Plants & Yard Ideas

Dusting plants is what I like to call a "wow, must be nice to have that kind of time" chore.

Your place just became the spot.

Make room on your desk for some green.

This little guy's perfectly tiny-home-sized.

Landlord got your apartment a little too toasty? No worries—these plants can take it.

We’re not talking about making friends with your plants (but that could work too).

Just because your landlord won't upgrade your windows doesn't mean you have to stick with faux plants.

Here are seven errors that really stick out for three Los Angeles-area landscape designers and architects.

It's like a natural magic trick!

If you only have space for a few plants in your home, make sure they're unforgettable.

You just can't go wrong with these guys.

You just got home from buying the plant of your dreams. But now you’re noticing that your plant is showing signs of distress like dry or dull leaves. What gives?

These plants are sure to be seen taking over interiors throughout 2020.

Cucumbers are one of the most refreshing things to eat straight out of the garden. Technically a fruit, this hydrating treat is made up of 95% water and can help keep you going on a hot day. Cucumber seedlings can be planted outside two weeks after the last spring frost. They love the hot sun, so be sure to make room for them in a bright area with fertile, well-drained soil. Plant a second crop one month after the first. Cucumber seedlings Organic compost Organic fertilizer Garden tools 1.

During the cold days of winter, I like to mentally fast forward to the lazy lounging days of summertime. So even though warm weather has just arrived, I’ve already been spending quite a bit of time thinking about outdoor spaces…This little courtyard before and after from Michelle over at Three Men and a Lady is just the thing to inspire me.

Corey in Seattle shared his before & after backyard project with us. Jump below to see what it looks like “after” all of the hard work:Corey says: My wife and I live in Seattle, WA. We finished our backyard studio garage 2 years ago and just finished the deck last fall. The plants are starting to come in nicely now, and we can’t wait to enjoy the yard this summer and entertain friends and family. Thanks for sharing, Corey!(Re-edited from a post originally published 06.24.

This garden in southern California, was designed by Shirley Bovshow for a client with a small budget (at lease for the size of the work needed). So, the initial vision for beautiful gazebos and country elegance with all the bells and whistles was ultimately fulfilled with budget friendly versions.

Just about this time last summer I somewhat sheepishly shared our back deck and the modest makeover cover-up that I attempted to pull off with $150 and a can of paint. This year, we’ve poured a bit more thought, time, and money into the space, and it has totally transformed our summer!As I explained in last year’s post, we have the world’s narrowest deck attached to possibly the world ugliest addition.

As the summer heats up, I thought I would try to inspire you to head outside and get your hands dirty with some inspirational and aspirational garden ‘before and after’ projects.The first is landscape designer Andrew Grossman’s garden. He shares the progress of his garden at his blog titled ‘A Year in My Garden’ — even though he admits that this garden was fully 12 years in the making.

Let me introduce you to Stevie who lives in Vancouver. Since 2004 Stevie has been transforming the back garden into something wonderful and taking readers of Garden Therapy along for the ride.Some basic background info about the garden transformation from Stevie:“While there is a wonderful mountain view from the deck, we decided to build a low, enclosed patio to gain privacy from the neighbours and some outdoor living space.

Name: Kelly Coyne and Erik KnutzenLocation: Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park/Silver Lake area)Years lived in: 13 Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen didn’t set out to become back –and front!– yard farmers. But once this Los Angeles couple discovered the pleasures of making things by hand and living close to the natural world, one thing led to another and today their ever-evolving urban homestead (if we dare call it that) is a true inspiration in the heart of the city.

Name: PennyLocation: Williamsburg — Brooklyn, New York One of the reasons we chose this condo when we moved from Manhattan, was the potential of the garden. We promised a garden to our dog Sasha and we delivered.We inherited it as a pit of tenacious weeds, specifically Japanese Knotweed, that had to be dug out and removed by hand before any planting or sod laying.

Name: Beth Knox and Bill Hutchins Location: Takoma Park, Maryland (just over the District line) Size: 2,100 square feet — 4 bedrooms + basement apartment Years lived in: 4 years, owned Other occupants: Tenants in basement, 20-something children from time to time, a variety of guests (extended stay), currently a Congolese pastor seeking asylum.

In lesson seven I reviewed the pros and cons of starting your garden from seeds or starts. If you’re feeling ambitious and want to start all (or at least a few) of your plants from seed, the question is: should you start them indoors or outdoors? Well, that depends on when you’re getting started and how long your growing season is.

One of the most common reasons people throw up their hands — and throw in the trowel — is the discouragement they feel when their plants die. But guess what: it happens to even the most experienced gardener. Don’t despair! Whether it’s your first time or fiftieth time planting a garden, these easy-grow, easy-care plants will make plant shopping a little less intimidating and a lot more successful.

Maybe you’re convinced you’ll never move beyond that notorious black thumb, or maybe you’ve tended a few herbs on your windowsill but feel too intimidated to try more. Whatever the case may be, let this year be the year you start your very own garden! From container gardening in a courtyard to vegetable gardening in a backyard, we’ve got you covered at Apartment Therapy with our step-by-step Gardening School.

Gardens can take many forms, but today we’ll tackle the three main types of gardens you can start with a basic supply list: container gardens, raised bed gardens, and in-ground gardens. You might already know what type you’ll be growing, since it’s usually determined by your space and your lifestyle. Each garden has its pros and cons, but in many instances, you can mix and match the type of garden to your needs.

Gardens and gardeners come in all sizes, shapes, and needs. We may be short or tall, left-handed or right-handed. We may be starting a few planter boxes on the deck or growing entire rows of vegetables in the backyard. Thus, the tools that work for one person may not work for another. Complicating (or perhaps simplifying?) matters even more are tools that can serve multiple purposes.

Though we often think of spring as a good time to prep and plant a garden, you can actually start planning well before the snow melts and continue planting all the way until the first freeze in fall. If you live in a frost-free region, lucky you — you can garden year-round! How do you determine the best time to prep or plant? The most reliable source is your local independent garden center, which can offer general growing guidelines for your particular climate.

The best-laid plans for a garden come after living in your home for a year, watching how the sun moves throughout the day in all the seasons, how much moisture you get and where it goes, and whether one area of your yard is more prone to wind than another. But if you want to get started right away, keep these things in mind as they’ll help you plot out a successful garden. Amount of sunlight and access to water are two major factors that go into selecting a good site for your garden.

Congratulations on making it this far and having a beautiful garden to show for it! But while the initial grunt work is done, your plants still need a little TLC to keep them looking and performing their best. Strive to spend at least one afternoon a week (or a few minutes a day) to walk among your beds, pick a few flowers, or simply sit in your garden and take it all in.

You’ve got the site and the soil dialed in, and now comes the fun part: the plants! Part of making your garden plan is deciding what types of plants you want to grow and how they’ll coexist in your space. All of the previous lessons — knowing how much sun your yard receives each day, what climate zone you’re in, and when you’re ready to plant — will aid a great deal in this process, so be sure you read them before you move on.

Want to make max impact with your plants? Try one of these beauties.

Yes, you can be a plant parent and still go on vacation. We've got the intel on how to keep your leafy fam happy while you're gone.

This weekend, we'll do that universally helpful, little-known plant care task.

Pinterest looked into all the ways users are plotting to put a little more green in their homes this winter, just by adding a little bit of liquid.

Cat parents, rejoice! You don't need to worry about your pet nibbling on these plants.

Hooray for lazy plant parents!

Move over, dahlias, mums, and sunflowers—here's how to use fall's new hot flower all over your home.

These doll heads that were refurbished as planters are creeping everyone out.

There’s one critical step you have to take to make sure you’re getting the most out of these classic pots.

Although a turkey baster is usually used to help maintain moisture when cooking, it’s also a really useful tool to save your plant from harm over time.

This is a no brainer.

Because plants make the world better.

Much like almost everything else you need for a house, turns out IKEA is a pretty good option for plant shopping.

Get excited to never kill another plant again.

With the fall season officially here, some would-be gardeners who missed their chance to flex the ol’ green thumb may be experiencing regrets. Fortunately, there’s no need to wait until next spring to try again. There are a ton of alternate gardening options, and this personalized home garden known as the Verdeat is a pretty cool one.According to its Kickstarter page, Verdeat is a “modular fully automatic gardening system” crafted from environmentally friendly materials.

Name: Rachel Andersen Type of Project: Backyard Patio Renovation Location: Tulsa, OK Type of building: Single-Family Ranch The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step-by-step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style.Rachel has tons of friends and family who happily joined her on weekends to knock this project out!

$26.99 for a fiddle leaf fig, anyone?

We talked to a few plant experts to get step-by-step instructions on how to start your own pumpkin patch—or at least one. In any case, here are some handy tips for getting the results you want:

You have a shady section of your garden that you don’t know what to do with. Or maybe your apartment or condo has a balcony that’s covered in shade all day. What plants should you put in those corners of your outdoor space?

You'll want ten.

There’s just something about a well-done window box that makes the outside of a home or building look especially polished and welcoming.

These tiny home dwellers managed to add beautiful plant life into their compact abodes in cute and clever ways!

Before you can roll around in the grass or have a picnic in the backyard this summer, you need to prep your lawn. Just like you spring clean your house, now’s the time to get your yard in shape for the season by doing all those necessary tasks like removing debris, replacing grass, or taking out weeds. These ten items will help you give it a fresh start and set the groundwork for a beautiful, lush lawn come June, or you can always bring the great outdoors inside by growing grass indoors.

Devon Else wanted her family's large patio to feel warm and inviting, so she decided to break out some paint and DIY it. Including a door, the entire project cost just over $1,000.

So sweet.

I’m in a traveling, outdoor mood, largely because I’m stuck inside an air conditioned office and longing to be outside. To soothe myself, I want to revisit a home we visited last summer — Margaret Roach’s year round retreat in upstate New York. I’ve included new pictures, and I think you’ll get a lot of vicarious pleasure out of this visit. Enjoy!

Beyond the ick-factor, fungus gnats are harmless to people and generally harmless to plants, so long as they don’t start breeding out of control because the larvae will feed on and damage plant roots.

Remember pet rocks? Yeah, it’s time to upgrade. Meet the marimo ball.

There are proven benefits to hydrating your beloved plants with coffee.

These rainbow outdoor spaces aren't afraid of vibrant hues, and will inspire you to add color to your own home's exteriors.

So you can have a hot girl summer, not swat girl summer.

The term “goth plants” isn’t one you’ll see in your average box store garden department. These plants have darker leaves and flowers, deeper and richer colors, and/or other components that are more emo than your run-of-the-mill greenery. This Reddit thread on Colocasia Black Magic led me to the Plant Goths thread, and my interest was officially piqued.

Let your home shine bright with these smart design tips.

Want to take your plant parent status to the next level? Check out these modern ways to decorate with your greens.

From wall planters to floating shelves, here are eight items that will help you create a plant wall that won’t cost you your security deposit.

The best plants for small spaces and low light, plus watering tips, and more.

Name: Rachel Andersen Type of Project: Backyard Patio Renovation Location: Tulsa, OK Type of building: Single-family Ranch The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step by step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here. Rachel worked 3+ jobs all throughout high school and college, because she had a big dream: to buy a little place and make it into a home.

Name: Rachel Andersen Type of Project: Backyard Patio Renovation Location: Tulsa, OK Type of building: Single-Family Ranch The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step by step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here. Rachel bought her first house at the young age of 21, and works hard to make it a welcoming place for family and friends.

Name: Rachel Andersen Type of Project: Backyard Patio Renovation Location: Tulsa, OK Type of building: Single-family Ranch The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step by step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here. Rachel and friends have worked for weeks to pull this backyard space together, not cutting any corners, and doing it all DIY-style.

Name: Rachel Andersen Type of Project: Backyard Patio Renovation Location: Tulsa, OK Type of building: Single-Family Ranch The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step by step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here. All projects come with lots of good intentions — filled with budgets, plans, and timelines.