Simple Tips to Bring Autumn to your Front Door this Season

[ad#co-1]

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.

[ad#co-1]

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.

Container Gardens: Creative Ways to Bring Color to Your Home

Image via: Cool Things

[ad#co-1]

Hyacinths in a Container

Which is the best thing to beat the summer heat? Obviously, WATER! Creating a water garden is a cool way to keep the heat away. Use water plants like hyacinths for this purpose because they do not need soil to sustain and grow up. All they need for their nutrients are water and sunlight. The great thing is you do not need a lily pond for this unique garden. You just need containers, especially glass containers will look nice, and a space that gets sunlight. So, create your mini water garden right now and enjoy the blooms of the aquatic plants.

Hanging Ferns

Staghorn ferns are a popular choice for wall garden. However, growing them on the walls, especially inside a house, will be difficult and challenging. An easy solution is to use hanging alternatives. Use a terra-cotta pot with a wire basket fittingly pushed down inside it.

Image via: Arqhys

Now, place a layer of potting moss on the wire basket and put the Staghorn ferns with the plastic pot they come on that layer. Conceal the plastic pot and cover the soil by adding more potting moss. Now, hang it from a window or any space where the ceiling is low.

Mood-Changing Small Potted Plants

A small pot filled with lush flower plants can easily fit into your bedside table, working desk, or even a corner of your small reading nook. Blue, red, and orange tropical flowers framed by green plants in a nice pot can instantly change the mood of a room. You can also create a rich and versatile palette in any small corner of your home by mixing different types of plants. The combination of three plants including moneywort, coleus, and fuchsia will be enough to create a tiny oasis in your home office or reading nook.

Image via: Femside

Double the Freshness with Double Potted Plants

Two potted containers on a small bench can easily grace the décor of your kitchen or living room. Two small old buckets or enamel milk pails filled with flower plants or ferns and placed on an old-fashioned or industrial bench will bring a rustic charm along with freshness to your interior. Pothos vine, moon valley pilea, or sword ferns will be excellent choice for this container gardening. Put the plants on a plastic pot and then, place it inside the bucket or pail. Take the plastic pot out to water.

Image via: Homedit

These unique container gardens will make your home a colorful spring garden.

For more gardening 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

[ad#co-1]

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

[ad#co-1]

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

[ad#co-1]

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.

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

[ad#co-1]

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.

Do you really need to have a green thumb for plants to grow? Well, let’s start breaking that belief. Plants grow where there is sunlight, water and other essential factors in the environment. If your plants are having problems growing – you may need some simple gardening troubleshooting advice. Of course, your intervention and care will be of great help.

Gardening is not an overnight task. It takes time and efforts to make your garden a success. You have to be dedicated in taking care of every plant in your garden. This will increase the chance of making your plants grow vibrantly. To make this happen, take note of these simple gardening troubleshooting tips for guidance:

Image via: Aloe Test Garden

[ad#co-1]

The sun is your best partner.

Even in your grade school days, you’re made aware that the sun plays a vital role in a plant’s growth. This is still true until now. Exposing your plants to sunlight is necessary. You have to make sure that sunlight can pass through your garden. You can do this by making some adjustments on your roofing or rearranging your plants to experience sunlight.

Image via: Shirley Bovshow

Know when to prune your plants.

You have to consider the right time to prune your plants. But bear in mind that different varieties have different time for pruning. For instance, when you prune summer bloomers in late spring, you can expect the blossom later in summer. If you’re not sure with the appropriate time or season to prune, you can always count on the experts or the internet.

Image via: The Brickman Group

Use the right gardening tools.

Don’t take this for granted. It’s not just for you to work easily and safely but also for your plants as well. Your investment in tool and equipment will definitely pay off with a bountiful blossom. Like when you want to prune your plants, using an improper pruning tool can damage the branch, or worst the whole plant.

Learn to love your plants and they will definitely give the love back through producing beautiful flowers. Take it one step at a time.

For more gardening tips on Stagetecture, click here.

]]> https://stagetecture.com/plants-wont-grow-simple-gardening-troubleshooting-tips/feed/ 0 53006 https://stagetecture.com/10-top-tips-for-getting-your-garden-ready-for-autumn/ https://stagetecture.com/10-top-tips-for-getting-your-garden-ready-for-autumn/#respond Mon, 12 Aug 2013 18:54:19 +0000 https://stagetecture.com/?p=53324 Guest Blogger +1K, Entry #2738, August 12, 2013 

Although we are all busy enjoying the summer in all its glory, now is the time to get your garden ready for autumn. Summer is the time of the year where the garden will get the most use. In order for us to enjoy this every year, we have to keep it well maintained throughout all the seasons. Autumn is just around the corner, below are ten top tips to get your garden ready.

1. Assess your garden

Have a good look around your garden. You cannot get a plan in place if you don’t know what needs doing. Make sure you cover the entire garden and make note of anything that requires attention.

Image via: Shades Of Green Landscape Architecture

[ad#co-1]

2. Luscious lawn:

Everyone wants the perfect lawn, now is the time to prepare in order to ensure a positive result. Use an Autumn lawn fertiliser from your local DIY store. This will be high in phosphates & potash. This will help develop strong roots and create a nice and healthy lawn. Always follow the instruction on the back of the box for application and watering guidelines.

3. Plant spring bulbs:

Mid October is the best time to plant your spring bulbs which include tulips and daffodils. This is the best time before the ground starts to get hard and freeze.

4. Decking care:

If you are lucky enough to have some decking now is the time to give it some care and attention. Summer is the best time to paint your decking in order to make it look fantastic and protect it in Autumn and Winter. It would be recommended to give the decking a coat of Ronseal decking stain which waterproofs, adds UV protection and protects against cracking and blistering.

Image via: Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture

5. Preparing winter vegetation:

Everyone loves a parsnip and leek in there stew for the colder nights. Now is the time to start preparing your crop. Once planted, add generous amounts of mulch around them in order to protect them when the temperature drops.

6. Be cautious with pruning:

Some people will start pruning in Autumn but many garden experts would recommend not to do this. The main issue is that pruning promotes growth, this is what you want to prevent going into colder months. Most plants stay at their best when they are dormant in winter.

7. House plants:

Now is also the perfect time to fertilise your house plants. It would be recommended to use a balanced fertiliser and also give them a good shower. Most house plants don’t like drafts so always bear that in mind.

Image via: Alderwood Landscaping

8. Wooden garden furniture:

Autumn is known for been rather wet, now is the time to protect your wooden garden furniture. Start by giving them a coat of Ronseal teak oil which penetrates the wood and replaces all the oils that are lost though weathering. It is then wise to cover them with a thick protective sheet or move them into a dry area such as a shed.

9. Watch out for bugs:

This is when the bugs will come out to play and feed on your prized collection of plants. Make sure you check all the plants and deal with the bugs accordingly.

10. Wonderful wildlife:

Last but no means least fill up your bird feeder. Autumn can be a tough time for wildlife as well, so do your bit to help them out!

For more gardening tips on Stagetecture, click here.