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Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
How to transform your garden this spring and take it from so-so to stunning
Spring has finally sprung, which means it's time to dig out your gardening gloves, dust off those pruners and make your way to a nursery for some fresh flowers. You don't have to be an expert to prep your garden for warm weather and turn it into a beautiful retreat. And nothing beats relaxing in the sun, enjoying the fruits (blooms?) of your labor. To get the dirt on how exactly to transform a garden for spring, we consulted with four experts, including a landscape designer and the executive director of the National Garden Bureau. Anyone can try their tips, whether you have a palatial property or a yard the size of a postage stamp. Take it from me: Though I'm a longtime home and garden editor, I haven't always had the greenest of thumbs (please don't ask about the Great Veggie Garden Disaster of 2021). But I can definitely throw some mulch on my flower beds and hang a cute new hummingbird feeder! More sage advice right this way ... Of course it depends what kind of plants you have — and your tolerance for mess. But in general, you should pick up winter debris, such as fallen branches, and prune dead material from shrubs, so long as they don't bloom on old wood, like certain hydrangeas, says Diane Blazek, executive director of the National Garden Bureau. You can also use a rake to clean up some of the fallen leaves (but most pros agree it's fine to ignore them and let them decompose! "Dead foliage actually acts as a really good mulch to protect the soil," points out Linda Ly of the gardening blog Garden Betty). Blazek likes to break out the power washer and clean her siding, sidewalk and driveway. "It creates this beautiful contrast between the clean concrete and your garden," she says. 2. Condition your soil Now's a great time to make sure your soil is healthy, says Tamony. "Dig some amendment into your soil, so it's more nutritious for planting. That way, when you go to the garden center and buy plants and get them planted, your chances of success will really improve." One of her favorite products is E.B. Stone Soil Booster, which you can get at most local garden centers. Another option? Ly says one of the easiest ways to amend your soil is to just add a couple inches of compost right on top. "You don't have to dig it in or anything. It's the most low-maintenance thing you can do." "Spreading mulch covers all a garden's sins," says Blazek. "It's the perfect low-effort, high-impact way to make a garden look great and is an excellent spring thing to do because it saves you from having to clean up all of those fallen leaves. If you spread mulch over them, then it's all going to decompose and it's so much better for your soil. At the same time, it's giving you a nice tidy look at the beginning of the season." Use it around trees and flower beds to help the soil retain moisture and block weeds. No need to do anything fancy: Just take a spade or an edger and go in and dig. "The landscapers do this to make a nice, defined edge," says Janney, who says you can either cut a line into the earth or dig a little of the soil out to create a narrow trench. Just make sure to decide in advance if you want straight edges for your flower bed or curves. "It's easier on the eyes if it's curving," says Blazek. "But it's easier on the lawn-mowing person of the family if it's straight. So, you might have that marital discord, but it's all up to you!" "If you want to keep the color going, I always say invest a few hours every season in planting annuals," says Janney. "A lot of people roll their eyes. They say they don't want to plant them every year. They complain about the cost — but some annuals are probably cheaper than dinner! They're how you get a garden from pretty to off-the-charts." For the biggest impact, buy more of fewer types of plants. It sounds like a brain teaser, but the idea is very straightforward: Instead of getting two violets, three pansies, two impatiens and a marigold, focus your plant picks on two or three flower types, each type the same color, and buy lots of them. "You'll create a more cohesive, more stunning look," says Tamony. As far as where all those annuals should go? "I always try to put some in the front of a border, but I like mixing them all through the garden," says Janney. "They play nicely with perennials because they have shallow roots." Just make sure to layer your plants' heights, from the tallest in the back of your bed to the shortest in the front. "That way you can create this really nice depth," says Ly. Instead of lots of little containers, which can look cluttered, says Blazek, go for a few large, statement-making pots. "When I think about taking a garden from plain to stunning, I think about scale. Larger containers with larger-scale, taller plants will make more of an impact," she explains. Use them to punctuate different parts of your yard, like the beginning of a walkway, your front door or the edge of your patio. "I always say two containers by your front door changes everything," adds Janney. Tamony loves planting containers with roses because many newer varieties are more compact and "bloom like crazy." Other shrubs work well in pots, too: "Sometimes we get to the garden center and we look for small cheerful annuals, but there are a lot of shrubs that do well in a containers and they're going to flower for longer," she says. Make sure the plant tag says "long-blooming" or "blooms from spring to first frost," she advises. That way you'll get color all season. And make it solar. "There are so many cool solar lights now. You don't have to run electricity," says Blazek, who suggests taking a look at the front of your house or around your patio when you have people visiting — where they congregate should be where the lights go. Tamony adds, "If you have any sort of stairs or pathway, you want lighting." Both pros also love the idea of uplighting a tree or other statement plant. "It's beautiful but also really easy to do," says Tamony. After all that hard work, you deserve a spot where you can relax and enjoy the final result. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate, just a few Adirondack chairs and a tree stump. At her own home, Ly set up a lounge area right in the middle of her vegetable garden! "Having some kind of seat, even if it's as simple as a log, is important and definitely adds to the decor," she says. "Even if you don't have room for full-sized outdoor patio furniture, you can incorporate something as simple as a stool." To complete the scene, add a few accessories — just like you would for a room inside your house. Bird feeders, sculptures and throw pillows can give your garden so much personality. "A lot of times people don't realize that having these non-organic objects is just what you need to fill up a space. It doesn't always have to be a living thing," says Janney. "Those details are what make it special."
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Your Farmers Market Finds Are Getting More Expensive
On a typical summer weekend, Slow Farm near Ann Arbor, Michigan, bustles with activity. There are strawberry fields, asparagus patches, and rows of flowers that visitors can cut for their own bouquets. Under a tent, owner Kim Bayer offers samples of heirloom tomatoes while a nearby fridge overflows with organic greens, carrots, and other produce. On days when the shop is unstaffed, customers select their vegetables and pay via Venmo or by leaving cash in a lockbox. But this year, those purchases come with a higher price tag. Slow Farm, like many growers nationwide, is grappling with surging costs for seeds, sprouting trays, and nearly everything needed to produce fruits and vegetables. About 250 miles north, Emlia Acres, an organic farm in Harbor Springs, Michigan, faces the same financial squeeze. The farm grows a vibrant mix of amaranth, sunflowers, calendula, statice, and more, spread across two fields and a greenhouse. Related: 6 Secrets to Navigating the Farmers Market Successfully, According to Farmers The price increases are stark. Liquid fertilizer that once cost $60 per case is now $82, says Cory Evans, who owns Emlia Acres with his wife, Jessica. He had budgeted $300 per pallet for soil but was stunned when he was quoted $550. 'When I saw the price, I said, 'Did you say the right one?'' he recalls. It's not just soil and fertilizer. 'It's everything from jars and ribbon to wrapping paper, stickers, and propane,' Jessica Evans adds, noting the expenses tied to packaging and the heating of their greenhouse. The hikes reflect a broader national trend. During the pandemic, demand for seeds skyrocketed by 50% to 200% above normal levels, according to the National Garden Bureau. Seed companies, which typically maintain surplus inventories in case of environmental issues, struggled to rebuild depleted inventory, pushing prices even higher. The strong interest in 2020 and 2021 wiped out stocks — with many companies having to start over to build up their supplies. Bulbs and tubers have also surged in price. Gladiolus corms, once 17 cents each, now cost 27 cents. 'It doesn't sound like a lot, but we're buying thousands,' Cory says. That increase forced him to raise the price of gladiolus stems from $2 to $3 each. Related: The Ultimate Guide to 85 Apple Varieties, From Heirlooms to Hybrids Overall, Emlia Acres is paying roughly 30% more for supplies in 2025. At Slow Farm, Bayer estimates her costs have risen by 30–40%. The price hikes extend beyond individual farms. Farmers market revenue reached an estimated $1.4 billion in 2024, according to industry tracker IBIS World. Markets were able to withstand challenges during the pandemic, with their outdoor settings attracting safety-conscious shoppers who perceived them as safer than shopping inside grocery stores. But now, rising costs are testing both farmers and customers. To offset expenses, farmers are getting resourceful. With commercial seed packets now costing $3.50 to $5.50 for just 100 seeds, Bayer scours online seed exchange boards, trading her excess seeds for varieties she needs. But that can be frustrating and not all swaps are successful. 'Some of the older varieties are not available,' she says. 'People don't recognize them enough to try them.' Meanwhile, she's seen prices skyrocket for seed trays — which are used to start plants indoors and range in size from 50 to 120 holes, before they are moved out to fields. Bayer once paid 25 cents per tray; now they range from $1 to $10. 'It's something we have to buy,' she says. Other small businesses are adjusting, too. Simon Colley, owner of Great Northern Pantry in Schroon Lake, New York, tries to 'keep prices as affordable as possible.' Instead of offering just a few types of pasties and hand pies like the one in Saratoga's Farmers Market, he expands his selection by offering a wide variety of flavors. 'If prices rise dramatically, I'll create another product with a higher margin to try and keep everything affordable across our offerings,' he explains. Still, some price increases are unavoidable. Emlia Acres chose to phase in hikes gradually so customers wouldn't gasp. In 2024, it raised the price of a medium-sized bouquet by $5 to $25. This year, micro bouquets, which come in a small jar, is going up by $5 to $15. To create an additional revenue stream, the farm has also started hosting bouquet-making parties, where guests design their own mini arrangements. Jessica has led the classes at the Petoskey Public Library and offered it for bridal and baby showers. Most customers have accepted the price increases, although some have been snarky. Some, like one passerby at the farmers market, have been blunt. 'One gentleman walked by, saw the price, and said, 'Do these cure cancer?'' Cory recalls. Jessica acknowledges the challenge of competing with large retailers. 'When you're a small business, it's hard to compete with something somebody can buy at Walmart or a large grocer. In order to stay in business, you have to do what you have to do.' Although she placed her material orders late last year and despite the uncertainty, Bayer is holding off on finalizing her 2025 prices, hoping inflation eases. 'I don't know what's going to happen,' she says. Yet, Jessica remains optimistic saying that the uncertainty hasn't dissuaded her from farming. 'We're looking forward to our 2025 season and feel really fortunate that we're able to be farmers in this day and age. We get to do what we love — and how many people can say that Read the original article on Food & Wine
