It doesn’t take a whole lot of work to improve your curb appeal, especially during the fall. Many fall landscaping ideas are easy to implement. You can create a beautiful yet simple outdoor landscape with the colors of fall. Fall landscaping works with any budget. Whether you want to do a simple project or go all out, the sky’s the limit when it comes to this festive season. Here’s how you can boost your curb appeal through some simple design and landscaping choices.

Fall landscaping
Fall landscaping is surprisingly easy to execute. You don’t have to mow your lawn as often, and you can cut back a bit on the maintenance. Instead, these tasks are replaced by raking. It is still important to cut your grass, as a well-manicured lawn can boost your home’s value by almost 15%.

Entryway design
One of the most festive times of year calls for a perfectly decorated entryway! Fall-themed decorations are easy and cheap to come by, so fill your porch with hay, corn stalks, and of course, pumpkins! You can match the colorful array with an appropriately themed doormat. Updating lighting fixtures are also a great way to improve your curb appeal and can go a long way.

Exterior upkeep
Despite the cooling temperatures, there is still work that can be done to your exterior. The brisk mornings and evenings make it less strenuous to do, especially after enduring the blistering heat from the recent summer days. Check your gutters, repair and chipped siding or paint, and evaluate any damage done to your roof. You should also make sure the lightbulbs in your lighting are all in working condition.

Get creative with lighting
One of the best ways to accentuate and highlight the landscaping of your home and yard is to find unique ways to use lighting. Garden fixtures, pathway lighting, and the lighting on your home all serve a purpose in making your home stand out. The biggest piece is to not overdo your lighting. The main goal when it comes to lighting for landscaping is to use softer and subtler hues. Angle the lights towards trees and shrubs to incorporate more natural light during the darker hours. This helps boost your curb appeal.

A change in seasons is always welcomed, especially after a long and hot summer. There are many landscaping ideas you can use to welcome this fall. Of course, if you’re looking for a large landscaping project, you should always consult a professional landscaping service to ensure you have the most beautiful and practical yard.

If you’re planning a new landscaping project, one of the best routes you can go is to reintroduce native Minnesotan species to your garden. Not only are native plants naturally beautiful, but they are also highly beneficial to both your budget and the environment. Native grown plants help increase the biodiversity of your yard, which is incredibly important to our ecosystem. So if you’re in the market for a landscaping project, here are some of the benefits of planting native Minnesotan plants that you should consider.

They are budget-friendly

One of the most cost-effective alternatives to landscaping is planting native plants. You can do small to large scale landscapes without breaking the bank. Also, because these plants can withstand the harsh Minnesotan environment, you will likely not need to replace the plants yearly.

Easy maintenance

Once native plants have been planted, they will not need as much upkeep. Mulching, watering, frost protection, you name it. These plants have survived on their own in Minnesota, therefore they let nature do all the work. The most common horticulture plants usually don’t produce nectar and require much more maintenance. Native plants, however, will produce pollen, nectar, and even seeds that will welcome birds, bees, butterflies, and more wildlife. The roots that many plants native to that environment can even help prevent erosion as they hold soil much more efficiently.

You will have an environmentally friendly garden

Native wildlife relies on their surrounding plants for resources. Most horticultural plants are not appropriate for their diets, which will end up decreasing your yard’s biodiversity. Native plants, however, can welcome more species to your yard, and help the environment for the greater good. One great example is milkweed, a favorite of monarch butterflies. If planted, they will flock and lay their eggs on them, to feed the young caterpillars. Increasing biodiversity produces a ripple effect, which is ultimately advantageous for our ecosystem.

Minnesotan native plants you should consider:

• Perennials (woodland, prairie, and wetland)
• Black chokeberry shrubs
• Eastern white pine trees
• White oak trees
• Pagoda dogwood trees
• Pennsylvania sedge

Planting native species in your garden comes with many advantages, as well as creating stunning landscapes. If you’re considering giving your lawn a makeover, don’t hesitate to contact a professional Minnesota landscaping company. They will help you create your dream landscape, and can give you guidance on the best native plants.

Honeysuckle is known for its tubular shape, nicely scented flowers. They’re fantastic for accenting walls and sides of buildings, adding another component of personality. Honeysuckles perform best when they’re overflowing, flowering tops are mostly in sunlight or just lightly shaded. While deer don’t eat Honeysuckle, Hummingbirds and other wildlife love to consume it.

Below, you can learn more about what Honeysuckle is and tips to effectively grow them in your yard.

What’s Honeysuckle?

Honeysuckle is a heat tolerant plant that can thrive in almost any environment. It’s leaves has varying colors of deep green, and it gives off an incredibly sweet scent. Honeysuckles can grow as far-reaching vines or shrubs.

The color variety is incredibly wide, along with the amounts of animals and insects it attracts. Butterflies, Hummingbirds, and Bees are most notably drawn to the Honeysuckle plant. They all enjoy the small red berries that populate when the flowers bloom. If properly tended to, the flowers can bloom multiple times throughout the growing season.

Tips for Planting Vines and Shrubs

When to Plant

You can begin to plant Honeysuckle in early spring after any threat of frost has passed. Being in Minnesota, however, you may have to be more confident than more temperate states.

Where to Plant

Pick a sunny spot where the soil is moist and excess water can drain.

Soil Type

Plant your Honeysuckle in organically rich and well-drained soil. It must be moist, but never soggy. Honeysuckles perform best in soil that ranges from 5.5 to 8.0 on the pH scale.

Installing Supports

If you want Honeysuckle to climb, you’ll need a structure for it to grow. You can opt for structures such as a trellis, pole, or fence. All of this should be done before the Honeysuckle is planted. Once set up, plants should be about 6 to 12 inches from the support.

Caring for Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle plants should be well watered and mulched. Avoid overusage when possible. Keep everything moist and damp, but never too soggy, and be sure to add layers of compost each spring. Along with the composting, use a low-nitrogen fertilizer and organic plant food to ensure your Honeysuckle grows to its maximum potential.

There you have it. With just a bit of consideration and regular care, Honeysuckles can be a welcome addition to your garden. Happy Planting!

Azaleas are flowers that are easy to maintain and bloom beautifully. While more common in the south, they can be grown in Minnesota and can be a great addition to any garden. Azaleas can become a staple of your garden, you just have to make all the necessary steps to make it a reality. Here are some tips for growing Azaleas this spring.

Choosing Azaleas

The type of Azaleas you grow depends on the type of area you have. If you have a smaller garden, pick a dwarf variety or smaller. If you have a larger garden, you can pick from some of the older varieties or a kind that has multiple blooms. It’s crucial to do some research before you decide as Azaleas can get quite big.

Where to Plant Azaleas

Azaleas need good exposure to sunlight in the mornings, and shade in the afternoon. Too much exposure to sunlight will make them more susceptible to pests. Another crucial detail is that they need acidic soil that’s well-drained in order to grow best. If the PH level is under 6.0, apply aluminium sulfate to the soil.

Watering Azaleas

Water the soil two to three times a week the first two months after planting. After 3 to 4 months, you should only have to water once a week. After the first growing season, your plants shouldn’t need water unless it hasn’t rained in two or more weeks.

How to Prune Azaleas

Old or overgrown Azaleas can be renewed if they’re given a considerable pruning. Pruning is completed within the late winter or early spring before flowering. In order to prune, cut back plants to 12 inches above the ground and always keep the soil moist and to give them the nutrients they need in order to thrive.

If given the necessary care, Azaleas can be a great addition to your yard that will amaze for years to come.

Spring is fast approaching, which means chore time begins for gardens. After a cold and cruel winter, it can feel overwhelming to get back into your garden. But it doesn’t have to be! While it might still be too early to start gardening, there are many things you can do to prepare your garden for the Springtime. Follow this checklist for a smooth and efficient garden prep.

Make Sure Your Tools are Tuned Up!

If you didn’t properly store your garden tools, they will probably be out of shape. Sharpen up your pruners and trowels, and you should be set! Wooden handled-tools that have been exposed to wintry elements could be cleaned by sanding and coated in linseed oil. But if your tools’ saving is beyond hope, it might be time to invest in a new set of gardening tools.

Survey the Area

The first thing you should do is tidy up your yard. Once the snow has completely melted, look around for foliage that has been looming under the snow for the winter. You should look around for broken branches, and assess the health of the trees. If you have any paths or fixtures that are susceptible to erosion, check to make sure they are in need of a repair due to the cycle of freezing and thawing.

Prune and Trim

Removing dead and damaged branches might seem tedious, but it will pay off when plants bloom. This is especially important for maintaining your shrubs that bloom in the summertime, such as hydrangea, roses, or butterfly bushes. Some wood from your trees and bushes might have become damaged from the cold, so make sure to prune any wood as such.

Compost

After you clean up your yard, you can utilize the debris for compost! A good compost mix has equal amounts of “brown” and “green” materials. Brown materials are dried leaves and dried grass/straw, whereas green are weed and grass clippings. Brown is carbon-rich and green is nitrogen-rich, both of which are crucial for a healthy garden.

Put in New Mulch

Giving your garden a fresh layer of mulch is the easiest task you can do. This is not only a functional choice, but also an aesthetic choice. Choose your favorite mulch and plan on adding several inches of it to your garden bed. If you are taking a highly sustainable approach to your gardening endeavors, this is the perfect spot to use some of your compost!

For decades the long-standing contender for the ideal lawn grass was Kentucky bluegrass. Kentucky bluegrass has been the creme-de-la crop when it comes to a show-stopping landscape, primarily due to its rich and vibrant color. If you know a little something about different types of grass, you might be aware of a couple of other varieties of popular lawn grass: fescue and perennial ryegrass.

Fescues are a very low maintenance variety of grass and work best in shady lawns. Perennial ryegrass, however, has been labeled as a “nurse” grass due to its quick germination. There is much more to know about perennial ryegrass aside from its ability to germinate. Here are its pros and cons.

Benefits of Perennial Ryegrass

As mentioned above, perennial ryegrass germinates rapidly, approximately maturing from seed to grassy lawn within three weeks. It is typically blended with other variants – including Kentucky bluegrass – to help speed up the germination process and protect the grass during its growth.

Perennial ryegrass is very resilient and durable. It is as low maintenance as fescues and resistant to many diseases and wraths of insects. The color is paler compared to Kentucky bluegrass, but it still makes for a beautiful display. The turfs at the Master’s national golf club and the Wimbledon Tennis club use varieties of perennial ryegrass.

Possible Issues With Perennial Ryegrass

The most common problem with perennial ryegrass is its growth. It is common for this grass to grow in clumps, which can make it difficult to spread. This mean that although the grass is rapidly growing, the lawn can appear to be spotty and patchy and it will require extra maintenance to fill. To fix this it is advised to reseed the barren areas as it likely won’t fill in naturally. Unlike fescues, it is much better to plant perennial ryegrass in sunnier regions because it can have a difficult time growing in the shade.

The texture can be unpleasant for some and it can be difficult to mow with cheaper lawnmowers. Because the surface is much more coarse, when cutting with a dull mower the blade of the leaf will be shredded up, rather than cut down. Perennial ryegrass is vulnerable to cold temperatures, and it is not advised to plant in areas with harsh climates. That being said, it bodes well in transitional periods.

Taking Care of Perennial Ryegrass

Perennial ryegrass is not annual ryegrass. So if you’re looking to take care of your lawn, do not mix up the two species. Perennial ryegrass, as its name suggests, is a perennial. This means it will regrow every year. Annual ryegrass is a cheaper variety because its life is shorter and it will die out every year.

References:

Burke, K. (2019, January 30). You Should Consider Growing Your Own Perennial Ryegrass. Retrieved from https://www.thespruce.com/perennial-ryegrass-a-serious-lawn-contender-2153133.

Summer is over, which means it’s time to swap out for fall-friendly plants. While flowering plants tend to thrive in the spring and summertime, many beautiful blooms are available for fall. With the change in seasons comes a change in colors. Opt-in for profound harvest-colored arrangements, as these vibrant and autumnal hues, take the spotlight this season. Here is a list of flowers that are perfect for fall decorations.

Flowering Kale

Kale is not only to be eaten–it can be put on display! But the flowering kale should not be eaten anyway, as it is technically a different plant than the kale that we eat. This ornamental plant, also commonly referred to as the flowering cabbage, is a robust plant that can bode well in the fall and winter. Rich in texture and color, flowering kale is an excellent addition to any fall floral arrangement. 

Chrysanthemum (Mums)

Chrysanthemum, also commonly referred to as mums, comes in beautifully festive colors that are perfect for this time of year. Shades of orange, yellow, red, and pink are just some of the visually striking shades that this vibrant plant offers. They come in many shapes and sizes, and for this reason, they are one of the most popular fall flowers.

Pansies

While mums add the perfect amount of seasonal colors to your garden or floral arrangments, flowers, on the other hand, come in almost any color. They are a great way to add cooler tones to your gardens, and when planted in the fall, they will bloom again during the springtime.

Fountain Grass

While fountain grass is technically not a flower, it’s a fantastic accent plant. Fountain grass can also come in deep purple shades, pairing perfectly with other harvest colored flowers. It will add some texture to your floral arrangements.  

Croton Plant

Croton is a houseplant that bodes well in colder climates. It can be placed outside with other floral varieties, but make sure it avoids frost. This vibrantly colored foliage comes in shades of yellow, orange, and purple, and it pairs perfectly with other tones ideal for fall.

Willow trees are suited in moist, temperate soil, and need a lot of sunlight. While they can grow in virtually any climate, the stems are quite fragile and are prone to be broken from high winds and damaging storms, therefore they are not recommended to be grown in areas prone to such weather. That being said, willow trees are a fantastic choice for your home’s landscape. There are a wide variety of willow trees available on the market so that this guide will outline the different types, and it will give you steps to taking care of your willow tree

Types of Willow Trees 

Willow trees are typically characterized as a tree or a shrub. While there are over 400 documented species of willow trees, here are a few of the most common willows used in exterior landscaping.

Weeping willow

The weeping willow, Salix babylonica, is the most recognizable willow out of the entire salix family tree. Their dangling pendulous branches are what give the weeping willow its iconic graceful look.

Pussy willow

The pussy willow, Salix caprea, has an entirely different look to that of the weeping willow. Its stems stick upright, instead of the weeping’s appendage like branches. Fuzzy bulbous buds, called catkins, peacefully pop out of the branches in a charming and cozy fashion during the winter.

Gold willow

Golden willows, Salix alba, are a species of white willow trees whose new growths produce a vibrant golden hue. The branches are similar to weeping willows, but they are not as pendulated and pronounced as the weepings. These trees are great accent trees and provide a nice contrast during the bleak and stark look of winter.

Black willow

Native to many eastern parts of North America, the black willow, Salix nigra, thrives in wet environments. This type of willow tree grows rapidly compared to other types of willow. Its signifying trait is the dark blackish, brown bark.

Corkscrew willows

Corkscrew willows, Salix matsudana, also known as Chinese willows, are perhaps the funkiest willow trees. They are identifiable by their uniquely twirly branches. Its leaves are beautifully vibrant in color, especially in the fall, and it works perfectly as an all-season tree, as it grows very fast and even when the leaves are gone, the Corkscrew willow provides a stunning and exciting look due to the spiral structure of its branches. 

How to Grow a Willow Tree

There are many ways to start growing a willow tree, but here are essential steps you can take to add a willow tree to your home’s landscaping project.

Take a willow tree cutting

To grow a willow tree, cutting must be taken from a living tree’s terminal, and be at least 18 inches long. From there, insert the cut branch into very moist soil from a live terminal branch that is 18 inches long. Insert the cut end into a pot with good drainage and in moist soil, or you can directly plant it into the ground. Make sure the soil maintains sufficient hydration until the roots grow. From there, let nature take over, and what the tree grow!

Growing from bare-root trees

This is the more common way to grow a willow tree. This method should utilize a young willow tree that is at least one year old. The roots should be very wet before planted, so make sure they are soaking in a bucket of water beforehand. There should also be ample room for the roots to grow, so push the soil down to depth and diameter that is twice that of the roots of the willow tree. Once planted, followup with primary tree care, and sooner than you know, your willow tree will grow into a marvelous specimen.

Apple trees can provide not just tasty treats throughout the season, but they can add to the aesthetic appeal of any yard or garden. It’s not quite as simple as sticking a tree into the ground and benefiting from the fruits of your labor, though. Here are some things to know about growing apples in your garden.

Sun is Vital

For apples to grow, a tree needs a lot of sun. ideally, an apple tree should be placed where it can get at least 8 hours of sun every day. If there is too much shade then the apples will not thrive.

Pollination

Strangely enough, you need at least 2 apple trees to properly grow apples. Insects do the work of pollinating apple trees from transferring pollen from one apple tree to another. If there is only one tree in your garden, then it becomes harder for the bees to do that work. You don’t need an entire orchard, but a couple of trees will probably provide more apples than your family can handle.

Apple Tree Care

Apple trees do require some TLC to be as productive as possible. Before the growing season, around March, after the coldest temperatures have gone, prune your trees before they begin growing again. This is also the time to apply compost to help with growing.

If you have new trees, they can be planted in April or May when the soil is ready. It is at this time, after frost is no longer an issue, that you can plant potted trees.

Disease

Apple trees are susceptible to disease, so keep any eye out for any symptoms. Insect infestation can also be a problem. Be attentive and take action if you suspect these issues.

Growing apple trees is pretty easy, and give you a refreshing treat all year long.