by gardening expert Melinda Myers

Increase your garden’s productivity even when space, time and energy are limited. Just follow these six simple planting, maintenance and harvesting techniques for a more bountiful harvest.

Maximize your planting space with wide rows. Leave just enough room for plants to reach their maximum size. Make wide rows, 4 to 5 feet wide, so you can reach all plants for maintenance and harvest. Minimizing walkways means more planting space.

Try interplanting. Grow short season crops like lettuce and radishes between long season crops like cabbage, tomatoes and peppers. The short season crops will be ready to harvest when the long season crops are reaching mature size. You’ll double your harvest and grow more vegetables, not weeds between your longer season plants.

Grow more plants per row with succession planting. Start the season with cool season vegetables like lettuce and spinach. Once these are harvested and temperatures warm replace with beans and onions. Harvest these and plant a fall crop of radishes or lettuce.

When you use these intensive planting techniques, be sure to incorporate a low nitrogen slow release fertilizer, at the start of the season. Then add a mid-season nutrient boost if needed. The slow release nitrogen won’t burn even during the hot dry weather of summer. Plus, it won’t interfere with flowering or fruiting.

Go vertical. Train vine crops up decorative or functional trellises and supports. You’ll not only save space, but you will also reduce disease problems and increase the harvest. Growing cucumbers and melons increases light penetration and airflow, reducing the risk of fungal diseases. Pole beans are much easier to harvest and produce an additional picking. Secure large fruited vegetables like melons to the trellis with a cloth sling.

Be sure to plant vegetables in containers if in-ground space is limited. A 5-gallon bucket or comparable size container is perfect for a tomato. Peppers and eggplants will thrive in a bit smaller pot. Grow vine crops in containers and allow them to crawl over the deck or patio instead of valuable gardening space. Mix flowers and herbs in with your vegetables. You’ll increase the beauty while adding additional fragrance to the pot.

Harvest often and at the proper time. Zucchini and other summer squash should be picked when 6 to 8 inches long or in the case of patty pan squash it reaches 3 inches in diameter. The flavor is better than those baseball bat size zucchini and you’ll have plenty to eat and share. Harvest your head of cabbage when firm and full size. Leave the bottom leaves and roots intact. Soon you will have 4 or 5 smaller heads to harvest and enjoy.

With a bit of planning and creativity you can find ways to increase the enjoyment and harvest in any size garden.

Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening. She hosts the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV and radio segments and is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers web site is www.melindamyers.com    

(BPT) – The days are getting longer, the grass is growing and yard work season has begun. Many homeowners strive to have the best lawn in the neighborhood, but the task ahead can often feel daunting and time-consuming.

Although yard work can be overwhelming at times, the steps to a great-looking lawn are easier than you think. To get started, here are a few tips for giving your yard that finished look:

* Keep grass approximately 2 inches in length and only take off 1/3 inch of new growth.

* Alternate the direction you mow each session. If you mow in the same direction every time, the wheels will create a rut in the grass.

* Plant flowers around the yard for a pop of color. Using mulch in flower beds will also add detail to your landscape.

* Use string trimmers around trees, rocks, fences and other obstacles to give your lawn a polished look.

* Use a broom to clean grass clippings and soil from pavement and walkways.

Yard work can feel easier and even enjoyable when using the right lawn care tools for the job. According to Troy-Bilt, a leading manufacturer of outdoor power equipment, one of the quickest ways to give your lawn a manicured look is using a string trimmer. It can handle everything from cutting down weeds to trimming around trees to cleaning up grass under decks. String trimmers are the most versatile tool every homeowner should have in their shed.

“Lawn mowers can maneuver around obstacles and larger plants, but it’s usually hard to get into tight spaces,” says Heidi Ketvertis, director of marketing communications for Troy-Bilt. “A string trimmer can get into places a lawn mower can’t reach and really give your lawn that polished look.”

Troy-Bilt’s TB675 EC 4-cycle gas string trimmer can help make life in the yard that much easier. There’s no need to mix oil and gas, and it can quickly convert into multiple tools with Troy-Bilt’s TrimmerPlus attachments.

Making your lawn stand out as the beauty of the block will take some work, but the end result will be worth the effort. Visit www.troybilt.com to learn more about lawn care products to help make time in the yard more enjoyable.

What gift will make Mom happy this Mother’s Day?

NewsUSA

(NU) – Last year, flowers and jewelry topped the list of popular Mother’s Day gifts — naturally. Many women enjoy the warmth that fresh flowers add to a room, almost as much as supplementing a never-ending jewelry collection.

But if you honored Mom with tried-and-true gifts last May, show your appreciation by exercising a few creative muscles this year. Do something different — seize the op- portunity to show unflinching love and gratitude.

Need a little help? The gift experts at RedEnvelope (www.redenvelope.com) — a trust- ed source of ideas and inspiration for any occasion — compiled sug- gestions about how to find the best present for the moms in your life.

For the traditional mom: Tra- ditional moms rarely stop working for their families yet never ask much in return. Whether she rel- ishes a new book, long baths or champagne brunches, she deserves it all. Give her a reason to sched- ule some “me time” with a home spa treatment, like a Lavender Re- laxation Spa Set and a new spring robe. Or if she likes to share with friends, indulge in a Champagne Treats Basket from Shari’s Berries (www.berries.com).

For the contemporary mom: Whether it’s your sister, daughter wife or mother, the contemporary mom maintains a stylish home and makes strollers look fashionable. While her glamour may appear effortless, reminders don’t hurt. Brighten up her office or desk with a Mother and Child Orchid Garden (www.proflowers.com). If you’re brave, consider a pair of Enamel Stud Earrings, only offered at Re- dEnvelope. The big, bold enamel earrings have a versatile feel that can be both retro and mod.

For the gourmet mom: The gourmet mom tends to throw the best dinners, perhaps a result of restaurant experience or just a deep-rooted love of good cooking. Either way, her taste buds deserve some treats she didn’t make. If she has a sweet tooth, Shari’s Berries delivers handmade Mother’s Day chocolatey-covered strawberries and Cake Pops. For the potluck regulars, customize a glazed Stoneware Casserole dish with a nickname or favorite phrase at Personal Creations (www.personalcreations.com).

For the entertaining mom: If it’s possible to have a monopoly on holiday parties, leave it to the entertainers. Entertaining moms are the first to send out a Google group invite to Sunday “Fun-day” at their house. Even though we can’t attend every single one, they are admittedly some of the best parties. Surprise her with a lavish token of love, like a box of gourmet dipped berries one day, followed by two dozen rainbow roses the next. New Personal Cre- ations picture frames allow for col- lage cut-outs reading anything from “I Love Mom” to “Family.”

(BPT) – Families have many special traditions to celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Starting new traditions around these days is also common. If your family is looking for some new ways to enjoy Mother’s Day or Father’s Day this year, check out these tips and gift ideas that will help make your celebrations special:

* Shop, dine or donate – Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are when we recognize parents for starting their families. This year, March of Dimes is launching the imbornto campaign to celebrate a powerful truth that every baby is born to do something great, but first they have to be born strong and healthy. Every time a baby is born, so are a new mom and dad. That’s why March of Dimes is the “Official Partner of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day,” encouraging you to shop, dine or donate where you see the imbornto seal to help continue the organization’s 75 years of research, education, vaccine development and medical breakthrough. imbornto partners include Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc., The Bon-Ton Stores, Bliss Carpets, Farmers Insurance, Kmart, Mud Pie, Beaulieu, ProFlowers and First Response. Visit www.imbornto.com to learn more.

* Good eats – New delicious recipes always bring flair to family gatherings around the dinner table. Make it a fun event by having family members create these recipes together, and then present them to mom or dad with a flourish of colorful cards, fresh cut flowers or brightly-wrapped packaging. Here are some great recipes from the kitchens of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. to try:

Grilled Potato Slices with Salt and Vinegar

Prep time: 5 minutes

Total time: 50 minutes

Yield: serves 4

Ingredients:

1 pound potatoes, preferably fingerling, cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices

2 cups white vinegar

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt, plus more for sprinkling

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions:

Bring potatoes and vinegar to a boil in a medium saucepan (vinegar should cover potatoes). Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer potatoes until just fork tender, about 5 minutes. Let potatoes cool in vinegar for 30 minutes. Drain well, and gently toss with oil, salt and pepper. Preheat grill to medium-high. Grill potatoes in a single layer until browned on both sides and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Sprinkle with salt before serving.

Brown Sugar and Pecan Sticky Buns

Prep time: 25 minutes

Total time: 55 minutes plus resting

Yield: serves 12

Ingredients:

All-purpose flour, for work surface

1 recipe basic pizza dough, or 2 pounds store-bought pizza dough, thawed if frozen

1 cup plus 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (2 3/4 sticks), room temperature

1 cup packed dark-brown sugar

1 1/2 cups pecans, chopped

1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

Directions:

On a floured work surface, roll dough to a 10-by-18-inch rectangle. Dot upper two-thirds of dough with 1 cup butter and fold dough like a letter. Roll dough to a 10-by-18-inch rectangle. Refrigerate on a baking sheet until firm, 1 hour (or up to 1 day). Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, combine sugar, pecans and salt. Leaving a 1/2-inch border, dot dough with 6 tablespoons butter and sprinkle with sugar mixture. Starting at a long end, roll up dough like a jelly roll. Cut crosswise into 12 pieces. Place each piece, cut side down, into 2 jumbo muffin pans or a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Bake until golden brown and cooked through, 30 to 40 minutes, rotating pans halfway through. Immediately invert buns onto a serving platter or baking sheet. Serve warm.

Cook’s note:

Folding butter into the dough creates a flaky, rich result. This recipe works well with store-bought dough, but it’s exceptional with homemade.

* Family activity time – Spending the day together is the best way to celebrate Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, so find an activity everyone can enjoy. Maybe it’s heading out to watch a movie, going to the local park for a long walk or bike ride, or crafting a household decoration together.

All members of the family can enjoy Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, so consider trying out a new family tradition and make the celebration even bigger this year.

Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict features a heavenly sauce made with heart-healthy canola oil.

(NAPS)—Show your love for mom by looking after her health with the gift of heart-smart cooking.

Try classic brunch recipes that have a heart-healthy twist, such as those from CanolaInfo’s “Mother’s May the Healthy Way” recipe collection from Ellie Krieger, M.S., R.D., host of the Cooking Channel’s “Healthy Appetite.”

To lighten up her recipes, Krieger uses low-fat dairy products, whole grains and canola oil, which has the least saturated fat and most omega-3 fat of all common culinary oils.

Here’s a healthier take on Eggs Benedict to warm mom’s heart:

Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict with Creamy Dill Caper Sauce 

Yield: 4 servings

Serving size: 1 piece

1⁄2 cup nonfat plain yogurt

1 Tbsp canola oil

1 tsp fresh lemon juice

1 Tbsp chopped fresh dill, plus sprigs for garnish

1 Tbsp capers, drained

1⁄2 tsp finely grated lemon zest

2 whole-grain English muffins

3 oz thinly sliced smoked salmon

4 medium eggs

3 Tbsp white wine vinegar

To make sauce: In medium bowl, whisk yogurt and canola oil until blended. Whisk in lemon juice, then stir in chopped dill, capers and lemon zest. Toast English muffins. Place slice or two of salmon on top of each English muffin half. To poach eggs: Fill large, deep skillet about ¾ inch to top with water and bring to boil over high heat. Add vinegar, then reduce heat to medium-low. Crack egg into small bowl, then gently add it to boiling water. Repeat with remaining eggs until all four eggs are in skillet. Cook until whites of eggs are set but yolks are still slightly runny, about 3 minutes. Use slotted spoon to transfer eggs to paper towel to drain. (Alternatively, cook eggs over easy in nonstick skillet.) Transfer each egg to salmon-topped English muffin half. Pour 2 tablespoons of sauce on top of each muffin and garnish each with sprig of dill.

Nutritional Analysis per Serving: Calories: 200, Total Fat: 10 g, Satu- rated Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 190 mg, Sodium: 470 mg, Carbohydrates: 16 g, Fiber: 2 g, Protein: 14 g.

For more recipes and culinary tips, go to www.CanolaInfo.org.

(BPT) – As the weather turns warmer, most of us are experiencing cabin fever, anxious to escape to the outdoors. But has the harsh winter weather put a damper on your outdoor spaces? Don’t fret. You can easily spruce up your exteriors with a few easy and inexpensive home improvement projects. Here are a few fast fixes that will have your home looking great without taking a huge hit on your wallet.

Unpack and update

The first step to enjoying the outdoors is to unpack storage areas and populate your patios and porches with furniture and accents that you put away for the winter season. However, often these pieces don’t fare well in storage and your once-beautiful accents may be scratched, faded or even rusty.

“It’s disappointing to find once-vibrant outdoor furniture and accents looking worn and outdated, especially when you’re not ready to invest in new,” says Katherine Merkle, Krylon brand manager. “Luckily, with a bit of spray paint, especially a version that’s paint and primer in one, it’s simple to revitalize your current pieces to make them lovely and enjoyable, only for a few dollars.”

Krylon’s Dual Paint + Primer spray paint is the ideal solution with a unique formulation that’s available in a wide variety of the most popular colors and finishes. It includes both the paint and primer in one can, so you can complete your projects easily and quickly in one step – with a great finish that lasts like you primed it. Plus, it works on many surfaces, including wood, metal, wicker, glass, ceramic, fabric, concrete and masonry, allowing you to update all your outdoor accents.

“Whether looking to add a vibrant pop of color to dull flower pots; restoring sun-faded patio umbrellas; or restoring damaged or dull furniture surfaces, Dual has the color you need in the simple, one-step, affordable solution you desire,” says Merkle.

Clean and clear

Cold weather can leave outdoor spaces looking dirty and gray, so the next step in your outdoor update is to start cleaning. Pressure washing is a simple way to get patios, sidewalks, windows and siding looking clean and ready for the season. It offers instant gratification as layers of dirt, dust and grime are quickly blasted away. Don’t have a pressure washer? No worries that you need to buy one; most rental companies or home improvement centers offer reasonably priced daily rentals. Or it’s an opportunity to visit the neighbors who you haven’t seen during the cold months to borrow theirs.

Great, green grass

With your living spaces looking grand, now it’s time to turn your attention to your lawn. With the grass still soggy and sensitive, it may not be time to begin mowing or digging – but it is a good time for prevention. Since spring is often the key growth season for many grasses, the key to having a weed-free yard is to apply weed control to your yard to prevent them before they germinate. Your local home improvement store or nursery will help you determine the type and amount that is best for your yard. This easy bit of prevention will help create healthy and luscious greenery for the warmer months to come.

Get grilling

Once you’ve got your outdoors looking great, you’ll be ready to enjoy some outdoor entertaining. To prep your grill for another year of burgers and barbecues – make sure you start with a good cleaning. Home improvement expert Danny Lipford has a simple and inexpensive way to clean the cooking surface using aluminum foil and white vinegar. The acid in the vinegar cuts through grease and cooked-on food, while the foil acts as an abrasive to remove the food residue. Simply pour white vinegar in a clean spray bottle, spray the cooking surface and let it sit for a few minutes. Next, rub the cooking area with crumpled up aluminum foil. You’ll have a clean grill with items you probably have sitting in your pantry.

With a few fast do-it-yourself updates, your home and outdoor areas will be looking fabulous in no time – and all without a huge price tag. For more information on Krylon paint products, visit www.krylon.com.

You don’t need a lot of space to enjoy fresh homegrown vegetables.

(NAPS)—It’s a growing trend: Twenty-one million households are planting container gardens. It saves space, helps control pests and overcome soil issues, and lets you enjoy fresh, homegrown produce even without a yard.

To ensure your success, it’s important to pick the right plant for the pot. Fortunately, seed companies are developing vegetable seeds well adapted for container gardens.

“Today’s container gardeners now have access to even more plants that are compact in size, yield more, taste great and feature unique colors and shapes,” said John Marchese of Seminis Home Garden seed.

To help you get started, consider these tips from experts at the University of Illinois Extension:

Choosing a Container 

• Anything that holds soil and has drainage holes in the bottom may be transformed into a container garden for terrestrial plants.

• For vibrant plant growth, the containers must provide adequate space for roots and soil media, allowing the plant to thrive.

Soil 

• Soils for containers need to be well aerated and well drained while still being able to retain enough moisture for plant growth.

• Never use garden soil by itself for container gardening, no matter how good it looks or how well things grow in it outside.

• Containers often use soilless or artificial media that contain no soil at all.

• When these mixes are used, they should be moistened slightly before planting. Fill a tub with the media, add water and lightly fluff the media to dampen it.

• When filling containers with media, don’t fill the pot to the top. Leave about a one-inch space between the top of the soil and rim of the pot.

Fertilizer 

• A regular fertilizer program is needed to keep plants growing well and attractively all season.

• The choice of fertilizer analysis will depend on the kinds of plants you grow. High-nitrogen sources would be good for plants grown for their foliage while flowering and vegetable crops would generally prefer lower-nitrogen and higher-phosphorous fertilizer types.

Choosing Plants For Your Container Garden 

• Plants that thrive in like soil, watering and light conditions make successful combinations. When combining plants, size, texture, proportion, color, setting and lighting all play a role.

Caring For Your Vegetables 

• Containers offer the advantage of being portable. As the seasons, temperature and light conditions change, you can move your containers so they enjoy the best conditions for peak performance.

• Most fruit-bearing vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squashes and eggplant require full sun.

• Leafy vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage and spinach can tolerate more shady locations, unlike root vegetables such as radishes, carrots and onions.

• There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to watering. You have to watch your containers and understand how much moisture each plant needs. Feel the soil—if the first inch or so is dry, add water until it starts to drip out of the drainage holes.

Special Seeds 

“Just because they are using a smaller space to grow the plant doesn’t mean the fruit has to be small, too,” Marchese explained. “For example, if container gardeners are looking for a compact plant that produces large and tasty tomatoes, they should try a new hybrid tomato variety called Debut.”

Container gardeners don’t have to sacrifice flavor for a more conveniently grown plant either. “Husky Red is a medium-sized tomato hybrid that has great flavor. We have also developed a cherry tomato hybrid version called Husky Cherry Red that has the potential to set lots of sweet, flavorful fruit,” added Marchese.

Other compact hybrid tomato varieties include Patio, which produces about a 4-ounce tomato, and a saladette tomato variety called Yaqui that produces large-sized fruit.

Learn More 

For more information on home garden varieties, visit www.seminis.com.

Compact plants like ‘Lilac Chip’ butterfly bush contribute to a low-maintenance landscape.

(NAPS)—Anyone who thinks a low-maintenance landscape has to be plain green and ugly should think again. With a bit of planning, some smart plant choices and the help of these seven garden designer secrets, you can have a yard that’s the envy of your neighborhood—and enough time to enjoy it.

1. Choose plants that will flourish given the realities of your yard. Some plants like full sun while others tolerate shade; some don’t mind freezing temperatures while others are unfazed by relentless heat. Selecting plants that thrive in the existing conditions of your site ensures a healthy, attractive landscape. Observe the light levels around your home—six to eight hours plus of uninterrupted sun each day indicates full sun, four to six hours is considered part shade or part sun, and less than four hours would be a shaded site. Plants at the garden center should have tags that tell you their light preferences. Shopping locally helps ensure that all the plants you see will be suitable for the climate in your yard.

2. Plant drought-tolerant shrubs. These specially adapted plants thrive with limited water once they are established (usually after their first season in the ground). Drought-tolerant plants sail through hot summer days easily, saving you the time and money it takes to water the landscape. Read the tag attached to the shrub for information on its drought tolerance or look for visual cues such as silvery-grey leaves, as are found on Petit Bleu caryopteris, and narrow, needlelike foliage, as on Fine Line rhamnus.

3. Spare yourself the time it takes to prune your plants by opting for compact varieties. Compact (also known as dwarf) plants never get too large for the space where you’ve planted them so you don’t have to bother with confusing pruning instructions. Most people’s favorite plants are available in compact, no-prune varieties: hydrangea lovers can try Little Lime or Bobo dwarf-panicle hydrangeas or the tidy Cityline series of big-leaf hydrangea. Rose fans should take note of the low-growing Oso Easy series with its range of 10 vivid colors, all under 3’ high. Even butterfly bush, a shrub notorious for its giant, sprawling habit, is available in a compact 2’ height with the innovative Lo & Behold series.

The cheery gold of Chardonnay Pearls deutzia can brighten your yard.

4. Choose plants with high-quality, attractive foliage. These look great even when not in bloom, beautifying your landscape for months instead of just a few weeks. Colorful foliage, including the dark purple of Black Lace elderberry or the cheery gold of Chardonnay Pearls deutzia, and variegated foliage, such as My Monet weigela or Sugar Tip hibiscus, make engaging focal points from early spring through late fall. Mix them with such evergreens as Castle Spire holly and Soft Serve false cypress for year-round color.

5. Plant in masses of three, five or seven of the same kind of plant. This gives your landscape a cohesive, professionally designed appearance. Plus, weeds cannot grow if desirable plants are already taking up the space, eliminating that notoriously tiresome garden chore. Planting in groups of odd numbers is a designer’s secret for a bold statement that doesn’t feel too formal or fussy.

6. Mulch. A two- to three-inch-thick layer of shredded bark mulch not only gives your landscape a pleasing, finished look, it conserves water by reducing evaporation. It also keeps plant roots cool and shaded, allowing for healthy, vigorous growth that resists pests and diseases naturally.

7.  Don’t be afraid to re-place the plants that take too much of your time, or those that you don’t really like, with new, easy-to-grow shrubs. At www.ProvenWinnersShrubs.com, there are so many improved varieties available now that there is little reason to settle for anything else.

(BPT) – Maintaining the perfect lawn is easier than you think and with the right tools, you can be both efficient with your yard work and eco-conscious. If it’s lush green turf that you’re after, but you also care about your carbon footprint, there are a few tools and practices that can help you have it both ways.

Many of the tips for maintaining a truly green lawn can also save you money and time. As you’re gearing up to enjoy your outdoor space this season, here are a few suggestions to follow for a healthy lawn you can feel good about:

* Give back to your lawn. One of the best treatments for your yard is to let a layer of lawn clippings settle on the top of your turf after mowing. The clippings decompose and replenish your soil, encouraging positive growth. A common misconception is that leaving the clippings on top of your lawn leads to the development of thatch, when in fact it’s usually caused by other conditions. Leaving your clippings only helps your lawn, and lessens the amount of work you have to do.

* Go green with battery-powered mowers and lawn tools. Gas mowers’ engines don’t run nearly as clean as more thoroughly engineered car engines and contribute significantly to air pollution, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. If you make the switch to a battery-powered mower, you can start it easily every time without having to worry about polluting the air. With a mower like the GreenWorks Twin Force Mower, you can get the same great performance as a gas mower with up to 70 minutes of run time. The rechargeable 40 volt lithium-ion batteries that power this mower can also be used other GreenWorks lawn tools that include string trimmers, hedge trimmers and leaf blowers, making it possible to take your entire arsenal of lawn care tools off gas for good.

* Be wise with your water. With a few strategic adjustments, you can significantly reduce the amount of water you use to keep your lawn healthy. Water less frequently with a good soaking each time, the water you use will go further. Watering in the morning will also help your lawn soak up the water, rather than having it evaporate before it makes it into your soil. Installing a rain barrel is also a great way to reuse the water that runs off your house without ever having to turn on the spigot.

* Buy a discerning fertilizer. Chemical fertilizers might offer quick results, but organic fertilizers often provide more staying power as they focus more on improving soil quality rather than the quick fix of applying nutrients directly to the plant. To make sure you are effective with your fertilizer use, take a soil sample to a local garden store to analyze it and they’ll recommend the best fertilizing mix for your lawn.

* Allow your lawn to protect itself. Mowing too short is a key mistake many people make. A good rule of thumb is to never cut more than one-third of the current height. This will ensure that your grass can develop deep enough roots to thrive and won’t get scorched when summer temperatures arrive.

You can have a beautiful, green lawn without putting extra stress on the environment. For more information on environmentally friendly lawn tools that offer gas-comparable performance, visit www.greenworkstools.com.

Outdoor kitchens and food gardens are growing in popularity in the American landscape.
Photo credit: Stephen Stimson Associates

(NAPS)—If you want to get more enjoyment out of your yard, you can consider creating attractive outdoor spaces that are both easy to take care of and good for the environment.
American homeowners are increasingly drawn to adding outdoor rooms for entertaining and recreation on their properties. That’s what the most recent Residential Landscape Architecture Trends survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects discovered. The survey results also show demand for both sustainable and low-maintenance design.
Landscape architects who specialize in residential design were asked to rate the expected popularity of a variety of residential outdoor design elements. The category of outdoor living spaces, defined as kitchens and entertainment spaces, received a 94.5 percent rating as somewhat or very popular. Ninety-seven percent of respondents rated fire pits and fireplaces as somewhat or very in demand, followed by grills, seating and dining areas, and lighting.
Decorative water elements— including waterfalls, ornamental pools and splash pools—were predicted to be in demand for home landscapes. Spas and pools are also popular.
Terraces, patios and decks are also high on people’s lists.
Americans prefer practical yet striking design elements for their gardens including low-maintenance landscapes and native plants.
In addition, more people are opting for food and vegetable gardens, including orchards and vineyards.
Good to know
If you’re thinking of joining them, a few food-growing facts and hints may help:
•    Food gardens can be easy, rewarding and sustainable. For starters, you can use fallen leaves in autumn and grass clippings in spring and summer as mulch and weed suppressant.
•    Perennial plants can be low maintenance—they come back every year without replanting. Some great examples include asparagus, blueberries, blackberries and rhubarb.
•    Herbs can make for an especially sustainable food garden, as many prefer hot and dry areas of your yard, with chives, sage and tarragon returning every year.
Learn More
Additional information on the survey and on residential landscape architecture in general can be found at www.asla.org/residentialinfo and (888) 999-2752.