Articles

Holiday Decor from Foraged Materials

Posted on Dec 01, 2022 | by KK

Holiday decorations don't have to be expensive, or time-consuming to create. Chances are you already have the makings of some naturally beautiful arrangements right outside your door. Conifers such as Leyland cypress, pine, arborvitae and juniper, and broadleaf evergreen holly and nandina are common landscaping plants that work quite well. Accents of berries, pine cones, grass inflorescences and dried flowers can easily be found in the late fall and winter landscape as well. All of these can be used to create a design from scratch, or to elevate plain, less costly wreaths and roping. We've put together some tips for you on creating quick decorations with foraged materials.

Preserving Your Home-Grown Herbs

Posted on Oct 01, 2022 | by KK

Fall brings many changes to the garden. Some are particularly lovely, like the warm glow of the autumn sun highlighting nature’s new palette of ruby, copper and gold. Some are beneficial such as the bit of frost that sweetens persimmons and root crops. Some are just plain annoying—does anyone like raking leaves? Watching all those annual flowers fade away is always sad. We may miss our zinnias, and lament the passing of our petunias, but this gives us a chance to reimagine and reinvent our plantings come spring. Flowers come and flowers go, that’s all in a year’s gardening. But how are we supposed to live without our basil for 6 months? THAT is the worst of fall’s effects—turning a lush, mouth-watering mound of green into a slimy, blackened mass of mush. There’s nothing like fresh herbs to perk up everyday recipes, and nothing like the satisfaction and assurance of growing your own. So take heart--there’s no reason to let all that tasty goodness perish. It’s not difficult to preserve your herbal delights for a winter-long supply of flavor. You might even be able to create some amazing home-made gifts while you’re at it!

Little Critter Garden Defense: Voles, Moles, and Friends

Posted on Sep 15, 2022 | by KK

Gardening can be a challenge for many reasons--limited time or space, difficult climate, too much shade (or sun), and poor soil, for instance. Proper plant choice can counter many of those problems, allowing us to have a beautiful garden despite the obstacles. Amending the soil or growing in containers can solve further issues, giving us a broader range of plants to grow. And thus we garden on, because we love it so. But others love our gardens, too—sometimes a little too much.

Guys and Dahlias: Tips on Growing this Fabulous Flower from the Experts

Posted on Aug 11, 2022 | by KK

With the kokoro gardens' many guides to the culture of different flowers and plants, home gardeners will find plenty of useful information, as will those working in a more professional vein. Particularly striking are their creations centered on dahlias, a luscious blooming beauty that should be on your radar if you're looking for some big mid-summer through fall color impact or to add bold blooms to your cutting garden.

Best supports for different types of Roses

Posted on Jul 12, 2022 | by KK

Roses are certainly one of the most beloved garden plants. For many, their beauty and fragrance outweighs whatever difficulties their culture presents. Plus, they are versatile in the garden--depending on the variety they can be grown either as groundcovers, shrubs, or trained to a trellis or structure. Many gardeners now opt for "Knockout" roses--even though their fragrance is minimal and the colors limited. Don't get me wrong--I'm not "knocking" them. They're a great solution when a long-blooming shrub is needed and understandably popular. It's just that landscapers have overused them to the point that they're like Starbucks--one on every corner, just like yellow and blue pansies in the fall. My eyeballs ache for a little visual diversity. But roses have so much more to offer--you might want to take a look at some other choices, and consider the effect that a stunning rose grown on a fabulous trellis or arbor might have in your garden.

Not So Perennial Perennials

Posted on Jun 03, 2022 | by KK

Spring seemed to come late this year, with cool temperatures holding on in many areas of the country. Some of you let us know you still had snow in late April, and here in the Mid-Atlantic we’ve hardly had to turn on the air conditioning, as opposed to other years when we’ve had long 90 degree stretches in May. Of course, that makes it a little more challenging to decide whether last year’s plantings are just slow to emerge or if they’ve done a disappearing act. That can be extremely difficult for new gardeners—many’s the time in my previous life I had customers returning plants that were still alive but just hadn’t started new growth yet. One thing to remember is that “perennial” doesn’t mean “forever,” it just means that the plant takes more than one year to complete its life cycle, unlike annuals that grow, bloom, set seed and perish all in one year.

Garden and Wall Trellises by Classic Garden Elements

Posted on Apr 22, 2022 | by KK

It’s time to unleash your creativity outside! If you are visiting our website, you must be interested in sprucing up your garden or patio, and we are happy to say you are in the right place. In this article, we will introduce you to our wall trellises and stand-alone garden trellises, the perfect feature to brighten up any wall or lackluster spot in your garden.

Native Vines Perfect for Any Size Garden Structure

Posted on Apr 08, 2022 | by KK

There's something so inviting about a vine-covered arbor or pergola. Whether used to create a welcoRed roses cover the elegant Kiftsgate Arch from Classic Garden Elementsming entrance, a shady garden nook, or softly frame a beautiful view, such a structure greatly enhances the landscape. There's no denying the drama of a red rose laden arch, or the romantic charm of a pergola draped in wisteria. But if you're trying to fill your garden with native plants, are there still good options?

Growing Food Crops in Limited Space

Posted on Mar 01, 2022 | by KK

We’ve all learned a lot over the last few years—maybe the most important thing the pandemic taught us is not to take even the tiniest things for granted. Who would have thought it would have been impossible to find common items like hand sanitizer or cleaning products? Even now we’re seeing late repercussions as logistical issues are causing shortages of grocery items including poultry, meat, and produce. We’ve realized that if we want to ensure our healthy food supply, the more we can grow for ourselves (and share with friends and neighbors) the better. Even if you have a postage stamp sized back yard, or only a balcony, there are many ways to grow a lot in a small space.

Design a Landscape That's for the Birds

Posted on Jan 24, 2022 | by KK

As a child, I remember spending many afternoons on my grandparents’ couch, gazing through their huge picture window at the birds visiting the feeders hung in the magnolia tree outside. It was the one bit of excitement that could be found at their peaceful country home, and I was mesmerized by the comings and goings, watching the flutter of red cardinals’ wings, the hopping of Carolina wrens and the speedy swooping of chickadees. And the music—trills, twitters, whistles, and sweetly sung notes, all part of a lively show enacted by seemingly delicate yet incredibly swift and agile feathered performers. I can still spend hours watching such a scene.

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Archive

Holiday Decor from Foraged Materials

Preserving Your Home-Grown Herbs

Little Critter Garden Defense: Voles, Moles, and Friends

Guys and Dahlias: Tips on Growing this Fabulous Flower from the Experts

Best supports for different types of Roses

Not So Perennial Perennials

Garden and Wall Trellises by Classic Garden Elements

Native Vines Perfect for Any Size Garden Structure

Growing Food Crops in Limited Space

Design a Landscape That's for the Birds

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Archive

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