Outside Decor/Gardening

Whether you are new homeowners, have lived in your home for years, or are a renter, there are ideas for you here. The outside appearance of your place matters! At least it should! The smallest windowsill or porch can benefit from some little touches.

Let's start with a rented apartment. Apartments have rules about things. So make sure you know what the rules are before you begin! If you are allowed to do so, how about a large pot of greens and seasonal flowers by your doorway? If you have an inside corridor, then maybe a wreath would be allowed. Or some sort of floral decor on your door. Silks would apply here very easily. For special occasions, you can wire in those little vials that hold water and tuck in cut flowers. If the apartment opens onto a yard of some sort, then maybe several potted plants would work. You can fill the pots with a mixture of potting soil and the gel that holds water, so they will only need occasional watering. You would be amazed at the difference plants make! Don't forget some small plants, silk or real, on the windowsill! At Holiday times, there are neat little battery operated lights that can be tucked into your plants. A treat for your, and your neighbors, eyes.

Balconies are another terrific place for potted plants. Herbs and flowers together not only smell wonderful, but are great for those of you who like to cook! Large balconies NEED large plants for some privacy! Make it romantic!

Now...on to a rented home. Only I am dumb enough to have landscaped a rental, so let us take a look at some sensible ideas for giving a rented house curb appeal. I really did do that years ago! I completely re landscaped a home in St. Augustine, Fl., that turned out so well that the carriage drivers who take people on tours of the historic areas drove by and stopped! I am not egotistical, but I admit I was tickled at this! But let sanity prevail here.I will give you some inexpensive ways to re-do your rental!

Most rentals have at least remnants of garden beds. Most always they have some shrubs. Scrubby looking, but greenery, none the less. At the very least one can pluck the weeds and prune the shrubs! And it won't break the bank to buy some composted material and work it into the soil around the shrubs. While you're at it, some small flowering plants suitable to the area won't hurt either! Forget fancy border edging and just cut a sharp, clean edge around the beds. Good exercise! Add a couple of potted plants flanking the entrance and you have a much nicer looking home.The potted plants can move with you when you move again, and the landlord will appreciate the care you took with his property. A win-win situation!

How about a raised bed of color near a front window where you can see it from the inside? Keep everything curvy and flowing. Look around for ideas for shaping your landscape. Don't copy your neighbors but pull your favorite ideas into a plan. DRAW it out!

When you have a workable plan, start slowly. This is not done in a day, or even a week. It may take months to get the look you want. Years even! Budget for a little bit at a time. The best investment is soil prep, so work to improve the garden soils first. Compost, peat, or whatever your soil needs has to come first. This will insure successful plantings and the rapid spread of the plants you purchase. Healthy plants mean less investment! Not to mention less work! Once the soil is in good shape, begin to invest in a few things at a time. Taller plants in the back of a bed, with medium ones in the middle, and finally, low growing plants in front. Space the plants to allow for their growth patterns. Don't crowd them. With good soil, you can even space them out a few inches farther than one normally would. Patience! They will grow! As budget allows, add the second course of medium plants, and so on.

Good choices for almost any climate are the grasses. They grow quickly, spread well, look great even in the winter with snow on them! In fact, grasses add spectacular vertical elements to the winter garden. In warm climates, they are wonderful all year long. A good choice for the tallness needed in the back of your beds. Just cut them back to the ground come Spring.They will regrow fast and are an excellent investment. More "bang for the buck" so to speak!

Started indoors, annuals make great medium tall plants to low growers. Transplant outside when the ground is warm enough. Seeds are inexpensive and it is fun to watch them germinate and grow. For the final touch, add some ground cover plants. They grow and spread rather fast and eventually will eliminate the need for mulch. While all is growing, please add mulch! It cuts down on weeds and holds moisture in the soil. If you can, put in a drip irrigation system. It is the most economical way to water. And YES, you CAN do it yourself. Just follow the directions. Cover the tubes lightly with mulch and you have done it! For even more color while your "babies" are growing, tuck potted flowers into your beds! You can then move these around as they lose their flowers and bring them inside when it turns cold.

If you live in warm-all-year climates, there is an even cheaper way to add ground covers. Since dish gardens outgrow the dish, plant those little green jewels in your garden! I had a ten foot tall plant that started out as a three inch tall "something" in a dish garden! I forgot what it was until someone asked me and then I remembered where I had gotten it. After that experience, I planned better and began to add dish garden plants to my beds. Soon I had ground covers galore. There is an endless run of butterfly nephitis that came from a tiny dish garden. It is all the ground cover needed in a large bed around some trees. And it can easily be clipped and rooted and stuck in empty places elsewhere. The lush look is even more delicious because of its next to nothing cost! ~snicker~. Pothos will do the same thing in hot climates. It climbs trees and when shaded, will produce giant leaves of delightful beauty.

Whatever your situation, there is a solution for you that will make your garden decor something you can be proud of. The enjoyment is incredible!

Final Note: If you are really into your garden , add some sculpture and a water feature.
These really add the crowning touches!

    Sculpture

Have a go at it...have a great time with it!

Until next month, God Bless!
Jane

ONE LAST THING...

I would love to hear some feedback. If these letters are giving you creative ideas,
or you have some suggestions for future topics, PLEASE contact me!

Thank you to those who have taken the time to write! I really enjoy hearing from you.