Gardening - Furnishly | Curated Home Goods & Decor

Before and After: A Tropical Backyard With 5 Affordable Ideas to Steal

by Furnishly | May 28, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style

This Miami backyard — nestled right in the heart of the city — is a modern oasis with multiple seating areas, a fire pit, a pool, and lots of lush greenery, but it wasn’t always. Homeowners Anna Anisin and Mitchell Hesse fell in love with their home because of the huge yard, where they hoped to entertain friends and family and even host local industry dinners, but it was in need of updating.

The couple called on Yardzen, a landscape design company that offers e-design services (and is one of our 2022 Design Changemakers!). According to landscape architect Kevin Lenhart, the design director at Yardzen, their priority for this project was to have a “place to entertain, relax, and cook outside,” as well as a focus on family-friendly design. Plus, Kevin says, they were aiming for “a really bright, fresh, beachy feel, with mid-century modern elements thrown in.”

While some of the redesigned elements are big investments (hello, pool!), there are plenty of ideas to steal for a yard makeover on a budget. Read on for details on some of our favorite features, like custom pavers and local plants — plus, advice on how to recreate them in your own yard.

The sliver of yard on either side of the house had been worn down from heavy foot traffic, so the Yardzen team suggested “steppers,” which are oversized square or rectangular concrete pavers. Not only do they look beautiful, they’re a very efficient way to create moden pathways in a yard. Plus, Kevin adds, “concrete is style-agnostic,” and goes with everything. While precast pavers (which are available at outdoor retailers like Home Depot or Lowes) are a budget-friendly option for lower-traffic paths (like side yards), Kevin recommends investing in custom pavers that are poured on site.

When you’re choosing the size and distance between each paver, you’ll want to consider an average walking pace. For example, a standard combination is 30-inch pavers with a 4-inch gap, which will accommodate a wide range of people. As far as the surrounding material, grass works great in cooler, wetter climates, but Kevin recommends some sort of aggregate (such as rounded gravel, like Mexican pebbles or river rock) for drier climates.

Choose Raised Beds for Your Veggie Patch

Vegetable beds need to be in an area with at least six full hours of sun, but the home’s original vegetable patch was located in a less than ideal spot, so Yardzen moved the vegetables to a sunnier area. Kevin points out that raised beds can be especially great for dead zones in your yard that would otherwise go unused, like this back corner of the yard.

When choosing a raised bed, Kevin says to go the pre-fab route (like a galvanized trough planter), since lumber costs are at all-time highs these days. If you’re set on custom planters though, you can expect around $800 in materials, another $200 for labor, and several hundred more for soil and plants. If you’re going custom, Kevin suggests a bed height that’s easy on your back (read: not too low to the ground), and a pathway lined with small, decorative stones that are comfortable under bare feet.

Teach An Old Fence New Tricks

This is a detail you might not notice upon first viewing of this yard, and that’s by design. The Yardzen team painted the existing fence a dark charcoal hue. “Clients often have a fence that’s structurally sound, it’s just a bit beat up,” Kevin says, so painting it is a great budget-friendly way to use what’s already in the yard. He notes that new fences can get very expensive very fast, so the team only added new fencing in areas where the family needed more privacy, and repurposed the existing fence by just giving it a fresh coat of paint. Kevin compares the new dark color to a black curtain on a stage: The dark hue makes the rest of the yard pop, while the utilitarian fence fades into the background.

In this Miami yard, the team went with a tropical vibe: lush, dark green leaves, lots of palms, succulents, and small pops of color, which happen to be what you would find in nearby nature. Yardzen tries to steer clients towards native plants or plants that have evolved in a similar region, because not only will they perform well, but they contribute to local biodiversity.

Pro tip: Whatever your climate, Yardzen emphasizes the importance of “focused” planting, which means committing to a certain style of planting.

Create Outdoor Rooms — With Plants

Of course, plants are an integral part of any landscape design, and the Yardzen team specializes in creating luxurious “rooms” by clustering tall plants around seating areas. In the fire pit zone, for example, there are a number of palm clusters, which stretch vertically and lean over just a bit, which paired with an oversize umbrella implies a sort of ceiling for the “room,” and makes the space feel cozy without cutting it off from the rest of the yard. Kevin suggests choosing trees that reach no more than 8 feet tall, like redbud, dogwood, even olive trees.

Turns Out, Americans Really Want to Learn How to Grow Potatoes

by Furnishly | May 28, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style

When it comes to gardening, planting your own vegetable garden can be extremely rewarding. You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment when your favorite veggies begin to sprout, and you’ll have access to the freshest ingredients for your salads, stews, and side dishes, right from your backyard.

From carrots and cucumbers to beets and kale, there’s the perfect vegetable to suit every climate and space—yes, you can even grow a vertical edible garden—but which is the most popular among Americans?

New research from AllAboutGardening.com analyzed Google Trends data to establish the vegetable that has highest search volume for “how to grow” it in each American state in the past five years. Potatoes came out as the most popular, with 14 states searching how to grow them more than any other vegetable—including Connecticut, Utah, Montana, and Oklahoma.

“Pre-sprouting or “chitting” your seed potatoes can jumpstart your harvest by up to two weeks and reduces the risk of rot and waste,” explained Logan Hailey, organic vegetable specialist at AllAboutGardening, in a press release. “To do this, you should lay your potatoes out in an even single layer on a tray or in egg cartons, place them in a light area (such as a window sill or porch) with the optimum temperature ranging from 60-70°F and let them sprout until they’re around an inch long before planting.”

According to the research, cucumbers are the second most popular vegetable that Americans want to learn how to grow at home (seven states), while six states are keen to grow their own beets, including Colorado, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Alabama. Carrots and zucchinis came in at joint fourth place, with five states searching for them both the most, while onions, bell peppers, and squash are the most popular vegetable in four different states respectively.

If you’re keen to learn how to grow your own food—something that can save money in the long run and become a fun and fulfilling hobby—”Gangster Gardener” Ron Finley is teaching his own MasterClass that includes a module on growing your own backyard fruits and veggies. From greens and legumes to sweet potatoes and herbs—Finley will become your go-to instructor for creating an at-home garden, no matter where you live.

6 Cheap, Easy-Grow Veggies That Go from Seed to Harvest in as Few as 8 Days

by Furnishly | May 20, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style

There’s a common gardening joke: “Spend $75 on supplies and you can get one 75-cent tomato.” But it’s a misconception that you have to be spending big money on your edible garden to be able to have something harvestable. Not the case! In fact, with the right plant picks, you can not only garden on a budget, but you can also do it without investing a ton of time or energy, too.

The secret: seeds. You can buy your seeds at the dollar store, or get them on sale (since you may be starting late — I see you, procrastinators, and I salute you). For containers, use whatever you already have: five gallon buckets, recycling bins, storage containers… practically any clean container will do. If you can drill holes in the bottom, you can likely use it as a planter!

For some advice on what kinds of seeds to look for to satisfy gardeners who are looking for quick gratification, I spoke to Bella Black, the gardener behind Pentagram Potager. Her business revolves around free seed-sharing and edible gardening with a strong focus on education. She’s either in her garden, a client’s garden, or talking about gardening on her free Wednesday Zoom meetups. With almost a decade of farming experience, she’s the perfect person to ask about fast-growing veggies. Here, her picks for veggie seeds to plant if you want a cheap, easy, and most of all fast harvest this summer.

Ever seen “baby spinach” or “baby kale” in the grocery store? Those are just leafy greens harvested earlier in their growing cycle. Black loves a leafy green to get the growing season started since they can go from seed to plate so quickly. “Arugula, spinach, lettuce, and kale can be ready for harvest within 30 days of planting,” she says, whether they’re planted out in a community garden plot, or in a container outside or inside. Yep, you don’t even have to have outdoor space for these quick salad staples.

To plant, sow the tiny seeds in rows that are 6 to 8 inches apart. (If you want the greens to fully mature before harvesting, you’ll need more like 12 inches.) Then, cover with a light layer of soil and water enough to keep seeds damp.

When buying seeds, keep an eye out for these varieties:

These tasty cool-weather veggies can be ready in as little as three to four weeks after planting; once you start to see the veggie above dirt, it’s time to harvest.

If you’re too impatient to wait even four weeks, you’re in luck: Radishes are also one of the fastest microgreen growing options. In about 10 days, you can harvest the teeny greens that pop up above the soil and add them to salads or other dishes.

To plant radishes, sow seeds directly in soil about an inch deep. You’ll need to thin out the seedlings if you want to make room for mature radishes to flourish; for microgreens, you can keep seeds dense to maximize your output.

Baby carrots — earlier-harvested versions of the regular old carrot — take about as long as radishes. Have a tiny spot left in your container or plot? Pop a couple carrot seeds about a half inch deep. Be aware, though: Carrots need very rich and compost-heavy dirt to thrive. Without enough nutrients, your carrots will be under-developed (and underwhelming). These seeds take about 60 days to mature enough for harvest; if you give them 75 to 80 days, they’ll be full-grown.

This leafy cabbage relative can go from seed to stomach in 30 to 45 days. Plant it about 1/2 inch deep, and while it grows, make sure you water frequently to prevent bolting. When a plant “bolts,” it means it’s switched its energy from developing leaves to creating flowers and seeds, so the leaves get bitter and unpalatable. Flowers may “bolt” upward if the plants get too warm and dry, so tend to yours regularly.

This is another seed that will be happy growing by your window. In only 12 days after planting, you’ll have shoots big enough to eat, which you can add to salads, sandwiches, and other dishes. You can even keep a couple growing and transfer them to a container outside so they can develop blooms — and you can get even more seeds later in the season. It’s a win-win.

Another favorite of Black’s, these beans reach maturity in 50 days. And better yet, they take barely any effort besides watering. The only downside? They come in all at once, so get ready for a serious harvest! Plant bush beans about 1 1/2 inches deep, with about 3 inches between each seed and 18 inches between rows. (You’ll need to thin out the seedlings later, but starting with more seeds will help ensure you end up with enough mature plants.)

Unlike pole beans, bush beans don’t require any sort of climbing trellis to thrive. They can’t grow indoors, though, so you’ll need to make room in an outdoor container or garden bed. The category of bush beans is relatively broad, and can include varieties like:

If you’re hoping to grow any of these this season you’ll have plenty of time. Fill your garden with easy and quick growers and you’ll have high-yield crops the whole season. Or just try one or two veggies to dip your toe in the edible gardening world this year. No pressure! Keep things simple and you’ll be a gardening pro before you know it.

Cheryl Rafuse

Contributor

Cheryl Rafuse is a professional gardener planting and designing in Beverly, MA. Her company Plant Magic Gardens focuses on ecologically conscious gardens filled with native plants and pollinator favorites. She enjoys a good moss patch and loves the scent of violets. Cheryl can reliably be found covered in dirt with weeds in her pockets, much to the chagrin of her partner and two lovely cats.

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This Gardening Tool For Your Fingers Looks Silly But Also Satisfying

by Furnishly | May 20, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

In gardening, there are a variety of tools you can use to cultivate your plot, but nothing beats a green thumb.

San Diego-based Kevin Espiritu of TikTok account @epicgardening has shared a peculiar but surprisingly practical tool for hands-on gardening. The tool, called a thumb knife, features a silicon sleeve you wear on your pointy finger and thumb, with a blade attached to the latter. In lieu of a pair of scissors or shears, you can use the miniature knife to pick fruits and vegetables, as well as to prune branches.

In his TikTok video, which now has over seven million views, Espiritu says that the thumb knife “might be the dumbest gardening tool” he has ever seen. He then uses it to pick an herb and a flower, before commenting, “impractical but highly satisfying.”

His followers, though, begged to differ. Some explained that the thumb knife is for those with dexterity issues and ailments such as carpal tunnel, arthritis, and even allergies.

“I’m thinking it would be nice to not have to put gloves on to get herbs… I have allergies!” says one comment, while another reads: “It’s actually nice for harvesting a lot of green beans and peas. Cuts down on stains and calluses.”

It also makes tasks easier for farmers. “My family grows thousands of geraniums and this would be perfect for deadheading,” said one of Espiritu’s followers. Another person added that it reduces accidents, as the most common accident at vineyards is workers cutting themselves when pruning vines.

And if those aren’t good enough reasons for you to get a thumb knife, it could also keep your houseplant from dying. One comment reads, “A clean cut on the plant actually makes the plant less vulnerable to infection than if you were to just tear it.”

A bit silly? Maybe. Impractical? Definitely not. Oddly satisfying? It gets a thumbs up!

8 Tools You Need If You’re Apartment Gardening

by Furnishly | May 19, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

Like so many of my fellow millennials, I’ve become an avid plant collector during the pandemic. I went from having a black thumb that I inherited from my mom to having a well-earned green thumb after a series of spectacular plant parent failures. A lot of my first plants ended up in the grave (apartment dumpster?), but honestly, learning through trial and error was part of the fun. Now that I have an impressive little houseplant collection adorning just about every sunny windowsill in my one-bedroom, I also have a budding gardening tool collection to match.

Since apartments don’t generally lend the space for a full-blown garden shed, I had to declutter my tools a bit and get super selective (and creative!) with the garden tools I invested in. Here are all the gardening tools I need in a small apartment, and how I store them.

One of the best ways to water house plants is to bottom water them, but when you have a small sink, that task can be tedious. Instead, get a large shallow bin like this one from IKEA to bottom water multiple plants at once. I also like to use this bin when replanting indoors. I pop the planter inside, and it keeps all of the dirt and mess in one spot. It’s also great for mixing your own potting soil. Once done, I like to store it behind my pantry door.

While scooping dirt with your bare hands can make you feel one with the earth, gardening gloves can be a godsend when you don’t want to get dirt underneath your fingernails. Get a snug but comfortable pair like this one from Food52.

Since apartments don’t have plots of land to till and work, you’re not going to need any heavy-duty gardening tools inside. A trusty hand trowel will be enough to scoop dirt in and out for planters and flower beds. Just make sure that you get one that isn’t too large, so you can easily maneuver around smaller planting pots. You can easily buy one at the Dollar Store, or if you prefer it to be delivered to your doorstep, get one from Amazon like this Edward Tools Garden Trowel.

This is necessary to help aerate the soil, so it doesn’t become compacted and cause root rot. It can also be used to create holes for seeds if you’re growing plants from scratch. You can also get this at your local dollar store, or nab one from Amazon.

Having lots of plants in a small space means that pest infestations can spread pretty quickly. The best way to avoid that is to spray down your plants consistently with neem oil, which is a natural pest repellant. You can buy neem spray in a bottle, or you can make your own with concentrated oil. If you do the latter, I love using the HDX Handheld Sprayer to add an even, fine mist coating on all leaves.

These are great for cutting plants for propagation purposes and for trimming away dead or diseased pieces. (Just make sure to clean them with rubbing alcohol after, so you don’t spread the disease to your other plants!) You can also use a pair of pruning sheers (like the ones that come in this two piece set found on Amazon) to trim back overgrowing houseplants, especially if they’re getting too big for their nook or windowsill.

Bags of dirt are huge — and if you make your own potting mix, you will have multiple bags to store. Since apartments are usually low on space, you have to get creative with hiding them. I like storing mine in a large garbage bag, which I then put into a decorative trunk. But a storage ottoman, storage bench, or large cabinet will work just as well. And if you like to keep all of your planting equipment in one place, you can also store your gardening tools in a bin or bucket inside it, too.

If you don’t want to carry your plants back and forth to the kitchen sink to thoroughly water them, then a watering can is a must. I prefer having a small one like this one from IKEA so it’s easier to store.

I store mine on the side of my fridge using magnetichooks.

Now, let’s talk about storage!

You can store all of your gardening tools in a chest or trunk as mentioned above, or you can use a compact storage solution. For example, you can get an all-in-one stainless steel gardening tools folding stool like this one from Amazon, which not only gets you a full set of tools, but a handy spot to store them. Just fold the chair and put it behind your pantry or closet door.

If you have just a few tools, you can get a simple peg wood rack, or if you have more items (like the sprayer and watering can), you can get a pegboard wall storage system, like this one from IKEA. It’s customizable, and you can add shelves for your bigger pieces.

Marlen Komar