Melanie Griffiths

3 days ago | gardeningknowhow.com | Melanie Griffiths

If you dream of a beautiful garden full of vibrant flowers, but don't have the time or mobility for lots of maintenance, then these low-effort perennials are for you. No more endless deadheading, feeding, and watering – these hardy heroes take summer heat, poor soil, and rain-free spells in their stride and come back the next year even stronger. Just to set some realistic expectations upfront: no plant is completely free of maintenance.

3 days ago | flipboard.com | Melanie Griffiths

1 day agoHow Often to Water Your Hydrangeas—4 Rules a Gardener Swears ByKey Points Drooping, wilting, or crispy leaves are key signs that your hydrangeas are overdue for a deep watering. • Water in the morning and check soil …21 hours agoThis Is The Most Overlooked Cost When Building A New Home—And It Might Blow Your BudgetThere’s one thing clients often forget about, and it needs to happen before the first room can be framed or the first sconce can be hung.

5 days ago | gardeningknowhow.com | Melanie Griffiths

I am so tired of flies and other winged intruders invading my home and patio in the summer. From the moment I fling open the windows to let in some fresh air, it becomes a constant battle to shoo them away or flatten them with (my weapon of choice) an oven mitt. Once they've made it inside, they never want to leave. Happily, I've found a cheap, easy repellent that seems to be keeping them at bay – and it all starts with a cotton ball.

1 week ago | gardeningknowhow.com | Melanie Griffiths

Our gardens are welcoming sanctuaries in the summer – but we’re not the only ones who feel that way. Many hungry critters and creepy crawlies also call it home, or like to drop in uninvited. If you’ve been battling unwanted garden visitors such as slugs, sap-sucking insects like aphids and spider mites, wasps, and even animals like squirrels and deer, then you’ll be glad to hear the solution is already in your pantry.

1 week ago | gardeningknowhow.com | Melanie Griffiths

To me, the perfect summer garden is an abundant tapestry of color, movement, and texture – a place where perennials and annuals bloom in riotous succession, creating a landscape that evolves week by week. The best beds and borders never stand still – when one flower falls, another rises to take its place, for a glorious display that is full of life. But creating this kind of garden takes more than good intentions – it needs star-performing plants, and choosing those is no easy task.