Grass that is cut to a minimum of 3 inches (7.5 cm) above the ground helps protect roots from the sun and retain moisture in the soil. Keep in mind the higher the grass is cut, the deeper the roots go, but that doesn't mean that you let your grass grow tall before cutting it. Mowing higher means you cut it at a higher level each time you mow. Keeping the grass higher also ensures a healthy lawn that can resist drought and outgrow weeds.

Yes. Egg shells are wonderful to add to the compost because they are a rich source of calcium and other essential nutrients that plants need. Keep in mind that they decompose slowly, so crush the shells before adding them.

A successful organic garden begins with healthy soil texture and structure. Well-draining soil comprised of sand, silt, clay, and compost amendment is ideal. However, most backyards have a ratio that leans heavily to one side. Ideally, soil should have 50 percent pore space and 50 percent solid particles. To achieve this ratio, compost can be worked into the soil. The best garden soils have a loose, crumb-like structure that water, air, and plant roots can easily penetrate. Find out more...

The Xeriscape gardening or Xeriscaping refers to a waterwise method of gardening and landscape that uses drought tolerant plants to create a water conserving landscape that is regionally appropriate and require less maintenance. Xeriscaping is a concept that was first coined in Colorado in the 1970's by the Denver Water Department to describe the use of native and climate adapted plants in their system of landscaping with water conservation as the priority. Find out more...

There are many benefits to installing synthetic grass versus natural grass, here are just a few: synthetic grass does not require watering; doesn't require use of fertilizers, chemicals and pesticides; good for environment, low maintenance, and great appearance. Read more...

In nature, humus formation goes on in the presence of air and moisture. The agents of its formation are soil animals ranging in complexity from microorganisms through insects working together in a complex ecology. These same organisms work also in your compost piles and help you change crude vegetation into humus or something close to humus. Find out more...

The one of the most important things to consider in picking out the spot for your garden is exposure to the sun. If choosen right, exposure is going to yield you with happiness and delicious vegetables all season for many years. Read more...

The ideal garden soil is a "rich, sandy loam." And the important fact cannot be overemphasized that such soils usually are made, not found. "Rich" in the gardener's vocabulary means full of plant food; more than that, and this is a point of vital importance, it means full of plant food ready to be used at once, all prepared and spread out on the garden table, or rather in it, where growing things can at once make use of it; or what we term, in one word, "available" plant food. Find out more...

Prepare your garden deeply, thoroughly, carefully, in addition to making it rich, and you will be rewarded by a garden so remarkably more successful than the average garden is. Pulverization adds materially in making the plant foods in the soil available for use; induces the growing plants to root deeply; enables the soil to absorb rain evenly and enables the soil to retain moisture stored. Read more...