GENERAL SOUTHERN ARTICLE ARCHIVE
Below you will find our general Southern collection of articles. Enjoy!
NATURAL LANDSCAPING
Using natural materials for your landscaping Story and Photos By Diane Beyer More and more gardeners and landscapers are heading “back to the land.” In addition to self-sufficiency, less pesticide use, growing heirloom vegetable varieties, urban homesteading, hardscaping using natural materials is also becoming more popular. Here in the South, where physiographic regions are so …
GET WISE WITH WATER
10 ways to become more water-wise in your landscape 1. Get your soil right before you plant anything – If your soil is too sandy, water will pass through it too rapidly and your plants will be thirsty. If your soil has too much clay, water will go though it too slowly, possibly drowning your …
GRAVEL WALKWAYS
Simple, elegant, and economical Story and Photos By Nan K. Chase Gravel walkways or paths never go out of style. A well-installed gravel path can last forever, bringing elegance to any garden. Even better, gravel is inexpensive, low maintenance, and available in variety of colors, sizes, and materials. Ancient Romans laid gravel roadways across their …
THINK OUTSIDE THE BORDER
Non-traditional ways to use annuals in the landscape Story and Photos By Jennifer Williams Driving through most neighborhoods across the country, you can see that we have all been told the same thing about annuals – Keep it simple: Plant your annuals near the front of your flowerbeds, pick one or two options and colors, …
TO DYE FOR
Common garden plants grown for their color on and off the stalk Story and Photos By LeeAnn Barton Long before modern chemical dyes were introduced in the late 19th century, nature was the source of color. Fabrics and tapestries with rich color date back millenniums and some survive even today and are extremely treasured. It …
THE SKINNY GARDEN
Broad thoughts on narrow beds By Margeaux Emery Are you considering adding a narrow bed to your landscape or renovating one already in place? If so, congratulations – you’re about to open a treasure box of creative gardening choices and opportunities. Whether the bed is a foundation planting or intended to enliven a shady patio, …
SHOP SMART
Getting the best plant for your money By Helen Newling Lawson Shopping for new plants is fun, but it can also be costly. Luckily, there are a few simple guidelines that can help you buy wisely and make the most of your plant dollars. First: Find a reputable nursery. They will do a lot of …
INVITING PREDATORS
Attracting pest-devouring beneficials to your garden Story and Photos by Kristi Cook I don’t know about where you live, but in my neck of the woods fall brings swarms of Asian lady bugs, clinging desperately to my home, vehicles, trees, kids, and even pets. They creep their way into my windows, nestle deep inside every …
HEAVENLY HANGING BASKETS
If you’re running out of space to grow … look up By Margeaux Emery Plant lover, plant lover, how does your garden grow?” If you answer, “In leaps and bounds and spill-arounds,” you might just be running out of space. This common plight of avid gardeners begs for creative solutions. One of the simplest is …