Simple Tips to Bring Autumn to your Front Door this Season

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Wreaths or Swag

Wreaths or swags are possibly the most common elements that are used to décor the front door during autumn. What you have to take care is if the front door wreath is complementing to the design and color of your porch and entryway. Traditional harvest, autumn foliages, artificial or natural fruits and flowers, peacock feathers, acorns, pinecones, etc. are common materials used for making such wreaths. You can either buy or custom-make such a wreath and hang on your front door.

Instead of wreaths, you can go for buckets full of fall flowers too. Attach a hook to your door and hang one or two rustic-style bucket filled with fall blooms like small sized flowers and red-colored berries. Swag wreaths offer a gorgeous way to display rustic elements like this Autumn Wreath Swag are nice additions to welcome guests. Visit our fall wreaths on How to Make a Burlap Wreath!

Use Fall Harvest & Plants

Gourds and pumpkins are common fall harvest and are essential part of fall décor. Line the front steps of your home with metallic or wooden gourds and pumpkins and pots of fall flowers like asters, mums, heuchera, verbena, oxalis, etc. Hang a door-framing garland made of black feathers. This garland and pumpkins will bring an early Halloween feel into your porch.

Weekend Gardening: Edibles to Grow This Spring

How to Grow Container Herbs

Herbs are ideal for container gardens. They are easy to plant and thrive and they are low-maintenance. Having your fresh, favorite herbs ready to be used is the ultimate key to creating delightful dishes. Some of the herbs like mint are better to be grown in containers since they can grow easily and take up a lot of space if planted in a garden. Some ideas for herbs to be planted are oregano, parsley, thyme, and cilantro, all of which can be harvested and dried if needed. Other ideas are to plant basil, lemongrass, and rosemary. Those herbs require larger containers if not planted in a garden. Here are some herbs we love to grow.

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Weekend Gardening: Learn to Grow Strawberries in a Container

Strawberries are great to be grown in containers or a garden. They can be harvested and turned into delicious marmalades, desserts, sauces or ice cream and even be frozen to be used at a later time. Containers are ideal for growing strawberries because they will grow over the edges and not get in touch with the soil, making them easy to thrive and eat. Hanging containers can also add to any balcony’s appeal. Just make sure to plant a lot of strawberry plants, since you will want to have many of those aromatic fruits to enjoy.

How about a yummy Citrus Plant for your Weekend Gardening?

Although many think citrus trees grow only in warm climates, you can succeed in growing your own lemon, lime or orange tree even in colder areas. Just plant the tree in a large pot and move it into a warmer place – even inside – in the cold months. They may not produce very big citrus fruits, but they will be for sure filled with taste, juice, and fragrance.

These are just some ideas of many edibles you could plant that are easy to grow and to maintain without much effort. The effect, though, of having your own oranges or basil to use is so much greater than the effort it takes. Just go ahead and plant your favorite edible to enjoy them throughout spring, summer and even fall!

For more gardening ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Image via: Pinterest

Essential Gardening Tips for Summer

Image via: BHG

Water Plants Regularly

The harsh summer heat can take its toll on your garden. If you don’t water your plants adequately, the roots will stay close to the surface and become more prone to heat. Water them deeply to make the roots dig deeper.  Keep the water level at one inch every week to make the plants flourish.

Keep Pests at Bay

Pests can turn your beautiful summer garden into a disaster. To keep them at bay, monitor the garden carefully. If you are growing roses, watch out for aphids and mildew. You can also reapply pepper wax to keep rabbits, deer, and other big pests away.

Stake Tall Plants

Image via: BC Living

If you are growing tall, herbaceous plants, put stakes in place. This prevents them from looking messy or falling lower as they grow tall and heavy. Also use supports for climbers so as to control their growth and prevent an untidy appearance.

Prune Shrubs

While many shrubs don’t need pruning, some that flower in spring and early summer will greatly benefit from it after flowering. Pruning keeps your shrubs looking beautiful season after season. A great time to prune is immediately after things bloom as this prevents you from pruning flower buds.

Choose Plants with a Wide Root System

Image via: The Garden Glove

To start your garden off on the right foot, choose perennials, biennials, or heat resistant crops as opposed to annuals. This is because most annuals have shallow roots that dry out easily in the harsh summer heat.

Fertilize Well

Fertilizer is one of the major things that help plants thrive. Fertilize the soil before you plant to make sure your plants withstand the stress of dry weather and high heat. Use organic compost and sustainable stock-free fertilizers. If you have already planted, use liquid fertilizers to give your plants a boost.

Use these summer gardening tips to create a stunning garden. Afterwards you can sit, relax, and enjoy summer in your garden.

For more gardening tips on Stagetecture, click here.

The sun is shining and we all love the outdoors more and more. So it’s about time to give the backyard patio a make-over! Here are some great tips on how to give your backyard patio all what it needs for it to become one of the most used areas of your home in the warmer months ahead.

Backyard Patio Ideas for Spring

Plants, plants, plants

The most important things to have for a beautiful backyard patio are plants. A large variety of flowers, herbs, small trees and greenery is essential to give a natural feel to any backyard, especially so in spring. They will provide the area with stunning colors, wonderful smells and a soothing vibe to make the backyard patio a perfect spot to relax.

Image via: BHG

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Use Water Accents

Water is an important aspect for any backyard patio. It is another natural element that adds to the natural look and feel of any area and should be clever integrated to maximize its effect. Try to have running water to take advantage of the soothing effect of the sound it makes.

Image via: Onekindesign

Choose Furniture and Fabric

Choosing the right furniture is essential to make the most out of the available space. Choose comfortable, cozy furniture you will love to sink in after a long day in order to wind down and relax. Keep in mind to look for practicability, too. Outdoor furniture should be easy to maintain and clean, and looking for portability and easy storage should be an aspect, too, if only limited storage space is available.

Clever fabric and color choosing can add immensely to the character of your backyard patio. Think about vibrant color pallets that will remind you of Africa, Asia or Europe to give a more exotic look to the patio and that will make you feel like being on a mini-vacation each time you relax in this area.

Image via: HGTV

It would be a shame to let the extra outdoor space go to a waste when you can get such great use out of it! What Backyard Patio Ideas for Spring will you try this season?

For more outdoor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Terrariums are a great way to plants inside that can brighten up any corner of your home. It is easy to make your very own mini-terrariums that actually don’t cost much and are a fun DIY craft at any day. Here is how.

Image via: Kristin Eldridge

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DIY Craft: How to make a Mini-Terrarium

Supplies

1 plastic fish bowl or other clear container

Small stones

Potting soil

Plants (e.g. succulents)

For decoration: Small ornaments, stones, moss, figurines etc.

Image via: Pinterest

Procedure

1. Place a one-inch thick layer of small stones at the bottom of the container. The stones will help with the water drainage. You can additionally place a thin layer of activated charcoal to keep the water clean and another thin layer of sphagnum moss, which will keep the soil in place.

2. Next, add a 2-inch layer of potting soil on top of the small stones.

3. Add your decorative stones, plants and ornaments in a beautiful arrangement. Make sure to use different heights and textures and also a little color to keep things interesting. Don’t overfill it though, in order to give each plant enough room to grow.

Image via: A Beautiful Mess

Keep the terrarium in moderate to indirect sunlight and water the plants occasionally by spraying some water on them. If you are using plastic containers, consider hanging them from the ceiling using some hooks and chains. They will be an eye-catching piece in your home décor.

For more gardening ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

There’s no question that plants add beauty to any home. The vibrant colors and the soothing ambiance that plants provide to your home are necessary elements for comfortable living. Even with limited home area, a home garden is something that should be present and considered seriously. Besides, there are several home garden ideas such as container garden ideas that are intended for limited home space.

Spring Gardening: Creative Container Garden Ideas

One of the best garden ideas for limited home space is the container gardening. This will provide you with the necessary area for your plants to grow without getting a large portion of your backyard. Container gardening is also great when you want your plants to be movable. You can simply transfer or rearrange the containers from one area to another. Check out these creative container gardening ideas:

Consider a cast-concrete pool

This gardening idea is best for miniature gardens. With cast-concrete pool container, you can simply add plumbing devices for the plants without interfering your landscape. A cast-concrete pool container garden can be a great centerpiece to any area of your home. For best results, a combination of plants like Hostas, Violas and Blue Phlox make a perfect landscape.

Image via: HGTV

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Use uneven containers

Randomly arranged uneven containers will command attention to any of your guests. This gardening idea provides a great view of your landscape in various angles. You can also play with different plant varieties that will fit the size of your containers. A combination of Pansies, Violas, Panolas, Grass and Ivy will give you a beautiful masterpiece.

Image via: Gardenclub Homedepot

Consider terra cotta pots

The classic clay pot can certainly attract your guests in so many ways. It has a timeless appeal to anyone who comes to see your home. With the classic clay pot idea, you can always count on having the neatness and elegance of a garden at home. The mixed succulents garden idea is one of the popular trends these days.

Image via: Pinterest

So, next time that you think of enhancing your home, consider the above-mentioned container gardening ideas. You will definitely appreciate the beauty of nature right before your eyes. What spring gardening ideas will you try this season?

For more gardening ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Terrariums are a great way of bringing some greenery indoors especially during the cooler fall and winter months. Cooler weather gardening is wonderful for your indoor home. Green is the most common color found in nature. It is relaxing to the eyes and soothes erratic nerves. Unlike traditional gardens, terrariums create an ecosystem of their own in the glass jars and therefore they require very little care. The moisture caught in the closed glass jar is recycled and they do not require frequent watering to survive.

Here are five easy steps to create your own indoor garden: 

Image via: West elm blog

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What you need:

• A large glass jar with a tight lid,
• Three or four small plants like ferns and mosses
• Potting soil,
• Activated charcoal,
• Pebbles and
• Few decorative knick knacks

Image via: Driven by decor blog

1. Start with a clean dry glass jar. Layer your glass jar with rocks and pebbles. The pebbles help with the drainage and the layer should be anywhere between 1 – 4 inches deep depending on the depth of your glass jar

2. Next, add a few table spoons of activated charcoal on the top. Charcoal will ensure that excess moisture is absorbed and recycled. This will help the terrarium remain clean and healthy

3. Once the base of pebbles and charcoal is ready, add the soil. Moisten it well

4. You are now ready to place the plants in the soil. Make a hole in the soil with your fingers and place your plant. Remember that the leaves of your plants should not touch the glass. The plants must be placed in the middle of the jar to avoid mold and prevent the plants from rotting. Avoid over stuffing the terrarium with plants. You can cover the soil with moss if you like.

5. Finally, you can have fun decorating your terrarium. Place plastic animals or polymer clay mushrooms. You could also place a little house to create a fairy garden. Use your imagination and add interesting elements to your indoor garden.

Image via: 8oaksterrariums

Place the terrarium in indirect sunlight and water the soil with a few table spoons of water for the first few days. If you notice any condensation, open the lid for a few hours. Most terrariums are hassle free once the ecosystem is on track. Create a few of these and you can proudly show off your cooler weather gardening and this creative terrarium.

For more gardening ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Not all of us can be blessed with acres of rolling hills in our back garden, for most of us we have to make do with a much smaller space. However, there are plenty of positives from having a smaller garden; they’re not only easier to maintain but also much cheaper too!  The main challenge for small gardens is how to create an outdoor small garden space that doesn’t feel overcrowded yet uses available space effectively. Small garden-holders can be tempted to try and pack everything in to get your money’s worth, instead, pick a design a stick with it!

Image via: Houzz

Before you start thinking of ideas for your garden, calling in a landscaper and paving the whole thing it might be worth assessing your situation and asking yourself a few questions first. For example, if you have children the main purpose of your garden might be very different to if you’re retired and wanting to enjoy time in your garden. Once you’ve answered this it might help you decide whether you want the majority of your garden to be grass, paving or decking and what other features you might want to include.

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Traditional lawn

Keeping it traditional with a lawn and flowerbeds around the perimeter is definitely still an option for smaller gardens. Traditional doesn’t necessarily mean boring either – a healthy lawn can help give a back garden a lift.

Image via: Austin Outdoor Design

Decking in your small garden

Using wooden decking in your back garden is a great and hassle-free option for smaller gardens. A deck doesn’t have to be boring though a decent decking paint available from Ronseal will brighten up your back garden. However, there are a few rules you need to follow before you get the paintbrush out –

1)     Make sure the wood is clean and dry before you paint

2)     Remove all loose nails

3)     Fill any holes

Over colder months wooden decking will need maintaining; using teak oil such as the Ronseal Version will restore and protect the wood’s original nutrients lost through weathering.

Image via: Robin Amorello, CKD CAPS – Atmoscaper Design

Small Garden paving ideas around your outdoor home

Paving often conjures up images of huge breeze blocks and ugly gardens but paving your back garden can be a stylish addition to your garden. Rather than big paving stones which can overpower small gardens, go for smaller shapes such as

A couple more tips to maximise space in your small garden:

Keep garden furniture in proportion with the rest of your garden. Large, bulky furniture will swallow up all available space!

Look upwards! If you’re interested in growing your own plants/flowers/vegetables but don’t have room to squeeze in a flowerbed or a vegetable patch, potted plants, wall hangings and window boxes are ingenious ways of saving on floor space. Tomatoes, salad, strawberries, cucumbers, runner beans and squash are all pot-friendly.

Get clever with paint! White or cream coloured garden walls will give off an airy feel to a garden whilst a dark wall at the very end of your garden will give the illusion of a never ending garden.

Having a small garden doesn’t have to be a burden, it’s all about what you do with the garden to maximise the space!

For more gardening tips on Stagetecture, click here.

Gardening in the autumn is a great idea! It’s a great pastime activity that you can work on and harvest several benefits later. Well, just imagine having beautiful blossoms this autumn, this should give a picturesque view of your garden at home.

But your efforts and time are not enough the success of your garden. You have to know exactly the right plant varieties that are suitable to plant this autumn. This will ensure that the plant can endure the weather conditions during autumn season.

Image via: Pinterest: Robin Mourning

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For autumn season, you can count on these plants to grow in your garden:

• Spring bulbs

This type of plant grows pretty well in cold weather. The spring bulbs provide a stunning lavender display in your garden. This blends well with green and white colors. The plant bulbs randomly bloom vertically like a sleek pyramid. This plant is certainly a great addition to your garden this autumn.

Image via: Kanary’s Landscaping

• Pansies

Pansies are getting more popular these days, especially during autumn, because of their inimitable beauty. Its vibrant colors and animated forms make it a nice addition to your garden. You will also find it very easy to take care of. This makes pansies more dominant in the majority of gardens during autumn season.

Image via: Flickr

• Broccoli

It’s not only flowering plants that dominate autumn. You can also rely on vegetables for your garden. This autumn, you can plant broccoli in your garden and harvest this crop as an ingredient for your favorite broccoli recipe. This is a healthy addition to your garden plant collections this autumn. Broccoli is a cool-season vegetable that loves to grow during autumn season.

So, what are you waiting for? Get your gardening tools and gear up for an ultimate planting mission this autumn. And don’t forget to consider the above-mentioned plant varieties so you don’t get any problem with growing them in a cool season.

For more gardening ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Happy DIY Saturday! Now that late-summer is set upon us – don’t think you can forget about your garden and landscaping. From trees and shrubs to simple themes to adding decorative outdoor handcrafted products to your late-summer home.  Watch a video on choosing the right trees and shrubs for your home and then look at these creative trends for your outdoor home.

Image via: Lori Scott Landscape

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Video – Choosing trees and shrubs for landscaping

Link to Video –> Choosing trees and shrubs for landscaping

Late summer ideas for your outdoor home

Late summer is probably the best  season to work on your landscaping. The abundance of sunlight makes it favorable for plants to grow. It is also the time when the climate is so vibrant that you can showcase your landscape to your guests. Well, summer won’t be known for outdoor season for nothing.

Image via: Mary Prince

Enhancing your outdoor landscape isn’t an easy task. You can’t do it overnight. Landscaping needs thorough planning to have a desirable output. You have to know which one works for your area.

Outdoor Late Summer Landscaping Tips

To help you out on your landscape, check out these 3 outdoor trends for your summer landscaping:

• Go for energy efficient automation

Almost everything today are automated. So, why not try it in your landscape. You can install an automated lighting system, water sprinklers and  many more. Automation doesn’t only take your routine tasks but also save your power consumption. For instance, you don’t have to worry about not turning your lights off when you wake up late, automation can do it for you. Isn’t that cool?

Image via: Autumn Skies Landscapes

• Work on themes

A theme design works perfectly in any home setting. This idea works in various ways. You can setup your outdoor landscape way ahead of your planned summer party.  You can work on a theme that complements your party like a fairy tale, superheroes or any theme that  you think of. But even if you will not host a party, themed design is a perfect choice.

Image via: Autumn Skies Landscapes

• Choose handcrafted products

If you’re looking for unique designs and eco-friendly, this one is perfect for you. Handcrafted decorations are typically made of recycled or eco-friendly materials. The majority of the process in making these products are by hand. You can be sure that each product is designed and made by skilled craftsmen. You will be amazed at how these products transform your landscape into a natural work of art.

Any of these landscape ideas will definitely turn your outdoor landscape into a picturesque view. It’s just a matter of implementing  the summer landscape that fits your preference.

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.