It was beautiful and it got me thinking about elements that I would like to see in my garden.  That in turn made me think about sharing those ideas with you, the readers of Savvy Gardening.  So what exactly am I getting at?  It’s simple, when you are designing your own garden, take a few minutes to take some things from nature.

Okay, I probably lost you there since nature is abundant in a garden but I mean it in a more inspirational way.  Have you ever taken a photograph of a forest path?  When you stop and look at the pictures you can look at it and find a haphazard mess with trees leaning everywhere and plants growing wherever there is space and sunlight.  It might not be the exact image that you have for a garden but if you stop and take a closer look you can find so many points that you could incorporate into your garden.

Forest ferns may provide the perfect shade of green in one corner of your garden.  The path that gently meanders around trees that are hundreds of years old may provide you with a layout for your own garden path.  The carefree sprinkling of wild flowers can give you an array of colors to pull out of the picture and into your own garden.  There are a million ways to be inspired from nature around us an it is very easy to start using the nature in your yard to build up flower beds and ponds.

For me, I have already decided on incorporating a few more ferns, adding a few more trees and I have plotted out a patch in my yard where I would like to plant wildflowers.  The hike has given me endless inspiration and that is really what you should pull from nature; the inspiration to create a garden of untold delights.

Happy Gardening,

Sirena Van Schaik

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I didn’t think much about gardening at that point, really at 17-18 the big draw are the patio parties, but I did wonder if it would be okay to plant a few flowers in the planters available.  I didn’t though partly because I wasn’t sure what plants to use, partly because I was a young and poor and partly because I wasnt’ sure if it was okay to do so. 

Since then, I have found that planting a garden in a rental property is something that many renters wonder about.  I have met many avid gardeners that are just waiting to sign the dotted line on their own mortgages so they can get out into the yard to start setting up the garden they have been dreaming about.  This very same gardeners that have been keeping flowers to a minimum, mostly in planters, and are always in despair at how sparse their rented yard looks.

When it comes to a rented house, there really is no reason why you should avoid the joys of having a rented garden.  Most rental boards have a policy that property should be enjoyed as though it is yours and not a rental, barring major redesigning however.  Most rental properties have flower beds already dug into them and some even come with an assortment of perennials already in place.  There is nothing hindering a renter from moving into those flower beds and creating a whole new theme.

About 10 years ago, I moved into another beautiful 3 bedroom house, I preferred 3 bedrooms for some reason.  Anyway, this house was set in an older Italian neighborhood and every yard had full gardens, fruit trees, flower beds and grass to make even the most cared for golf course envious.  I jumped into the fact that I now had places to plant flowers, fruit trees to tend to and an assortment of other ideas to put into place.  I was still very hesitant about starting new projects but I enjoyed the rose bushes that were already in place and the space that was provided.  As I became more comfortable in my rented space, I began adding flower beds to the yard and quickly started designing a garden I could enjoy completely.

And that is what every gardener who rents should know.  It is okay to add flower beds and other garden areas.  If it is a big project, such as a pond or walkway, I would strongly suggest speaking to the home owner before you do.  More than likely, they won’t have a problem but in the off chance that they do, you won’t risk eviction by talking to them first.

When you decide to plant your rented garden, I would recommend a few things to alleviate any worries or potential problems.

• Ask the landlord:  I already mentioned this but if you are adding anything, it doesn’t hurt to ask or even just to mention that you are planning to expand the flower beds.
• Plan for leaving:  As with all rented spaces, there will be a time when you will move.  This may not always be in the summer so if you don’t want to loose money on perennials, stick to annuals instead.  You can have very nice gardens with only annuals and although it can cost you more money in the grand scheme of gardening, you won’t have to worry about losing an $80 perennial.  If your lease runs from summer to summer, plan to use perennials that can handle being transported.
• Make the garden easy to use:  Although we all have ideas of what we want in a garden, it is important to create a garden that can be up-kept with relative ease.  The next renters may not have any interest in gardening and if it can be taken care of with very little effort, the landlord will appreciate you all the more and will send out great references if you are renting again.
• Don’t think of it as rented:  Don’t spend all your time thinking about the garden as rented. Simply enjoy it now and put in the things that you want in it.  Sure you may leave it behind but you can always look forward to a new blank canvas to try new ideas.
• Make use of containers:  Yes, I know that not everyone wants to stick with containers but it can minimize the amount of money you are putting into a rental.  When you move, if you have cared for your containers, you can gather up your pots and keep a piece of your investment when you leave.

So these are only a few tips but the main point that I am trying to get across is that you do not need to feel stuck with no gardening enjoyment if you rent.  Maybe you won’t be able to do as much as home owners but you can still have magnificent gardens that have guests and passer-byers whispering, “I wish my garden was like that.”

Sirena Van Schaik

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Expect the following outdoor living and lifestyle trends to flourish in 2008.

Wise with water
“Drip irrigation, rain gardens, rain barrels and drought-resistant plants will grow in popularity this year,” says Amy Gath, outdoor living and gardening expert at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. “Accessories like rain barrels will no longer be the utilitarian 50-gallon drum, but will be a cool, functional fashion piece in the yard.”

As homeowners re-evaluate water use, lawn-care habits may change. One way to help the lawn become more water-efficient is to mow high and often, never removing more than one-third of the grass blade. This helps grass absorb water and encourages deeper root growth, allowing the grass to save more water. Feeding regularly is also important to maintaining a healthy lawn that can absorb and use water more efficiently. Look for lawns to be kept fuller, instead of cropped short.

Several regions of the country are recovering from drought, so reviving the garden will be important this season. Start by clearing out dead annuals and cutting back damaged perennials to reveal green and healthy stems. Bed plants benefit from a layer of mulch to retain moisture, and if possible, revive potted plants in a tray of water until the soil’s surface is wet.

Low-maintenance garden
Most homeowners don’t have hours to spend pampering plants. Some may want the beauty of a garden, but not the time commitment. Easy-to-grow-and-care-for plants that require less spraying and less pruning are rising in popularity.

Plants such as rose of Sharon and butterfly bush are simple to maintain and great additions to any garden. Another tip is to use time-saving products like Miracle-Gro Watering Can Singles, water-soluble plant food pre-measured in a packet ready to be poured into a watering can.

Edible garden
No matter how convenient it is to buy veggies at the supermarket, there’s a satisfaction that comes from enjoying homegrown produce. Vegetable and herb gardening are growing trends this year. But gardeners won’t be planting huge crops, and instead will do vegetable gardening in containers.

“Container gardening is hotter than ever,” says Gath. “The smaller surface area in the container makes things easier to control.” Not only are containers convenient, but a cluster of pretty little pots growing leafy herbs like basil or parsley makes an excellent decorative addition to any deck.

There’s no place like home
This year homeowners will reflect their indoor style in outdoor décor. A hot trend right now is earthy, natural-toned plants punctuated by bright splashes of color. Flowers with invigorating hues like bright blue, sunny yellow, Rococo red and deep blue with violet undertones are striking against muted browns and greens. Many of these color palettes are inspired by fashion and interior decorating trends.

Now more than ever the back yard is the most popular place to retreat. People are designing and enjoying outdoor entertaining spaces as a true extension of their homes. Lawn and garden products and décor will become increasingly important to maintaining these valued spaces. For example, a fire pit is upgraded to an outdoor fireplace and the grill is swapped out for a mini-kitchen.

Loving the locals
Local farmers’ markets and flower stands are becoming increasingly popular as more gardeners discover the varieties of vegetable seedlings and native plant species local stands often offer. Most markets are open only during the summer, so take advantage of them for warm-weather planting.

For more helpful tips on garden and outdoor-inspired living, visit www.scotts.com.

Courtesy of ARA content

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1994: A Channel Is Born.

Home and Garden Television, also known as HGTV, launched as a new cable channel in 1994, proudly proclaiming its slogan, “Start at home.” The network is owned by the E.W. Scripps Company, and its sister channels include the Food Network, Fine Living, DIY Network, and Great American Country.

As its name implies, HGTV programming devotes itself to activities done around the house: landscaping, gardening, remodeling, redecorating, organizing, crafting, and so forth. HGTV programming currently includes more than 80 active shows and an assortment of seasonal specials.

1996: A Show Is Born

Gardening By The Yard has been part of the HGTV lineup since 1996, with host Paul James also serving as the series’ creator, writer, talent, and senior producer. James films every episode of Gardening By The Yard almost entirely in his backyard.

According to James, the other gardening shows he’d watched when he was younger showed perfect, pristine, bug-free gardens that made home gardeners think they must be doing something wrong, because their yards never looked like that. Not only did the gardens look perfect, the hosts also looked perfect, never breaking a sweat, with every hair in place.

When he created Gardening By The Yard, James decided to make his show as close to real life as possible. The show’s dedication to reality and James’s oddball personality have made the show a hit.

Gardening By The Yard’s host began gardening in 1978, when he and wife Carrie became first-time homeowners. James took gardening courses in college and was certified as a Master Gardener in 1983.

Before creating Gardening By The Yard, James owned a company that specialized in corporate comedy.

Gardening By The Yard – The Show Today

In classic episodes of the program that were filmed outside of James’ backyard, Gardening By The Yard visited a California garden that looks like a coral reef and an expert on vines in Ft. Worth, Texas. Other episodes of Gardening By The Yard airing this season focus on “green” (eco-friendly) gardening, feeding birds, using spreaders and sprayers, gardening in micro gardens, and safety in gardening.

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Backyard Landscape Gardening

For homeowners that wish to try landscape gardening in their own yards, there is much enjoyment to be had in this endeavor. Similar to the larger scale parks, you have to consider the natural terrain of your yard before you start gardening project. One more thing to consider is the size of the area that you intend to landscape.

Other things that you might consider when planning to landscape your yard are the patios and walkways that you might like to implement in your garden. Some landscape gardening designs include fountains, flagstone paths, rockeries, low walls and others. Once you start a landscape gardening project, you can expect that this will take a long time to finish because there are always new ideas and inspiration that you like to add to the project.

Some landscape gardens are rambling, which means that they are more in the country style where plants are encouraged to grow and there is less order and tidiness while other landscape gardening designs consists of English garden styles where the hedges are continually trimmed and everything is neat and orderly. In most landscape gardening that follows the English garden styles, everything looks neat and clean. Usually the flowers and plants are uniform or similar to each other.

If you have a small yard, you can still enjoy the sight of a landscaped yard. Usually, a patch of grass is added to the area while several plants are integrated into it. A small fountain may also be added or maybe a stone path. Landscape gardening is possible if you are creative.

If your yard or area is quite large, you might want to employ the services of a professional landscape architect if you do not have the time to do it yourself. Some home owners, though, enjoy puttering around the garden and doing things slowly to enjoy landscape gardening.

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Making A Plan Is The First Step When Backyard Gardening

When beginning to look at backyard gardening, it may be a good idea to consider the amount of area that you will have to work with.  Determine the space that will be needed.  Is this backyard gardening project going to be big or will you start with a smaller section and build onto it? If a pond or water fountain is something that you are interested in, it is important to figure out where this will be in the backyard gardening project.  Many people like to add water plants into their water feature and this is something that needs to be considered when beginning the initial stages of planning a backyard garden. All of these decisions need to be made when creating a backyard garden.

Backyard gardening cannot begin without some kind of plan in mind.  Some other things to consider include whether or not to include vegetables.  A vegetable garden is a fun addition to the backyard gardening list of wanted features.  One thing to consider when looking at planting vegetables is again the space consideration.  Many vegetables need a lot of space when they are growing.  Some are very appetizing to wildlife, and you may find that your intended vegetables have become the main source of dinner for the animals.

When looking at backyard gardening, think about the area that you live in.  Is it a very humid spot?  Many plants do extremely well in humid conditions, and there are lots of beautiful flowers that will also do well.  Check with local nurseries to determine what types of plants can grow in your area.

Another consideration when looking at backyard gardening is how much sun and shade are in the backyard.  If there are a lot of trees in your yard and shade is common in the backyard, it will be important to find plants that like being in the shade.  Again, speaking with people at a nursery is a good way to find out more about plants and which ones work best in different environments.

Backyard gardening is a great hobby.  With a little research, the backyard can become an oasis in your own neighborhood.

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