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A garden may seem to be immediately eco-friendly by providing homegrown produce without plastic packaging, toxic emissions from long-distance shipping, or chemical preservatives to enhance appearance. But not every garden is equally eco-friendly depending on how you design, plant, and care for the space. 12 Tips for an Eco-Friendly Garden Good planning and thoughtful practices ensure an eco-friendly garden. The smallest steps can add up to the biggest impact, and each step you take toward a more environmentally-sound garden, the better your garden will be for you, your landscape, native wildlife, and the planet as a whole. Consider Size –...

A windowsill herb garden can add tasty greenery to any kitchen all year long, and is a convenient way to enjoy fresh herbs for pennies. With just a few simple steps, anyone can set up an indoor herb garden. Choose Your Herbs Not all herbs do equally well indoors, but basil, bay, chives, oregano, sage, thyme, rosemary,  parsley, dill, mint and cilantro are easy to grow, even for beginners. Choose the herbs for your windowsill based on your personal tastes for the herbs you will actually use as well as the available space you have for growing them. Choose Pots...

When your lawn is looking brown in the summer and you prefer that it didn’t die, having good watering habits can usually ease your problem. However, many times during the hot weather there are periods of droughts and imposed water restrictions. With that in mind, here are the best ways to save water:Time of day not to waterTo know the time that it’s best to water, you should know the times that you shouldn’t first. Watering in the middle of the day is one of the worst times because the water will evaporate quickly and the water drops that do...

Many gardeners have a love-hate relationship with the bugs in their garden. There are insects that are undeniably beneficial and great residents, as they enhance pollination, improve soil quality and defend plants against more aggressive, harmful bugs and other wildlife. Other insects, however, can damage foliage, stunt growth and taint produce. But which bugs are in your garden and when do they become a problem you will need to contend with? How Bad Is Bad? It is impossible to completely eliminate every harmful insect from the garden, but you can mitigate their intrusions and minimize the damage they cause. What...

Butterflies are beautiful, helpful visitors to the garden as they pollinate a wide variety of blooms to increase flowering and productivity. A great way to bring butterflies to your yard is with a dedicated garden to meet their needs and attract even more species of these winged wonders. About Butterflies Butterflies are brightly colored insects with distinct fluttering flight. There are more than 18,000 butterfly species worldwide, and they are widespread on every continent except Antarctica. More than 700 butterfly species are found in North America alone. Butterflies have been found in the fossil record as long as 55 million...