ground freezes and you have repellents at the ready.
 
The advantage of a garden pest forecast is you are forewarned and can be forearmed. 

A lot of plants generally do well in the summer. It’s a great time for gardening, with plenty of sunlight to go around. But, just like humans, plants can start to suffer if the summer is too hot and too dry. So, how can you keep your plants healthy in the middle of the summer? ​

Watch What You Grow

Some plants might struggle in summer simply because they aren’t designed for your climate. If you live in a hot area, plants that are native to cooler parts of the world or that naturally grow at different times of the year aren’t going to thrive.

The best solution is to research what plants grow locally. These plants will be perfect for your garden and are more likely to do well. If you do want different plants in your garden, look at plants from climates that are similar to yours.
​
You should also consider where you put your plants. Even local plants might struggle if they’re in the wrong environment, so think about the type of soil you have and how much sun an area might get. More sun isn’t always better, sometimes shady areas are ideal for specific plants.

Regular Watering

One of the biggest dangers in the summer is that your plants don’t get enough water. Soil can dry out quickly, which can make your plants wilt.

However, you don’t want to push things too far the other way and overwater your plants. Make sure that you check how dry the soil is around the plants before you water. Rather than drowning them and letting your plants sit in water, monitor how much water they need and use.

You also want to water at certain times. Try watering in the morning so that the soil can absorb more water before it evaporates. Sprinklers can help you control when you water and how much water you add. Use a grass hole system to protect your sprinklers, especially when they’re in the middle of lawns, so you can garden without worrying about them.

Look Out For Leaf Burn

​One of the common signs that your plants are suffering in the summer is leaf burn. As the name suggests, leaf burn describes scorching marks on the leaves of plants. It looks unsightly, and it can also make the leaves less effective, so your plants struggle. It’s also a sign of damage, much like sunburn.

Leaf burn is caused by too much sun or sunlight being reflected from surfaces like windows or metal, but it can also be caused by overwatering combined with constant bright sun and heat.

Other causes of leaf burn include chemical burns, caused by fertilizers and salts. These cause the plant to grow too quickly, while also making it more dehydrated.

You can prevent leaf burn by making sure that you grow appropriate plants for your climate and that you have a balanced watering system. Some plants might grow better than others in sunny areas.

Keep Food Fresh and Fun

Your menu should be seasonal, simple, and easy to eat outside. The goal is minimal stress—think dishes that don’t require constant tending and pair well with casual dining. And be sure to include ingredients from your garden!

Crowd-pleasers include:

• Grilled skewers (chicken, veggies, or halloumi)
• Chilled pasta salads or quinoa bowls
• Charcuterie boards with fruit and dips
• Sliders or gourmet sandwiches
• Signature drink station with lemonade, iced tea, or a garden cocktail
  
  

Always have non-alcoholic options and consider dietary preferences. Bonus points for anything that can be prepped the night before.

Add Personal Touches and Games

Be Ready for the Weather

Even the most stunning garden setup can unravel with a surprise shower or heatwave. Check the forecast obsessively, but also prepare for anything.

Smart prep tips:

• Keep a covered area or backup space nearby
• Use weighted tablecloths and clips to avoid wind chaos
• Have a stash of umbrellas, just in case
• Freeze fruit or herbs in ice cubes for cooling drinks with less dilution
• Keep coolers tucked in shade to preserve food freshness
  
  

When you're prepared for weather curveballs, guests will remember how smoothly everything ran—not that brief drizzle.
​
Final Thoughts

A garden party is about celebrating the season, your space, and your people. With thoughtful planning, playful decor, and personalized touches like acrylic coasters guests can take home, you can transform your backyard experience into a venue that rivals any restaurant patio or event hall.

Because in the end, it’s not just about being outdoors—it’s about making the outdoors feel like home, only better. So light the lanterns, pour the drinks, and let your garden party bloom.

Add Personal Touches to Make It Yours

What makes a garden journal or collection really come alive is your perspective. Don’t just log what happened — document how it made you feel.
You might include:

• Quotes about growth and patience
• Reflections on what worked (or what didn’t)
• Sketches of your dream layout
• Stories behind certain plants (grandma’s tulips, gifted herbs)
• Mood tracking — was it a sunny, peaceful day or a chaotic rush?
  
  

Want to bring even more identity to your garden experience? Consider wearing or gifting team-branded gear for your gardening club or community group. Custom velcro patches are a fun, durable way to personalize gardening aprons, totes, or hats. They add a unique touch for shared garden projects or group events.

Share Your Journey With Others

Gardening is better when shared. Whether you post weekly updates on Instagram or put together a seasonal newsletter for friends, sharing your progress helps build connection — and keeps you motivated.
Ways to share:

• Create a dedicated Instagram or TikTok for your garden
• Start a blog or Substack newsletter
• Join a local gardening Facebook group or community garden board
• Print your best photos or journals for an annual show-and-tell
• Host open garden days to invite others into your space or throw a garden party!

As your audience grows — even if it’s just friends and family — your garden becomes not just a space to nurture plants, but one that cultivates relationships.

Final Thought

Your garden isn’t just a plot of dirt. It’s a timeline of growth, resilience, and care. Documenting that journey through photos, notes, and personal storytelling turns every season into a meaningful chapter — one that you can share, revisit, and pass down.

Whether it’s a digital gallery, a custom photobook, or a gardening vest stitched with custom velcro patches, the tools you use to preserve your progress help remind you why you started in the first place.

So plant with purpose. Snap that photo. Tell your story. And let your garden speak for itself.

Having a garden you can be proud of can do wonders for your mental health. A presentable garden not only gives you a place to relax during the day, as a nice breakaway space, but it also gives you a space where you can host guests - there is nothing better than a summer BBQ. Music playing, socialising and a glass (or two) of wine to enjoy. ​

When the weather is cold and the rain is pouring, more often than not, your garden gets neglected, so you need a day or two when the weather is nice and summer is approaching to get it ready. As summer is starting to approach and the weather is looking nice ahead, now is the perfect time to get your garden ready for summer. 

To help give you some inspiration, here are three ways you can do so. 

Repaint your fences and decking 

Every year, it is a good idea to dedicate some time to repainting your fences and decking. Over the colder months, where it’s raining a lot, they can take a battering and start to tire, making your garden look old and tired. A quick lick of paint and you can instantly add a nice colour to your garden whilst also making it more presentable. Whilst you are thinking about repainting, this could be the ideal time to change the colour altogether - pinterest is a great place to look for inspiration.
 
Prepare your furniture 

Take a moment to go through your old furniture in the shed and clean it up. Over the winter, cobwebs are bound to have built up as well as dust and dirt. It may be that now is the time to replace some of your old furniture or buy new pieces of furniture which you haven’t owned before - a deck chair is lovely to relax in and read a book. When going through your shed or your storage unit, keep an eye out for any rodents as you may need to get rodent control    if, over the winter, a problem has cropped up.

Mow your lawn

One of the quickest changes you can make to your garden is mowing the lawn. When your grass is overgrown, it instantly makes your garden look ugly and uncared for. Overgrown grass can also cause insects to come in as well as weeds to grow in unwanted places. When mowing your lawn, to take it to the next level, consider mowing patterns into the grass, as this can add a cool effect and a new dynamic to your garden. 

I hope I have given you some inspiration on getting your garden ready for the summer months.

Put Up Some Hanging Baskets

Hanging baskets can be a great addition to a house, especially around the outside of your home. There are plenty of places where you could put them. Around the entryway is an obvious start, and this can have much more of an impact than you could think.

You can even place them around the garden in various spots, too. The trick to this is not going overboard with the number of baskets. A more minimal approach could be recommended for this. After that, you just need to pick baskets that enhance the style of your entryway and garden.

Update the Garage

A garage can always be a welcome part of a property, and it could’ve been one of the reasons you bought your home. Over time, it starts looking a little rundown. This affects your curb appeal, so it’s worth putting a little effort into giving the garage a bit of a facelift.

Replacing the garage door is a great way of doing this. Companies like LT Garage Doors can help with this. A new garage door could even be more functional than the old one, too. It costs a bit of money, but it’s more than worth it.

Do Some Landscaping

One of the more notable parts of your curb appeal is how your garden looks. The nicer your garden, the better your curb appeal. It’s worth putting some effort into this, even if it takes a bit of time. You mightn’t even need to do too much, depending on how large your garden is.

It’s just a matter of sprucing up your garden a bit. The hanging baskets mentioned above are a start. You could also consider trimming the hedges and lawn, adding a few water features, and some garden furniture. It’ll be simpler than you’d think going forward.

Install Feature LightingSpeaking of your garden, it’s always worth adding a bit of lighting to it. This adds more than a few benefits. The right lighting adds to the overall ambience in your garden at night time. It could also make your home safer, as potential burglars will be less likely to try to break in.

Then there’s the fact that feature lighting lets you highlight specific parts of your garden that you’re proud of. It’s just a matter of figuring out the best type of lights for your garden and where you should put them. It shouldn’t take much time or effort.

Refresh the Fences

If you have fences around your garden, then it’s worth putting a bit of effort into them. That’s especially true if you’ve had them for a while. They could’ve started looking a little rundown and gotten damaged, making it even more worth giving them a refresh. This shouldn’t be too hard.

As long as your fence is in good condition, it could just be a matter of repainting it. That mightn’t even take too much time, depending on how large of a fence you have. You could get it done in an afternoon and mightn’t have to put too much effort into it.

It’s natural to want to be proud of your home. This only happens if your house looks and feels nice, though. If you haven’t looked after it for a while, your home could look a little rundown. You could need to boost your curb appeal to make it look and feel nicer.

While this often seems like it takes a lot of time and effort, it shouldn’t have to be complicated. A few strategies are simpler than you think, but they’ll still have quite an impact. You’ve no reason not to put the effort into them.

Gardening is a fantastic hobby to have. It allows you to spend time outside, where you can get fresh air and increase your vitamin D levels. It gets you involved with nature, which can teach you about sustainability and how to live in an eco-friendly way. 

But most of all, it doesn’t demand too much time and attention from you. Most plants are able to take care of themselves once you get them going, and you can sit back and enjoy them as they bloom. 

That being said, many gardeners can fall in and out of love with the hobby. There could be many reasons for this, but when the time comes that you’d like to pick it up again, gardening can feel quite inapproachable. 

That’s something we’re going to tackle today. If you’d like to try gardening again, but it feels like too big a job to take on, here are a few tips that could smooth you back in. ​

If you want a beautiful garden and are wondering what you can do to make this as easy as possible, focus on having healthier plants. The healthier the plants are, the better your garden is going to look. So, what’s the secret a healthy and happy garden?
 
Right Plant, Right Place
 
This is a simple but important step to ensure your plants are as healthy as possible - simply position each plant in the right place for them. This means considering their light needs, preferred temperature and humidity, and the space that they will require in order to grow healthily. If you can get all that right, it’s going to really help a lot with making your plants and your garden a lot healthier.
 
Improve Soil Quality
 
The soil is obviously always going to be important too, and you need to make sure that you are doing everything you can to improve the soil quality. This can be done in several ways. You can make your own compost from garden and food waste, which can lead to a very nutrient rich kind of soil, or you can consider using some premium mulch as well. The best way is to go for a combination of these - and make sure that you are adding in some fresh compost every year if you can.
 
Water Correctly
 
Many people harm their plants by overwatering. You might find yourself thinking that more water is always better, but this is simply not the case. Very often, in fact, it is the opposite - plants often need a lot less water. Checking the soil moisture before you water - if it’s dry, it’s time to water, otherwise leave it alone. Overwatering your plants makes them vulnerable to pests and diseases.
 
Feed Regularly
 
Regular feeding is another way to make your plants happier and healthier. With regular feeding, your plants will be healthier and happier. Make sure you are using a balanced fertilizer during the growing season for the best possible results here - and repot wherever your healthy plants outgrow their current living quarters.

It’s great to have a lush, green yard, but not everyone has the time to maintain it, let alone the patience, and that can be a problem. After all, if you want something that looks perfect, you’ve surely got to spend a lot of time making it happen and taking care of it, haven’t you? 
 
Well, in some cases, yes, and if that’s what you enjoy, go ahead. But if you don’t have the time or the green thumbs needed, you can still have a thriving yard with minimal effort - keep reading if you want to learn how. ​

Choose Low-Maintenance Plants 

If your yard is full of plants that need constant attention, you’re just setting yourself up for the stress of taking care of it, and soon enough, if you run out of time or lose motivation, what could have been a nice-looking yard will look awful. So instead of all that, it’s better to opt for hardy, low-maintenance options that can manage quite well if they’re left alone for a while. You’ll still need to do some work, just not as much as with other, more needy plants. 

Native plants are a great choice because they’re already adapted to your local climate, meaning they need less watering, less fertilizing, and that’s less work for you in the long run. You could go for things like drought-resistant perennials like lavender, sedum, and ornamental grasses for example - they can keep going even if they’ve been ignored for days or weeks in some cases. And if you want some effortless greenery, you can plant some evergreen shrubs which are so easy to take care of and which also keep your yard looking green and lush all year round.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

A gorgeous lawn is the centerpiece of any yard, and the great news is that you don’t have to constantly look after yours to make it look fantastic. The trick is to treat your grass in the right way, and for the most part, it’ll just take care of itself (although you’ll still need to mow it, of course - that’s one job that’s got to be on your to-do list). 

One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to their lawn is to overwater it, thinking that’s going to keep it alive and looking good. However, you really don’t need to water your grass every day - in fact, it’s far better to do it once or twice a week, but to make sure you’re giving it a deep water at that time because that’ll get down to the roots and your lawn will look a lot healthier. 

Something else to invest in to make your lawn look amazing is a lawn dethatcher. Over time, grass clippings, dead roots, and various other bits and pieces of general debris build up at the base of your lawn, and that means water gets blocked, so your grass doesn’t get the nutrients it needs. If you use a lawn dethatcher, you can clear all that out and let your grass breathe and get stronger, with hardly any effort involved at all. 

Finally, we’ve got to talk about mowing. As we’ve said, it’s essential, but how you do it can make a big difference. You should always keep your mower blades nice and high because cutting the grass too short makes it weak. So even if your lawn is a little longer than you’re used to, it’ll be healthier and look better, so it’s definitely worth it.

Use Mulch

Weeding is another job that takes ages but must be done to keep your garden looking good, and it can be a bit of a pain, to say the least. But what if you could make it so fewer weeds grew in the first place? Then weeding wouldn’t take so long and wouldn’t be so arduous. Well, that’s exactly what you can do with mulch. Lay a layer of mulch around flower beds, trees, shrubs, and so on, and that’s going to smother weeds before they even start, saving you time and effort. 
 
On top of that, mulch helps to lock in moisture, which means less water is needed - another job that takes time and effort. Plus, as it all breaks down, it improves the health of your soil, so your plants get all the nutrients they need without you having to do anything extra to make it happen. Mulch can also last months before you need to add any more, so it’s as close to a do it and forget it kind of job as you can get.

​Indoor plants are lucky. They don’t have to deal with winter’s cold temperatures, snow, ice, and wind like outdoor plants do. Nevertheless, they still must deal with the changes winter brings. Shorter days reduce the amount of light they receive and the cold, dry air isn’t their favorite.
 
Whether it’s your plants hanging from the ceiling or the herbs growing by the windowsill in your kitchen, you’ll need to adjust how you care for your indoor plants. Here are several tips to keep them alive and healthy this winter.

1. Increase Light

With winter comes shorter days than in spring and summer. Make sure your houseplants get enough light during this time.
 
Move them to a brighter spot, like a window, so they can get more light. If it’s not enough, consider adding a supplemental light source, like a grow light. However, don’t move them to a frosty window or they might catch a draft.
 
Rotate plants a quarter turn each week to ensure all parts of it get sunlight.

2. Increase the Humidity

Plants grow best in humidity levels between 40 and 50%, but the humidity drops 10 to 20% in winter. If you have a humidifier, move your plants to a spot close enough for them to reap the benefits. If you don’t, you have other options.
 
Clustering plants is a good way to ramp up the humidity. Plants transpire naturally to release water through their leaves, so placing them together will raise the humidity around them. Place them in bathrooms or kitchens for even better results –– they’ll absorb the moisture from showers and cooking.
 
Another option is to place them on trays filled with pebbles and water. Placing the pebbles at the bottom of the tray will lift the plants above water level. In doing so, it ensures water can evaporate from the plants without them getting root rot.
 
3. Water Less Often

Plants grow at a slower rate in winter and need less water to stay hydrated, and overwatering. Overwatering them will lead to root rot.
 
Rather than follow a watering schedule, check to see if your plants need water by poking your finger at least an inch into the soil. If it’s dry, water it thoroughly. If it’s moist, hold off on watering for a few days, then check to see if it’s dry. Dry soil ensures oxygen can travel to the plant’s root system.
 
Use room temperature water to water your plants –– cold water can shock their roots.
 
 
With just a few changes to your plant care routine, you can enjoy the benefits of having plants inside year-round. When the weather outside is frightening, well-cared-for plants are a surefire way to bring a smile to everyone’s faces.

Gardening is a sure-fire way to promote “farm to table” fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruits. Although spring and summer are notably the best times to raise most garden favorites, autumn and winter planting helps to enrich soil throughout the growing seasons. Often called “green manure,” cover crops feed the soil with decaying roots and dead leaves. Rooted vegetation keeps groundwater from evaporating and protects it from erosion.

Cover Crops
Planting cover crops in winter helps prepare soil for spring and summer favorites like tomatoes, peppers, and green beans. Some cover crops (legumes, for example) increase oxygen in the soil. Other benefits include the following:

• Increase organic material that feeds soil microbes
• Keep soil from washing or blowing away
• Break up compacted soil.
• Improve drainage, water infiltration, and retention
• Provide habitat and food sources for beneficial insects
• Create habitats for earthworms.

Categories
If you want diversity in the garden, plant “less popular” edibles like lavender flowers, roses, and wild violets—they spice up salads, breads, and spreads (who knew?).  Flowering plants produce more blooms after nutrients have sunk into the soil. Winter crops add food sources to the soil, while protecting it from erosion and decay.

Cover crops are often divided into three categories; legumes, annual grasses, and miscellaneous varieties.

Legumes add nitrogen to the soil and produce beneficial bacteria to enlarge root cells. Root bacteria then “grabs” nitrogen from the soil to convert it into nutrients. Legumes emit bacteria carbohydrates, oxygen, and protein. Large tap roots help to break up the soil.

Annual grasses like cereal rye, barley, and oats germinate quickly and provide cover for the soil while legumes (and other winter vegetables) are getting started. Grasses (and their decaying roots) provide organic matter to the soil. 

Miscellaneous varieties bring benefits to the soil in different ways. For example, mustard leaves and radishes store nitrogen from the soil, “recycle” it, and then work it back into the dirt. (Legumes do this, too).

Greens
Green veggies like spinach, kale, arugula, broccoli, fennel, Brussels sprouts, and cress are cool-hardy crops that survive in frosty climates with cold temperatures. (Check out your state’s growing zone with the U.S. plant hardiness zone map). Enrich garden soil with compost, bone meal, mulch, manure, and other types of organic matter.

Fennel is packed with vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and manganese. Celeriac, a type of celery root vegetable, has lots of phosphorus and vitamin K. Spinach is a great source of iron, vitamin C, and vitamin B6.

Colors
​Color up your winter garden with orange carrots, red turnips and radishes, white onions, purplish beets, and orange-brown potatoes. Root vegetables feed the soil as it feeds them. 

Onions are high in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A, manganese, fiber, and beta-carotene. Turnips are a great source of vitamin C.
 
Starting a vegetable garden takes a bit of planning. Cover crops improve the soil in your garden as the land “rests” during the regular growing season. Choosing the type of winter veggies depends on what you like, but the best kinds are those that don’t take a lot of time and effort to maintain. After all, you need a rest, too.

What’s prettier than violet flowers mixed with butter and jellies spread on freshly baked biscuits?
These perennial violets in the lawn or garden beds (some people call them weeds) are in the
same family as edible pansies and Johnny jump-ups.

​Violets are easy to grow in sun or shade. Some gardeners transplant them from the lawn to
flower beds where they work as a ground cover. If pulling from the lawn, be sure they have not
been treated with herbicides, insecticides, or fungicides.
 
If you’re worried about how to grow your edible garden without pesticides so you can safely eat
the plants, remember that there are plenty of beneficial insects –– even spiders –– that help
your garden grow. In addition to the pollinators, like bees, butterflies, flies, beetles, and birds,
your plants need other critters in order to thrive. So, skip the pesticides that will kill all the bugs,
and let nature work its magic.

• Plant with the ecosystem in mind - choose which plants to include in your garden to attract beneficial wildlife like pollinators to establish a thriving, healthy ecosystem. Lavender, Milkweed & Sunflowers are all great choices.

• Make your own compost mix - you can use kitchen scraps and garden waste to create a natural, nutrient rich compost that gives your garden a boost. The best mixture will be a 70-30% mix of ‘Brown’ & ‘Green’ waste.

• If you don’t want to use harsh chemicals in your garden, there are many DIY weed killer methods that successfully eradicate weeds from your garden. Try directly applying vinegar, lemon juice, hot water or salt to the affected areas. They tend to dehydrate/ kill the plant cells. Make sure this is applied sparingly & in a targeted manner for best results and for minimal damage to the surrounding area.

• With rising costs, a lot of gardeners (both novice and professional) are turning to growing food in their garden to both save money & to create a circular, re-usable system for fresh, home-grown produce. 

• Invest in a water butt to ensure you’ve got a constant supply of naturally provided water. This saves on your water bill and means the plant is getting natural rainwater for healthy growth. Water butts may seem like a big expense but they are cost-effective in the long run and a sustainable alternative to treated tap water.

Eco-friendly gardening methods mean less money spent on expensive weed solutions/ compost mixes, saving you money & helping your garden thrive naturally at the same time. Gardening in a sustainably minded way also means your garden is likely to thrive for longer, meaning less maintenance for you in the long run.

Where to place containers

Group containers to aid harvesting and maintenance. By grouping pots, you can plant each with individual plants rather than a mixed planting. Pots with individual plants mimic a garden.
 
Grouping containers also makes it easier to toss protection over your plants if freezing temperatures threaten your landscape. Most of the plants can take a light freeze, but a hard freeze may kill some.
 
Use a cover, blanket, or sheet to protect your plants when needed. It’s best to tent these coverings above your plants. Do not use plastic sheeting, and if a hard freeze threatens, harvest as much as you can to eat or freeze.
 
Remember that the sun is lower in the sky in the fall and winter and that more sun is likely since trees and shrubs have lost their leaves. Most edible plants do best when grown in full sun, or about eight hours of direct sun a day. Group plants where you have the best light. Additionally, place pots where you have easy access to water. Although watering needs may be lower in the fall, plants still need an occasional drink to keep them growing and producing.

What to do with summer plants in the fall

Some annuals will carry over into the fall, such as Calibrachoa and Verbena. Although not edible, they tolerate cooler temps and continue to bloom. Compost or toss other summer plants to make room for your fall selections.
​
What kind of containers should you use?

If you are starting with a new container, select one with drainage holes. All-season material, such as fiberglass or heavy plastic, can survive winter temperatures. Fill containers with a high-quality potting mix. Potting mix is lighter weight than soil and drains better. Some potting mixes also contain plant fertilizers.

Where to get plants for fall containers

Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, parsley, pansies, and Johnny jump-ups may be found in some garden centers, home improvement stores, and other retailers. The number and types of plants available will be less than what retailers have in the spring. To be sure to get the fall edibles you want, sow seed. Some plants are easy to grow from seed sown in midsummer for transplanting to a fall container.
 
You’ll also find ornamental cabbage and kale in garden centers in the fall. Although lovely ornamental plants, the leaves have a bitter taste. Use the leaves for displaying tempting food treats like appetizers. Ornamental cabbage and kale last well into the winter. If they look good, use them as natural ornaments in winter greenery.

How to care for edibles and plants in fall containers

Water containers when the top inch of soil feels dry. Mix a granular fertilizer into the soil when planting transplants or apply a water-soluble fertilizer after planting. Always read and follow label directions. If it’s a long fall season with moderate temperatures, the containers may need to be fertilized every few weeks to keep plants growing.

As with any garden, monitor plants for diseases like powdery mildew or beneficial insects like spiders. Spiders are good for your garden because they trap and eat troublesome bugs, like aphids. When caught early, controlling problems may be as easy as spraying insects off your plant with water. Always know what you have before you treat it.

How to harvest edible plants in the fall

Harvesting plants in the fall is the same as in the summer. Snip off leafy greens, starting with the outside leaves. Harvest broccoli as stalks or heads, and Brussels sprouts as stalks or individual sprouts. Snip off parsley, peas, and pansy flowers with scissors.


12 great edibles that thrive in fall containers:

• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Chard*
• Johnny jump-up
• Kale*
• Lettuce*
• Mustard*
• Nasturtium*
• Pansy
• Parsley
• Spinach*
• Snow pea*

 
*Pro top: The edibles marked with an asterisk are easy to grow from seed. Simply read and follow the seed packet’s directions.

​The first tip is not to choose a large variety of plants but to narrow it down to a few seeds that won’t crowd each other. Plants that are grown too close together can end up competing for nutrients and light. Plants that are properly spaced will give you a better yield versus trying to squeeze in too many plants in the same space.
 
For example, tomatoes and basil fare well together, but tomatoes don’t do so well when planted next to corn or potatoes. Also, take time to research which plants grow best in your region and which gardening techniques will work for you.


2.   Consider the layout and light conditions

The essentials you’ll need for any garden to thrive are water, good soil, and plenty of sunlight –– and that means your garden’s layout is extremely important. Plants should be positioned in a way to receive the proper nutrients and sunlight. To maximize a small gardening space, choose a location in your yard that provides adequate sunlight.


3.   Grow vertically

Vertical gardening is quite popular these days. It’s a great way to grow a lot of vegetables in a small footprint, and trellises are great for small-space gardening. Growing plants upwards not only saves space in your garden beds but trellised plants are exposed to more sunlight which helps fruits to ripen faster.
 
For example, green beans are a favorite of many backyard gardeners and can easily be planted on teepees. Cucumbers are another plant that will climb and prosper on a wide trellis.


4.   Use containers

Containers are a great way to grow plants in small spaces because you can add them to patios, balcony areas, or even your kitchen counter. Herbs, for example, don’t take up a lot of space and will grow well in containers.


5.   Say goodbye to rows and hello to pathways

Forget about growing plants single-file in long, straight rows. You don’t need straight rows –– especially since you don’t have the space anyway. If you plant in curves, your garden will look natural and informal. But do add pathways! This feature will make the space feel bigger. You can create a pathway simply by using wood chips.


6.   Raised beds yield more produce

Another tip is to use raised beds. You can grow significantly more produce in the same space by using raised beds –– plus the benefits of raised beds are endless. You can keep weeds from infiltrating your garden soil, prevent water runoff and soil compaction, and you won’t have to worry much about garden pests like snails and slugs.
 
Don’t feel limited by the amount of outdoor space you have. In fact, many of us do not have acres and acres of land or even the time to have huge plots, but we can still enjoy eating home-grown juicy tomatoes from the vine or home-grown vegetables hot off the grill by embracing the space we do have.

A verdant and fruitful garden is always a treat to the eyes and a balm to the soul, so just imagine how amazing it would be if it were your garden. Of course, it’s going to demand time, attention, money, and hard work from you. But with tangible benefits like a more beautiful home and healthy food on your table, the ROI is more than compelling — and a great garden can also help you sell your home when the time comes! The fact that you’re contributing to a better world can be a welcome bonus, as well. So, The Daily Garden takes a moment to break down the process of starting and sustaining a productive garden.
 
Learn the Basics
 
Like most things worth doing, gardening should start with due diligence. By breaking down the basics of such an amazing activity and understanding its nuances, you not only ensure that you can grow stuff, but you can also create a productive garden worth admiring.
 

• No doubt, there’s much to learn when you start gardening, but there’s no need to be daunted by the specifics.
  
• You’ll want to understand different gardening techniques to find one that works for you.
• Even more important is to find out which fruits and vegetables you can realistically and sustainably grow in your area.
  
• It’s also a good idea to learn all you can on methods like composting and mulching, as well as irrigation, soil management, pest control, and more, for starters.
• Lastly, you may want to hire someone to build a fence around your garden to protect it (the average cost of a fence is approximately $4,500).

 
Focus on Health
 
A garden is a wonderful addition to any home. But with the hard work that goes into it, why not ensure it also serves you and your family in other ways? In fact, growing food in your garden ensures that you eat healthy at all times while also getting a good workout in the process.
 

• Choose the healthiest food items to grow in your home or apartment garden.
• Make the most out of all the fresh produce your garden is yielding with healthy and delicious recipes using all-organic ingredients, like low-carb broccoli and cheddar soup.
• Also, brush up on the proper storage of produce, so you keep your harvest fresh for a longer period of time.
• Don’t forget that you can already get your requisite daily exercise by gardening, so make the most out of it and hit two birds with one stone.
• You can also use gardening as an excuse to get the kids outside. Teach them the basics and get them to help you maintain your garden.

 
Invest in Sustainable Solutions
 
A good garden is not only productive; it should be sustainable, too. By and large, your garden actually has the potential to become your most significant contribution to the environment, so consider making use of eco-friendly techniques to make it count.
 

• Sustainable and environmentally-friendly gardening is all the rage right now.
• Implementing water conservation measures in your gardening is a fine way to do it.
• Make sure to keep your garden chemical-free by using green fertilizers and pesticides.

 
Suffice it to say, having a productive garden actually need not be a pipe dream. In fact, the hardest part is in learning how to get started. From there, you can just about hit the ground running and start enjoying the holistic benefits of such a valuable addition to your home. You’re happy, and so are your family and Mother Nature — so what’s not to love?
 
To read more about gardening life, explore the musings at The Daily Garden!

​This morning I spotted a nesting pair of blue violet swallows as they gathered stems from a weed patch in my garden.

I spotted a California thrasher working through a pile of acorns and oak leaves I had left piled in a heap.

These birds would not have been in my yard if I kept it all cultivated and in proper order.

A garden can be an ongoing struggle against Mother Nature. A gardener must fend off a myriad of competing life forms: weeds, gophers, crows, insects, etc.

A few years back I made a decision to stop battling nature, and instead celebrate and encourage it.
How can a conventional backyard promote nature?

Every garden and gardener is unique, but here is how my little Silicon Valley nature garden came to be.

5. Rose of Sharon. Many see this as a difficult weed with a hard-to-pull taproot, and it reseeds easily. But I let some live to feed the bush bunnies. It's one of their favorite foods, and at least in my yard, there is balance.

6. Butterflies are attracted to wet clay. This is called "mud puddling." Keep a small wet patch for them.

7. Birdbaths are essential, both for bathing and drinking. Mammals will also drink the water. Wash and refill often, to prevent disease and mosquitoes.

8. A nature preserve does not need bird feeders. The weeds in my yard provide lots of free seeds, and birds are pecking away at them all day.

9. Oaks are so common in California that their sprouted acorns act like weeds. I have two large oaks. I pile up their leaves and acorns out on the meadow. Wild creatures rake, rummage, dig and fight over the acorns all year long.

10. Bunnies. Leave favorite weeds for the bunnies to eat instead of your valued crops and flowers. In my yard they mostly graze on the wild plants in the meadow, which is what we call where the lawn used to be.

You will have to observe your bunnies to see what they eat, and experiment. I have had a lot of fun doing this. They roam the neighborhood grazing on neighbors' lawns and shrubs. I think wild bunnies use my garden as a nesting area safe from dogs. It is futile to try and eliminate them - they multiply like rabbits. Note: information on the internet says bunnies don't eat rose of Sharon. I watched one yesterday chow down on one in my yard.

11. Oxalis. Know your local oxalis strains. Some are hostile invaders; others bring joy and beauty. In spring my meadow is a field of beautiful waving oxalis flowers. After the rains stop the oxalis rapidly dries up, and I rake it away.

12. Set up wire tomato cages out in the open. Birds will use them to perch on, and you will see them easily. Place them over your hummingbird plants and the hummers will rest as they feed!

13. Spend time sitting quietly in the wild yard, and you will make many interesting discoveries. I find that birds, bunnies, even lizards will approach me. They want to figure out if I am a friend who will go about my own business, or an enemy who will give them chase. I have come to believe that if I move slowly and predictably, they think I am a harmless grazer. Birds and small animals like to be near a large grazer, as they stir up the ground and expose grubs, or serve as protection against predators like cats or coyotes. If I quit "grazing" and head for the house, the flock near me will take off too. Not out of fear of a gardener, but of a possible approaching predator.

14. Rats and mice. These are intolerable in the house. Garbage must be tightly contained at all times. But native strains of rats and mice out in the garden are just part of nature, and it is futile to mindlessly trap or poison them.

There is only one way to guard against rats and mice in the house, and that is to keep them out. Every crack and hole in the exterior of a house and attic must be carefully sealed. Keep unscreened doors shut.
​
15. Coyotes. All over the USA coyotes are increasing in urban environments. Last night at 1:30 a.m. I was awakened by the eerie howling and yapping of a coyote concert in the distance. I'm tempted to leave my gate open so they can prowl and maybe catch some rodents. On the other hand, I think I'll draw the line there and keep the gate locked at night.

I no longer view my garden as a battleground. After several years of letting nature take the upper hand, I am inclined to let nature have its way in my meadow. I will never return to a lawn. I will grow vegetables safe from gophers in large containers. I will use my raised beds for experiments and flowers.
​
​Best of luck with your own Garden of Eden.

Linda B Campbell-King is a writer, gardener, championship barbershop singer, and so much more!

History of Sesame

Sesame seeds and their oil also have a lengthy history. They are mentioned in records from the Indus Valley civilization (India) from 3050-3500 BCE. There are numerous mentions of it. As well, from Indian religious literature (note the epithet in the scientific name). Herodotus wrote about it in the fifth century BCE and there are records about sesame from third century BCE from both China and Egypt. The largest producers of sesame seeds today are Sudan, Myanmar and India. World production is about 6 million tonnes (2,204 pounds called a metric ton in the US).


The etymology of sesame derives ultimately from the Akkadian šamaššamu which moved into the Greek as sesamon and finally becoming the Latin sesamum. The original Semitic root is smn (Semitic word roots do not include vowels). In Hebrew shemen means oil and sesame oil was a major crop. It is believed that sesame, also known as benne, was brought to the United States during the period of African slavery. That sesame plant is native to west and central Africa is Sesamum radiatum and has been cultivated there for generations. In addition to the seeds, the stalks and the leaves are used as a thickener to cooked dishes in a manner similar to okra. This effect require pounding the leaves before cooking.

When you hear someone bark, "Who let the dogs out?", it’s more than likely a gardener. Even the most ardent animal lover has a bone to pick with a dog who poops, pees, and digs in the garden. Instead of getting angry, learn how to keep your dog out of your garden.
 
Dog-repellent plants
 
Dogs hate chili peppers, lemongrass, citrus trees, garlic, and onions -- veggies that people love to eat. Just the smell of these plants is enough to keep your dog at bay. The herb, rue, is also a great repellent for dogs and cats, but use it cautiously. Rue can be toxic to people, so while it's OK to plant around your rose bushes, it isn't the right choice for your vegetable garden. 
 
An extra bonus: Many of these same plants, like rue, garlic, and citronella, also repel mosquitoes.
 
Raise the garden

Raised garden beds don’t just look cool, they also serve as a physical barrier to your dog. Fido is unlikely to exert the extra energy to climb up onto raised garden beds to raise a ruckus.
 
These beds also deter those other pet peeves: garden pests like slugs and snails. You'll also have fewer weeds to deal with, and better drainage for your plants.
 
Raised beds can make it easier to maintain your landscape. Another option? Contract out for all your yard work. LawnStarter estimates the cost to hire someone in San Jose for monthly landscape maintenance averages $174 a month.
 
 
Stake it out
 
Don't want to redesign your garden to keep out your Ruff-ian? Keeping your dog out can be as simple as placing some short stakes throughout your vegetable plot. You can also place some prickly branches on the ground or cover the plot with a roll of chicken wire. (This is also great for keeping out the squirrels and bunnies.)
 
None of these methods will harm your garden nor your dog, and they don’t cost much. Fifty feet of chicken wire might cost you about $40.
 
Train your dog to stay out

Teach your dog to respect your garden boundaries -- and that alone could protect your seedlings and tender plants.
 
Depending on how receptive your dog is, you can teach him that the garden is no place for canines. It may be as easy as finding a good series of dog training videos on YouTube or consulting a local dog trainer.
 
Ultrasonic gadgets
 
You won’t be able to hear it, but your dog sure can. A literal dog whistle -- an ultrasonic dog repellent -- will cost you less than $100 and keeps dogs and other animals out of your yard.
 
There are solar-powered gadgets on the market that don’t need a source of electricity or a battery, and it can be a low-maintenance, chemical-free way to keep your four-legged gardener out of the cucumbers and prize roses.
 
Keeping your dog out of the garden can be frustrating, especially if you discover holes that have been dug, or dog waste next to vegetables you planned to put on the dinner table. But one or a combination of these tips can help keep Sam and your fruits and vegetables apart -- and that’s one way to make gardening even more of a pleasure.
 
Kimberly Park grew up on a farm, where she learned to love animals and the great outdoors. As an environmental activist, she has dedicated her life to educating people about gardening and eco-friendly living. She has two beagles and a Siberian husky who know better than to mess with her garden.