Tag: garden

Top Grow Lights for Indoor Gardening

Posted on Lacey Spear
Green indoor plants on a white shelf with antique pictures above them
Photo Courtesy of The Pioneer Woman
  • Top grow lights for indoor gardening:
    • Best Overall: GE BR30 LED Grow Light Bulb
    • Best for Wall Mounting: Feit Electric Dual Full LED Plant Grow Tube Light
    • Best for Aesthetic Design: Grow Light Frame Shelf
    • Best for Capacity: Spider Farmer LED Grow Light

Whether you’re incorporating biophilic design or improving your lake home’s air quality, grow lights can ensure indoor gardening success. They also provide convenience since you do not have to position all your plants by windows. As Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love, explains, “Grow lights can be used to supplement natural light or to provide plants with the light they need to thrive when natural light is not available.” Plus, since these lights come in different shapes and boast unique features, you can choose the one that best fits your lake home and lifestyle. So, if you are ready to activate your green thumb, check out these top grow lights for indoor gardening!

Best Overall: GE BR30 LED Grow Light Bulb

LED vs regular light bulbs over a plant.
Photo Courtesy of Amazon.com

Compared to a standard grow light, the GE Grow Light LED avoids harsh tones and provides pleasant natural lighting. Plus, it’s a full spectrum light, meaning that it’ll maximize your plant growth. As Emma Loker—expert gardener at DIY Garden—explains, “The best grow lights emit a full spectrum of lights, as this helps plants through multiple lifestyle stages.”

Dwayne Kula—President of LED Lighting Supply—recommends this light bulb because of its energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, quick results, and soft ambiance. Kula advises using the light for at least five hours each day to see results. He also adds that one of the benefits of the GE Grow Light LED is that “it doesn’t get hot even after many hours of operation.”

Kerry Sherin—Consumer Advocate at Ownerly—advises checking the life span of your bulb to know when you might need to replace it in the future. In the case of the GE Grow Light LED, the bulb boasts up to 25,000 hours (or three years) of usage, so you won’t have to worry about replacing this quality product for a while.

Best for Wall Mounting: Feit Electric Dual Full LED Plant Grow Tube Light

Curly green plant resting under rows of LED light panels.
Photo Courtesy of Amazon.com

Although the Feit Electric Dual Light is a bit more expensive than the GE BR30 Light, its unique design allows you to mount the lights. These two-foot panels come assembled with full spectrum bulbs and boast a lightweight design that makes them easy to hang or seamlessly flush to the wall.

One two-foot Feit Electric Dual Light costs around $50. However, as Sherin points out, this is on the low end of the grow light cost spectrum. Sherin advises, “Generally speaking, you should expect to spend anywhere from $25-$200 for a basic setup with one or two bulbs.” Considering that the Feit Electric Dual Light emits full spectrum wavelengths, avoids high temperatures, and is easy to mount, it’s hard to beat its $50 price point.

Best for Aesthetic Design: Grow Light Frame Shelf

Plants sitting inside a blue frame
Photo Courtesy of Uncommon Goods

What if instead of hanging plant pictures on the wall, you framed the real ones? Forget packing all your plants on your crowded window sill; nestle them in this picturesque frame and place them anywhere in your home. With full-spectrum LED bulbs, the Grow Light Frame Shelf will maximize your plants’ growth whether you have ample or minimal natural light.

Additionally, the frame comes with an app that allows you to set timers and adjust the light intensity. As founder of Happy DIY Home and master gardener Jen Stark explains, “Timers make your grow lights easier to use as you can set them on a cycle and allow them to run without any further input from you.” Although the Grow Light Frame is on the pricier side, its design and technological features make it a worthy investment.

Best for Capacity: Spider Farmer LED Grow Light

Many plants sitting under a large grow light.
Photo Courtesy of Pepper Geek

If you are looking to grow multiple plants at once, the Spider Farmer LED Grow Light is the ideal choice. Spider offers multiple panel sizes, and the one pictured above is the SF600. This light has tremendous output, utilizing 384 LED bulbs. Yet, it has a low heat emission and a long lifespan, lasting up to 50,000 hours. Even with this capacity, the Spider Grow Light’s sleek design takes up minimal space. As Stace Krljanovic—advisor at Patio Productions—elucidates, “If you have an especially large space, there are larger bulbs available that can help give you more room coverage without taking up too much space (or money).” The Spider Grow Light accomplishes both of these tasks, spanning a little over three feet and costing around $130.

So, if you want top grow lights for indoor gardening, you can’t go wrong with any of these highly-rated choices. Simply choose the one that best compliments your lifestyle, and get to growing!

FAQs

Plus, it’s a full spectrum light, meaning that it’ll maximize your plant growth. As Emma Loker—expert gardener at DIY Garden—explains, “The best grow lights emit a full spectrum of lights, as this helps plants through multiple lifestyle stages.”

Sherin advises, “Generally speaking, you should expect to spend anywhere from $25-$200 for a basic setup with one or two bulbs.”

As founder of Happy DIY Home and master gardener Jen Stark explains, “Timers make your grow lights easier to use as you can set them on a cycle and allow them to run without any further input from you.”

As Stace Krljanovic—advisor at Patio Productions—elucidates, “If you have an especially large space, there are larger bulbs available that can help give you more room coverage without taking up too much space (or money).” The Spider Grow Light accomplishes both of these tasks, spanning a little over three feet and costing around $130.

Best Indoor Gardening Kits/Systems

Posted on Lacey Spear
My Gardyn indoor gardening system inside kitchen, showcasing an array of vegetables and herbs.
Photo Courtesy of My Gardyn

Previously on Lake Homes Lifestyles, we covered gardening tips for each regional zone in the United States. As all good plant enthusiasts know, the area’s weather and soil quality influence the type of plants that can be grown. However, with the rise of indoor gardening systems and kits, gardeners can grow a greater variety of plants, not subject to the climate or season. As Jen Stark—founder of Happy DIY Home and garden, interior design, and home improvement expert—says, indoor gardening kits “allow you to control the environment in which your plants grow, meaning you can optimize conditions for maximum growth and yield.” These systems also look beautiful indoors and improve plant quality since pests, deer, and rodents don’t pose a threat. And if you are new to gardening, fear not: these kits are kind to experts and beginners alike.

Best Overall: Aerogarden Harvest Elite

Aerogarden Harvest Elite---an indoor gardening sytem---sitting in an RV with mountains and a lake in the background.
Photo Courtesy of Adventurous Way

In the realm of indoor gardening systems, Aerogarden receives top reviews. Julie Bawden-Davis—the mastermind behind the Healthy House Plants site and the writer of “Indoor Gardening the Organic Way”—praises the Aerogarden Harvest Elite. She says, “In my opinion, AeroGarden has the most advanced technology, especially in the area of lighting and hydroponics.”

The Harvest Elite comes with six seed pods and plant food. Since it has built-in reminders for feeding and watering, this system is great for gardeners with busy schedules. The Aerogarden also features LED grow lights that run off a customizable timer that can be adjusted to fit the gardener’s schedule. Most importantly, the Aerogarden Harvest Elite produces rapid results, so you can expect to add fresh herbs and veggies to all your favorite dishes within weeks.

Best Vertical System: Worth Self-Watering Garden Wall

The Worth Self-Watering wall system, which has grown an array of colorful flowers, attached to an indoor wall.
Photo Courtesy of Walmart

Feature walls rule today’s design world and they often come in the form of eccentric wallpaper or unique materials. However, more people are turning to plants to enhance their home’s personality. In addition to providing the home with some flair, incorporating plants into your lake home yields exceptional benefits, such as improving air quality. However, it can be difficult to water these plants, especially when they’re positioned up high. But that’s where the Worth Self-Watering Garden Wall comes in. These planters feature an avant-garde watering system that begins on the top row and trickles down to subsequent rows, providing water for days with no mess. Moreover, as your plants continue to grow, they will hide the planters underneath, granting the flawless illusion that they are actually growing on the wall.

Best for Big Harvesting: Gardyn Home Kit 2.0

The Gardyn 2.0 System, which has produced many lettuces, indoors beside a luxury chair.
Photo Courtesy of Two Peas in a Condo

If you want to live more sustainably, the Gardyn Home Kit 2.0 is your ideal growing system. This state-of-the-art system allows you to grow 30 plants at once while only spanning two feet in width. As Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love, proposes, “having an indoor garden is all about maximizing space. Vertical gardens are popular for this reason. These can allow you to grow virtually anything in a controlled environment.” With the Gardyn Home Kit, you can control the light, adjust watering schedules, and order new plants via the Gardyn app. Although it leans toward the pricier side, the system will replace many grocery trips within the first few months. So, in the end, it comes out to around the same amount. Plus, you will have fun along the way, add a colorful piece to your home decor, and eat deliciously organic veggies and herbs.

Best for Education: Grow With Me Root Viewer

Photo Courtesy of Hearth Song

If you enjoy teaching your children about the outdoors and gardening, you will love the Grow With Me Root Viewer. This sustainable, durable, and attractive wooden plant holder helps your children follow the growing process. The planter comes with instructions and a garden journal so that you can record the growth along the way. However, note that the seeds are not included in the Root Viewer, so you might want to pick up your own before it comes in the mail. As far as seed choices go, carrots, radishes, onions, garlic, potatoes, and other root vegetables are the ideal candidates for this kit.

Best for Traditional Gardening: Jiffy SuperThrive Seed Starter

The Jiffy SuperThrive, a collection of seed pods to help a gardener start a greenhouse.
Photo Courtesy of Home Depot

Although high-tech gardening systems ensure rapid and sustained growth, some gardeners may prefer to work with their hands a bit more. If that’s the case, the Jiffy SuperThrive Seed Starter kit is an excellent option for building an indoor garden. Besides, it is undoubtedly the most affordable choice compared to other systems. The Jiffy Seed kit includes 72 pellets that will grow seven times their compressed height, allowing room for root growth. The kit also comes with a pouch of SUPERthrive, a vitamin that enhances plant growth. It is important to point out that the Jiffy kit does not include seeds, but this only means that the gardener can personalize their indoor garden to their preference. Just add your seed of choice to the soil and get growing!

From high-tech systems to simple kits, indoor gardening options are endless. So whether you prefer a low-maintenance growth strategy or a hands-on approach, you can find a system that fits your lifestyle.

Five Garden “Weeds” That You Won’t Want to Pull

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Dawn Arlotta/CDC via KOAM News

As any gardener knows, weeds are unwanted plants that compete for nutrients with the ones you’ve cultivated. In an effort to rid your garden of these nuisances, you may spend several hours weeding the front lawn of your lake house. However, before you start pulling any unintentionally grown roots, take a pause. Many plants that are considered “weeds” are actually not pesky at all. In fact, several of them have medicinal or culinary benefits in addition to aesthetic beauty. At Lake Homes Lifestyles, we’re here to help you identify which weeds to pull and which to leave alone.

Butterfly Weed

Photo courtesy of JMortensen/IStock via vpr.com

The butterfly weed earns its name by virtue of its magnetic draw to butterflies. Its bright shades of red, orange, and yellow, attract numerous pollinators as well, including bees. They’re additionally referred to as orange milkweed. Despite their lack of characteristic milky sap, they produce seed pods that release milky-tailed seeds which disperse in the wind. Frequently appearing in home gardens across zones 3-9, the butterfly weed adds an interesting pop of color to any garden.

Mountain Mint

Photo courtesy of Prairie Moon Nursery

Like the butterfly weed, the mountain mint attracts many insects like bees and small butterflies. Its strong, fragrant minty scent attracts these pollinators to its nectar and pollen. Also most prevalent in zones 3-9, the mountain mint is home to a wide range of gardens across the U.S. The dainty leaves look like they’ve been dusted with powdered sugar, which embellishes any backyard with a sense of elegance.

Ironweed

Photo courtesy of Lauren’s Garden Service

If ironweed is growing at your lake house, it’ll be hard to miss. These flowers can grow from up to 7 inches tall, showcasing brilliant purple colors in the late summer. Most prevalent in zones 5-8, ironweeds are most commonly found in prairies and other grassland areas. Prior to gaining the name ironweed, they used to be called compositae flowers because their blooms are a composite of many flower types. Upon looking closely, you can see the distinct fusion of five separate petals in one cluster.

Arnica Flowers

Photo courtesy of ucantribe.com

Although this flower is native to Europe, it now grows across mountainous regions of North America in zones 4-9. Also called leopard’s bane and mountain tobacco, the arnica’s large flower head, yellow coloration, and bright green oval leaves resemble a miniature sunflower. Besides its ornamental value, arnica flowers also have medicinal purposes. Although toxic when ingested, the flower can be applied topically to treat arthritis and soothe muscle pain.

Chickweed

Photo courtesy of sodsolutions.com

Hardy in zones 3-8, the chickweed is a low-growing groundcover plant with medicinal and culinary values. Loaded with vitamins C, D, and B complex plus calcium, iron, zinc, and other healing minerals, these tasty greens can be ground into a nutritious pesto sauce. Outside the kitchen, chickweed has both external and internal uses as an antibacterial and antihistamine agent. Specifically, can be made into a salve that is soothing for healing burns and bug bites.

Dandelion

Photo courtesy of Common Sense Home

As a child, you probably made wishes on dandelions and watched their seeds scatter into the wind. But did you know that these shape-shifting flowers are one of the most useful and nutritious herbs? The dandelion has a long history of culinary and medical uses. High in nutrients, the leaves can be either boiled or eaten fresh for a rich, earthy flavor. From coffee to quesadillas, there’s no shortage of ways to use dandelion in recipes. Medicinally, dandelions have been used to treat inflammation, appendicitis, and stomach issues. Between granting wishes, flavoring food, and healing ailments, is there anything dandelions can’t do? 

So, before pulling up every unwanted weed in your garden, take a moment to research the plant. Are there potential benefits — aesthetic or otherwise — that you could be missing?

How to Make a Raised Garden Bed

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Real Simple

A garden bed is an excellent way to add both aesthetic appeal and gardening ease to your backyard. In this style, soil is raised above ground and enclosed in some way, typically by a wooden frame. It’s a great way of working around less-than-ideal soil conditions in your backyard. Plus, you can choose the location of your plot, offering great flexibility. For the eager gardener, garden beds also warm up more quickly in spring so you can start your planting earlier. Overall, garden beds require less maintenance in the long-run — you can keep them mulched all year which reduces weeds, you’ll spend less time in a smaller garden, and this manageable look creates a sense of organization in your backyard.

If you’ve decided to make garden beds at your lake house, follow these steps!

Consider the Elements

Photo courtesy of Shain Rievley via HGTV

Just like planting a garden on regular soil, you’ll need to consider all the elements before laying down roots. First off, sun exposure and soil health are key, so you’ll want to ensure that you pick a spot for your garden bed that covers these basics. Keep in mind that your garden will need 8 hours of sun in the summer, so be sure to scope out a plot uncovered by shady trees. If needed, you can get a soil test from your local Cooperative Extension Office to obtain a fuller understanding of what’s going on beneath the surface. This may be especially important if your lake house is an older building with paint on the exterior, in which chemical damage is a risk.

Determine the Size

Photo courtesy of Garden in Minutes

Once you’ve determined the location in your yard, the next step is to choose the frame size. Of course, this decision will vary based on the space you have in your backyard. But regardless of yard acreage, the most important rule of thumb is to be mindful of width. Essentially, you want to be able to reach every plant in your garden without stepping on other crops in the way. In general, 5 feet wide is ideal. If it’s against a fence or wall and you’re unable to reach both sides, aim for less than 2.5 feet wide.

Build the Frame

Photo courtesy of Home Depot

There’s not one way to make a raised garden bed. They come in all different styles, types, and materials — it just depends on your preference, and what looks best in your backyard! Although you can use bricks, steel, or stone pieces to create your frame, the easiest material for beginners is untreated wood. For example, cedar is a widely available and popular material, known for its unique pinkish-red color and ability to thwart insects and decay. But whatever you do, be sure to stay away from treated wood. The infused chemicals could potentially seep into your plant bed and compromise your roots. For the actual construction piece, YouTube tutorials can be a helpful place to start, as well as step-by-step online guides from home improvement retailers.

Lay Landscaping Fabric

Photo courtesy of Grow Food Guide

One of the great benefits of garden beds is their independence from the rest of your yard. If you’re not satisfied with the soil in your backyard — perhaps soil contamination is an issue in your town, or the level of moisture isn’t right — a garden bed is an opportunity to start fresh. To keep your soils separate, the next step is to lay landscaping fabric along the edges of your garden bed. This water-permeable piece of cloth keeps the soil in your garden bed separate from the soil in your yard. Additionally, landscaping fabric discourages weeds and stabilizes soil temperature — a great benefit for helping your plants flourish!

Fill In the Garden Bed

Photo courtesy of Garden Gate Magazine

To fill in the garden bed, you’ll want a good mixture of soil and compost. According to blog Homestead and Chill, the target recipe is 40% soil, 40% compost, and 20% aeration. Next you may have to do a little math. First, calculate the volume of your garden bed (multiply width by length by depth) then convert the amount to cubic yards to determine how much soil you need (check out this gardener’s calculator for more help). Finally, the fun part comes next — you can start planting! If you need tips on how to choose the best plants for your gardening zone, take a look at some of our previous blog posts. We cover tips about gardening in all zone regions of the country!

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A Guide to Plant Hardiness at Your Lake Home: Zones 1-3

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Country Gardens Magazine.

If you have a garden at your lake house, you’re probably familiar with the Plant Hardiness Zones. Designed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this guide separates the country into zones based on average annual minimum winter temperature. Each zone is split by 10 degrees and has its unique features, such as the first and last frost date and length of seasons. This helpful tool clarifies which plants will thrive in your garden. For example, if you’re a gardener in zones 1-3, the Plant Hardiness Zones will warn you against planting a peach tree in your garden, which wouldn’t flourish outside the southernmost zones.

Image courtesy of Gilmour.com.

If you’ve been browsing the Lake Homes blog in the last few months, you may have caught the first two articles in our series on gardening zones. While the first two covered zones 7-9 and zones 4-6, we’re now turning the spotlight on the coldest areas of the U.S. — zones 1-3.

Region Characteristics

In zones 1-3, the average annual minimum temperature is between -60 degrees and -30 degrees Fahrenheit with zone 1 being the coldest. Most of zone 1 is located in Alaska, where the tundra climate can be especially harsh for gardening. In zones 2 and 3, which include the northernmost United States and high altitude areas, these low temperatures also present a challenge for gardeners. Due to the unforgiving weather, it’s crucial to consult the Plant Hardiness Zones to determine which plants are most likely to survive the winter in your garden. Aside from temperature, these regions also tend to have low moisture and high winds, creating more barriers to plant survival.

Main Takeaways

Due to the harsh features of these regions, northern gardeners’ planting window is shorter than those in other zones. Kevin Espiritu, the founder of Epic Gardening, clarifies, “Gardeners in zones 1-3 have about 2 months to plant, and that’s it.” If you’re living in these zones, it’s crucial to take advantage of this brief time. Luckily, certain types of gardening can help. Scott Fanello, a writer for Total Gardener, advises those in zones 1-3 to master cold-frame gardening. With this simple structure that utilizes insulation and solar energy, you can create a microclimate for your plants. He also recommends building a greenhouse at your lake home if you have the money and time. Despite these challenges, life in zones 1-3 isn’t all bad. Espiritu notes that one advantage to growing plants in Alaska is their long summers (almost 20 hours per day of sunlight), causing gardeners in this region to break records in terms of large vegetables. 

Plants to Pick

Due to the harsh weather conditions, the best plants to choose in zones 1-3 are tough ones that can survive droughts. It’s also best to select native plants that are already adapted to the climate. Thankfully, several plants are hardy enough to thrive in this cold, dry weather. Nikki McAteer, marketing director of Perfect Plants Nursery, comments, “Only a handful of perennial plants will grow outside and come back year after year. Planting annuals is a great solution to these punishing temperatures.”

In contrast to perennials that need more maintenance, annuals are less of a commitment. Most vegetables are grown as annuals, so plants like beans, broccoli, potatoes, and tomatoes have a good chance of survival in zones 1-3. Fanello recommends focusing on fast-growing annuals in particular. Some examples include salad greens and herbs like basil, oregano, and rosemary. Overall, it’s helpful to pick plants with a short growing season so they’ll mature and be ready for harvest in the 2-month window that these zones offer.

Despite the harsh weather in zones 1-3, northern gardeners are quite savvy when it comes to working with what they have. If you own a lake house in these zones, we hope these tips help your garden flourish. It’s also a great idea to connect with other gardeners in your zone through meetups, Facebook groups, and local farmer’s markets. Plus, with all the available vegetable options in these northern zones, you’ll always have something to add to your homemade salad!

A Guide to Plant Hardiness at Your Lake Home: Zones 4-6

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Monrovia.

As any gardener will tell you, the key to having a successful garden is choosing the right plants and knowing when to plant them. To make these decisions, gardeners first look to the plant hardiness zones for guidance. A hardiness zone is a geographic area that divides certain regions based on the average minimum rainfall per year. Pol Bishop, a landscaping expert from Fantastic Gardeners, simplifies, “gardening zones essentially use temperature to determine plant survivability.” By understanding the average temperature in your region, you can make well-informed fundamental gardening decisions.

Photo courtesy of Arbor Day Foundation.

Peter Miller, founder of Gardening Stuffs, comments, “I’ve been in the garden landscape space for 15 years now, and I know how important it is to identify which plants will survive the adverse climate of your region. In gardening, you can adjust your soil type and its PH levels as well as the amounts of sun and shade, but you won’t be able to control the temperature in your garden.” While our first article in the series focused on the southernmost zones in the U.S.– zones 7-9– we’ll now highlight zones 4-6. This range of zones encompasses mid-America and most of the east coast. If your lake house is in these regions, the information and tips provided will help your lakeside garden thrive.

Key Characteristics

Photo courtesy of @shiplapandshells.

In zones 4-6, the average minimum temperature is between -30 and -5 degrees Fahrenheit. As such, one of the hallmark qualities of these zones is that each season has an actual ending and real beginning. Unlike this area’s northernmost and southernmost counterparts, neither winter nor summer lasts too long in these zones. The seasonality is clear-cut. Kevin Espiritu, the founder of Epic Gardening, comments that these zones capture the “traditional gardener in a classic farming routine.” There’s a certain luxury that comes from planting for the next season in the preceding one, and gardeners can take advantage of warm days to plan. There’s even the exciting possibility of a Fall garden.

Helpful Hints

While the plant hardiness zones are useful, they do not tell a region’s full story. This is because the zones only capture average minimum temperature without considering rainfall, elevation, and subclimates. In the Western U.S., sunset zones are a more precise system because they take a region’s latitude, the ocean’s influence, rainfall, humidity, wind, elevation, and microclimate into account. However, since sunset zones only apply to the west, the hardiness zones are currently the most standardized tool for the whole country.

Given this limitation, gardeners should take it upon themselves to consider additional factors that may impact their plants’ survival. For example, those further west receive less rainfall, and those further east get more rain on average. Scott Fanello, a writer for Total Gardner, advises those in drier areas to use greywater to compensate for lack of rainfall, and he urges easterners to make the most of their rainy climate. Regardless of these subclimate-specific differences, a similarity across zones 4-6 is the forgiving weather. This similarity leads to longer growing times during the spring and summer months. To work with this, Fanello mentions that greenhouses can be fun, but they aren’t essential. He also notes that just like zones 1-3, mastering cold frame gardening will be helpful in zones 4-6.

Plants That Thrive

Photo courtesy of TroyRhone.com

Because the weather conditions are ideal for gardening, several types of plants can thrive in zones 4-6. However, some differences are dependent on the specific zone. In zone 4, flowers such as goldenrods, daisies, and petunias will thrive. Plus, the bright color combination is a nice bonus. Landscaper, gardener, and writer Melanie Musson advises filling pots and baskets with petunias for a warm, English-countryside look. If you want to plant trees by your lake house in zone 4, consider a sugar maple. The dynamic, orange-brown tones will look vibrant in the Fall. In zone 5, Musson notes that Agastache will quickly prosper, and they’ll also attract hummingbirds to your garden. As for trees and shrubs, flowering dogwoods and Japanese yews are perfect for zone 5. In zone 6, Musson recommends planting hostas. These perennials love the evenly moist soil in this zone, and their leaves are beautiful all season long. Musson also adds azaleas and rhododendrons to the list of plants that will flourish in zone 6. She shares, “they make for low-maintenance shrubbery that boasts a stunning bloom period.” 

If your lake house falls into one of these three zones, we hope you take advantage of the naturally ideal gardening conditions and find a new perennial to plant this season! 

A Guide to Plant Hardiness at Your Lake Home: Zones 7-9

Posted on Camille Smith

If you have a garden at your lake house, you’ll know that there are several important factors to consider when planting something new. First and foremost, plants have certain temperatures that cause them to thrive and others that cause them to wither. For example, you might find palm trees near a lake in Florida — these plants flourish in warm climates, but they would not withstand northern winters. To determine how to plant by certain climates, gardeners rely on the Plant Hardiness Zones as their foundation.

USDA plant hardiness zone map
Photo courtesy of United States Department of Agriculture.

Based on the average annual minimum temperature, there are nine different zones in the United States. Each zone is an average of 10 degrees Fahrenheit difference than the previous one. For instance, Alabama lies in Zone 8, where the temperature can drop as low as 10 to 20 degrees in extreme conditions. By contrast, parts of Minnesota and Nebraska are in Zone 3, where the coldest winters can hit -30 to -40 degrees. While the Plant Hardiness Zones do not tell the whole story of a climate, they do serve as an important tool for both seasoned and newbie gardeners. The Zones are so integral that they deserve a three-article series from Lake Homes.

First, we’ll be taking a look at the warmer climates in Zones 7-9.

Continue reading “A Guide to Plant Hardiness at Your Lake Home: Zones 7-9”

How to Grow an Herb Garden in Your Kitchen

Posted on Glenn S. Phillips

Herb gardenThere are many reasons why people chose to grow kitchen herb garden. They produce organic and healthy harvests and are cheap as well. They are easy to grow and all they need is sunlight and warmth. In case your kitchen lacks direct sunlight, you might place your herb in other rooms as well. Now, we’re going to give you a brief explanation on how to start your own kitchen herb garden.

The first step of growing kitchen herbs is deciding what plants we want to grow. The answer is simple; start with whatever you prefer to eat. Search on internet to find out what seeds or seedlings produce your favorite dish, and buy them at your local gardener.

The second step is to choose whether you need seeds or seedlings. You can buy seed packets, or buy herb seedling from local shops. If your choice is seedlings, make sure that the plant is not rootbound by checking the plant’s bottom.

Third step is to choose the seeds/seedlings that you want to buy. The most used seeds are Basil, Chives, Cilantro, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, etc. Ask your local gardener or look up online which one would be a better choice to produce the harvests you desire.

What you’ll need:

Soil: Mix soil, moss, and perlite to produce a high quality soil for your herb garden. You can also buy this mixed soil in most garden stores for a reasonable price.

Herb containerContainers: You will need lots of containers to put your herbs in. Look in your house if you have some unused containers. If not, check the garden stores, they will definitely have them. When you find them, create drainage holes in its sides before planting seeds/seedling.

Sunlight: The most important factor in growing herb garden is providing enough sunlight for them to be able to grow. They must be exposed to sun between four to six hours every day. Less light will most likely prevent growth.

Now that you have everything that you need, let’s get started.

  • Place seeds in water for about two to four hours before planting them in soil. This will fill them with water they will struggle to find when they initially get planted.
  • Fill all containers with soil up to one inch below the rim. Plant seeds approximately one fourth of inch below the top of the soil. Putting them lower will most likely prevent them from ever reaching the surface whereas putting them higher will most likely decrease the amount of nutrients they can take.
  • Place the container in a place out of direct sun light until it starts to grow and water it often. Note however, that different plants require different amounts of water per day.
  • When you see the herb growing out, move the container to an area with sunlight exposure between four to six hours a day. Continue to water them accordingly.
  • Large numbers of seeds growing in one container is not a good thing; it is actually dangerous for them. They will all feed from the same soil and will most likely lack nutrition. Thus, if several seeds grow, remove a few of them to allow the other seeds to grow. Be careful while you are removing the seeds, you might accidentally damage other seeds as well.
  • If planting seedlings, bury the roots in the soil and put it immediately in the sunny area.
  • When herbs are grown, harvest them. Leave the sprigs of every herb so they will grow back again so you will have herbs in the future as well.

By following these steps, you will create a kitchen herb garden and start growing your own healthy food.

Outdoor Activities – How to Start a Vegetable Garden

Posted on Glenn S. Phillips

watering gardenStarting your own at-home vegetable garden is a great way to save money on fruits and vegetables. A measly $2 tomato plant over the entire season can give you nearly ten pounds of fruit.

You and your family also get to eat delicious fruits and veggies without breaking the bank. Being able to pull food straight from your own garden is not only a money saver, but something fun that you can do as a family.

The first step you need to take is deciding what to plant in your vegetable garden. You must consider not only what you want, but what you have time to take care of.

Deciding on Vegetables to Plant

vegetablesMany people get very excited at the idea of a vegetable garden with eyes bigger than their means. Starting off small is the best thing you can do.

Sometimes people have the tendency to plant more veggies than they actually need, so starting off small is always the best idea. Vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes, and squash will keep you filled with vegetables all season long so you may not need to plant as much as you think. Radishes, carrots, and corn only come up once, so if you want more, you will need to plant more.

Determining the Amount of Space

One important thing to remember when starting a vegetable garden is that you usually do not need as much space as you might originally have thought.

You should keep your garden about 10×10 in size to keep the weeds away. The more space there is, the more likely you are going to grow weeds instead of vegetables.

You can even put veggies, such as tomatoes, into a container to save on space.

Picking the Right Spot to Plant Your Garden

No matter how big or small your garden is, there are three specific things your plants need to thrive and grow beautifully.

  • Lots of Sunlight – Vegetables tend to require between 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. If these veggies do not get the sun they need, they will not grow as much, and they will be prone to get attacked by diseases or bugs. (If you can’t find a sunny spot, consider growing spinach or lettuce, neither require as much sun as other vegetables.)
  • Lots of Water – Typical vegetables are not tolerant to drought, you must give your plants water during the day when it has been a long time since it’s rained. Keep your garden close to a place where you have easy access to your water source. This will make it much easier on you in the long run.
  • Great soil – Your vegetable garden will require good soil to grow properly. Vegetables tend to do best in moist soil that has lots of organic elements.

Keeping your garden close to your house is a good idea as well. It will be much easier when it is time to harvest your produce that you are going to cook. Putting together some planted pots near your grill is not a bad idea either.