Posted in Inspiration, Landscaping, Patios, Photos, YOTD | 0 Comments

Beuatiful pool area is a secluded oasis – YOTD

Today’s Yard of the Day comes to us from near Orlando, Florida, where Flickr user Joe Shlabotnik’s mother-in-law has created a beautiful pool area that’s really a private oasis. So many pool areas in South Florida are barren and ugly — particularly since local ordinances insist on aluminum screening — but we’re delighted to see Joe’s mom has spent some time and energy to make her patio comfortable and tropical. We’re not sure if our highlight is the stunning red bougainvillea outside the screening… or the luscious bromeliad hedge rimming the pool. Either way, we want to dive right in!

If you’d like to submit a photo of your yard to be considered as a YOTD, simply join our Flickr group, Yardhacker’s Yard of the Day, and add your photo.  If you want.  No pressure.  Really.

Posted in Gardening, Landscaping | 0 Comments

Calendar of monthly gardening reminders, tasks, and projects

Wow, March already? You know what that means: Spring is right around the corner!  It’s time to start prepping your backyard for the change in weather.  But what, exactly, should you be doing, and when?

Check out TheGardenHelper’s “Calendar of monthly gardening reminders, tasks, and projects” — a blast-from-the-web’s-past site listing “all the important tasks, maintenance and projects which should accomplished in your garden during the given month.”  For example, the entry for March begins:

In most areas it is still possible to do dormant spraying of fruit trees until the 15th, after that date dilute the spray by 1/2. Spraying should be done on a still day with the temperature above 40 degrees F. Late March and early April is a good time to transplant shrubs and trees. As soon as the soil is workable, but before buds have swelled or broken open, you can move shrubs and trees.

To read the rest of March, click here, and bookmark the calendar’s landing page to view your to-do’s for the upcoming months.