Front Yard Update: Welcome to Crazy Town

May 20, 2016

Back to the Garden, front yard series, Gardening

...lost in the crowd on the slope. I’m hoping that it will start reseeding itself, because I don’t want to buy any more of it. I’m figuring that getting a meadow situation started will take time –and the cooperation of the grass. If it likes the slope, I’ll get a grassy meadow in coming years, but not this year. If grass is not to be, I’ll have to punt. And yes, it may have been more sensible (certainly more affordable) to scatter native grass seed...

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Reader Favorite California Native: Ceanothus

Mr. Homegrown

June 7, 2017

Gardening

8 Comments

...But getting it established can be tricky. The most common mistake is over-watering during the summer months and planting in overly fertile soil. We didn’t over-water, so how we manged to kill three of them is a Root Simple gardening mystery. That said, many of our neighbors have had no problems with Ceanothus. If you have a well drained sunny spot, it’s a good bet. I’m particularly fond of the short sprawling varieties such as Ceanothus thyrsiflo...

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Mulch, mulch, mulch!

Mrs. Homegrown

May 14, 2015

Back to the Garden, Garden Design, Gardening, Permaculture, Soil

11 Comments

...erfect lawn. I know many happy kids who live in such yards. And as a kid myself, I preferred such spaces. I have no fond memories of grass. I do have strong memories of playing in wilder spaces–under trees, among boulders, in a rainy gutter, in the snow, at the beach. Lawn, for me, was always a suspicious place full of dangerous sprinkler heads and hidden dog poop. The one exception I will buy for lawn is as a good surface for babies and toddlers....

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Saturday Linkages: Arboreal Angst

Mr. Homegrown

September 14, 2019

Saturday Linkages

1 Comment

...eror Charles and ‘Carlina’ in Giovanni Cadamasto’s herbal: Harley MS 3736 via Medieval Manuscripts Blog Arboreal Angst: a short history of recent architectural/plant mashups Louisville needs trees! Cedar plant swing holder Ancient watering hole in Southern Arizona at risk from border wall construction On the Surprising Benefits of an Un-Mobile Phone Is Our Fear of Smartphones Overblown? Same Pesticides that are Killing Bees Significantly Shorten M...

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Bread and Roses

Mr. Homegrown

February 16, 2021

Gardening

6 Comments

...o I’d appreciate your opinions about ways to make our roses more healthy and vigorous. The soil they are planted in leaves a lot to be desired and I’m very confused about watering needs. I’m also open to suggestions from readers about interesting rose varieties either climbing or bush....

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