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When it comes to sustainable landscaping, there are a few basics to keep in mind. First, choose plants that are native to Virginia. These plants have evolved to thrive in our climate and will require less water and fertilizer than non-native species. You should also, of course, consider selecting native plants that provide food and habitat for local wildlife. Byington teaches a flexible and low-cost style of raised-bed gardening that uses plastic children’s swimming pools, which can be raised on pallets for people who can’t bend over. Virginia is a state with a diverse range of plants, from native plants that are perfect for supporting wildlife to exotic plants that thrive in the state's humid climate. However, Virginia gardeners need to be aware of the state's different gardening zones so they can choose plants that will flourish in their particular area. There's no doubt that ivy and other invasive, non-native climbers like English Ivy can be tough to remove once they've taken hold. But if you're looking to create a garden that's friendly to Virginia's native plants and wildlife, it's best to get rid of them. Invasive plants crowd out native species, preventing them from getting the sunlight, water, and nutrients they need to thrive. This can damage local ecosystems and make it difficult for plants and animals to find food and shelter. If you would like a native climbing vine for a fence or trellis, consider Virginia Creeper. When you’re trying to find the best soil type for your neighborhood, keep an eye on it. What is best way to grow cilantro? What is sandy soil? How do you plant tomatoes in clay soil?
Did you know that there is not only a Christmas Cactus but also a Thanksgiving Cactus and an Easter Cactus? All make for beautiful gifts! Choose what you (and your family) like to eat. If no one likes Brussels sprouts, don’t bother planting them! But if your kids love green beans, put more effort into growing a big crop ofbeans. We know that, to many people, the idea of “ spraying” anything on their landscape is intimidating; however, when used properly insecticides, fungicides, and other “sprays” can have an important place in the home gardener’s toolbox. Here is some more information on pesticides: Callahan and local Extension Master Gardener volunteers use community centers and local libraries to bring programming to areas identified by the local government as needing an infusion of programming. More and more people are replacing a portion or much of their lawns with natural native plant scapes to support wildlife and healthy watersheds. In fact, The number of people planning to transform a portion of their lawn to wildflower native landscape has doubled from 9 percent in 2019 to 19 percent in 2021. For areas that require low growing walkable green spaces, consider native groundcovers, spreading herbs like thyme or low growing native grasses. This saves money on fertilizers and lawn services. So save your money and enjoy the outdoors instead. Do get rid of ivyEvery plant needs water. But if you water your peace lilies too much it will not only stunt your plant but will most likely kill it! There are a number of things that can be planted now in Virginia Beach. Some vegetables that can be planted now are broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. Herbs such as cilantro and parsley can also be planted. For Virginia growing zone 5, fall gardening is a race against the cold. Likely, you’ll want to plant short season fall crops during July or August, to ensure ample harvest time before the season’s first frost hits. Follow these simple tips and you can create a beautiful, eco-friendly yard that will be the envy of the neighborhood! Sustainable water
Gardening is a great activity to help maintain physical and emotional well-being. However, it is not without its challenges even for the able bodied. With a little creativity, gardening can be an accessible activity and can have therapeutic value. As a therapy, gardening is unique in that a living medium, plants, are used. This allows the gardener to be anchored in reality. When gardeners realize that they have an effect on something else that is living there are often positive changes in their behavior and feelings. The term therapeutic gardening means that the activity of gardening is designed to assure positive health outcomes and minimize negative outcomes. Did you know that some insects are actually beneficial? In addition to pollinating certain crops, many beneficial insects will eat bad insects. If you’re interested in learning more about beneficial insects and how you can attract them to your garden, read Improving Pest Management and Pollination with Farmscaping. Fall is a great time to plant in Virginia! The cooler weather is easier on plants, and the rain helps them get established. Cover crops like ryegrass and clover in your vegetable garden are some of the best plants to put in now. They help protect your soil from erosion and add nutrients that will be released in the springtime.Want to keep gardening in Virginia zones 6, 7 and 8 even as the weather cools? You might be surprised by your options! Before starting your garden, you should consider a variety of factors, including its climate, soil type, and sunlight availability. Start by following these three steps: Have you ever stopped to think about all the amazing plants that grow in Virginia? From the towering oaks of the Shenandoah Valley to the delicate wildflowers of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia is home to a remarkable diversity of plant life. But what makes Virginia's plants so special?
Horticulture therapy is another term often used interchangeably with therapeutic gardening. However, the American Horticulture Association differentiates horticulture therapy as utilizing a trained professional carrying out a plan of care with measurable goals. Therapeutic gardening uses plant materials and gardening techniques as a way to improve physical, psychological and social well-being. It can benefit the elderly and infirm, the mentally ill, the developmentally disabled, substance abusers, public offenders, and the socially disadvantaged. It can also help the able bodied to garden with more ease, sense of achievement, control, and pride in accomplishment. ( https://www.ahta.org/ahta-definitions-and-positions, and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC3372556/). History Some tree and shrub species that do well in a Virginia winter include Eastern Red Cedar, American holly and oakleaf hydrangea. If you're looking for something a little different, try planting a winterberry holly bush — the berries are beautiful and provide a great food source for birds during the winter months. Everybody should have access to gardening,” she said. “It just doesn’t have to look like a traditional garden.”Virginia is a great state for gardening! The climate is perfect for growing all sorts of plants, from flowers to vegetables to trees. And the soil is rich in nutrients, making it easy to grow healthy plants. Plus, Virginia is home to a variety of plant life, which means there are plenty of options for gardeners who want to plant to benefit wildlife. The Christmas Cactus is the perfect gift for gardeners! Whether you are getting it for a Christmas gift or any other occasion the gardener in your life will love it. If you are looking for botanical gardens of VA, visit the Quarry Gardens at Schuyler. With great variations surrounding the quarry pools, this is the place to be. Behold more than 850 species of flora and fauna along with with about 100 local species. When it comes to planting a container garden, the first frost should be avoided. Container gardens work best in warm weather and are best planted in the spring or early fall.
These blooms provide nectar for a medley of butterflies and bees through early fall. As well as being a beautiful addition to any garden, whorled milkweed is also a host plant for monarch caterpillars. So not only will you be providing food and shelter for our essential pollinators, but you'll also be helping to ensure the survival of this iconic butterfly. Whorled milkweed is even deer resistant! Great Blue lobelia If planting in a raised bed, a 4’ x 4’ or 4’ x 8’ is a good beginner size. See our Raised Garden Bed Guide, which covers the benefits of raised beds, how to build a raised bed, and what type of soil to fill a raised bedwith. Whether you're looking to attract bees and butterflies or provide food for birds, you can find the perfect plant in Virginia. So if you're considering starting a garden, Virginia is the place to do it! Take some tips from our guide on how to plant your native plants and your garden will soon be the luxurious outdoor space you’ve always dreamed of. A series of smaller gardens offers an ever-changing succession of color and interest throughout the year. Plants in each section of the garden are coordinated by color, season of bloom, size, and texture. They have also been selected for resistance to diseases and pests. White House Gates When are the best times to plant vegetables in Virginia Beach, Virginia? Broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage can be directly sown into your garden starting around February 7th. For all the summer vegetables, such as beans, cowpeas, corn, squashes, pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelons, gourds, and sunflowers, plant the seeds directly into the ground around March 20. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants typically require approximately 100 days to mature. Dates for garlic are extremely diverse throughout the country. If you want to grow broccoli, cauliflower, or cabbage in your garden, seeds should be planted around September 14. Beans, cowpeas, corn, squashes, pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelons, gourds, and sunflowers should be planted in the planting hole on August 10.Consider the availability of veggies at your grocery store. Maybe you want to grow tomatillos instead of cabbage or carrots, which are readily available in your area. Also, certain veggies are so far superior when homegrown that it’s almost a shame not to consider them (we’re thinking of garden lettuce and tomatoes). Also, homegrown herbs are far less expensive than grocery-storeherbs. We understand how important it is to have confidence in the people who design your landscape. We have a friendly staff of highly creative and capable people, and we pride ourselves in our excellent service recognized around DC area, Maryland and Virginia. That’s how we’ve built our business throughout more than 18 years and mostly through referrals. For more than a decade, Xtra Care Landscaping & Design, Inc, has provided professional lawn and yard maintenance as well as comprehensive landscaping design-build services to residential and commercial clients throughout the metropolitan Washington, DC area.Whether you choose mowing and edging, artificial turf or mulching our competitive pricing and professional service is among the best in the area, and be sure to ask about our complete landscape design-build services guaranteed to blend your home or office seamlessly into it’s natural surroundings.
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