http://landscaping.about.com/ Get the latest headlines from the About.com http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hh http://www.about.com/ 118 20 en-us 2013-05-22T07:59:39Z Wed, 22 May 2013 07:59:39 +0000 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/23/flamingo-japanese-willow-worth-the-work.htm <p> Experienced gardeners are well aware of the fact that some plants are more work than others. <a href="http://landscaping.about.com/od/landscapingshrubsbushe1/p/Japanese_willow.htm"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/landscaping/1/0/Z/W/Flamingo_willow_catkin.jpg" align="left" hspace="10" vspace="10" height="170" width="170" alt="picture of flamingo willow catkin" border="0"></a>And sometimes, that's OK. After all, if you love plants, it's enjoyable to go out into the yard and work around them. But not all work is created equal; here's what I mean: </p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/23/flamingo-japanese-willow-worth-the-work.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/23/flamingo-japanese-willow-worth-the-work.htm Thu, 23 May 2013 07:59:05 +0000 2013-05-23T07:59:05Z http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/22/backyard-landscaping-from-hosts-to-hermits.htm <p> Different people use the backyard in radically different ways. Here are some of the possible purposes to which the backyard may be put that come to mind immediately:<a href="http://landscaping.about.com/od/landscapedesignideas/tp/backyard-landscaping.htm"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/landscaping/1/G/U/U/out_door_kitchen_appliances.jpg" align="left" hspace="20" vspace="20" height="106" width="160" alt="picture of outdoor kitchen" border="0"></a> <ul> <li>For hosting parties</li> <li>As a play area for your kids</li> <li>As an outdoor home for a pet</li> <li>As an outdoor dining area</li> <li>For physical activities ranging from swimming to tennis</li> <li>For vegetable gardens</li> <li>For ornamental gardens</li> <li>As a secluded refuge from the hubbub of the outside world</li> </ul> </p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/22/backyard-landscaping-from-hosts-to-hermits.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/22/backyard-landscaping-from-hosts-to-hermits.htm Wed, 22 May 2013 07:59:39 +0000 2013-05-22T07:59:39Z http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/21/become-a-fan-of-about-com-landscaping-on-facebook.htm <p> If you had told me a few years ago that someday I'd be spending as much time on social media as I do now, I would have laughed at you. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/about.landscaping"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/landscaping/1/0/T/c/Facebook-pumpkin.jpg" align="left" hspace="10" vspace="10" height="170" width="200" alt="picture of Facebook pumpkin" border="0"></a>But many of my readers find it convenient to be able to follow my landscaping observations via social media, so I've given in to technological change. I'm all over social media now. And why not? Heck, people even carve pumpkins in honor of Facebook now (picture). </p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/21/become-a-fan-of-about-com-landscaping-on-facebook.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/21/become-a-fan-of-about-com-landscaping-on-facebook.htm Tue, 21 May 2013 07:54:37 +0000 2013-05-21T07:54:37Z http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/20/do-you-have-landscaping-issues-with-your-spouse.htm <p> There's a good chance that you disagree with your significant other over this or that, occasionally (for some of you, that might be the understatement of the year!). <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/landscaping/1/0/n/E/front_fence_planting.jpg" align="left" hspace="10" vspace="10" height="170" width="170" alt="picture of fence planting" border="0">Sometimes, the bone of contention between you may pertain to landscaping, specifically. Examples of landscaping issues that couples may disagree over include: <ul> <li>Whether or not to have a big lawn</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/od/toppicks/ht/lawn_mowing.htm">How often to mow that lawn</a>, and who will mow it</li> <li>What <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/od/growingshrubs/f/types_of_shrubs.htm">types of shrubs</a> to plant</li> <li>How often or how drastically to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/od/shrubcare/Care_of_Shrubs_and_Bushes_Pruning_Shrubs.htm">prune those shrubs</a></li> <li>Whether or not you need a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/od/fencedesignconstruction/a/wood_fences.htm">fence</a></li> <li>What style that fence should be</li> <li>Whether or not to have a pool</li> <li>Who should clean that pool</li> </ul> </p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/20/do-you-have-landscaping-issues-with-your-spouse.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/20/do-you-have-landscaping-issues-with-your-spouse.htm Mon, 20 May 2013 07:59:10 +0000 2013-05-20T07:59:10Z http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/19/ageratum-blue-star-of-the-aster-family.htm <p> Novices may know "<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://flowers.about.com/od/Perennial-Flowers/p/Grow-Perennial-Aster-Flower-Plants-For-Fall-Blooms.htm">aster</a>" as a term that designates a favorite flower valued for the fall color it provides. <a href="http://landscaping.about.com/od/flowerseed/p/blue-ageratum.htm"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/landscaping/1/0/1/U/ageratum_blue_closeup_large.jpg" align="left" hspace="10" vspace="10" height="170" width="170" alt="picture of ageratum flower" border="0"></a>But it is also the name of a family of flowers -- a <b>huge</b> family! </p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/19/ageratum-blue-star-of-the-aster-family.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/19/ageratum-blue-star-of-the-aster-family.htm Sun, 19 May 2013 07:59:06 +0000 2013-05-19T07:59:06Z http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/18/help-your-plants-pick-you.htm <p> Do you <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/c/ec/186.htm">pick your plants</a> or do <b>they</b> pick you? It's a little of both, really. </p> <p> <a href="http://landscaping.about.com/od/Plant-Database/tp/plant-selection.htm"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/landscaping/1/0/b/G/pink_rose_stem.jpg" align="left" hspace="10" vspace="10" height="170" width="170" alt="picture of pink rose" border="0"></a>Oh sure, you're the one that drives to the garden center, where you "ooh" and "ah" at the specimens that impress you. And you're the one who shells out the money, loads the plants in the car and brings them home for planting. </p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/18/help-your-plants-pick-you.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/18/help-your-plants-pick-you.htm Sat, 18 May 2013 08:00:01 +0000 2013-05-18T08:00:01Z http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/17/stars-of-the-yard-for-may-2011.htm <p> As a baseball fan, I sometimes have mixed feelings about a game that my team is winning by a lopsided margin. <a href="http://landscaping.about.com/od/Tall-Perennials/p/flowering-quince-shrubs.htm"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/landscaping/1/0/U/a/flowering-quince-branch-sma.jpg" align="left" hspace="10" vspace="10" height="110" width="170" alt="picture of flowering quince bush branch" border="0"></a>One side of me revels in the joys of the moment, but the other side of me wishes that we could somehow "save some of those runs" for the next game, when every run might well turn out to be precious. </p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/17/stars-of-the-yard-for-may-2011.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/17/stars-of-the-yard-for-may-2011.htm Fri, 17 May 2013 08:01:08 +0000 2013-05-17T08:01:08Z http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/16/fritillaria-bold-bulb.htm <p> Some plants are an acquired taste. Their small stature and toned-down colors aren't inherently exciting. <a href="http://landscaping.about.com/od/colorfulflowers/ig/orange-flowers/fritillaria-picture-big.htm"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/landscaping/1/0/e/Z/fritillaria-imperialis-smal.jpg" align="right" hspace="10" vspace="10" height="120" width="170" alt="picture of fritillaria" border="0"></a>They will never be appreciated by those who crave only bold plants that scream out, "Notice me!" If it's bold you want (and there's nothing wrong with that), try <i><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/od/colorfulflowers/ig/orange-flowers/fritillaria-picture-big.htm">Fritillaria imperialis</a></i>, commonly known as "crown imperial." </p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/16/fritillaria-bold-bulb.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/16/fritillaria-bold-bulb.htm Thu, 16 May 2013 08:11:22 +0000 2013-05-16T08:11:22Z http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/15/shade-roses.htm <p> "Shade-tolerant roses" may seem oxymoronic to experienced gardeners. <a href="http://landscaping.about.com/od/rosebushes/ig/rose-types/"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/landscaping/1/0/S/N/red_rose.jpg" align="left" hspace="10" vspace="10" height="170" width="170" alt="picture of red rose" border="0"></a>"However, if your garden doesn't quite get the 5-6 hours of full sun usually recommended for growing roses, you may still be able to grow select varieties of roses," states Marie Iannotti, About's Guide to Gardening. Find out about those varieties in this article on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://gardening.about.com/od/rose1/a/ShadeRoses.htm">shade-tolerant roses</a>. </p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/15/shade-roses.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/15/shade-roses.htm Wed, 15 May 2013 08:03:18 +0000 2013-05-15T08:03:18Z http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/14/bridalwreath-spirea.htm <p> <div align="center"> <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/landscaping/1/0/j/b/bridalwreath-spirea-big.jpg" hspace="5" border="0" alt="picture of Bridalwreath Spirea" height="140" width="200"> </div> </p> <p> Bridalwreath is just one of the wonderful <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/od/shrubsbushes/Flowering_Shrubs_as_Specimens_To_Attract_Birds.htm">flowering shrubs</a> to which I look forward every year, as I await the emergence of their blossoms. Other spireas are <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/od/shrubsbushes/p/spirea_bushes.htm">Neon Flash</a> and <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/od/small-bushes/p/Gold-Mound-spirea.htm">Gold Mound</a>. </p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/14/bridalwreath-spirea.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://landscaping.about.com/b/2013/05/14/bridalwreath-spirea.htm Tue, 14 May 2013 08:11:34 +0000 2013-05-14T08:11:34Z