The Dean of Home Renovation & Repair Advice

Category: Lawn & Garden


Be Dark Sky-Compliant When Lighting Up the Night

Dark Sky Light - Patio at Dusk

Photo: mckaylighting.com

Warmer weather encourages us to spend more time on the deck, porch, or patio. Of course, lighting can extend outdoor living well into the evening, but before you light up the night, consider the advocations of The International Dark Sky Association, a campaign to reduce light pollution.

Related: 10 “Illuminating” Ideas for Lighting Up Your Backyard

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Bob Vila Radio: Cleaning Plant Containers

If you’re like a lot of people, you have a stack of old pots in your garage or shed just waiting for the next time you need a container for the house or garden. Before you pop in a plant, though, it’s important to clean those old pots.

Cleaning-Plant-Containers

Photo: stupaul.net

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Bob Vila Radio: Wheelbarrows

This is a busy time of year in the garden, what with planting and mulching, weeding and feeding. All that heavy lifting is why many gardeners invest in a wheelbarrow or a garden cart, either of which can make hauling a little easier on your back.

Wheelbarrows

Photo: Shutterstock

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How To: Make a Butterfly Garden

How to Make a Butterfly Garden - Monarch

Photo: blumengardens.com

Butterflies are mesmerizing creatures with more to offer than beauty alone. Because they are nectar eaters, they are great pollinators, and their larvae provide food for birds and other wildlife.

Related: 10 New Perennials to Perk Up Your Garden

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Bob Vila Radio: Solar Garden Lights

Outdoor lighting looks great along a walkway or in the garden, but it can be a pain to install the wiring for it. Solar-powered garden lights are a simple, earth-friendly way to add accent light to your lawn and garden, with no wiring required.

Solar-Garden-Lights

Photo: garden-lighting-system.blogspot.com

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How To: Plant a Tree (or 10!) for National Arbor Day

Plant a Tree

Photo: cedarlandforestresources.com

The Arbor Day Foundation was founded in 1972 with a mission toward conservation and education. It’s the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees—they planted over 8.7 million trees last year alone!

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Bob Vila Radio: Driveway Drainage

There are lots of options available in driveway materials, including asphalt, gravel, brick and pavers. In addition to variables like the cost, the look, and the durability of each, there’s another factor you may not have thought about, but which is important. That’s drainage.

Driveway-Drainage

Photo: southgateresidential.blogspot.com

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Bob Vila Radio: Shovels

Picking the right shovel for the job saves time—and can save your back as well. Here are a few shovels you’ll want in your gardening lineup.

Shovels

Photo: asia.ru

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Bob Vila Radio: Spring Fence Routine

A wooden fence is a beautiful accent on any home, but it takes some maintenance to keep it looking neat and trim. Spring is a great time for an annual fence spruce-up.

Spring-Fence-Routine

Photo: mydesignchic.com

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So, Who Are Master Gardeners and What Can They Do for You?

Master Gardeners

Photo: gardeningescapes.com

If you live on a property with a lawn or garden, you should be aware of Master Gardeners.

In 1972, the first Master Gardener program started in Washington State, after the growing suburban population had inundated the Washington State University Cooperative Extension with requests for horticultural information. A group of volunteers was trained to help; the idea took hold; and there are now Master Gardener programs in all 50 states.

Slideshow: 10 New Perennials to Perk Up Your Garden

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