Landscaping, Landscaping decor

Backyard Tree that is Unsightly Underneath

Do you have a backyard tree that is unsightly underneath where no grass is growing? You can landscape to make the area look nice. The first thing is not to harm the tree. Never pile the dirt around the ground roots or on the bark. Many trees have surface-feeding roots like maples, cherries, and plums that can be suffocated. Remove the soil around the tree being careful not to damage roots or the bark.

Bring in new soil to replace the soil you remove and top with a mulch. Plant in shade-tolerant perennials like hostas, ribbon grass, ferns, coral bells, or fast-spreading groundcovers relies on attractive colored foliage. Remember the plants under a tree need a little more water than plants growing away from trees because the tree root sucks more moisture.

Early blooming bulbs work great under trees like crocus, grape hyacinths, and early daffodils. The yellowing foliage will give way to the growing perennials or annuals.

If you want to choose another route, instead of using plants fill in with a layer of sand. Then place patio blocks around and sit some chairs or a bench under the tree. If you want some color, plant annuals in buckets like impatiens or coleus. I have seen wood decks built around trees.

If you want to keep it simple use these rubber mats around the trunk. They conserve moisture and prevent weeds and grass from growing around the tree which is especially important when the tree is young. You can then place a fountain or sculpture on the mat for interest.

Flowers (annual and perennial), Garden hacks, Vegetables

Hardening Off

Ever bought plants from a greenhouse and transplanted them to your garden just to have them die a couple of days later? The plants from a sheltered greenhouse were not able to withstand the full sun of drying winds, they were too tender. It is like myself being in the house all winter and coming outside during a hot, spring day. I would have one bad sunburn. It seems that vine crops are more prone to not being harden off than tougher vegetables like tomatoes. Flower transplants should be treated the same way. This process is called hardening off.

Vines not properly hardened off showing wind and sun burn.

You need to slowly get your young plants transitioned to the full sun and wind. Start by placing your plants in shade, giving morning sun, and gradually move to more sun until they acclimate to their new condition. If the night will get below 45, bring them indoors. This process will take at least a week.

I keep the growing seedlings in a covered cold frame, then bring them out to an open one for a couple of weeks. I try to plant on a cloudy day or in the evening and keep well watered.

Usually planting in shade is not a problem. I would still harden off for a couple of days.

Gardening & Landscape, Landscaping decor

Wind Spinners

Wind spinners can be a do-it-yourself project or a high-dollar piece of art. Using one in the backyard gives motion to the area giving a calm feeling. The wind or breeze is now something you can see. In the garden, the movement helps keep the birds and animals away. In the flowerbed, the colorful glass ones can reflect color among the flowers.


Wind spinners, twirlers, pinwheel’s idea most likely comes from the design of a windmill. Windmills were developed in Persia around 500 BC to raise water. In the United States, early colonial farmers found small versions of the wind spinners that kept wild animals away and started calling them whirlygigs. The Dutch Americans started to design sound into them (like a fan with a farmer chopping wood) to better scare the animals. Whirlygigs became popular when farmers in the 1930s started to make them for city people as a way of making money.