We've written a lot over the past two years about losing at least HALF of your lawn areas to create a "greener" more eco-friendly garden. Losing some of your lawns areas is a fantastic way to make your garden space less water needy -- and it will introduce new options to make your landscape current [...]
Replacing Lawns with Groundcovers is GardenWise A thoughtful understanding that an outside space can have a positive impact the environment is the best first step to a green garden. Another important step to take is to reduce your lawn area by at least half. To the left is a GardenWIse garden using only groundcovers, no grass! Substitute lawn [...]
A Fragrant Ground Cover Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a shade garden delight, and the perfect groundcover for adding fragrance to your garden space while reducing lawn areas. It's fast growing, insect repellent, low maintainance, quick to establish, and it isn't prone to invasiveness, though you do need to keep it in check. Sweet Woodruff has white spring flowers [...]
Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a shade garden delight, and the perfect groundcover for adding fragrance to your outside space while reducing lawn areas. Easily grown in average, medium to wet, well-drained soils, it's fast growing, insect repellent, low maintainance, quick to establish and it isn't prone to invasiveness -- though you definitely do need to keep it in check. [...]
You know that really large lawn area you have? Lose some of it! One alternative is to add garden interest with flagstone stepping stones and a plant vignette for color and texture. Above is a small portion of one of my projects; creeping Jenny with Japanese Rhodeq and white Mazas between stepping stones. A bonus is the 100's of gallons of water and [...]
Here a Leaf, There a Leaf Don't be a procrastinator! As we journey further into Fall, it's important to get the leaves off the ground quickly and to mow your lawn until the first frost. This will keep the grass strong and healthy. If leaves aren't removed and remain on your lawn as they fell, they'll deprive [...]
Water Conservation Tips for Every Garden As we start the fall season, water conservation is something many of us have to consider as we maintain our garden spaces. Here are some ideas that can greatly reduce your water usage and help you get the biggest bang for your water buck. Less Lawn. I've been giving [...]
Leaves, Leaves, Everywhere! It's really important to remove the leaves from your lawn -- if they're left there they'll deprive your lawn of important sunlight and rain that's going to help it through the winter months. Also, if leaves are left on the ground, they could lead to mold problems and even pest problems (yes! mice, etc.) [...]
A new GardenWise project in DC, pictured left, includes a new front entrance that is under construction. Improvements include new stone entry walk, and a front porch with surrounding seat wall. An array of new plantings will include evergreens for year round interest, and a variety of perennials and ground covers that will provide texture and variety for seasonal interest. [...]
Green Garden Tip When people ask, "How can I go green, where do I begin?," I always have the same answer, "you've already begun!" A thoughtful understanding that an outside space can have a positive impact the environment is the best first step to a green garden. Another important step to take is to reduce your lawn area by at least half. [...]
