English Garden Design Ideas That Bring Cottage-Style Charm to Any Yard

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"English gardens are particularly known for their mixed borders, large beds planted with a combination of annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses, and shrubs. They're charming, colorful, and tougher to pull off than they look. “It's a fine line between a beautiful naturalistic planting and a bloody mess,” says Tom Coward, head gardener at Gravetye Manor, an iconic British hotel on the former grounds of a Victorian garden. Read on for his expert tips on artfully blending English garden ideas with the timeless informality of cottage style gardens to create stunning mixed borders."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

Great article!  I've always been inspired by cottage style gardens.

Click here to go to the Better Homes and Gardens article to learn more about English gardens.

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Blooming Houseplants to Grow Indoors

 

Photo source:  Birds and Blooms

"Flowering house plants are a colorful, easy way to combat winter’s gloom. We rounded up 10 of our favorite blooming houseplants that you can try growing this winter, like African violets, orchids, and amaryllis."  Comment from Birds and Blooms 

I have not done much gardening indoors in recent years, however, I'm planning on learning as much as I can about what I can grow indoors and would love blooming plants.  Know before you grow!

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Gardening Tasks to Complete Before Spring to Prevent Pests and Diseases

 

"While there is no infallible defense against pests and diseases affecting your flower and veggie beds, there are preventative steps you can take before the growing season starts. If you don't act, pests and diseases from the previous growing season may linger through the winter and reinfect your garden in spring."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

Excellent article!

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Flavorful Herbs to Plant in Shady Spots Around Your Garden

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"Some herbs require a little less light than others to thrive; they tolerate partial shade, which translates into 3 to 6 hours of direct sun daily. Here is a selection of popular herbs that grow in partial shade, along with must-know planting tips."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

Great information to learn about growing herbs in your shady spots.

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How to Grow Tomatoes in Pots—Even Without a Garden

Photo source:  Garden Betty

 "Growing tomatoes has never been so easy! And you don’t need a big space to yield hundreds of pounds of tomatoes from just a handful of container plants. This step-by-step guide will show you how to grow tomatoes in pots with big results—even if you don’t have a “proper” garden."  Comment from Garden Betty

We have grown tomatoes in five-gallon buckets with great success.

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Types of Squirrels and How to Tell Them Apart

 

Photo source:  Birds and Blooms

"You may have a concrete idea of what a squirrel is and looks like but there are many distinct types of squirrels, with over 65 species that live in North America. The most common types of squirrels are tree squirrels, ground squirrels and flying squirrels. Here is what sets them apart."  Comment from Birds and Blooms

Love the squirrels and would like to learn more about them.

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Simple Ways to Attract More Birds to Your Birdhouse

 

"Love birds and want to create a space for them to spend more time in your yard? A birdhouse will help entice feathered beauties to spend more time near your home. Along with making sure you're providing a bird-friendly backyard habitat, you'll want to hang your birdhouse in the optimal place and consider the best type of birdhouses to use. Here’s what you need to know about how to attract birds to a birdhouse in your yard."  Comments from Better Homes and Gardens

Good information to know if you love the birds visiting your garden.

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Why You Need To Prune Pepper Plants

 

Photo source:  This Is My Garden

"When it comes to growing healthy, vibrant and extremely productive pepper plants, pruning can play a big role in the overall success of your plants. Not only can pruning your pepper plants help improve the amount of air, water and sunlight they receive for strong growth – it can also boost pollination and yields."  Comment from This Is My Garden

Great information to learn how to be a better gardener.

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Keep Zinnias Blooming All Summer

 

Photo source:  This Is My Garden

"If you want a flower that can brighten up your landscape for almost the entire growing season, it’s hard to beat zinnias. Their colorful, daisy-like blooms are not only beautiful, they’re also incredibly easy to grow. Even better, with the slightest of care, you can keep them constantly flowering."  Comment from This Is My Garden

When I am serious about gardening, I always plant zinnias all over.  I love them!  Easy to grow from seed.

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Flower Bed Ideas That Will Inspire Your Garden Design

 

Photo source:  Martha Stewart

"There are so many beautiful flowers that you can grow in your garden and even more ways to arrange them. Choosing the right colors and blossoms for your flower bed can feel like a daunting task, though—especially if it's your first time really digging into gardening.

Of course, every flower bed will be different. Some will want to create a pollinator garden, while others may be more interested in nurturing blooms for homegrown bouquets. Whatever your personal preference, we've gathered 25 different flower bed ideas from the experts to help get you started."  Comment from Martha Stewart.com

So many beautiful flower bed ideas to inspire us.  Check it out!

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