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Do you love your yard?

Tips to transform your yard into your own paradise.

Do you find yourself wishing for more?  More beauty, more space, more fun and more time, don’t be discouraged, read on to learn some easy ways to turn your yard into your own personal paradise.

The first step to truly loving your yard is to answer this simple question:        

What do you want?

1.  Is gardening, getting your hands dirty planting, weeding & caring for your garden is your idea of a good time?  If not skip forward to #2.

            If you love to garden consider planting a vegetable garden this year.  Nothing beats fresh grown produce from your own garden.  It can be as easy as a few containers or a 4’x4’ raised bed.  Watch for our article on growing your own vegetables, and register for our seminar Growing your own vegetables 101 during our spring open house April 15th - 17th. 

            Brighten up your home with annuals in borders, gardens or containers for season long color.  Perennials blooms can last for a few weeks or as even all summer and save time and money by returning each year.  Consider more than the blooms when you choose your flowers.  Colorful foliage and different forms add interest to your garden.  Choose from our many new colors and varieties and of course your old favorites.  Learn more at our Spring Open House seminars on container gardening and new and exciting plants. 

2.   Do you love a beautiful well-maintained lawn and landscape; you know the one all the neighbors aspire to?  Not your thing either, try #3

            A well-designed and maintained landscape can make your home stand out in the crowd.  Your landscaping should compliment the style of your house and reflect your lifestyle and use plants that will thrive in the conditions in your yard.  Pruning the right way at the right time increases the health and beauty of your trees and shrubs.  Proper care also reduces disease and insect problems and extends the life of your landscape.  Learn more about when and how to prune and fertilize your plants at our caring for your landscape seminars.

Using the right products at the right time is the key to a beautiful lawn.  Bluegrass lawns need attention, regular mowing, fertilization and observation.  This will help to prevent  weeds, and control insects and disease problems when they occur.  Make sure your mower blades are sharp and don’t cut off more than 1/3rd for the best results.  If your soil is compacted or heavy clay we can offer advice on how to improve the quality to help it hold water and nutrients so it will stay greener.

If you love to care for your own landscape but just aren’t sure where to begin we have the answer.  Forever Green garden center offers supplies, tools, advice, and seminars for every season. 

3.   Do you want a place to enjoy your family and friends?  Still too much activity then #4 might be for you.

If you need more space move outdoors!  Create a patio perfect for everything from a casual barbeque to a formal dinner.  Select the best design and material for your style and home.  Make it big enough for your primary use and design it so for larger gatherings your guests have access into the yard.  Add lighting to set the mood and plantings to provide a feeling of privacy and hide storage and less attractive areas. 

Consider the kids when you are planning your landscape.  If you have kids or like to be active outdoors plan your trees and other features so that you will have open areas to play.  A master plan is a great way to look at the layout of the whole yard before you start a project.

4.   Do you long for a place to sit back, relax and enjoy the sounds of the birds, as you close your eyes and drift off into …………

Create a place to hide away and unwind after a busy day.  Even a 12x12 slab can be transformed into your own 144 square feet of paradise.  Clean off unused items and screen it with some landscaping.  Dress it up with flowers or even the relaxing sound of water Turn an unused corner into a private retreat where you can relax. Using shrubs or vines to create blooming walls, a tree canopying over you for a green roof and your favorite chair will make your paradise complete.

5.  Want to stay inside and watch TV?  Sorry we don’t have any help for that.

If you’re looking for more from your yard the first step is to call Forever Green. Our designers work with you to create a landscape that you’ll love to come home to.  For do-it-yourselfers visit our garden center where we provide the widest selection of quality plants and products as well as the design services and advice to help your project succeed.

Tips

How to Choose and care for your Christmas tree

Here are some tips for choosing and caring for your family’s Christmas tree:

  • Before picking out your tree, measure the space where you will put it.  Make sure you measure the diameter as well as the height of your ceiling allow for an extra foot for the stand and tree topper.
  • Choose a tree that is a healthy green color with soft flexible needles and a straight trunk.  Firs and White Pine tend to be straighter than Scotch Pine.
  • Choose your tree early for the best selection and store it in your garage or outdoors in a bucket of water to keep it fresh.
  • Make sure your stand is large enough to hold the size of tree that you want.   
  • Once you get the tree home, make a fresh cut, Forever Green’s staff will to do this for you.  The fresh cut should take at least 1" off the bottom of the tree.  This removes the sap plug allowing the tree to take up water.
  • Once the fresh cut is made, you have about 2 hours to get the tree into a stand with water.  Use warm, not hot, water and check it frequently over the first 24 hours to make sure the tree doesn't go dry.
  • Be sure your stand will hold enough water.  You'll need about one quart per inch of trunk diameter a tree can take ½ gallon of water per day.
  • Keep your tree away from heat sources like furnace vents and fire places.

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