Gardens – Nashville House and Home and Garden

Dig into gardening trends: Tips to get started

Lori Fisk-Conners — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 14:35:16 +0000

New survey digs into gardening trends: Tips to get started (BPT) – Just like fashion, trends in gardening come and go … and sometimes come back again. Some shifts in gardening were inspired by necessity, like the “victory gardens” of WWII for growing food during years of rationing. Others reflected societal changes, like the green lawns of the 1950s and 1960s, when families spent more time playing and entertaining in their yards than ever before. If you look further into the past, to the 1920s, you see a trend that’s on the rise again — a yearning for going back …

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5 Effective Groundcovers That Combat Weeds

Lori Fisk-Conners — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 17:51:01 +0000

Do you find yourself spending hours on end reading seed catalogs? Must you keep a detailed a map of where you planted all 350 bulbs on your hillside just so you can remember all the different cultivars? No? That’s totally fine – not all of us are plant nerds. Some of us just need answers to common landscape issues. In today’s gardening culture, you will find that the themes are changing. Plants not only provide beauty, barriers, and structure, they can also provide solutions to common landscape and gardening problems. In this article, I address a few of my favorite …

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Bold and Beautiful Alliums for Every Garden

Nanci Gregg — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 17:49:16 +0000

By Melinda Meyers Short or tall, big or small, ornamental alliums are a treat for flower gardeners and for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Plant the bulbs in fall and enjoy months of colorful spring and summer blooms—this year, and for years to come. Just like their relatives, onions and chives, ornamental alliums are easy to grow and trouble free. Pests, diseases, and even deer don’t bother them. Most types are reliably perennial and winter hardy in zones three to eight. Alliums prefer well-drained soil and full sun, though they will also grow in partial shade. You can choose flowers …

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Battle Weeds, Leaves and Shrubbery with Tech

Lori Fisk-Conners — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 15:26:24 +0000

(Family Features) The same type of technology used in some of the United States Navy’s most powerful ships also powers handheld lawn equipment. A lineup of string trimmers, leaf blowers and hedge trimmers from Cub Cadet use an innovative technology to power the units called CORE (Conductor-Optimized Rotary Energy). The sophisticated motor technology generates power equal to gas engines and maximizes pound-for-pound power efficiency, compared to its 25 cubic centimeter gas-powered engines. The technology also features a unique Power-Lok system. This standalone drive unit offers lightweight, high-performance string trimmer, blower and hedge trimmer attachments. It saves storage space and money …

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9 Troublesome Weed Zones to Tackle

Lori Fisk-Conners — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 15:11:53 +0000

(Family Features) Weeds are opportunists that take advantage of bleak growing conditions to set root. If you’ve ever seen a weed growing out of a crack in your driveway or other paving, you know that weeds, by nature, can adapt to almost any spot. As you work to get your yard in shape, keep an eye on the following areas that often offer ideal conditions for weeds to grow and reproduce. Pathways. Paths made from loose materials, such as bark mulch, decomposed granite or stones, can act as seeding beds, offering a natural spot for weeds to grow. Underneath shrubs. Areas under …

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Outdoor Kitchens

Nanci Gregg — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 05:28:10 +0000

Outdoor kitchens remain high on homeowners’ wish lists, and can range from a simple “plug and play” grill island to a far more complex addition of built ins under shelter designed to take every cooking chore outdoors. Outdoor living and outdoor kitchens are the number one desire for many homeowners, according to Carol Sullivan of Nashville’s Hearth & Grill Store. “The demand for outdoor living has led to the expansion of manufacturer’s offerings,” she says, everything from portable outdoor grills to grills installed in custom islands, with added features such as refrigerators, side cookers, ice makers, smokers from The Big Green Egg, …

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Secrets for a Well-Maintained Lawn

Lori Fisk-Conners — Sun, 22 Jul 2018 05:15:56 +0000

(Family Features) Growing a healthy, appealing lawn isn’t about doing one thing right; it’s about doing a combination of things right. Different aspects of lawn maintenance, whether it’s watering, fertilizing or mowing, are interrelated. If you complete one task incorrectly – or skip it entirely – you may increase problems with insects, diseases, and weeds. To help you on your way to manicuring a well-maintained lawn, BioAdvanced lawn and garden expert Lance Walheim recommends these steps: Grow the Right Grass Different grasses grow in different areas of the country. Warm-season grasses, including bahiagrass, Bermuda grass, St. Augustine grass and zoysia, …

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6 sure-fire tips that save time and labor on yard work and gardening

Lori Fisk-Conners — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 16:50:51 +0000

(BPT) – It’s summertime, and you’ll want to spend many sun-drenched hours in the great outdoors. But while Mother Nature is flourishing, it feels like you’re wasting too many precious summer afternoons and evenings doing chores in the yard and garden. Give some of these labor-saving tips a try so you have more time for your favorite summer activities. 1. Get organized Nothing wastes time like having to search around for misplaced trowels, seed packets and garden rakes. It’s worth the time and effort to create a zone in your garage or shed that’s just for gardening and yard care …

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Easy ways to create your personalized garden

Lori Fisk-Conners — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 20:41:54 +0000

(BPT) – All around the country, first-time gardeners and seasoned pros are jumping into the growing season. No matter where you live, whether it’s in an apartment in the heart of the city or a house with a spacious backyard, vegetable and herb gardening is a fun, relaxing hobby that is easy to enjoy. What makes vegetable and herb gardening such a popular pastime is that each person can make their own space to fit their needs. Whether you’re into growing the most unique plants, a foodie looking for exciting new veggies, or just want more green in your life, …

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Permeable Pavers Create Eco-Friendly Outdoor Spaces

Lori Fisk-Conners — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 15:17:13 +0000

In Nashville and beyond, permeable pavers are giving homeowners new reasons to go green. These environmentally friendly products can be spotted around town, and they’re frequently used for driveway hardscaping. But driveways aren’t the only settings where these pavers are taking off in popularity – their durability, price advantages, and even safety benefits mean they have a lot to offer. Permeable pavers are a terrific option for patios, garden spaces, and even less conventional areas like condos’ outdoor spaces. Willow Branch Outdoor Living installed Belgard’s Acqua-Bric permeable paver in Fossil color between condo buildings at Mason Rowhouse for water drainage benefits. There …

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