Landscaping, Landscaping decor

Adding Low-watt Lighting

Adding low-watt LED lighting to your landscape is a great way to instantly boost curb appeal. The best part is, it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Whether you’re lighting up your front walkway or showing off your favorite tree, LED lighting can completely change how your home looks at night.

One of the biggest benefits of using LED lights is that they’re energy efficient. They use way less electricity than traditional bulbs and can last for years without needing to be replaced. That means lower power bills and fewer trips to the hardware store. Plus, they stay cool to the touch, which makes them safe to use around plants, mulch, or outdoor seating areas.

A great place to start is along walkways and driveways. Adding soft, warm lights along a path not only makes your home look more welcoming. Not to mention it adds a layer of safety for you and your guests. You can go with small stake lights that tuck into the ground or low-profile fixtures that sit right at the edge.

If you have landscaping you’re proud of—like trees, bushes, or flower beds, consider adding up lights or small spotlights to highlight those features. It adds drama and makes your yard feel more “alive” after dark. Want to go even further? Add a light or two to show off stonework, a porch column, or any interesting detail on the front of your house. It’s a simple way to give your home a high-end look without a big renovation.

And don’t forget the porch or deck. A few lights tucked under railings or on steps can turn a dark entrance into a cozy, welcoming space. Plus, it helps prevent trips and falls when the sun goes down.

If you’d rather not deal with wiring, solar-powered LED lights are another great option. They charge during the day and turn on automatically at night. They are super easy and perfect for accenting pathways or garden borders.

When picking your lights, look for warm white bulbs (around 2700K to 3000K) to create that inviting glow. Try not to overdo your lights and keep things subtle. A few well-placed lights can make a bigger impact than a dozen scattered around with no plan.

In the end, landscape lighting is all about creating a mood and making your home look its best—even after dark. It’s a small change that can make a big difference.

Garden almanac

In the Garden this Week (August 25)

Aster Yellows in coneflowers
Aster Yellows in sunflowers
Aster Yellows in zinnias

Aster yellows is a prevalent plant disease in the garden this week, caused by phytoplasmas.  This bacterium exhibits viral-like behavior.   It is spread by little insects called leafhoppers that suck sap from one plant and carry the disease to another. Your pruners can also spread the disease. When a plant gets it, the leaves can turn yellow, new growth looks twisted or stunted, and flowers may turn green or deformed instead of blooming normally. Yellows affects a wide range of plants like vegetables, flowers, grain crops, and even weeds. Unfortunately, once a plant has it, there’s no cure. The best approach is to remove the infected plants and try to control the leafhoppers. Good news is that it cycles every few years.

Someone sent a picture of a steel blue cricket hunter. This is a good guy wasp that will feed on crickets by taking them back to their burrow, laying eggs. When the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on the paralyzed cricket. They are nonaggressive.

You’ve got a few bare patches in your lawn; overseeding is a quick and easy way to bring them back to life. Start by cleaning up the spot—rake out any dead grass and loosen the soil a bit so the new seed has a good place to settle in. If the area is low or thin, you can sprinkle in a little fresh topsoil to even it out.

Next, grab some grass seed that matches your existing lawn and spread it evenly over the spot. After that, lightly rake the area so the seed gets tucked just under the surface. This helps keep it from washing or blowing away.

Now the most important part—watering. Give the area a gentle misting to keep it moist and try to water lightly but often until the new grass gets established. Once the fresh blades are about three inches tall, you can mow them along with the rest of your lawn, and before you know it, those bare spots will blend right in.

If you have not ordered your fall bulbs, now is the time to get that done. Maybe pick up some at the local stores.

Garden almanac, This week's garden questions

In the Garden this Week

In the garden this week, many people are wondering why their vegetables, like tomatoes and melons, have not set much fruit. Also, why are they not ripening evenly? Why are the melons not sweet? Why do I have hollow areas in my cucumber? Do not take it personally because when it gets above 90 degrees, things do not go the way you want them to. Plants do not set fruit well, the taste may be different from what you expect, and even if the soil is moist, water uptake is reduced. It will cool down next week.


Early blight in tomatoes is prevalent now. A fungicide spray to protect the affected leaves helps. Also, remove the affected leaves to reduce the spread of the disease. See what varieties are more susceptible and try resistant varieties like Defiant.


Another fungus coming into play is powdery mildew. This fungus looks like someone sprinkled talcum powder on the leaves. You see it especially on lilacs and plants in the shade. Sometimes a good spray with water from the hose will wash a lot of it off. Use a fungicide in the garden and flowerbed since these plants are more prone to suffering from reduced photosynthesis and reduced vigor.


Someone took a picture of a “pretty spider” and wanted to identify it. After coming to again, I realized it is a juvenile black widow. After a couple of molts, it will get the famous hourglass on its abdomen. She discovered it in an unused, older storage shed.


Sometimes you get twin fruit like tomatoes and squash. This is just flower biology, and you can still use it.

Postrate Spurge
Purslane


Weeds popping up this week are purslane and prostate spurge. Hoe these out to prevent seeds. With purslane, remove them because the segments will root down again.