Boxwood plant

Beautiful boxwood (Buxus) contains alkaloids that are distasteful to deer. The stuff of hedges and elaborate topiaries, boxwood also makes a great foundation shrub because it stays green all year round, remains compact, and likes full shade, says Tegland. In her region, USDA Zone 4, keeping these broadleaf evergreens close to the house also helps protect them from winter sun and wind.

How to Add Plants to a Gravel Garden

Now it's time for the part you've been waiting for—putting in your plants into the gravel. For this, you'll want to use drought-tolerant native plants with deep root systems. You shouldn't plant seeds in a gravel garden, since it's harder for the roots to establish.

"When we plant, we typically use 3.5 or 4.5 inch pot size perennials, because they're about the correct depth," says Epping. "If you use a gallon pot, they're actually too big and you have to end up shaving off some soil to get them in."

Lay out your potted plants in the areas you want them to grow, keeping each about 12 to 18 inches apart.
Remove the plant from the pot and hover it over a bushel basket.
Over the basket, peel off the top inch of soil to remove any weed seeds from the nursery before planting.
Dig about 4 to 5 inches deep, past the gravel and into the soil, and insert the root ball.
Fill the area back in with soil and gravel. The gravel should touch the crown of the plant (where the stem meets the roots).

Fill Your Yard With Native Plants

Native birds thrive on native plants. Before you think about bird feeders (which are also important!), focus on the flowers, shrubs, and trees that are naturally occurring in your region. With these, you’re providing the birds with the fruit, seeds, nectar, and insects they need to survive season after season.

Plant Native Shrubs and Trees for Nesting

Beyond supplying food, native shrubs and trees are also necessary for shelter and nesting. While birds are adaptable, they’re going to seek out the places their instincts recognize, and those are the places that will evolve to accommodate them year-round. 

"If you have a forested area in your yard, leave dead branches and snags that provide nesting places for woodpeckers, as well as other cavity-nesting species such as chickadees, titmice, wrens, and bluebirds," says Winston. "Include native evergreens to supply important shelter from the cold."

Houseplants

Any of your indoor plants can also greatly benefit from Epsom salt. Just add 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt to a gallon of water - like you did while making your foliar spray - and use this solution to water your beautiful houseplants once a month. This helps maintain their lush, green foliage and promotes healthy growth in the long run.

Spacing Plants

This doesn’t mean blasting them out the air lock of your interstellar craft! There’s a real art to planting seeds and transplants at exactly the right distance to maximize yield and minimize open, wasted ground that will probably grow weeds anyway. The best spacing will give the plants all the room they need to fully develop, and to fill in completely between plants and down the rows, leaving just enough room for you to walk along and pick your harvest. Ideally they’d all be at waist height too so we won’t have to bend over!

Colorful Plants in Nature Illustration

Colorful Plants in Nature Illustration

Flowering Plants That Produce Big, Eye Catching Blooms

Focal points in your landscape add visual order by telling the eye where to look first. You can create them with hardscaping, like a bench or statue, or with a flowering plant that's so big, colorful, or surprising that it's impossible to ignore. As you design your garden, experts say to consider adding these showstoppers to your space.

Plants with Massive Blooming Flowers

Are you looking for a few plants with massive flowers to add to your garden this season? There are many different plants that have enormous blooms that you'll love. In this article, gardening expert Jill Drago shares some of her favorite plants that will bring extremely large flowers to your garden!

Plant violas in the fall for winter long color, flowers

The Sorbet series of violas, such as this Midnight Glow selection, resist stretching and stay compact through winter and even as temperatures rise in the spring.