Special Summer Roundup: 7 of Our All-Time Favorite Gardening Posts

Now that it’s officially summer, we’re all getting outside and taking advantage of the long days and the sunshine. Your garden plays a key role in making the most out of your summer: It supplies fresh veggies for your cookouts, gives you beautiful scenery to gaze at while you’re sipping iced tea on the porch swing, and provides a backdrop for fun nights toasting marshmallows over the fire with friends. But a neglected garden can become both an eyesore and a headache. We put together 7 of our all-time favorite gardening posts to help you maximize your garden, and make this one of the best summers ever!

1. Planting a Moon Garden

Most of us think of flowers as something for the daytime. Many flowers even have daytime names, such as morning glories, daylilies, and daisies, whose name comes from old English for “day’s eye.”

But some flowers are at their best at night, as are some of us humans. Few things are more relaxing to the night owls among us than sitting on a bench in our moon garden, sipping herbal tea and smelling night-blooming jasmine as we listen to the owls’ quiet hoots. This article lists plants that shine at nighttime and can pamper all 5 of your senses.

2. Keeping Hungry Mosquitoes at Bay

While you’re outside enjoying your moon garden or hanging out with friends, you definitely don’t want to be the next meal for a horde of mosquitoes. Not only are mosquito bites itchy and uncomfortable–mosquitoes can carry diseases that are dangerous to humans, such as encephalitis and West Nile virus, as well as diseases that risk our pets’ lives, such as heartworm.

There are lots of chemical-based mosquito repellents on the market, but they’re not for everyone. This article tells about 7 natural mosquito repellents that are options for those of us who want to keep mosquitoes at bay the natural way.

3. Building a Vertical Garden

Not all of us are fortunate enough to have a big backyard, while some of us don’t have backyards at all. If this is your situation, don’t let it stop you from having delicious, fresh veggies and herbs that you can proudly declare that you grew yourself. Vertical gardens are excellent options for maximizing limited garden space, or turning an apartment balcony into a fruitful oasis. This article tells you how.

4. Planting a Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden

Butterflies and hummingbirds are some of our favorite garden guests. They put on a colorful show for you when you’re outside enjoying your garden, or even when you’re looking out the window from your air-conditioned home.

There are lots of ways to invite these guests to stop by more often. This article tells about 8 plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds, and this article lists 4 more ways to attract butterflies.

5. Choosing and Maintaining Gardening Tools

Whether you have a large property full of flowers, vegetable plants and shrubs, or just a tiny patch of grass, your garden will need some maintaining during the summer months. This article has 5 tips for keeping your lawnmower in top conditgion, and this article tells about 6 key gardening tools that will make your job easier.

6. Keeping the Deck and Patio in Top Shape

After you’ve done the planting, mowing and weeding, it’s nice to sit back and enjoy the results of your work. While you’re sitting outside on your deck, porch or patio, you might find yourself looking at disgusting algae, moss, lichen, or mold and mildew. This article tells you how to defeat those ugly growths on your concrete porch or patio, this article tells how to take care of growths on your deck, and this article tells how to zap mold and mildew on outdoor furniture cushions. If your deck or patio happens to be poolside, this article will help you keep growths at bay in and around the pool.

7. Scoring a Backyard Makeover

What garden couldn’t use more swag? This article tells you all about our Great Backyard Giveaway, in which one lucky winner will walk away with over $4,900 worth of cool backyard gear, including a grill, patio furniture, Adirondack chairs, outdoor speakers and floor torches. This article covers 4 of the best things about the Great Backyard Giveaway, including weekly drawings for free Wet & Forget Outdoor and Wet & Forget Shower. A backyard makeover will definitely help you enjoy your garden!

Enjoy your garden, and have a wonderful summer!

Photo By Inaweofgod’screation