In today's world, where environmental consciousness is on the rise, planting a pollinating garden has become a popular and responsible trend. By creating a habitat that nurtures our local pollinators, we not only help them thrive but also contribute to the overall health of our ecosystem. There are a few valuable insights I want to share on how we can make our gardens and landscapes more welcoming to pollinators, and I’ll be emphasizing the importance of focusing on the right food sources, trees as host plants, and year-round considerations. So let's dive in and discover how we can play a crucial role in supporting our local pollinators.
12/28/2022 How to Landscape a Sloped YardDoes the sloped yard and water run-off problems ruin our project?!
We faced some pretty big obstacles at this house in the heart of the Ford's Colony Williamsburg neighborhood, and we had to come up with answers. Here's what we did... 12/23/2022 The Whole Backyard Package in Suffolk!When the heavy rains come to Virginia, they can really wreak havoc on the backyard! Fortunately we had a lot of grading to do anyways, so all the extra mud will be cleaned out and we can leave everything back in its perfect condition.
This was a very complete project so it took some time to make everything not only look good but flow smoothly throughout the space, and we actually finished with a walkway leading to the backyard from the front of the house so there would be an easy way to get to the good stuff. And if you're wondering, there was a LOT of good stuff to get to... 3/10/2020 How to Plant in Clay-Based SoilWelcome to southeastern Virginia, specifically the Tidewater region! We love our sandy soil near the coast, but a little further inland, the easy digging can come to an abrupt end when you hit clay or a clay blend. Planting in the clay soil that Hampton Roads has to offer is difficult, and establishing plants is even harder. I hear many friends say they have a black thumb and then give up. In reality, they are just dealt a poor hand.
1/15/2020 HONEY BEES AREN'T THE ONES IN DANGERThis article is intended to bring attention to local pollinators, and show how focusing on honey bees does not solve "the bee problem". THE SITUATIONManaged honey bees are not in decline.Most people know the danger that honeybees face, and I have been wondering for years if honeybees are in danger of extinction. I'll preface this by saying- I’m not a scientist or a botanist. These are my observations from studying this situation over the years. The bottom line is, from the research I have found, honeybees are not in true danger of becoming extinct.
I have a chart below documenting the total number of colonies in the United States. It does indeed indicate fluctuation in the number of national colonies, but not with enough variance to support colony collapse disorder (CCD) as a widespread threat. It actually shows an increase in the total number of colonies. I believe that the continued awareness regarding pollinators as a whole has been beneficial, but could also have the potential to be used for other agendas. Again, the net publicity has been good- but it can also have some side effects (which I cover a bit later on). 1/2/2020 The not so 'Heavenly' NandinaMy personal reasoning. I have to be completely honest with y'all- I have a personal grudge against Nandinas. I grew up spending hours weeding these guys out of garden beds. The little offshoots were a complete pain to remove, so I vowed to never plant this not-so-Heavenly Bamboo Nandina years ago.
There are however, more reasons to avoid landscaping with Nandinas - besides my personal distaste for the plant. I'll get into their negative ecological impact below, but go talk to most seasoned landscapers, and they would likely admit that all the different varieties of Nandina are way overused in landscapes. Are you struggling with what to plant in your pond, pondless waterfall, or fountain? The right plants can take an ordinary water feature and make it simply extraordinary. They can take a basic water feature and turn it into an oasis!
The best part? The benefits of adding plants go beyond simple aesthetics. The right plants can keep your water crystal clear by absorbing excess nutrients in the water. 12/17/2019 How to Prevent Winter Tree DamageHow can you tell if your tree is dying in the winter, and what can you do to prevent damage to your tree during the cold months? Watch this video for tips and tricks on winter care for trees, including: 🌳 What makes crape myrtles different from other trees. 🌳 Indicators that your tree needs pruning. 🌳 How to tell if your tree is struggling in the cold weather. 🌳 How to 'retrain' your tree to grow in the winter. 11/4/2019 How to Water New PlantsNeed advice for starting a garden in the spring? Here is some advice about how to water the new plants in your garden: 💦After aeration and seeding this fall, make sure to provide your lawn with short, frequent waterings to establish the new seed. ☘️Somewhere between 14 and 21 day mark, drop down to a longer once-daily watering. This will allow the water to absorb deeper into the soil. 📆 After about six weeks, your lawn should be established enough to return to a normal watering schedule. Watch the video for more details about watering your garden! The difference between annuals and perennials is basic: annuals need to be replanted every year, while low-maintenance perennials can be planted once and will bloom year after year. Unfortunately, a hard frost will kill annuals, but perennials can survive a frost. 🌺 Annuals require more water, but are more lush. ☘️ Perennials do not create as beautiful of a background, but are hardier. 🌷 Perennials do provide structure to your landscape. Watch the video for more about the debate between annuals and perennials! 10/15/2019 Can I Plant in the Winter?It's a common question: when should I stop planting trees or bushes? Can I continue planting in my yard or garden during the winter? Our answer is simple: as long as the ground isn't frozen, you can plant what you want! A few tips and tricks for planting during the winter months: 🚫 Do not use fertilizer, which can encourage top growth. 💦 Make sure to water your plants enough (about one inch of precipitation each week). 🌱 Do not aggressively agitate the roots. 💧 Adding mulch around the new plant will keep heat and moisture in. Watch the video for more advice on planting in the winter! Was our advice helpful? Share it with your friends!
Garden roses are absolutely stunning, but they can be incredibly difficult to maintain. Luckily, there is an alternative! Ever since their debut about 19 years ago in the pursuit of creating a drought- and disease-resistant roses, Knock Out Roses have been the plant of choice in many landscapes due to their ease of maintenance. Benefits of knock-out roses: 💦 Extremely drought resistant - Knock Out roses do not require a lot of watering, and are extremely resistant to drought and disease. 🚫 No need to deadhead - most roses require high levels of maintenance, but Knock Out roses require very low maintenance, with no need to deadhead the roses each year. 💩 Fertilizer helps, but isn’t a requirement - these are rare roses that do not require fertilizer, although applying 10-10-10 fertilizer every 8 weeks will give your plant a boost. You can also get a rose-specific fertilizer to make your blooms pop even more. 🙅♂️ Only prune if they get too big - you only need to prune Knock Out roses every 3rd year, unless you want a plant larger than 4-5 feet tall! 🌹 They bloom often - if you are looking for a plant that blooms throughout the spring or summer, Knock Out roses are the answer! They bloom every 5-7 weeks from May to November. Clearly, Knock Out roses are the best plants to buy if you are looking for low-maintenance flowers in your garden or yard. For beautiful plants from spring to fall and rose bushes that grow to new heights, look no farther than these sturdy plants. And watch the video below for tips on how to take care of your Knock Out roses! Was our advice helpful? Share it with your friends!
10/9/2019 How to Create a Butterfly GardenYou already know that attracting butterflies, bees, and other pollinators is always a primary goal when designing a new space, but you want to know how to start a butterfly garden. Landscapes should be both functional and visually attractive, so planting a butterfly garden should add beauty and longevity to your landscape design. 🌻 First, create a lush habitat for butterflies. Pay attention to the kinds of butterflies you want to attract - monarch butterfly gardens will look different from viceroy butterfly gardens. Make sure your environment is native to what each butterfly wants. 🌱 Ensure you have the right plants for a butterfly garden. Choose both host plants and nectar plants. Butterflies lay their eggs on host plants, but they will feed on nectar plants. Be aware of non-native plants, which can be invasive and harmful! 🌎 Avoid pesticides and insecticides in your butterfly garden, which can be as harmful to the butterflies as they are to other insects. Keep your butterfly garden as natural as possible. Check out this video for my thought process on how incorporate a butterfly garden into your landscape. 🏕 Create some shelter for butterflies in your garden so they can escape inclement weather and other factors. This could be a stack of branches, a decorative log, or even a hedge. Fake materials could actually be lethal to the butterflies, so be sure to use as natural of a shelter as possible. 🌊 Give butterflies a location for water - a small dish, a backyard waterfall, or any place they can keep their feet dry while still reaching the water source. For more in-depth tips, watch the video below and, if you have specific questions, leave a comment - we promise to answer each one! Was our advice helpful? Share it with your friends!
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About Easton OutdoorsWe started out as the neighborhood lawn boys – a group of high school friends trying to make some pocket change. It soon became more. We realized how much we enjoyed landscaping. Over the years, we've transformed hundreds of properties, beautified countless landscapes, and made many homeowners proud. This has become our passion! Categories
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