Gardening Tips & Techniques

Lambs ear (Stachys byzantina) is a ground cover grown for its thick, fuzzy, silvery foliage that creates a softly textured mat in the garden. Lambs ear is an easy, fast spreader, does best in full sun in most areas, and thrives in somewhat poor, slightly acidic soil. This drought-tolerant perennial is also a good candidate … Read more

Canna lilies, also known as Indian shot, are beautiful tropical and subtropical plants that produce colorful blooms in shades of red, orange, yellow, and pink. Their large, lush leaves also make a striking statement in flower beds and gardens. While cannas are often propagated from rhizomes or tubers, you can also grow these stunning plants … Read more

Got 99 problems and a Christmas Cactus is one? Even though they have “cactus” in their name, the Christmas Cactus is not an easy plant to grow. Like all plants, they have their fair share of problems. However, by diligently attending to your Christmas Cactus problems, they’ll bloom happily once again. This guide will help … Read more

As an avid home gardener and strawberry lover, I was eager to start growing my own patch of juicy, sweet strawberries. However, I quickly learned that keeping strawberries alive through frigid winters required more care and planning than I realized. Through trial and error and plenty of research, I’ve discovered the keys to properly winterizing … Read more

Here at Smith’s Pest Management, we help homeowners in California keep these pests away for good. In this blog, we share our professional ground squirrel control tips so you can quickly reclaim your yard. Ground squirrels can be a real nuisance in yards and gardens with their incessant digging and burrowing. The holes and mounds … Read more

In this step-by-step air plant guide I will teach you how to care for your air plants. Also, I will show you step-by-step how to make 2 different DIY air plant terrariums with a coastal look using seashells, urchins, & driftwood. If you’re looking for a fun and easy DIY project, creating your own air … Read more

List of Garden Perennials that start with the letter U, such as Uvularia. These perennial plants have universal appeal! Enjoy! Plants that start with the letter U encapsulate a diverse range of botanicals, each with their own unique characteristics and appeal. From common garden varieties to rare tropical specimens, these plants share the distinction of … Read more

Some moss killers work very quickly but more important than how quickly is how well do they work and how easy to apply. Here is the low down. Moss can be a frustrating problem in lawns and landscapes The unsightly green growth mars the appearance of grass and hardscapes. When moss takes over, it often … Read more

Lilacs have been a staple of the home garden for hundreds of years, coveted by founding fathers such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. The history of this beautiful plant can be seen in many of its cultivars names. The common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is also known as the French lilac because of important hybridizing … Read more

For those of us gardening in zone 7, knowing when to plant cucumbers is key to maximizing our harvest. With mild winters and warm summers, zone 7 offers great conditions for growing cukes, but timing is everything. In this article, I’ll share my tips and advice for getting the most out of your cucumber crop. … Read more