Image: melaniecrowe

Are your basil plants two-feet high? Mine look like they are trying to take over my garden. The little frog that lives in my raised garden bed loves my basil plants – I think he feels like he's living in a jungle.

Every year I struggle with how to use all the basil in my garden. I'm lucky that I never have a problem growing it, but I definitely have trouble coming up with new and inventive ways to take advantage of the basil surplus.

If you're like me, you'll love these ideas I've tried over the years to use the basil in your garden.

Making Homemade Pesto

Is there anything better than homemade pesto? The fresh taste of the basil mixed with the zing from… Read More

Image: alanpfitch

My aunt, when faced with a deer problem, specifically deer eating her roses, tried to plant a few deer proof bushes and shrubs. She also tried keeping deer away by bringing in shrubs that weren’t native to her area. Just like we humans develop a fondness for Mom’s special “Tuna Surprise,” the thought was deer only develop a taste for regional shrubs.

It worked … sort of. The deer didn’t do much damage to the deer proof shrubs, but they did continue eating the other plants, including her roses. Turns out, deer proof shrubs won’t create some invisible shield of protection for your yard. She also found that in the winter when deer were hungry and desperate, they’d eat even those deer proof shrubs.

Landscaper Secret

One of… Read More

Image: vladeb

Here’s something you might not know about skunks: their scientific name “mephitis mephitis” comes from the Roman goddess of poisonous vapors and literally means “bad odor bad odor,” as if to indicate “double trouble.” Plus, skunks can deliver the double-whammy of nasty smell combined with digging up your yard and garden.

Hot Water Equals Desperate Measures

I grew up near a river. Our house was situated on top of the embankment so while flooding was never an issue, the wildlife was. One year we had a welcomed batch of duck eggs. I was very young at the time and my mom thought it would be a great teaching opportunity. The skunks thought otherwise. To her horror my mom walked out on our deck overlooking our backyard and saw the skunk halfway through the… Read More

Image: ambersky235

If you’re in an area where there are deer aplenty, and you have a veritable collection of greens and foliage in your lawn or garden, then you need effective deer repellent for plants. Here’s the key: you need to use it correctly and in conjunction with other effective tactics for the best protection from deer destruction.

In spring and summer deer will munch on your new shoots and blooming flowers. In fall, ripening fruits tempt their palette. And in winter, everything’s fair game. I found this out the hard way when I first moved from the city to the suburbs. “Look, honey, there are deer in our yard” quickly turned into “Oh, no, more deer!”

Deer Repellent Don’ts

Don’t make the same mistakes we made when we first moved… Read More