Organic Gardening News

From zodiac signs to birth flowers, there are plenty of ways people like to assign meaning to the month they were born. But here’s a slightly more unexpected version: your birth month farm animal.

Yes, over the years, we’ve seen everything from birth month trees and birth month birds to bugs, trees, and even so-called “power animals” tied to different times of year. There’s something oddly comforting about it all, as it offers up a sense that the natural world around us might reflect something back about who we are.

Honestly? It often feels a source of comfort in a world that feels increasingly fast-paced and digital, serving as a reminder of a slower, more connected way of living. One that feels especially appealing as more people turn their attention to growing food at home, self-sufficiency, and getting back in touch with where things come from.

All 12 Birth Month Farm Animals

So, which birth month farm animal are you? Well, whether you’re a loyal collie, an independent barn cat, or a determined horse, each month has a barnyard counterpart said to reflect certain personality traits.

Time to find out, then, whether your farmyard alter ego feels strangely accurate or not...

January – Horse

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Strong-willed, ambitious and determined, January babies are often seen as natural leaders. And, just like a free-spirited horse, they’re independent, focused, and rarely back down from a challenge.

In fact, they prefer forging their own path and moving at their own pace. No bad thing, as I'm sure you will agree.

Shop Horse-Friendly Flowers:

Clovers Garden Chamomile Herb Plants

HOME GROWN Bachelor Button Flower Seeds

Nature Hills Nursery Strawberry Seduction™ Yarrow

February – Goat

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Creative, curious and, yes, a little unconventional, February babies are the goats of the barnyard. In fact, just like their birth month farm animal, they’re adventurous thinkers who aren’t afraid to take the less obvious route, often surprising others with their originality.

Try paying homage to yours with this stunning Goat Willow (Pussy Willow) from Nature Hills.

March – Sheep

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Do people often refer to you as gentle, compassionate and calm? Born in March? That's the answer!

Yes, March personalities are represented by sheep. Which, sure, sounds bad on paper until you remember that these birth month farm animals tend to be thoughtful, peace-loving, and happiest in stable, harmonious environments where everyone gets along.

Honestly, the best way to be more sheep, then, is to consider how you might make your garden better for everyone... especially pollinators.

Shop Pollinator-Friendly Plants:

Nature Hills Nursery Butterfly Weed Plant

Nature Hills Nursery Common Milkweed

Nature Hills Nursery Swamp Milkweed Flower

April – Rooster

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Cock-a-doodle-what? Yes, April-born people share traits with roosters. They’re outgoing, self-assured and often the ones setting the tone in any group they’re part of. Which means, much like their birth month farm animal, they are those sorts of people who are confident, expressive and full of presence. And, quite possibly, earlybirds.

There are a number of cover crops that roosters and chickens love, including:

• Alfalfa
• Clover
• Annual rye
• Kale
• Cowpeas
• Rabe
• New Zealand clover
• Turnips
• Mustard
• Buckwheat
• Grain grasses

May – Pig

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Look, I get it. Nobody wants to be told that their birth month farm animal is a pig (especially if they have ever read Animal Farm), but here's the thing. Pigs are sociable, warm and fun-loving. They are undeniably cute. And May personalities are like pigs in the best possible way: intelligent, adaptable, and happiest when surrounded by good company and comfort.

Be more pig, then, and get your garden set up for al fresco parties, stat.

Shop Solar Lighting:

soonanier Solar Fence Lights

XMCOSY+ Solar Pathway Lights

Linkind Smart Solar Spot Lights

June – Chicken

(Image credit: Martin Helgemeir / Shutterstock)

Nurturing, talkative and emotionally attuned, people born under this birth month farm animal are protective of those they love, tend to thrive in community, and always bring people together in a warm, grounded way.

Love chickens? Find out how to keep and care for backyard chickens, then, and make a whole new world of feathered friends in the process.

July – Cow

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Sometimes, people (mean people, silly people!) use the word cow as an insult. How, though, could it ever be a bad thing to be compared to these steady, loyal and deeply dependable animals?

July babies are incredibly lucky to reflect the calm strength of cows. Especially as it means that, just like their birth month farm animals, they are nurturing by nature and often the emotional anchor in their friendships and family life.

August – Goose

(Image credit: Getty Images)

I absolutely love geese, so I'm a little jealous that August babies everywhere get to call this honking bird their birth month farm animal!

Protective, courageous and fiercely loyal, geese aren't afraid to stand their ground, and neither are those born at this time of year. In fact, when it comes to protecting the people they love, they are unstoppable, thus making them the dependable friend or family member others know they can count on.

Why not treat your inner goose to a mini pond?

elegantly lit

Latitude Run® Bubbler Resin Fountain

copper design

Pondo Stainless Steel Water Bowl

cool concrete

August Grove® Evita Concrete Pebble Fountain

September – Donkey

(Image credit: Getty Images)

My husband was deeply disappointed to learn that, as a September baby, the not-so-humble donkey is his birth month farm animal. I say, though, that he shouldn't be (ha!) such a donkey about it. After all, these hoofed cuties are practical, resilient and quietly strong.

Those born under their influence tend to be dependable problem-solvers, the kind who, even if they are underestimated at first, rarely disappoint. Mind you, they can be stubborn, too!

October – Barn Cat

(Image credit: Getty Images)

I hold my hands up and confess that I am an October baby, so I am especially interested in this birth month farm animal. And, while I can't say for sure that I'm charming (here's hoping) I do believe that, much like the ever-independent and observant barn cat, I value my freedom and trust my instincts.

October-born personalities are also said to have a mysterious, magnetic quality to them, which makes sense. Cats are pure mystery, after all! Try planting these plants beloved by cats, then, and see how your inner barn cat responds.

November – Highland Cow

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Highland cows are basically the stars of the farmyard. You don’t rush them, you don’t rattle them, and you certainly don’t tell them to hurry up, because they’re already exactly where they need to be.

Calm, steady and emotionally grounded, November-born people share that same energy. They have a quiet strength that doesn’t need to announce itself, and a reassuring presence that makes other people feel instantly more at ease. Even in chaos, they tend to stay unshaken, observing everything with a kind of slow, knowing calm.

Honor yours by planting some true Scotch heather, stat!

December – Collie

Collies are the overachievers of the farmyard: always alert, always moving, and somehow always three steps ahead of everyone else.

December babies share that same energetic, intelligent and endlessly curious spark. They like having a purpose, something to solve, somewhere to go. Give them a challenge and they’ll light up; give them routine with no direction and they’ll start inventing their own.

They’re quick thinkers, enthusiastic learners, and the sort of people who don’t just follow instructions: they improve them, streamline them, and somehow make them better. Maybe, then, you should try and grow a dog garden for you and your inner pooch?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Whether you see yourself clearly in your birth month farm animal or not, it’s all part of the fun. But don’t be surprised if, from now on, you find yourself quietly sharing a moment with with your barnyard alter ego the next time you see it lurking in a field or paddock.

Meaningful eye contact with a barn cat, then? Next on my list of things to do.

We’re seeing a huge trend in container ponds this heatwave summer, and no wonder! Floating solar fountains have made it so cheap and easy to create a stylish water feature that brings cooling sound and movement to our too-hot gardens. And now, next-gen solar fountains lit with LEDs are allowing us to take DIY microponds to the next level, with illuminated cascades of water that will pretty-up any patio, looking beautiful at night as well as bringing a cooling soundscape by day.

Making your own micropond with a watertight container and floating fountain is so quick to do, yet the soundscape and soothing water movement can transform a garden, creating a focus to make small gardens feel bigger or adding a pleasing detail to a larger backyard. As container garden ideas go, it’s a winner for sure! Water features you can install yourself without calling in a plumber or electrician are so cost-effective, too. And there are lots of clever ways to get creative with a cheap floating solar fountain, so you can fashion a unique feature bespoke to your garden style.

Not all LED solar fountains are created equal, though, so it’s good to understand a few basics before you start to DIY your cooling cascade of water. Luckily, everything you need to know to get a great result is right here, so you can get cracking and DIY an illuminated water feature this weekend. I've included plenty of product links so you know exactly what I'm talking about, but do support your local retailers too. Here’s exactly what to do, if you want to make a stunning water feature this weekend…

1. Choose a Watertight Container

Any container will work for a DIY water feature, as long as it’s wide enough to contain most of the fountain splashes, though obviously the bigger it is, the less frequently you’ll have to top it up. Containers purpose-made for a garden micropond are often expensive, but there are plenty of more budget-friendly options to try.

Pots intended for succulents don’t usually have a drainage hole, and a wide bowl planter such as this from Amazon makes a stylish alternative at a fraction of the price. It's also worth looking at planters intended for both indoor and outdoor use such as this well-priced half-barrel from Lowes, as they often don't have drainage holes either.

If you’ve already got an old plastic, resin or metal planter then it’s a quick and easy job to seal the drainage hole with a marine silicone sealant like this from Amazon. The same goes for repairing patches of damage on a vintage vessel to make it watertight. Being able to seal drainage holes and seams also opens up the world of resin containers such as this amazing urn that's on sale at Target. Have a hunt around your local hardware store, too: this steel tub from Ace Hardware would make an awesome micropond, as would this utility bucket from Home Depot.

(Image credit: Getty Images)2. Work Out How Powerful Your Solar Water Fountain Needs to Be

A floating fountain is powered by its solar panels and there’s a huge range in terms of quality and capability. The amount of energy the solar panels are capable of generating is measured in watts, which you’ll find in product descriptions as ‘W’ and it’s important to match this, which governs the force and shape of the spray, to the size of the container you're using.

While you want to enjoy a decent water flow and fountain height, it’s also vital to also think about minimizing water loss so you’re not forever having to top up your micropond. Water loss happens when the spray pattern is wider than the container, but also because of wind, so is affected by the height of the fountain, too.

A 1W or 1.5W solar fountain is typically designed to operate in a birdbath so will produce a pretty gentle bubble. If that's what you want, great. But because there are LEDs as well as a water pump to power, an illuminated fountain rated around 3.5W or 4W is best for most patio-sized containers. You’ll also find fountains at 5.5W and 6.5W which suit a larger diameter vessel if you're making a sizeable water feature.

Look at what material the solar panels are made of too. Glass panels are far more efficient than plastic, so will still generate plenty of energy on a partially cloudy day.

Best Solar Fountains For a Great Light Show

Well-spaced lights

Flower Design 3.5W Solar Fountain

This 3.5W fountain has 8 spray patterns from a gentle mist to a strong jet, and two rows of LEDs illuminate the water well.

All white

3.5W Solar Fountain With Auto LEDs

All the LEDs on this 3.5W fountain are white for a more serene light show, and 7 nozzles offer a good variation of spray patterns.

Vast variation

4W Solar Fountain With 60 LEDs

With 60 LEDs and 8 spraying modes, this 4W fountain has a huge 4000mAh battery capacity to power all those lights after dark.

Most solar fountains come with a handful of interchangeable nozzles that create different spray patterns in varying heights and widths, too. By combining a powerful energy rating with a nozzle that gives a narrow spray, you can enjoy maximum water flow without too much water loss.

In a small or shallow container, it's also worth looking for a design with stabilising arms. These prevent the fountain floating close to the container rim, and so help to reduce water loss. While you're reading the small print, check the fountain has run-dry protection so it automatically shuts down if there’s insufficient water, and a filter to prevent debris from entering the pump.

3. Check the Fountain Has a Battery Before You Buy

Some solar fountains have a battery to store the energy generated by the solar panels so it can still operate when the sun isn’t shining, whether that’s because it’s nighttime or simply a cloudy day. Some fountains don’t, which means they’ll only operate when sunlight hits their solar panels. You would think that all illuminated solar fountains are fitted with a battery as they’re intended for use after dark, but that’s not the case.

So, do check the solar fountain has a battery, and that the battery's capacity is relevant to its wattage and number of lights, as this will dictate how long it will run for after dark. Depending on how many LEDs it has to power, a typical 3.5W fountain with a 2000mAh battery will likely run for around 3 hours after sundown, after a full charge on a sunny day. If you want a fountain with a lot of lights, or one that runs for a long time, look for a higher-capacity 3000mAh or 4000mAh battery.

Best Solar Fountains for Battery Capacity

4-5 hours

4W Solar Fountain With 60 LED Lights

This 4W fountain has a 4000mAh capacity battery to power its 60 LED lights for 4-6 hours once the sun goes down.

5-6 Hours

4W Solar Powered Fountain With Color LED Lights

With a 3000mAh capacity battery, 8 light colors and a good nozzle selection, this 4W fountain will run for 5-6 hours after dark on a full charge.

6-7 hours

6.5W Solar Fountain With 8 Nozzles

While this 6.5W fountain is better for a larger container, its 3000mAh capacity battery and 7 LEDs mean it’ll run for 6-7 hours.

4. Position Your Water Feature Well

Depending on the size of your water feature, it’s a smart move to position the container before filling with water. You’ll need a fairly sunny spot to ensure the solar panels get fully charged, but most quality fountains with a battery fitted only need 4-6 hours of sun for a full charge.

Choosing a position which gets a little shade for part of the day will reduce evaporation and the frequency your water feature needs topping up. It’s also a good idea to position your feature away from overhanging trees or plants that may drop leaves into the water.

Consider other light sources, too, as the darker the area is, the more the illuminated water cascade will stand out.

(Image credit: Getty Images)5. Add Some Decor, if You Fancy

How you choose to pretty-up your water feature is entirely up to you – and honestly, a container with a floating fountain is simply lovely as it is. But you could add a compact water plant such as lesser spearwort (Ranunculus flammua) or water forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides), both available from specialist supplier Pond Plants of America. How about adding a few rounded pebbles such as these from Amazon to the container itself, or around its base? And you’ll find all sorts of cute pond ornaments such as these floating faux water lilies from Amazon or this fishing tortoise figurine, also from Amazon, to add charm to your water feature.

A small wildlife ramp to ensure critters can climb out of your micropond, should they fall in, such as this from Amazon, is a must.

6. Fill With Water and Enjoy!

Now fill the container with water, pop the floating fountain in, and wait a few seconds for the sun to power it up. If you’re growing aquatic plants or want wildlife to use your micropond, it’s best to use harvested rainwater, otherwise tap water is fine. To enhance the reflections of the lights in the water, you can add a drop of black pond colorant like this from Amazon.

Then the only job left to do, once the sun starts to set, is to pour yourself a cooling drink, pull up your favorite patio chair, and enjoy your beautiful new garden water feature.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Do you dream of cascades of enormous wisteria flowers but get a vine-full of foliage instead? This plant blooms on the previous year’s growth so the secret to get bigger wisteria flowers next summer lies in what you do with it now. Prune wisteria in July and you'll direct all its energy into growing next year's flowerbuds.

In July, your wisteria vine has finished producing this year’s flowers and gets busy growing long, whippy stems full of leaves. Leave these straggly stems to flourish and you won’t just have a giant plant on your hands, but far fewer flowers next year, and perhaps none at all.

Remove those unruly long stems now, however, and you’ll force your vine to focus its energy on growing fat flowerbuds for a waterfall of big, beautiful blooms next May and June. And it's easy to do, even if you're a beginner gardener. Pruning a wisteria vine is a key July gardening job, and a summer trim also makes its second prune at the end of winter so much quicker to do. Ready? Here's exactly how to prune wisteria in summer.

How to Prune Wisteria in July

(Image credit: Getty Images)

First, trace the new, straggly stems – called whips – back to the point they emerge from the main framework of the vine. Then count five buds or leaf stalks along the whip and use bypass hand pruners such as these from Amazon or a pair of pruning scissors like these from Amazon to cut just above that fifth bud.

Shorten all the whips in this way. If you find some have already wound themselves into a big tangle, don’t worry about untangling them – just get snipping. It’s not critical to precisely count five buds or leaf stalks, that’s an optimum number to aim for.

(Image credit: Future Publishing Ltd)

If your vine also has bare stems hanging downwards, snip those off too. These are what’s left of this year’s flowers and they’ll soon turn yellow and look unsightly. If there are seedpods attached, you might want to leave them to enjoy the sight of these silvery adornments. But, if your goal is huge flowers next year, it’s best to remove them as that will prevent the vine from wasting energy on seed production.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Removing all this whippy growth halts the wisteria’s rampant growth and stops the plant putting all its energy into growing stems and leaves. And that's important: wisteria certainly isn't one of those well-behaved vines that won't scramble out of control. This vine has evolved to grow rapidly up through tall trees in a forest to reach the sunlight, so growing all these whips to help it clamber up through a tree canopy to get life-giving sunshine is its number one priority in summer.

So, removing the whips saves a whole heap of energy that can be used to grow bigger flowers.

Getting rid of this leafy growth also allows more sunlight to reach the short lengths of woody stems left, which is critical. Sunshine is necessary to ripen this wood, and more sun will grow fatter flowerbuds for bigger blooms. Skip pruning your wisteria in July and all the foliage that grows on the whips can block so much sunlight that your vine doesn’t flower at all the following year, as flowerbuds only form on sun-ripened wood.

The other advantage to pruning wisteria in July is that it keeps this vigorous vine, which has the potential to become invasive, under control. Leave these whips in place and each one is capable of growing up to 10 feet long. Once they've hardened into a woody tangle around drainpipes and chimneys, pruning them in late winter is a far harder task.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

So now you know exactly what to do, you can be confident about trimming your vine to get more wisteria flowers, avoiding common pruning mistakes. By shortening the whippy growth in July, your vine will produce less foliage and more flowers for a spectacular display next year.

How to Prune Wisteria in Late Winter

(Image credit: Alamy)

Wisteria needs pruning twice a year, once in late summer and once in late winter. And the good news is that shortening all the whips on your wisteria in July makes the main winter prune so much easier.

When winter-pruning a wisteria vine in January or February, you simply need to reduce those stems you cut in July further, to two or three buds. You can tell which are the flower buds and which are the leaf buds: the fat, teardrop-shaped buds will form flowers, while the thinner, flatter, more pointed buds will grow leaves. Creating these short spurs concentrates all the plant’s energy into the fattest buds at the base of the stems, giving you much larger flowers.

In late winter, you can also prune to remove dead, damaged or diseased stems, to keep your vine healthy, but leave the main framework alone.

Other Plants to Prune in July

If you’ve only got time to prune one plant in July, make wisteria your priority. Here’s what else can be pruned in July, once you’ve done that vital task:

• Early-flowering shrubs such as philadelphus (mock orange), weigela, forsythia and deutzia, if you haven't pruned these already. All these shrubs flower on the previous year’s growth so pruning them now gives them plenty of time to form fresh growth and next year’s flowerbuds.
• Fast-growing hedging plants such as privet. While you should trim slower-growing hedging plants such as box, hornbeam and beech at the beginning of summer, and again at the end, giving faster-growing plants such as privet a trim every 4-6 weeks will keep it in shape.
• Early-flowering honeysuckle, once it’s finished flowering. Reduce flowered shoots by a third and, if your plant is only flowering at its stem ends, cut up a quarter of stems to two feet from the ground to encourage blooms across the whole plant.
• Fruit canes that have finished fruiting, such as early-fruiting raspberries. Cutting old stems off at the base to make room for new stems.
• Rambling roses that aren’t rebloomers, if they’ve finished flowering. The ideal time to prune ramblers is immediately after they’ve finished flowering in late summer, shortening the side branches to around 4 inches and clearing out any old wood.
• Trained fruit trees such as cordon apples and pears. Standalone fruit trees are pruned in winter but shoots on highly trained trees can be shortened now.

America’s 250th birthday is just around the corner, and you can celebrate right in your own garden. Did you know that many of our founding fathers, including George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, had gardens on their estates, and were deeply invested in the different plants and flowers they grew? This makes sense when you consider how a thriving, self-reliant landscape reflects the thriving, free society they hoped to create.

While we can only speculate as to the contents and layout of the flower gardens of our founding fathers, history has recorded the species of beautiful summer flowers available in the young nation. Unlike some of our hot-house exotics today, yesteryear’s flowers were tough, resilient plants that could surmount issues in their growing environment in a way that reflects American grit.

What better way to celebrate our nation’s historical courage and persistence in the face of challenges than to add some of these amazing plants to your own landscape? We’ve put together a shortlist of 8 flowering beauties that our founding fathers might well have included in their own gardens.

1. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

(Image credit: Kait Lisabeth / Getty Images)

Talk about a plant with roots deep in the American experiment! The cardinal flower is a North American native, a tough, hardy perennial with brilliant red blooms that was chosen by Thomas Jefferson for his personal garden in Monticello in 1807. Well before that, Native Americans used the plant medicinally.

Today there are dozens of cultivars of this plant with different colored blooms. Plant it in USDA zones 3-9 in a full sun location and moist, well-draining soil. The plants require little maintenance. They grow rapidly and reseed themselves

Cardinal Flower Seeds

2. Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus)

(Image credit: Alex Manders / Shutterstock)

The sweet pea is another plant that has been around for centuries. It is an elegant plant with a lovely fragrance that is said to have arrived in England as early as 1699. One can only assume that his graceful beauty, called the queen of the annuals, made its way to the colonies and into the gardens of our founding fathers.

Elegant, graceful and fragrant, sweet peas are vining plants that can get as long as 8 feet in areas with sun and well-draining soil. Vintage sweet pea plants offer vibrant colors and an intense fragrance, making your landscape feel like a cottage garden. Modern cultivars offer a wider variety of shades but some lack the traditional fragrance.

Sweet Pea Seeds

3. Cockscomb (Celosia cristata)

(Image credit: ncristian / Getty Images)

Cockscomb is another of the plants we know for certain that Thomas Jefferson planted in his garden. That’s because he noted the planting of Cockscomb seeds in 1767, describing it as “a flower like the Prince's feather."

Today, cockscomb is a popular garden flower, still noted for its unique “feather” form. The flowers are bright and last long on the plant and also as fresh or dried blooms. Plant cockscomb in full sun and moist, well-drained soils. You will find cockscomb with flowers in purple, blue, white, pink, or lavender. Coclscomb in the Celosia genus is an annual, while a sister variety in the Delphinium genus is a perennial.

Cockscomb Seeds

4. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

(Image credit: Oksana Schmidt / Shutterstock)

This showy plant with spires of pink-purple tubular flowers grows wild on my mountain in France. But foxglove seeds also made it to the colonies as early as 1735. The plant made the list as being ordered for Jefferson’s Monticello home.

Foxglove is not a diminutive plant, sometimes growing to 5 feet (2m) tall. It is magnificent and tough, growing in USDA zones 4-10 in anyplace there is drainage and some sun. It is toxic and can cause serious injury if touched with bare hands or ingested.

Foxglove Seeds

5. Twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla)

(Image credit: Brian Woolman / Getty Images)

Twinleaf is a rare woodland wildflower native to North America. Reputed by family members to be in Jefferson’s gardens, it was named in honor of the founding father in 1792.

Twinleaf is a North American perennial with small white flowers that appear on stems in early spring, before the leaves have expanded. The unusual lidded seedpods mature in early June and often go completely dormant in summer.

Twinleaf prefers shade and makes a wonderful groundcover in a suitable location. It offers lush green leaves and flowers, small white blossoms that open in early spring before the leaves. Easy to grow, twinleaf plants are not for the hasty as they can take up to 8 years to bloom from seed.

Twinleaf Plants

6. Marigold (Tagetes species)

(Image credit: Schnuddel / Getty Images)

Most of us know marigolds, flower garden staples with their vibrant, colorful flowers. But did you know that they were planted in Thomas Jefferson’s Montecello in the early 1800s? Native to South America, they made their slow way to America via northern Africa and Europe.

These members of the sunflower family have evolved over time into double garden forms, but Jefferson planted the species form, with single, yellow flowers. Hardy in USDA zone 9 and above, they are generally grown as tough, resilient annuals.

Marigold Seeds

7. Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)

(Image credit: Alex Manders / Shutterstock)

Much of our knowledge about the flowers planted in the early days of our nation comes from the efforts of Thomas Jefferson. In a 1782 Garden Book entry he created a chart of flower bloom months that showed Hollyhocks flowering at Monticello from mid-June through July.

Today there are numerous species of hollyhocks available in commerce. They are known as cold-hardy, adaptable flowering plants, available in almost most colors of the rainbow. These can grow to 8 feet (3m) tall if planted in a full sun location. Use at the back of borders or against fencing for best effect.

Hollyhock Seeds

8. Larkspur (Consolida ajacis)

(Image credit: Brytta / Getty Images)

Is larkspur one of the toughest annuals out there? Even so, it is one of the plants traditionally used in cottage gardens and attracts pollinators to your yard with its delicate blooms. The foliage can only be called lacy, held high on showy, spiked stems.

This annual was brought to America from the Old World and quickly made itself at home in USDA hardiness zones 2-9. It is extremely hardy and replants itself every year by self-seeding. Just after the birth of our nation, Jefferson had it planted at Monticello. Larkspur prefers a full sun exposure and can grow to 7 feet (2m) tall.

Larkspur Seeds

A manicured lawn is no longer the default dream.

Across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, a quiet shift is taking place in backyards, side gardens and outdoor areas. Homeowners want beauty, comfort and privacy, but are increasingly asking for spaces that feel less controlled and more alive, says landscape architect Andrew van Egmond, founder of Designing Landscape.

The wild is being embraced more and more, he says:

“It’s a movement that is present in landscape design and landscape architecture globally.”

Originally from the Netherlands and now based in British Columbia, van Egmond works on projects across the province, from Ucluelet and Whistler to Quadra Island and Summerland. His work is subtle, minimal and deeply site-specific, shaped by local materials, native planting and the surrounding landscape.

This fall, he will bring that thinking to IDS Vancouver with a feature installation exploring the relationship between design and the dynamic forces of nature. The project will use layered planting, biodiversity-focused design and circular and upcycled materials to create an immersive landscape that changes over time.

Embracing the wild

There is a growing awareness that we’ve moved away from nature too much, and need to reconnect, and he’s seeing this in West Coast garden design, says van Egmond.

He points to designers such as Dave Demers and Botanica Design, as well as the Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, whose work includes Millennium Park in Chicago and the High Line in New York, as helping make looser, more naturalistic planting feel accepted by a wider public.

The next step is more radical and more local, says van Egmond.

“I think now it’s time to go one step further and let the spontaneity of a real native planting system back into our spaces close to where we live, our homes,” he says.

This means less yearly mulching, less heavy irrigation and less reliance on exotic plants that can become invasive.

“I think we are moving to a yard that is more in tune with nature, supporting the local ecosystem and accepting the flux of the seasons and nature that we so much value in B.C.”

A situated garden

In B.C., the mountains, forests, shorelines and native plant communities are so prominent, says van Egmond.

“We are fortunate to live in such an amazing part of the world, where nature is abundant, and what we all value and enjoy is something we want to have closer to home.”

For homeowners, the takeaway is practical. Look first at what is already around you. The trees beyond the fence, the borrowed view, the slope of the site, the light, the native plants that thrive nearby.

Subtle luxury

If you want to make an outdoor space feel elevated without being overdesigned, van Egmond suggests going big, matched with restraint.

“Don’t do too much, but what you do, do it well,” he says.

The trick is to create interest without clutter. He recommends large gestures rather than decoration, and a simple, restrained material palette. The planting can be rich, layered and wild, but the hardscaping should remain calm and well-balanced.

“I believe that working with real materials does benefit the overall feel of elegance and luxuriousness. So no plastics that pretend to be wood, no concrete elements that pretend to be natural stone, no plastic planters, etc.”

A simple stone path, a generous timber bench, a restrained terrace or a single strong planting move can carry more weight than a collection of small decorative features.

Green sanctuary

“Green, green and green,” he says. “If you surround yourself with an abundance of planting, you will create your own oasis.”

Planting softens the visual pressure of cars, asphalt and nearby buildings. It brings birds and insects closer to home. It buffers city noise. Add water, especially moving water, and the garden can begin to mask the sounds of the surrounding neighbourhood.

“The green comes with maintenance, and therefore many people build hard surfaces, fences and lots of mulching, but that does not create this feeling of well-being and sanctuary.”

Where to spend

For the biggest impact, van Egmond suggests avoiding expensive features that drain money, energy and maintenance unless they will truly be used.

“Not in a pool if you don’t use it regularly. It drains energy, uses lots of water, and requires lots of maintenance. Same for a Jacuzzi,” he says.

Instead, he advises investing in real, locally sourced materials, such as local wood and natural stone from nearby quarries. It may cost more than imported alternatives, but it gives the space a stronger connection to place, supports local business, and they weather well.

Big gestures also matter. A generous planting move, a large water feature or a substantial grouping of planters (think 12) can have more presence than scattered decorative pieces.

“Mimic the scale of nature,” he says.

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Plenty of lettuce quits the moment summer heat settles in, bolting tall and turning bitter before the salad season really gets going. But a few varieties were bred to hold their nerve, and those keep cutting well past the bolt.

Come July, the lettuce patch tends to be the first corner of the garden to fall apart. Leaves that were sweet and crisp back in May go bitter, the plants shoot up tall, and a flower stalk pushes from the center. Heat is the trigger. That whole stretching-and-flowering routine is bolting, and once it starts there's no going back.

Not every lettuce bolts that fast, though. The different lettuce types vary a lot in how much warmth they'll take before they turn, and a handful were bred specifically for it. Pick one of those, hand it afternoon shade and steady water, and you can keep cutting salads while the spring crop bolts and dies back.

When Heat Turns Lettuce Bitter

Lettuce is wired for cool weather. Once daytime temperatures stay in the 80s (around 27-32C), the plant takes it as a cue to reproduce, so it throws up a thick central stalk headed for flower. That's the bolt. Long summer days nudge it along too, which is why the closer you get to midsummer, the faster a susceptible variety goes.

As the plant stresses, the sap in the leaves goes milky and the flavor slides from crisp to flat-out bitter — sometimes before any stalk even shows. Germination drops off in the warmth as well, with seed often failing to sprout once the soil creeps past about 80F (27C), so a midsummer sowing may not come up at all. None of which is the end of it. It mostly comes down to which variety goes in the ground, plus a break from the afternoon sun.

6 Lettuce Varieties That Take the Heat

These are the ones that keep producing when the thermometer climbs. Most are loose-leaf or Batavian lettuce types, which run to seed slower than tight heading lettuce, and all turn up through the usual sellers.

1. Jericho

(Image credit: GomezDavid / Getty Images)

Bred in the Israeli desert, Jericho lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. longifolia) was made for exactly this problem. A tall green romaine, it stays sweet and crisp at temperatures that turn most romaines sour, and it's slow to send up a stalk even with the heat on.

Keep the moisture steady and it forms big upright heads. Take the whole thing or pull leaves a few at a time. Super Jericho seeds from the Home Depot make it easy to get.

2. Nevada

For raw durability, not much beats Nevada. A Batavian type — summer crisp on some labels — it's still Lactuca sativa var. capitata, with thick glossy leaves gathered into a loose head. It holds up to both heat and a sudden cold snap, and stays mild long after softer types would have soured. It regrows after a cut, too, so one planting goes a long way. You can find Nevada lettuce seeds at Walmart.

3. Buttercrunch

(Image credit: merlinpf / Getty Images)

Most butterheads collapse in the heat. Buttercrunch is the exception that's kept it on seed racks for decades — a butterhead itself, Lactuca sativa var. capitata. An All-America Selections winner, it keeps that tender, buttery rosette later into warm weather than its relatives and resists bolting longer than most. It wants steady water and a bit of afternoon shade once things warm up. You'll find it nearly everywhere, including plenty of buttercrunch seed from Park Seed.

4. Black-Seeded Simpson

(Image credit: Nattawat-Nat / Getty Images)

Black-Seeded Simpson (Lactuca sativa var. crispa) ranks among the fastest, most forgiving lettuces you can sow. The light, frilly leaves are ready in roughly 45 days, which lets you slip a harvest in ahead of peak heat and keep resowing through the season. It isn't the most bolt-proof name here, but the speed covers for that. You're eating it before it gets the chance to turn. Burpee has black-seeded Simpson seeds for a good price.

5. Red Sails

(Image credit: Sinan Kocaslan / Getty Images)

Color is what sets Red Sails apart, though the staying power is the bigger draw. The bronze-red ruffled leaves — another looseleaf, Lactuca sativa var. crispa — are slow to bolt and slow to sour, and that red pigment seems to screen it from strong sun. It's an All-America Selections pick too, a cut-and-come-again grower. Strip the outer leaves and it keeps producing for weeks instead of finishing at once. You can grab a packet of Red Sails seeds off Amazon.

6. Slobolt

The name does the explaining. Slobolt (Lactuca sativa var. crispa) was bred to resist bolting, and it holds for weeks after other loose-leaf types have shot up and gone bitter. The leaves come light green and soft, mild enough to eat young and cut again as they regrow. It sometimes turns up on store shelves less often than the others, so finding Slobolt lettuce seeds rom the Thresh Seed Co. store on Amazon is more reliable.

Expert Tips

(Image credit: La Huertina De Toni / Shutterstock)

Lettuce will hang on longer in summer if you take a little pressure off it.

• A bit of afternoon shade makes a big difference, especially once temperatures stay high.
• Keep the soil from drying out completely—lettuce hates that stop-and-start stress—and throw down some mulch if you’ve got it.
• Cut their leaves early in the morning while they’re still cool. They taste better, and the plant doesn’t seem to mind the harvest much.

Keeping pots and hanging baskets watered through a hot summer can feel close to a full-time job. You make the rounds with the can first thing, and by mid-afternoon the baskets are dry at the edges and drooping. Heatwaves push it to twice a day, and the smaller containers wilt fast if you skip one.

The fix doesn't have to mean rearranging your day. A little know-how about when to water container plants goes a long way, and so does a soil additive called water-storing crystals. Mixed into the compost, they hold moisture down in the root zone and release it back as things dry. Containers stay damp longer between waterings, which is the whole point. They won't replace a watering can, but they do take the edge off the daily scramble.

What Are Water-Storing Crystals?

Strip away the packaging and water-storing crystals are a superabsorbent polymer, the same kind of material used in diapers. The garden versions are usually based on potassium polyacrylate, which soaks up many times its own weight in water and swells into a clear gel. Dry, the granules look like coarse sugar or grit. Add water and a single spoonful balloons into a fistful of squishy beads.

Worked into the mix, those swollen beads sit among the roots like tiny reservoirs. As the soil dries, roots pull moisture straight from the gel and the beads shrink back down; water again and they refill. That back-and-forth repeats for a good stretch – most potassium-based crystals keep working for two to five years before they break down and stop holding water.

Where Water-Storing Crystals Help the Most

Hanging baskets are where the difference shows up fastest. They're small and fully exposed and packed with foliage, so they dry out quicker than almost anything else out there. Crystals worked through the compost can widen the gap between waterings, sometimes by quite a bit, though how much you gain depends on the potting mix and the plant, and on how harsh the week turns. These water-storing crystals on Amazon are the standard potassium-polyacrylate type, and a small tub goes a long way.

Bigger pots benefit too, just less dramatically, since they hold more potting mix and dry slower to start with. Where crystals prove handy is around travel – a long weekend away in July no longer has to mean a ruined basket or roping in a neighbor for watering duty. They also even out the wet-then-bone-dry swings that stress container plants, holding moisture steadier between trips with the watering can.

How to Use Water-Storing Crystals (without overdoing it)

The one thing that matters most: follow the rate on the packet, and skip the urge to add extra for good measure. These granules expand enormously – a teaspoon (5ml) of dry crystals can swell to a cup (240ml) or more of gel. Overdo it and the swelling shoves the mix up over the rim, or lifts small plants clean out of the pot. Start light. You can always work a bit more in next season.

There are two ways to handle it. Stir the dry crystals straight into the compost, aiming for the lower half of the pot where the roots will end up, then water well and let them swell in place. Or pre-soak them in a bucket first, which takes the guesswork out of how much gel you're adding, and fold that through. Either way, blending them into a fresh bag of compost from Amazon at planting time beats trying to retrofit a pot that's already full and planted.

Water-Storing Crystal Cons

For all the convenience, crystals aren't a miracle, and the research on them is honestly a bit mixed. They buffer moisture rather than create it, so a pot baking in full sun will still dry out, just slower than it would otherwise. Hard water and heavy feeding chip away at their absorbency over time, since dissolved salts interfere with how the gel takes up water. And nothing lasts forever – once the beads degrade, you're back to plain potting mix.

Some plants are better off without them. Succulents and cacti are the obvious mismatch, along with lavender, rosemary and the woody Mediterranean herbs – all of them need to dry out between waterings, and permanently damp soil just invites root rot. Crystals suit thirsty summer bedding and moisture-loving annuals far better than anything built for lean, dry ground. It's a tool for the right job, not a default for every container.

Smarter Watering for Summer Containers

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Crystals or not, a handful of habits keep summer containers in better shape. Water early, before the heat builds, so more of it soaks in instead of burning off the surface – evenings work too if mornings are rushed. Water deeply, until it runs from the drainage holes, not a quick splash that only dampens the top inch (2.5cm). It also helps to cluster pots together where you can, since grouped containers shade each other and lose less to the air.

Drop the rigid schedule and check the soil itself – a finger pushed an inch (2.5cm) down tells you more than any calendar. Reaching a high basket or the back of a crowded bench gets a lot easier with a long-spouted watering can from Amazon. And if the daily routine has worn thin altogether, you can sidestep additives with self-watering planters on Amazon, which hold a reservoir in the base that wicks moisture up as the soil dries.

Decent garden storage doesn’t just make it easy to keep your outside space tidy, it means you can find your gardening tools when you want them. I like to think that spending on good outdoor storage actually saves me money because then I don't have to re-buy tools lost in all the shed clutter – and honestly, you don't have to spend much if you take advantage of the July 4th deals currently on. I don’t know if this heatwave has caused some kind of craziness at Target, because there are some cracking better-than-half-price deals on all sorts of affordable outdoor storage options.

From storage boxes to sheds, backyard cabinets to potting benches, there are so many stylish solutions to organize garden tools and accessories. I’ve only included great deals that offer a 50% or higher reduction, so you can get maximum outdoor storage for your money. I’ve also looked at different types of garden storage so there’s something so suit every backyard. Think about how you can customize whatever you choose to further fit your needs, too, because there are plenty of clever DIY ways to upgrade your garden storage.

If you’d love a garden with a place for everything and everything in its place, but don’t want to bust your budget getting it, here are Target’s very best deals on garden storage.

1. Waterproof Storage Trunks

An outdoor storage trunk is the best option to store patio cushions and throws, and pool toys. Available in a range of smart finishes, it’s an unobtrusive addition to a patio and makes that ‘Oh heck, it’s starting to rain’ garden dash to save non-waterproof cushions a breeze, and the large capacity means you can store most pool toys without deflating them first.

A backyard storage box also provides a handy surface for drinks and nibbles when you’re entertaining in your outdoor space. Do go for a sturdy option as someone – you included! – will inevitably use it as a bench at some point.

150 Gallons

ACOINEL Outdoor Storage Box

This weatherproof wood-look resin box has a huge capacity and a reinforced crossbar design for added strength. 51% off

125 Gallons

Large Wheeled Waterproof Deck Box

This waterproof PE rattan box has handles and two wheels for easy moving, and air springs for smooth opening. 50% off

96 Gallons

Costway Rattan Storage Deck Box

An appealing PE rattan outer in neutral tones, waterproof zipper liner and lockable wheels make this storage box a great buy. 59% off

2. Potting Benches With In-Built Storage

We all dream of having a potting bench in the garden so we can potter happily with our plants! Choosing a bench with built-in storage brings the best of both worlds, giving you a sturdy work surface as well as a spot to store your most-used hand tools and garden knick-knacks.

Great price

Costway Potting Bench Table With Hidden Storage

The work surface of this pinewood potting bench flips up to reveal a handy storage compartment. 53% off

Useful drawers

Outdoor Potting Bench With Stainless Steel Top

With locking wheels and a stainless steel worktop, this potting bench would double as a BBQ prep area. 50% off

Hidden sink

Outdoor Potting Bench With Removeable Sink

This wooden potting bench has a neat sliding worktop with a sink beneath, and a good-sized storage cabinet. 55% off

3. Vertical Mini-Sheds

If you don’t already have a vertical mini-shed, you won’t know how useful they are to store those everyday tools and garden bits and bobs. Compact and cute enough to stand right outside your back door, a microshed means your kitchen countertop won’t forever be cluttered with a pair of hand pruners and a ball of twine!

Most vertical sheds have a combination of shelves and a full-height compartment to store garden tools, and are typically raised on short legs to protect the stored goods from ground moisture. Those made of wood mean it’s a simple DIY task to add hooks or customize shelving but will need retreating periodically, while metal microsheds are maintenance-free.

Low-maintenance metal

MAYEERTY Metal Compact Shed

Lockable for secure storage, this mini shed measures H63.78” x W55.71” x D22.44”, including the open area. 50% off

Stylish wood

COZONY Waterproof Wooden Cabinet

Measuring H63” x W27” x D17”, this self-assembly mini shed is made from durable cedar wood with a natural finish. 80% off

Sleek gray tones

Garvee Vertical Wooden Storage Shed

Made from 20mm wood on a metal frame, this vertical shed with three shelves measures H5.66’ x W1.69’ x D2.53’. 60% off

4. Benches With Built-In Storage

If you’re pushed for space, then a multi-tasking bench with built-in storage is a smart option. Great for storing throws, pool toys and other outdoor living bits and bobs, this brings plentiful storage without compromising on style. Armrests double as carrying handles, making a storage bench easy to move so you can position it by the pool through summer, then shift it to a sundowner spot for fall.

Timeless design

Costway Wooden Storage Bench

This self-assembly bench made of eucalyptus wood has a sloping backrest and a removable inner storage bag. 50% off

Plentiful storage

Costway Outdoor Rattan Storage Bench

With pneumatic rods for easy opening, this 68-gallon capacity handled PE rattan bench has a cushion with a machine-washable cover. 63% off

Pretty patterns

Costway Wicker Storage Bench

With a charming woven PE rattan outer, this loveseat with gas-strut-assisted opening offers 40 gallons of storage. 50% off

5. Squeeze-it-in Sheds

Sheds are necessary but ugly structures that take up a lot of space in your garden, right? Wrong! There are plenty of smaller, smarter shed designs that mean you can squeeze in this essential storage without it being a garden eyesore. Of course, finally getting around to decluttering your shed will help, and you can get creative to switch up your garden shed from drab to fab.

Compact footprint

5x3 Outdoor Storage Shed

If you have a compact garden then you need a petite shed, and this H72” x W60” x D27” fully galvanized steel shed brings 67 cubic feet of storage on a small footprint. 65% off

Unobtrusive design

4x8 Metal Storage Shed

This H72.83” x W45.98” x D87.87” shed is designed to stand against a wall or boundary fence and its sleek, minimalist lines means it’ll sit unobtrusively in any yard. 50% off

Sliding doors

6x4 Galvanized Steel Shed

Measuring H6’ x W6’ x D4.6’ with 130 cubic feet of storage, this steel shed with a woodgrain effect has sliding doors so will fit in a spot where there’s no room for a hinged door. 68% off

6. Temporary Storage Solutions

It’s really useful to be able to temporarily increase the storage capacity of your garden when you need to, without wasting garden space on permanent fixtures you won’t need for most of the year.

Stackable crates

Costway 3-Pack Collapsible Storage Bins

While these stackable, collapsible boxes aren’t waterproof, they’ll be a boon to organise your shed contents, with opening sides for easy access and folding flat when not in use. 55% off

Fold-flat shelving

Costway Folding Wooden Storage Shelves

Available in 2- or 3-shelf options with a waterproof teak oil finish, these wooden shelves fold flat, so are a really useful option for extra storage as and when needed. 50% off

Secret Storage

Costway Waterproof Storage Side Table

This textured polyresin side table with faux wood top brings 11.5 cubic feet of waterproof storage – perfect for a last-minute tidy-up when unexpected guests arrive. 50% off

7. Stylish Garden Cabinets

There’s been a huge trend in stylish garden cabinets this year, and no wonder – we’re happy to give them pride of place on the patio, rather than trying to squirrel our outdoor storage away, out of sight. Cabinets are as practical as they are pretty, too, as the double front-opening doors make for good access.

Tall cabinets with shallow shelving let you organise hand tools and garden clutter where you can see it at a glance; unshelved cabinets with plenty of hanging space make it easy to wheel in a lawnmower, stack foldable garden furniture, or store pool hoses and long-handled tools.

Durable resin

ACOINEL Waterproof Outdoor Storage Cabinet

Made of durable polyethylene resin, this cabinet offers 66 cubic feet of storage. Shelves are sold separately. 56% off

Outdoor living vibes

ModernLuxe 3-Tier Wooden Garden Workstation

Styled like a kitchen dresser, this striking cabinet is made of fir wood and has multiple storage options. 62% off

Versatile storage

GDFStudio Riley 3-Door Garden Shed

Crafted from fir wood with a waterproof roof and adjustable shelves, this cabinet provides versatile storage. 50% off

I know what you're thinking. Vegetables? In July? Have I finally succumbed to the heat? Please, hear me out.

By July, many gardeners are convinced they've missed their window to sow vegetables for the year. After all, with temperatures soaring across much of the US, it's easy to assume the planting season is winding down.

But don't retire your trowel just yet, as July can actually be an excellent time to sow a surprising number of vegetables. Warm soil encourages rapid germination, and many heat-loving crops positively relish midsummer conditions? And better still, several can be harvested within just a few weeks.

A winning formula, as I'm sure we can all agree.

Plant These 7 Easy Heat-Hardy Vegetables in July

Of course, exactly what you can grow will depend on your local climate and USDA hardiness zone. Gardeners in hotter regions may need to provide extra irrigation or afternoon shade, while those in cooler northern states can often continue sowing well into late summer.

That caveat in place, then, these seven vegetables are among the most reliable choices for July planting across much of the US. Ready, set, sow!

1. Bush beans

(Image credit: Tom Meaker / Getty Images)

Say it with me, people: bush beans. Bush beans are honestly one of the easiest vegetables to sow in midsummer. They love warm soil, germinate quickly, and many varieties will begin producing tender pods in as little as 50 to 60 days.

July is also ideal for succession sowing, allowing gardeners to stagger harvests and enjoy fresh beans right through to fall. Sow seeds directly where they are to grow and keep the soil consistently moist while seedlings establish.

Try something like these Gold Mine Bush Bean Seeds from Burpee if you want very high yields of crisp, ultra-sweet wax beans (and, quite frankly, who doesn't?).

2. Summer squash

(Image credit: bhofack2 / Getty Images)

If you're looking for quick results, summer squash is hard to beat. Zucchini and yellow squash thrive in hot weather and can start producing fruits in as little as six weeks.

Given enough sun, water, and space, these famously prolific plants often produce more than enough for even the most enthusiastic gardeners.

Just remember that regular harvesting is essential (some stricter gardeners may even call it a non-negotiable, but you are your own boss in my world), as it will encourage plants to continue cropping throughout the season.

3. Cucumbers

Cucumbers adore summer heat. When planted in July, they often grow rapidly thanks to warm soil temperatures and long daylight hours.

Direct sow seeds in a sunny spot and provide a trellis if possible, as vertical growing improves airflow and can help reduce disease issues.

Remember: consistent watering is essential, especially during hot spells, as drought stress can lead to bitter fruits (not ideal if you want a tasty sandwich or salad).

Shop Cucumber Seeds:

Burpee 'Straight Eight' Slicing Cucumber Seeds

HOME GROWN Marketmore Cucumber Seeds

Burpee 'Summer Dance' Cucumber Seeds

4. Swiss chard

(Image credit: Paul Maguire / Shutterstock)

Many leafy greens struggle in summer heat, but Swiss chard (the standout star of my own scrappy little vegetable plot) is a notable exception.

This colorful crop is considerably more heat tolerant than lettuce and can continue producing nutritious leaves well into the fall. Just take care to harvest outer leaves regularly and plants will keep producing fresh growth for months.

In warmer regions, some gardeners are even able to harvest Swiss chard through winter. Go for Bright Lights Swiss Chard Seeds from Burpee, and get ready to eat your very own homegrown rainbow.

5. Okra

(Image credit: Abhishek Mehta / Getty Images)

For gardeners in the South, July and okra go hand in hand. This heat-loving vegetable thrives when temperatures climb and often performs best during the hottest weeks of summer (happily, it tastes amazing all year round).

Even gardeners outside traditional okra-growing regions are increasingly discovering its merits as summers become warmer. Sow something like these Clemson Spineless Okra Seeds from Burpee in full sun and harvest pods while they are still young and tender for the best flavor and texture.

And when you cook up a storm with them, be sure to invite me over for dinner. I'm a fiend for okra.

6. Black-Eyed Peas

Don't let the name fool you – southern peas, aka black-eyed peas – are some of the toughest vegetables you can sow in the heat of summer. In fact, they often perform better in July than they do in cooler weather, making them an ideal choice for gardeners in warmer parts of the US.

SURVIVAL GARDEN SEEDS Black Eyed Pea Seeds

Also known as Southern peas and cowpeas, these should be a staple for any vegetable patch.

Yes, you guessed it; these drought-tolerant legumes germinate quickly in warm soil and typically begin producing pods within 60 to 70 days. As an added bonus, they also help improve soil health by fixing nitrogen, benefiting the crops you plant after them.

Give them a sunny spot, water while they're getting established, and they'll happily take the summer heat in their stride.

7. Beets

(Image credit: Nadezhda Nesterova / Shutterstock)

In cooler and northern regions, July is an excellent time to sow beets for a fall harvest. Warm soil encourages speedy germination, while cooler temperatures later in the season help roots develop excellent flavour.

Both the roots and leafy tops of these nifty little veggies are edible, making beets a particularly great crop for small-space gardens. Go hard or go home when you grow yours (and by grow hard, I mean plant something like these Detroit Supreme Beet Seeds from Burpee). You won't regret it.

Shop Vegetable Growing Essentials:

Freeport Park Iglesias Wood Raised Bed

Get yourself a rustic wooden frame without the hassle of measuring, cutting, and drilling your own heavy planks.

VEIKOUS Cedar Rolling Raised Bed

This elevated cedar planter features lockable wheels, so you can easily roll it across your patio to chase the afternoon sun.

VIVOSUN Grow Bag Raised Bed

This fabric bed sets up in seconds and features eight divided grids, making it absolutely perfect for square-foot gardening.

So there we have it, folks! If you thought July meant the end of vegetable sowing season, think again.

Honestly, with the right crop choices, you could still be harvesting homegrown produce within weeks – and setting yourself up for a productive late-summer and fall garden.

Roll on the homegrown goodies, I say!

As the 250th anniversary of America approaches, this year’s Independence Day is extra special. One way to show your patriotism and love of country is with a vibrant, red, white, and blue porch display made with thoughtful combinations of potted plants.

Container gardening is ideal for creating a special moment because it’s an easy way to customize a display and can be used for a big impact in small spaces. Your choices don’t have to be overly themed, just choose attractive flower and foliage plants with different heights and textures with an elegant red, white, and blue palette. (If you want to get really festive, you can add some American-made flags from Amazon to your pots!)

Here are some ideas to get you started.

1. Full Sun Star-Spangled BannerShutterstockNature's Clicks / ShutterstockChaykoi / Shutterstock

Here’s a great combo to recreate the classic colors of the flag with sun-loving flowers. Red geraniums are easy to grow and love the heat of summer. Place these in the center of the pot and surround them with white alyssum, a carpet of scented and tiny bright white flowers. For blue, let blue cascade lobelia spill over the edge of the pot.

All of these flowers either prefer or will tolerate full sun and need soil that drains well. Be sure to deadhead your geranium as flowers fade to encourage ongoing bright blooms.

2. Shady American FlagLaura Walters / FutureYasuo Iwami / Getty ImagesChaykoi / Shutterstock

If you want to recreate the red, white, and blue of the flag but don’t have full sun, this combination is for you. Replace geranium with red dragon wing begonia, which has attractive foliage and graceful, arching red flowers.

Fill in the space around the begonia with white wishbone flower, a heavy bloomer all summer. Finally, add trailing blue lobelia, which can grow in either sun or shade. Make sure this container has rich soil that drains well, and keep it consistently moist throughout the summer.

3. Classic Cottage Garden PotKanokwalee Pusitanun / Getty ImagesGetty ImagesShutterstock

If an informal cottage garden is your style, try this mix for a soft, patriotic pot. White larkspur has feathery sprays of delicate white flowers that will rise above your red and blue options. You can find seeds for Galilee white larkspur from Territorial Seed Company.

A red verbena provides tight clusters of bright red blooms to fill in around the larkspur. Obsession red verbena seeds can be found at Park Seeds.

Petunias make soft spillers for the edges of a cottage pot. Try ‘Surfinia’ blue petunias, which cascade nicely and do not need to be deadheaded. Give this blend a pot with well-draining soil and a spot in full sun.

4. Contemporary Red, White, & BlueAnna Nikulnikova / Getty ImagesGetty ImagesIva Vagnerova / Getty Images

For a more modern garden style, look for geometric shapes and contrasting textures. Start with a clump of spiky blue fescue grass. Fill in around it with a coleus in a striking shade of red. Finally, add a white variety of million bells, which will trail over the side and bloom in flowers that look like mini petunias.

The best lighting for this combination is partial shade. The soil should be rich and moist, although it also needs to drain well.

5. Patriotic PollinatorsDaniel Ripplinger / DansPhotoArt / Getty ImagesDavid Kozlowski / Getty ImagesGabe Ginsberg / Getty Images

If you want to be patriotic but also support your local wildlife and attract pollinators to the garden, this combination is for you. Black and blue salvia, also known as anise sage, has deep cobalt-blue flowers that pollinators love. It will grow large and provide a good focal point for a big container.

Add pentas around the salvia to add nectar-rich white flowers that are magnets for bees and butterflies. Finally, red lantana adds a vibrant spiller element that pollinators love. Each of these plants thrives and flowers best in full sun. They are hot-weather flowers that will give you a good show all summer with regular watering and well-draining soil.

6. Monochrome in Blue Containers

(Image credit: Ali Majdfar / Getty Images)

It’s easier to find red and white flowers than blue, so another option is to create masses of red or white flowers in bright blue pots. Picture two cobalt-blue glazed containers, one full of white petunias and the other with red petunias. (You can find large cobalt blue ceramic planters from Home Depot.)

Or, mix red and white flowers together in a blue pot. Some other red and white options include salvia for sun or partial shade, impatiens for shade, or cosmos for sun and for a flower easy to grow from seed.

7. Colorful Hanging Basket

(Image credit: mauinow1 / Getty Images)

For a hanging basket, choose patriotic flowers that trail and that you can mix together in one or two containers. Million bells or wave petunias are good choices, and come in red, white, and blue varieties. You can’t go wrong with trailing lobelia for a touch of bright blue. These are best for full sun spots.

For some shade, try creeping snapdragon, which comes in shades of blue and white, likewise wishbone flower. For the red element, use dragon wing begonia, red impatiens, or trailing fuchsia.

A living decoration that brightens up your porch, home, and garden is a great way to celebrate this very special Fourth of July. Unlike paper bunting, your display has the potential to last all summer. Just be sure to combine plants with the same growing conditions in one pot for the best results.

Flies can ruin an outdoor gathering faster than you can say Diptera (the insect order in which the more than 150,000 fly species are found). They buzz around you, landing on food, and some species pack a powerfully painful bite. These pesky insects also make their way inside during the summer months and continue to annoy us in our own homes!

You can plant fly-repelling herbs and plants to help keep them away, but there may be some mistakes you are making around your yard and in your house that are attracting flies. Fixing these common issues can help reduce fly populations and help you and your family have a safe and swat-free summer.

Insecticides don’t generally work well for fly control, and they may hurt beneficial insects or harm pets or humans. You can use an insect trap like Zevo from Amazon to catch any strays that make it indoors. But the best way to control flies is to mitigate any issues that might be inviting them into your home or backyard gatherings.

Types of Flies and What Attracts Them

(Image credit: Miriana Stumpf / Getty Images)

• House Flies: House flies are commonly found indoors, are strong fliers, and can transfer diseases to humans and animals when they land or walk around on surfaces or food. They lay eggs in garbage, animal dung, and decaying vegetation like your compost pile.
• Blow Flies: Blow flies, or bottle flies, have iridescent blue/green/copper bodies and lay their eggs in rotting meat or animal feces. You’ll find them around your trashcans outside if you have any meat scraps or dog doo sitting around in your cans during warm weather. You also might find them indoors if you an animal has made its way indoors and then died in the walls or attic.
• Black Flies: Black flies are biting flies whose larvae are aquatic. They swarm and bite in the summer and, unfortunately, are more common in areas with clean, well-oxygenated moving water. Covering exposed skin with loose, light-colored clothing and your favorite bug spray is about the only thing you can do for black flies short of going inside.
• Fruit flies: Fruit flies lay eggs in fruit and the larvae eat the fruit leading to decay. In addition to ruining your fresh summer produce, fruit flies are really annoying to have flying around your kitchen or picnic! Removing and disposing of overripe fruit and using a trap like the Zevo fly trap from Amazon will help keep populations under control

5 Mistakes You’re Making and How to Fix Them

Nobody wants flies buzzing around them indoors or outdoors and, moreover, flies can transmit diseases to humans and pets. Here are five common mistakes that might actually be attracting flies.

1. Not Keeping Spaces Clean

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Keeping indoor and outdoor spaces clean will help keep many types of fly populations down. Remove trash from your home at least once a week and keep outdoor dining areas clear of food and beverage debris. Be sure to pick up and dispose of any fallen fruit from fruit trees in your yard.

Cleaning your outdoor trash bins will also help discourage flies and animal pests. If you still have a fly problem, the Terro Garbage Guard pest strip from Amazon can be used in outside trashcans to kill flies and maggots and prevent future infestations for up to 4 months. However, use with caution and only place in sealed, outdoor bins. It’s not safe to use indoors.

2. Leaving Compost Exposed

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Your compost is the perfect place for flies to breed. You can cover your compost pile with a black plastic tarp or move to a compost tumbler with doors that close like this Vivosun tumbler from Amazon. It will also keep animals out of your compost and makes it super easy to turn, no pitchfork needed.

3. Using Plants That Attract Flies

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Flies, despite our grossed-out reactions to them, are important pollinators. Unfortunately, that means some of the plants we like to look at also end up becoming a fly haven. You might see blow flies swarming your panicle hydrangeas, Manhattan euonymus, mountain mint, and linden trees.

Using plants that keep flies away around your patio, especially near windows and doors, is a good way to combat flies naturally. Rue, basil, lavender, and petunias all do a good job.

4. Insecure Doors and Windows

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Having holes, even small ones, in window and door screens will let flies right into your home. You can find screen repair kits from Amazon or your local hardware store.

Additionally, flies might be sneaking in if you accidentally left the door ajar while carrying hot dogs and hamburgers outside for that 4th of July cookout. A magnetic mesh screen door from Walmart is a good solution that is quickly and easily installed.

5. Leaving Food Uncovered

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Cover your barbecue foods with mesh cloches from Amazon or even a mesh colander you have in the kitchen. Using a fan directed at the table or a tabletop insect fan will also keep flies and other insects from crashing your party.

Fly Control Essentials

Shoo Fly

Adawook Fly Fans for Tables

These rechargeable fly fans sit on your picnic table and shoo flies away from your food and drink.

Classic and Effective

PIC Fly Swatter

Simple, effective, iconic. A fly swatter will help you to quickly and effectively dispatch any rogue pests that have made it inside.

Blast Away Flies

BUG-A-SALT Salt Blaster

Our marketing manager's husband swears by this bug blaster that uses salt to kill flies and other bugs. Only use outdoors or you'll end up with salt all over your house!

I'm the sort of person who cries at adverts, so you'd best believe I'm always slightly heartbroken when a bromeliad finishes flowering. And can you blame me? After weeks – sometimes months – of those spectacular, colourful bracts stealing the show, it's all too easy to assume the plant's best days are behind it.

Fortunately, in a delightfully Sir Terry Pratchett-esque turn of events, the secret to coaxing more blooms may be sitting in your fruit bowl. Because, yes, there may be a way to encourage a bromeliad to bloom again, and it all involves our beloved bananas exploiting a new niche.

Don't believe me? Well, consider this: in the wild, bromeliads are exposed to ethylene as fallen fruit ripens around them, and the gas can act as a signal that it's time to flower. And where does ethylene gas come from?

Why, it's a naturally occurring plant hormone released by ripening fruit, of course. Ripening fruit like (you guessed it) bananas.

How Bananas Can Encourage Bromeliads to Bloom

That's right, folks; in the wild, these colorful houseplants are exposed to ethylene as fallen bananas ripen around them, and the gas can act as a signal that it's time to flower.

To recreate this at home, gardeners often place a mature bromeliad inside a clear plastic bag with a ripe banana or apple for around seven to 10 days. The fruit releases ethylene gas, which may trigger the plant to produce a new flower spike over the following weeks or months.

(Image credit: giodoga / Shutterstock)

Patience is essential, however. Bromeliads are not quick to rebloom, and results can vary depending on the species, the age of the plant, and growing conditions. Bright, indirect light and consistent care will still play a major role in encouraging flowers.

It’s also worth noting that the original bromeliad rosette flowers only once in its lifetime. After blooming, the mother plant gradually declines while producing offsets, or “pups,” around its base. These pups can eventually mature and flower themselves, extending the life of your bromeliad collection for years.

Still, for anyone mourning the loss of their bromeliad’s colourful display, the humble banana might just be worth a try. And bromeliads aren’t the only plants where ripe bananas can influence flowering behaviour. In fact, ethylene is already used in commercial horticulture to help regulate flowering and ripening in a wide range of crops.

Shop Bromeliad Essentials:

Costa Farms Live Bromeliad Indoor Plant

First things first, you need a healthy bromeliad to kick off your new houseplant obsession.

KUGAZ Self Watering Pots With Drainage Holesn

Make life easier for yourself with a self-watering plant pot (it saves a lot of heartbreak down the line).

Better-Gro Bromeliad Blend 8 Quart

This soil mix maintains the ideal moisture level for bromeliads while also allowing for excellent airflow to the roots of the plants.

In some ornamental plants and tropical species, exposure to ethylene can help trigger or synchronise blooming, which is why gardeners sometimes experiment with placing ripe bananas near plants that are reluctant to flower.

That said, this is not a universal flowering hack. Many common houseplants and garden species won’t respond at all, and some can even be negatively affected by prolonged exposure to ripening bananas in enclosed spaces. Which means you should think of the banana trick less as a guaranteed solution, and more as a gentle nudge for plants that are already close to their natural flowering point.

For bromeliads, though, that whole "just add bananas" idea remains one of the more intriguing experiments. It’s probably not going to turn your kitchen into a tropical greenhouse of miracles overnight, sure, but it does make you wonder if, somewhere in the background, your plants are quietly taking notes every time you restock the fruit bowl.

Ego Power+ Lm2114

The EGO POWER+ Electric Lawn Mower, Cordless, Includes 56V 6.0Ah Battery And 320W Charger - LM2114 is a 3-in-1 machine that can mulch, bag, and side discharge. It has up to 55 minutes of runtime on a single charge and seven position-cutting height adjustments. Foldable for compact storage, it is compatible with all EGO 56V ARC Lithium batteries. (Battery and charger are included).

Pros

• Weather resistant design
• Foldable

Cons

• Higher price tag

Greenworks MO48B01

The Greenworks MO48B01 48V 17" Cordless Push Lawn Mower is a budget-friendly machine that provides up to 45 minutes of runtime with two fully charged 4.0Ah batteries (dependent on grass condition). It comes with a single-level, 5-position height adjustment and a 2-in-1 design for mulching and rear-bagging grass clippings. It's also very low maintenance, quiet, and has a simple push-button start.

Pros

• Batteries and charger included
• Lightweight and easy to use

Cons

• Not suited to larger yards
• Bag needs emptying frequently

There are a few things to consider when it comes to outdoor gardening tools. From budget and battery life to additional features and power, choosing a cordless electric lawnmower can be a minefield. If you're trying to choose between Greenworks and EGO, you might be struggling because both brands have many pros and cons.

Brand names can influence our buying choices, and both Greenworks and EGO are well respected within the power tool industry.

But how do Greenworks and EGO hold up regarding price, availability, battery life, and performance? We've done the hard work of comparing the brands for you with the help of some experts. Read on to find out more.

(Image credit: Greenworks)

Greenworks and EGO are both heavyweight brands, but how do they differ? According to gardening expert Morris Hankinson, Greenwork offers a wide variety of tools, particularly for those with smaller gardens or those on a budget.

"EGO offers high-performance batteries, making them more suitable for professional gardeners or those with larger gardens."

He told us, "Greenworks has a universal battery system that can be used with different tools (lawn mower, trimmer, blower, or chainsaw, for example), making it very convenient for users looking to build an all-in-one setup with fewer battery swaps.

"EGOs are highly efficient, and their batteries are known for their long-lasting power, but they are specific to their platform."

Greenworks vs EGO: Price and availability

Greenworks and EGO offer a wide array of gardening tools, including mowers, hedge trimmers, blowers, pruners, and pressure washers.

The price of your gardening tool depends on its features.

"As a general rule, EGO tends to be more expensive and is known for its high performance and robust quality, which is used by homeowners and the professional market," says gardening specialist Matt Davies from Garden Lawncare Guy.

"Greenworks often comes in the more affordable range of tools without high-end performance."

Greenworks tools, such as an 80V 2ah battery, cost $175, and a top-of-the-line product like the 80V 21" lawn mower runs around $456.

Hankinson says that EGO products tend to be more expensive than Greenworks, but they have a better reputation.

He says, "Greenworks tends to be more affordable and widely available through popular retailers, offering value for those on a budget. EGO has a high price point, but that's justified by durability and efficiency."

You can buy Greenworks tools directly from its website or from trusted retailers such as Amazon, Lowe's, Best Buy, and Walmart. EGO is available from its website, Amazon, Lowe's, and approved EGO stockists.

Expect to pay around $179 for the EGO Power+ cordless leaf blower, $399 for the 56V 6.0Ah Battery cordless lawn mower, and $900 for the 42" ride-on mower.

• Verdict: Greenworks has the most affordable options, hands down. EGO is known for making high-quality tools but at a premium price. Greenworks are well-made, reliable, and durable but also more budget-friendly.

Greenworks vs EGO: Battery performance

Greenworks makes battery-powered cordless outdoor power tools in every voltage range, from 24V to commercial-grade 82V.

Hankinson says: "Greenworks models typically offer 80V max, while EGO runs up to 56V, but they are better for battery longevity and reliability."

Greenworks batteries are not only powerful but also extremely durable. Thanks to integrated deep discharge protection, battery life is significantly extended, and there is no risk of memory effect. This means you can charge the battery at any time, regardless of the current charge level.

Ideally, leave the charger unplugged and the battery disconnected unless it needs charging. It's recommended that the battery be stored at full charge. If it is stored for a long time when you don't plan to use it, check on the charge every few months.

Greenworks' drawback is that the batteries are not interchangeable. So, a 60V battery cannot be used in a 40V tool and vice versa.

EGO has an incredibly impressive battery selection and lifespan. The batteries are interchangeable across the entire cordless range, and as the batteries increase in size, so do the power capacity and run time.

An EGO Power+ 2.5Ah 56V ARC Lithium battery will run a cordless blower for up to 10 minutes on boost, up to 22 minutes on boost, and up to 75 minutes on low. Meanwhile, a 4.0Ah battery will power a cordless blower for up to 35 minutes on high, and a 5.0Ah battery powers a cordless blower for up to 44 minutes on high.

Most people want a clear winner regarding battery life; however, the truth is, it depends, says Davies.

“Battery life really depends on the application of the tool - some outdoor jobs simply require more power than others, but in general, EGO batteries are known to be better suited to larger properties that need extra run-time, especially when using the high amp-hour versions of their batteries."

To maintain the lifespan of your EGO battery, it is recommended that you keep it in a climate-controlled area that is dry, ventilated, and between 50°F-80°F all year round. Fully charge the battery pack every six months after storing it. Additionally, it is wise to ensure the battery is off the charger and the charger is left unplugged when storing it.

Due to their high capacity, EGO batteries can be stored unattended for ten years without damaging capacity and cycle performance. After 30 days batteries discharge to 30% capacity (ensuring longevity).

• Verdict: EGO wins with its impressive battery life. You won't want to charge your batteries if you have a big yard or are far from your house. This is where EGO wins over Greenworks, as it will last longer.

Greenworks vs EGO: Additional features

The complete Greenworks range is massive, selling both corded and cordless products. The brand produces a wide range of batteries from 24V to 80V, and it's certainly one of the most popular brands for budget-friendly DIY tools.

Six out of 21 Greenworks tools use DigiPro brushless motor technology. This means more power, longer runtime, higher speeds, increased efficiency, and less noise.

The EGO Power+ range is extensive and includes grass trimmers and brush cutters with different cutting swathes and speeds suitable for smaller yards. It also includes pro and standard models with user-friendly features. Its cordless power tools include the world's first self-winding grass trimmer.

• Verdict: The EGO system is far superior to Greenworks, with more features to make your life easier, and the batteries are designed to last for years, but it is expensive.

Greenworks vs EGO: which is better?

Ultimately, the decision on which brand you choose - Greenworks vs. EGO - depends on the size of your garden, frequency of use, and budget. Hankinson says both brands deliver eco-friendly, reliable tools suitable for users with different needs, and both have pros and cons.

"Greenworks is very budget-friendly, with a wide range of tools, a universal battery system, and easy to maintain. However, it's not as durable as EGO, uses more plastic parts, and has a lower run time," he says.

"EGO, on the other hand, is very durable, has excellent battery life, and has advanced features like LED lights and super quick charging. But it's expensive, takes longer to charge larger batteries, and is harder to find in discount stores."

Davies said "The most critical thing when deciding on a brand is not the performance of an individual tool or battery but the entire ecosystem of tools.

"Nobody wants multiple garden tools with different batteries and chargers, and that's not the ideal solution for the environment. It is also costly to research which other tools the brand manufactures before committing to a brand or tool. Consider whether these suit your needs and if any deals are available. Start with the end in mind when buying battery tools. Even if you don't want multiple tools right now, keep the doors open for future purchases."

Ina Garten recently shared a short clip of her very Parisian-inspired water feature to her socials, and the internet collectively sighed while adding “stone fountain” to their Amazon wishlists (plus, the chairs looked soooo comfy).

The most encouraging part for those wanting to copy the look in their own garden is that you don’t need a house in the Hamptons or the budget of an influencer living in a Parisian apartment to try it for yourself. An elegant water feature can easily come in at under $300 – you just need to know what actually makes it work. Fortunately for our readers, I’ve consulted some experts who can help.

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Elegance Is About Restraint, Not Spending

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Every expert I spoke to said the same thing, independently, without being asked: the difference between a gorgeous water feature and a garden-center-looking eyesore is all about restraint.

Angelene Padilla from Bloomfield Farms, put it well: "The difference between an elegant water feature and a water effect that is simply a water ornament is a matter of moderation. The Paris-inspired style is more about one clean look than two competing looks. A simple stone bowl fountain is deliberate and sophisticated, compared to an elaborate tiered fountain that does not have a reflecting pool or any floating plants. The less it comes across as trying to impress, the more it does."

Jerry Moore, founder of Your Pond Pros, agrees: "Restraint and proportion. The most Paris-inspired garden fountains share one quality – they feel like they belong to the space rather than competing with it. The moment a water feature tries to do too much – too tall, too wide, too many spray patterns – it loses that quiet elegance."

In short: one beautiful thing beats three busy things every time.

The Best Budget Options

(Image credit: Future/Emma Kendell/AI)

For those working with a real-world budget (which, let’s be honest, isn’t much these days), you don’t need a lot to make some real impact. You can even DIY a garden water feature with a floating solar fountain, like this Aisitin one from Amazon.

Loren Taylor, owner of Outdoor Fountain Pros, gives some genuinely encouraging numbers: "A terracotta pot with a mini-solar water pump and a couple of stones in it will definitely be perceived as an elegant addition to the garden if placed correctly and surrounded by other objects."

Padilla's budget suggestions follow the same logic: "A recirculating fountain from a large glazed ceramic pot or a simple preformed basalt column provides the visual and aural serenity for a couple hundred dollars or less, if you're budget conscious." She also flags something most people haven't considered: "A rill is a narrow channel of flowing water and can be made at an affordable cost with a simple liner and edging with stones and will give a garden path or border an incredibly elegant linear feature."

And Moore makes the case for self-contained units as the smartest starting point: "Self-contained garden fountains are consistently the highest-impact, lowest-effort upgrade for a patio or garden space. They arrive complete with pump and basin – no pond, no excavation, no electrician required. A quality tiered fountain or wall-mounted fountain in the $300–$800 range delivers both the visual focal point and the sound of moving water that defines the atmosphere of a well-designed garden."

This Glitzhome terrazzo fountain on Amazon ticks all of Moore's boxes.

Sound Matters More Than You Think

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The thing about water features that most people never consider (which is actually surprising) is the sound. The sound of a fountain is just as important, if not more so, than how it looks.

Moore is emphatic about this: "Sound is the underrated element. The gentle cascade of a tiered fountain creates a frequency of falling water that masks ambient noise – traffic, neighbors, wind – in a way that transforms how a small garden feels. Placement near a seating area amplifies this dramatically. We consistently advise customers to position a fountain where they'll hear it from where they sit, not just see it from across the garden."

Taylor echoes it: "The gentle trickle has a soothing effect that will help you relax and reduce stress, even if you do not pay it much attention initially."

Padilla nails the specifics: "A trickle is always the best sound for a water feature, as it doesn't seem to be a nuisance; it seems to be soothing. It becomes more of a reality when you place it in the middle of the garden, instead of at the end, and it is placed close to other plants so that it does not look like it was put there instead of growing there."

The Paris aesthetic Taylor references has a useful design rule built in: "The fountain should be symmetrical. This means that it should be placed on the central line with trimmed greenery on both sides and a seating area nearby."

Scaling for Small Spaces

If all you have is a small patio or courtyard, then it’s highly important to get the scale and proportions correct, as this can make or break the look you’re going for.

Moore is specific: "For patios under 200 square feet, a wall fountain or a compact tiered fountain under 30 inches tall keeps the water element present without dominating. For small patios, a wall fountain is often the better choice over a freestanding unit – it adds the sound and visual interest without consuming floor space."

When floor space is precious, a wall-mounted fountain like this Takamota vintage model on Amazon with a pump included delivers the sound and elegance Moore recommends without taking up an inch of floor space.

Daniel Crowley, CEO of Hello Gravel, adds a helpful framing: "A fountain must be proportional to its surroundings. It must not be too overwhelming or the opposite." And Padilla keeps it beautifully simple: "One compact, small element at eye level or slightly below is an effective way of bringing a small garden or patio space together in a very beautiful way without overpowering it."

The Five-Minute Maintenance Plan

(Image credit: Roberto Machado Noa / Getty Images)

The most common mistake people make with a water feature (after buying something much too large) is total neglect. Nobody wants to look at a murky, algae-filled disaster. While most people fear maintenance, it’s actually much simpler than they think.

Moore's practical advice: "The main tasks are keeping the pump intake clear of debris and topping up the basin during hot weather when evaporation increases. Running the fountain continuously rather than intermittently prevents the algae buildup that comes from stagnant water sitting in the basin between uses."

Padilla flags the most common overlooked issue: "Most problems can be avoided by maintaining the plantings around the pump so that no twigs or leaves collect in the pump to clog it."

Taylor even has a solution if the pump gives up: "The submersible pump is washed periodically, which requires buying a new one for $9." Nine dollars?! That’s the price of a couple of coffees these days, so you genuinely have no excuse not to buy one (unless you really like your Starbucks, of course)

If your pump does need replacing, the Uniclife submersible fountain pump on Amazon is even cheaper at just $7, and takes just minutes to swap out (so now you really have no excuse).

Shop Soothing Fountains

Gossi Outdoor Water Fountain With LED Light – Decorative Pedestal Bowl Design With River Stones

Arnulfo Streaming Falls Modern Polyresin 2-Tier Outdoor Water Fountain

Tankana Garden Water Fountain With Lights, Pump and Pebbles

The Napoleon Freestyle 425 has all the hallmarks of a premium grill, from its chic graphite grey porcelain enamel finish to its sleek design – yet it comes with a surprisingly affordable price tag. The question is, does it cook like a high-end grill too?

With four burners, the Freestyle 425 certainly has a generous cooking surface, capable of grilling up to 26 burgers at once. It also features two sizeable side tables for food preparation and holding dishes, along with three hooks for hanging your barbecue tools. And, unless you also want to invest in one of the best pizza ovens, you can even add a pizza stone to the grill for a perfectly crispy base. When the grill isn't in use, the side tables fold down to make storage more compact.

The stand features soft-close doors and sturdy wheels that enable you to move it around your yard with ease. The enclosed cabinet neatly conceals the gas bottle, keeping unsightly hoses and battered cylinders out of sight.

To find out how the Napoleon Freestyle 425 performs in the real world, I assembled it from scratch, noting how long the process took and how easy the instructions were to follow. I then put it through a series of cooking tests, grilling steaks, burgers, sausages, and vegetables, before roasting a whole chicken using the indirect grilling method (I didn't have the optional rotisserie attachment, which is sold separately).

Read on to find out how the Napoleon Freestyle 425 performed in my tests.

(Image credit: Future)Napoleon Freestyle 425: Key Specs

Fuel type

Gas (natural)

Cooking surface

Grate

Cooking surface area

621.3 square inches

Burners

5

BTU

38,000

Side burner?

Yes

Rotisserie compatible?

Yes (not included)

Dimensions

H45.5 x W52 x D25 inches

Weight

107 lbs

Price & Availability

The Napoleon Freestyle 425 currently retails for around $629. You can pick it up on Amazon, at The Home Depot, or Lowe's.

If you're looking for a grill in a similar price range, the Weber Spirit E-425 Liquid Propane Grill, available at the Weber Store on Amazon, is a good option. Both brands also sell a smoker box for that classic 'barbecued' flavor.

If you're on a tight budget, the Cuisinart CGG-7400 Propane 54-Inch Full-Size Four-Burner Gas Grill is a couple of hundred dollars cheaper and has similar features. Keep in mind that the Napoleon grill has a 10-year warranty, which makes it a better value in the long run compared to the Cuisinart grill, which only has a three-year warranty.

Setting up the Napoleon Freestyle 425

The Napoleon Freestyle 425 gas grill is easy to set up. It comes with clear and concise instructions that make assembly a breeze, and the sturdy base has wheels that make it easy to move around. The grill is compact but not flimsy, making it ideal for smaller outdoor spaces, and the cookbox and lid are quite heavy and seem to be built to last with a 10-year warranty.

(Image credit: Future)Premium Design

The graphite grey color of the Napoleon Freestyle 425 gas grill gives it a sleek appearance that stands out from other gas grills with black or stainless steel finishes. Its porcelain enamel finish gives it a premium look, and it is less prone to greasy finger marks compared to other gas grills.

Rounded edges make it easy to move around safely, thanks to the sturdy wheels on the base. A large warming rack offers extra cooking space for quickly cooking items, while the main cooking area is spacious enough to accommodate up to 26 burgers.

The cast iron porcelainized enamel cooking grids feature Napoleon’s iconic wavy sear marks, while the temperature gauge has a retro look. An aluminum firebox aims to create a convective oven effect. On the right-hand side, the folding table is also home to three hooks to keep your tools within reach.

Grilling Performance

I experienced some trouble with the ignition system while using the grill, as I couldn't get the burners to stay lit initially. However, I eventually got the hang of it and didn't have any issues after that.

The grill heated up quickly, but I did notice that the temperature dropped rapidly when I opened the lid. On the other hand, it rose rapidly once the lid was closed again. There was a cooler spot towards the front of the grill, which could be problematic if you're trying to cook a large quantity of food at once.

In general, the grill cooked everything well, but it does burn quite fiercely. As a result, it may require some practice to get the temperature just right. Nonetheless, I was able to achieve a nice sear on my steaks, and I was also able to cook a whole chicken over indirect heat, which took around 1 hour and 20 minutes.

(Image credit: Future)Maintenance

The tables of the grill can be easily folded down for storage. Once assembled, the barbecue is lightweight and easy to maneuver. When the tables are folded, the width of the grill drops from 55 inches to 33 inches, which is a significant difference when you need to move it to a confined place for storage. If you want to keep the grill outside, you can purchase a specific cover for this model on Amazon. I found some online offers that included a free cover with the grill purchase.

Napoleon recommends seasoning the cast iron cooking grids to prevent corrosion. After use, mild dish soap and water should be used to clean them, but they should not be put in the dishwasher. It is advisable to use a brass wire brush to clean the inside and underside of the cooking box and scrape the sear plates using a plastic putty knife, like this Skrapr design. To avoid any chips or scratches, plastic putty knives or scrapers should be used on all porcelain parts.

The Napoleon grill has a drip pan that can easily slide out for cleaning, which should be done after every fourth or fifth cook. It is recommended to clean the control panel only with soapy water and to avoid using abrasive cloths or cleaners. After cleaning, make sure to cover the equipment to protect it from the elements. This will help keep your grill in the best possible condition until you use it again. Although it may seem like a fiddly job, covering your barbecue is an important step in maintaining it.

Napoleon Freestyle 425 User Reviews

Online customer reviews of the Napoleon Freestyle 425 are overwhelmingly positive, with buyers praising its ease of assembly, reliable ignition, and even cooking performance.

On Amazon, the Freestyle 425 has an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars, while Lowe's customers rate it 4.4 out of 5 stars. The Home Depot reviewers are even more impressed, awarding it 4.5 out of 5 stars, with 85% of customers recommending the grill.

Like me, many owners highlighted the grill's straightforward assembly, heavy-duty cooking grates, and generous warming rack. However, a small number of reviewers said it struggled to maintain high temperatures when much of the cooking surface was in use, making it harder to achieve a good sear across a full grill load.

Should You Buy the Napoleon Freestyle 425?

The Napoleon Freestyle 425 is a great grill that offers excellent value for money. It has a 10-year warranty, is well-built, and features a large cooking area with four burners. While it may not have all the fancy features found in premium models, it is a fantastic choice for those who want to cook for a large family or friends. However, it's important to note that this grill does not come with a side burner, which may not be suitable for some users.

How Does the Napoleon Freestyle 425 Compare?

While the Napoleon Freestyle 425 is a great option, there are plenty of other grills out there to consider too.

Charbroil Pro Series With Amplifire Infrared Technology, 4-Burner

The Charbroil Pro Series 4-Burner Gas Grill with Amplifire Technology is a strong alternative for anyone looking for greater cooking versatility. Like the Napoleon Freestyle 425, it features four burners and a similar-sized cooking area, but it also comes with a side burner and is compatible with optional griddle and charcoal tray accessories, allowing you to switch between gas grilling, flat-top cooking, and charcoal grilling. However, while the Charbroil offers impressive flexibility, the Napoleon backs its grill with a longer 10-year warranty, compared to Charbroil's more limited warranty coverage.

Weber Spirit E-425 Liquid Propane Gas Grill

The Weber Spirit E-425 is a good option for those who want a premium gas grill with powerful searing capabilities. It features four burners and a similar-sized cooking area to the Napoleon Freestyle 425, but its two Boost Burners create a larger Sear Zone that can deliver more intense heat for searing steaks. It also offers compatibility with Weber Crafted accessories (sold separately), allowing you to expand its cooking capabilities. Both grills come with a 10-year limited warranty, so there's little to separate them when it comes to long-term cover.

Nexgrill 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill in Stainless Steel with Side Burner

The Nexgrill 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill with Side Burner is a good option if you're looking to save money without sacrificing cooking space. Like the Napoleon Freestyle 425, it features four burners, an enclosed cabinet, and a side burner for preparing sauces or side dishes. While it lacks the Napoleon's premium finish and 10-year warranty, it costs significantly less, making it a great value choice for casual grillers.

How I Tested the Napoleon Freestyle 425

To test the Napoleon Freestyle 425, I assembled it from scratch, timing the process and assessing how easy the instructions were to follow. I then put the grill through a series of cooking tests, grilling burgers, steaks, sausages, and vegetables, before roasting a whole chicken using the indirect grilling method.

During testing, I evaluated how quickly the grill heated up, how evenly it cooked across the four burners, how well it maintained its temperature, and how easy it was to control the heat. I also assessed the quality of its construction, the usefulness of its features, including the folding side shelves and warming rack, and how straightforward it was to clean after cooking.

To provide a more rounded assessment, I also considered long-term ownership factors such as the warranty, replacement parts, and customer feedback, helping determine whether the Napoleon Freestyle 425 offers good value for money.

A lawn mower has one setting most owners use: however it came from the factory. That works until the weather turns and then it really doesn't. Cut too short in the heat of summer and the grass scorches or leave it shaggy through a wet spring and it mats down and invites disease. The right mowing height isn't a single number. It changes with the season.

But there's more to knowing how to mow a lawn than picking the right mowing height and forgetting about it. Knowing when to change the mowing height is important, too. A lawn races ahead with growth in spring, then crawls as the summer heat sets in. So a height that suits it in May does your lawn no favors by August.

Change your mowing you'll be paid off with a lush lawn with gorgeous green color and fewer weeds. Here’s how to get it right.

Always Follow the One-Third Rule

Before prescribing any season-specific number, one rule governs all of them: never take off more than a third of the grass blade in a single cut.

Go shorter and it loses too much leaf at once. Roots stall while your grass recovers. The crown sits exposed as well and a few mowings on the turf looks thin and stressed, browning in patches for weeks.

This is also why height changes should come gradually across a few mowings, instead of one drastic drop. It helps to know your current height before adjusting anything. Set the mower on a flat, hard surface and measure from the ground up to the blade edge.

Measuring is easiest with a mower height gauge from Amazon, though a plain tape measure does the job fine. Eyeballing it may end up with a shorter height and short is the direction that causes trouble.

(Image credit: Daria Nipot / Getty Images)Spring: Start Low, Then Ease Up

Spring is the one time you can cut a touch shorter. That first mow of the season can come in a touch lower than usual to clear the dead, matted growth winter left behind. This lets sunlight and air down to the crown to wake up your lawn faster. For cool-season grasses like fescue and bluegrass, that means starting around 2.5 inches (6 cm).

Once your lawn growing in earnest, raise the deck back up. For most cool-season lawns, around 3 inches (7.5 cm) is the spring sweet spot. It's tall enough to shade the soil and crowd out weed seedlings, but short enough that the grass won't flop.

Warm-season types of grass should be cut lower, around 1-2.5 inches (2.5-6.4 cm) high. Bermuda, zoysia, the southern grasses all do well under that height. But the logic still holds. Take the winter-killed growth down at green-up, then let the height creep up as it grows through the season.

(Image credit: Alamy)Summer: Let It Grow Tall

Summer is the season that mowing height is the most important. Let the grass grow a bit long and it shades its own soil, cooling the roots and slowing how fast water burns off up top.

In a brutal July, when the heat won't quit and rain is hit or miss, that shade is key to keeping your lawn green. Cool-season lawns would prefer a high cut here, up around 3.5 to 4 inches (9-10 cm).

Longer blades grow deeper roots, too, which reach water further down when the surface dries out. Resist the urge to scalp your lawn in order to mow less often. That backfires fast in July, leaving your grass heat-stressed and making your lawn turn brown.

Warm-season grasses take the heat better and can hold closer to their usual height, though even those appreciate a slightly higher cut through a bad drought.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)Fall: Bring It Back Down

When temperatures finally back off, cool-season grass gets its second wind, growing strong again like in spring. The deck comes back down with it to that same 2.5 to 3 inches (6-7.5 cm) from spring.

Fall is recovery time. The lawn is rebuilding after the summer beating and sending growth down into the roots. A middling height gives it room without sitting so tall it's exposed.

The last cut of the year is the one to get right. Dropping it a notch lower for that final mow, down toward 2 inches (5 cm) high, keeps long blades from matting under snow and heads off snow mold over the winter.

Fall is leaf season as well and a mulching blade from Amazon chops fallen leaves finely enough to drop back into the lawn as free fertilizer instead of bagging them. Just don't let a thick layer sit long enough to smother the grass.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)Winter: Dormancy

Once growth stops, mowing should stop as well. Dormant grass – brown and still in the cold or just not pushing new top growth – gains nothing from being cut. Rolling a heavy mower over frozen or frosted turf does real harm, snapping the brittle blades and compacting the soil underneath. In most regions the mower goes away for the season and stays there.

The only exception is mild southern lawns. Where grass keeps creeping along through winter or where a warm-season lawn has been overseeded with ryegrass for off-season color, an occasional cut keeps things tidy. Mow at the higher end of the range and only when the grass is dry and actively growing. Otherwise, winter lawn care comes down to staying off the grass and letting it rest.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)How to Change the Mowing Height

Changing the cutting height on a lawn mower takes a minute once you find the lever, but it's pretty much the same on every machine.

On a walk-behind push mower, like this Troy-Bilt mower we reviewed, it's a spring-loaded lever by each wheel or on some models one central lever for the whole deck. Squeeze it and run it through the notches, each one a set height.

Riding mowers, like this battery-powered lawn tractor we reviewed, use a lever or dial by the seat. Check the manual for which notch is which.

Here's the part that gets overlooked: the height means little if the blade is dull. A blade that's cuts all season goes blunt and a blunt edge rips the grass instead of slicing it cleanly, leaving frayed brown tips no height setting can save.

A blade sharpener from Amazon keeps it touched up at home or a hardware store will grind one for a few bucks. Skip it and you can dial in a perfect height and still wind up with a ragged, browning lawn.

Early summer is peak flowering season with borders packed full of blooms – and if you sow these fast-to-flower plants in July, you can keep it that way until the first frost. All gardens look fabulous right now, but come late August and September, most backyards will be starting to run out of steam as flowers fade and border gaps appear. Except, of course, those gardens owned by savvy gardeners who know what seeds to sow in July for a fresh burst of flowers just as most plants are reaching the end of their blooming cycle.

Those gardens will have borders bright with renewed late summer color and a plentiful profusion of petals, signing the sunny season off with aplomb and continuing far into fall. And all for the price of a few packets of seed!

These breakneck blooms all thrive in pots as well as in the ground, so you can use them to refresh your patio display, too: as quick and clever container gardening ideas go, it's such an easy win. All these plants are sun lovers, so while you’ll need to keep them watered while they germinate and grow their roots deep enough to find their own moisture supply, they’ll cope with midsummer heat, even through that vulnerable seedling stage. Super-tolerant, these easy to grow flowers can also be direct-sown straight into the soil where they’re to bloom.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

And oh, the colors they’ll bring to your garden! These are annual plants, completing their lifecycle in a year, which is why they produce their flowers so speedily. That swift journey from sowing to flowering to seed production also means these plants are pretty easy to breed from, so there's a wealth of varieties with ever-more beautiful blooms. So whether you want a bright pop of fiery color to enhance the golden tones of your late-summer ornamental grasses, or a cooling mix of pastel shades to offset the intense heat of late September, you'll have a great choice of glorious cultivars.

Alongside late-blooming perennials such as rudbeckia and asters, these fast-flowering annuals are the secret to full borders through fall. Now you're in the know, sow these blooming beauties, pronto, and make summer last for longer in your garden.

1. ProCut Sunflowers

(Image credit: Getty Images)

• Flowers in 50-60 days
• Full sun
• 5-6 feet tall
• Zones 2-11

Imagine your front yard in September, full of these fabulous five-inch flowers atop five-foot stems… a sight to make the neighbors stop and sigh! Sunflowers have come a long way since we all grew them as kids, poking plump seeds into the soil and watering earnestly before the excitement of fresh green sprouts and yellow flowers far above our heads. These days, there’s still plenty of joy to be had with these easy to grow flowers, but now it’s all about the fabulous colors, from lemon yellow to lusciously dark reds.

Most annual sunflowers are fast growers but, in July, choose the extra-speedy ProCut series. These grow one flower on a sturdy stem, so are far faster than varieties that grow multiple blooms on a branching stem.

Bred for the cut flower industry, ProCut sunflowers are incredibly reliable, too, and have beautiful, often bronzed tones with a vintage vibe just perfect for lazy end-of-summer days. Eden Brothers stocks a super selection of seeds: ‘ProCut White Lite’ is the palest; ‘ProCut White Nite’ has the same creamy white petals but a wonderfully dark center; ‘Procut Red’ is a rich burgundy; ‘ProCut Red Lemon Bicolor’ has red petals dipped in yellow; and ‘ProCut Plum’ (pictured) is a divine blend of cream and soft maroon.

Can’t decide? Eden Brothers also offers a ProCut Sunflower Bundle of five varieties.

Because this series was originally intended for floristry, these sunflowers are pollenless. They do produce nectar, however, so are still of some use to pollinators. The up-side is that the lack of pollen means these flowers aren’t in a rush to produce seeds so last incredibly well on the stem and in a vase. Still, if you want a yard full of fall flowers, too, it's a smart move to sow a few seeds every two weeks.

2. Sweet Alyssum

(Image credit: Getty Images)

• Flowers in 45-60 days
• Full sun
• 3-6 inches tall
• Zones 2-11

At the opposite end of the size spectrum is sweet alyssum and, while these pretty blooms may be small, they’ll bring so much storybook charm to your late-summer garden, right up to the first frost. Lobularia maritima evolved to grow in harsh coastal conditions so it laughs in the face of midsummer heat, quickly covering bare soil left by wilting, less-tough plants. Because it’s so tiny, it won’t crowd out bigger plants, so you can use it to add gently spreading pools of groundcover color around other plants in a border, and to refresh patio pots of fading perennials.

Growing incredibly quickly from seed to flower in as few as 45 days, this little lovely is a great choice to sow in July as it’s super-quick to germinate and spreads to 10 inches, filling gaps fast. You’ll soon discover that sweet alyssum has a glorious honeyed fragrance, too, adding sweet scent to your late-summer outdoor space.

Whatever your plant palette, white ‘Carpet of Snow’ acts as a fantastic foil in a border to show off bigger plants, and is available from Burpee. ‘Rosie O’Day’, available from Eden Brothers, has rose-colored flowers that are fabulous in a cottage garden; also available from Eden Brothers, ‘Royal Carpet’ is a bright violet purple, while ‘Oriental Nights’ brings deeper shades.

For a wonderful multi-toned carpet of tiny flowers, choose a blended mix of all these tones. As its name suggests, ‘Allure Pastel Blend’ has a romantic blend of appealing pale petals, and is available from Botanical Interests; ‘Paletta Mix’ has stronger tones and is available from Eden Brothers.

While sweet alyssum is a short-lived perennial in zones 9-11, it’s grown as an annual in other zones.

3. Calendula

(Image credit: Getty Images)

• Flowers in 60-90 days
• Full sun
• 12-24 inches high
• Zones 3-10

If you think Calendula officinalis is all about orange daisies, think again. There are now striking calendula varieties in sunset tones from the palest yellow to petals backed in mahogany red, but the prettiest are the ombre cultivars with a mix of shades. ‘Zeolights’ has bronzy-orange petals that fade to a dusky pink, and seeds are available from Botanical Interests. ‘Strawberry Blonde’, available from Eden Brothers, adds a golden yellow to its peachy tones, its petals backed in maroon. ‘Sunset Buff’ (pictured) also has a contrasting reverse shade, the rusty red backing of its petals highlighting their creamy apricot front (also available from Eden Brothers).

There are surprising shapes now, too, such as ‘Calexis Orange’, available from Burpee, whose rolled petals create a cactus-like flower. Calendula is also one of the easiest edible flowers to grow, and their petals make a pretty sprinkle on salads, pasta, pancakes and – the best! – avocado toast.

These sunset tones are especially beautiful as a garden transitions from summer into fall, ushering in a new seasonal palette. Calendula, also known as pot marigold, is super-easy to grow from seed, and will keep flowering till the first frost. It self-seeds readily, too, so you’ll probably be treated to another show of pretty petals next summer, and every summer forever after, for free.

4. Zinnias

(Image credit: Getty Images)

• Flowers in 60-80 days
• Full sun
• 12-30 inches high
• Zones 2-10

Not only do zinnias flower for a long time, each bloom lasts for up a week on the plant so one packet of seeds will bring an explosion of color to your garden. The time zinnias take to grow from seed to flower is pretty predictable, with smaller varieties or those with simpler single flowers taking around two months and more complex, double flowers another few weeks to develop.

This means it’s easy to choose whether to prioritise speed over shape, depending on your zone, or vice versa – or why not sow two varieties to enjoy the best of both worlds?

The Profusion series is especially good to sow in July because it’s fast to flower and has excellent disease resistance. Traditional zinnias can sometimes struggle with powdery mildew, so opting for a variety with strong resistance will keep your plants looking good and performing well all through fall to the first frost. Profusion zinnias are also self-cleaning, which means they don’t need deadheading, as new blooms continuously replace old ones. They work well in a pot as well as a bed, as the plants naturally grow into a neat mound.

Glorious color choices for late summer include 'Profusion Apricot', available from Eden Brothers, with a fabulous range of soft, warm tones. 'Profusion Red-Yellow Bicolor', also available from Eden Brothers, offers stronger shades, or if you really want to power your garden from late summer into fall, there’s vibrant orange 'Profusion Double Fire' and rich red and pink 'Profusion Double Hot Cherry' (pictured), both also available from Eden Brothers.

Another super way to use zinnias to add late-season sparkle to your garden is to choose a zesty-toned fast-growing variety such as ‘Tequila Lime’, available from Burpee. The striking lime-green color will freshen up your yard in late summer, then provide a contrast to make warm fall tones appear more fiery.

Zinnia petals are edible, too, and look so beautiful frozen into ice cubes (use boiled water to get clear ice cubes so you can appreciate the petals) for late-summer sundowners on the patio.

5. Nasturtiums

(Image credit: Getty Images)

• Flowers in 45-80 days
• Sun or partial shade
• Tropaeolum minus 8-14 inches high; Tropaeolum majus 1-10 feet tall
• Zones 2-10

So quick and easy to grow from seed, nasturtiums will bring a kaleidoscope of color to your garden in late summer, and just look at those fresh green leaves! There are two types of nasturtium, which matters for a July sowing.

Tropaeolum majus is a climbing nasturtium but can also be grown in a hanging basket or tall container so its stems trail downwards, or as groundcover. Some have stems that only grow to a foot long, and these don’t take long to flower so are a good choice for a July sowing; others can reach up to 10 feet, and they’re better sown earlier in spring. Tropaeolum minus is a dwarf, bushy nasturtium, so all varieties are fine to sow in July.

While nasturtiums will happily grow in full sun to partial shade, it’s better to give them a little respite from the sun when sowing in July. As long as they have 6 hours of sunshine, they’ll flower well. Indeed, the best way to get your nasturtiums to bloom well is to give them poor soil, as too many nutrients will encourage them to prioritise foliage over flowers. Get these right and your nasturtiums will keep flowering to the first frost.

Botanical Interests stocks a fabulous range of nasturtiums in a wide range of colors, from the sunny yellows of ‘Butterscotch’ to the spicy mix of oranges in ‘Fiesta Blend’ and the rich reds of ‘Cherry Rose Jewel’. All these are Tropaeolum majus but only reach a foot high so are perfect for a July sowing. For a pot-friendly Tropaeolum minus, then the deep ruby of ‘Black Velvet’, also from Botanical Interests, would be a divinely dramatic choice.

If you’re looking for more subtle shades, then Burpee stocks ‘Sweethearts Mix’ in a pastel mix of lemon, rose and apricot.

And yes, you can eat nasturtium seeds – and those lovely leaves – too!

Alex Chuaqui and Fia Cooper had been popping over to their Pender Harbour cottage from Vancouver most weekends since their son was born 12 years ago. In 2017, they decided to decamp to the Sunshine Coast for good. So they sold their Vancouver property and bought an older home, built in 1966, on Mahan Road in Gibsons with stunning views of the Salish Sea and Pasley Islands.

It needed “a ton of work,” says listing agent Sue Scott, of Engel & Völkers Vancouver. “But they were up for it.”

They certainly were. Chuaqui and Cooper regularly custom design, build and revamp properties, including heritage buildings in Gastown. They dug in and, over the course of three years, undertook a full renovation of the 60-year-old Mahan Road home .

“The exterior was also extensively renovated, including a new metal and torch-on roof, all-new cedar shake siding, refinished decking and completely redesigned landscaping,” says Cooper. “A fully fenced, pet-friendly perimeter provides privacy and security, along with a newly poured concrete driveway.”

Nearly 1,500 square feet of deck and patio space — a deck off every principal area, says Scott — includes one that’s shaded by a huge 50-year-old maple tree that Scott says is so calming to sit under and gaze at the views.

As Chuaqui and Cooper were gazing at those views one day, they contemplated the empty lot in front of them on Gower Point Road and realized someone could come along and build a bigger house and block their stunning sea views. So they bought the lot and set about building another, bigger house, also minimally landscaped in favour of extensive decking to take in the views. An engineered retaining wall with a corrugated metal fence above separates the two properties. Both homes are for sale together or individually.

What’s inside Mahan

Tucked away at the end of a quiet road, the post-and-beam rancher on Mahan Road features four bedrooms and four bathrooms over 2,421 square feet.

The open concept reclaimed wood flooring connects a spacious living area with a green-wrapped dining nook and kitchen with butcher block maple countertops, Whirlpool gas stove, LG fridge and washer and dryer, and a Bosch dishwasher. Plenty of windows and skylights catch the natural light, including in the primary bedroom. “It faces the Pasley Islands, so you wake up to morning light and this incredible ocean view,” says Scott. “I’m not sure I’d get out of bed if I woke to that every day.”

Cooper says the house originally featured a galley kitchen separated from the main living area by a brick fireplace. “The fireplace was removed, the kitchen was relocated, and a cosy dining nook was created in the original kitchen space, resulting in a bright, open-concept layout with significantly improved flow.”

Other major upgrades, she says, include all-new electrical, plumbing, and heating systems, gas fireplace, new windows and doors, new drywall throughout, and upgraded insulation. Every finish in the home was updated, including the bathrooms, laundry area, and flooring. Cabinetry is by Delta’s Hi-Design Custom Cabinetry Ltd. The bathroom countertops are made from reclaimed fir salvaged from Vancouver’s historic Pantages Theatre.

“We love wood for its warmth, texture, and natural character,” says Cooper. “It felt like the right material for the home and suited its character.”

A detached studio with a three-piece bathroom and roughed-in kitchenette could be used as a studio, guest suite, office or rental (on approval of applicable zoning and permitting).

What’s inside Gower

The Gower Point Road home which, Scott says, is brand new and never been lived in, comprises four bedrooms and four bathrooms over 3,017 square feet of white oak flooring. The 13-foot ceilings and expansive windows capture the natural light and ocean views. The open-concept living area features a Venetian plaster fireplace and shadow moulding throughout “which is expensive and kind of a pain to do but it’s a really gorgeous effect,” says Scott.

The kitchen features all Bosch appliances, German-made faucet by GROHE, workstation sink by KOLA, cabinets by Hi-Design Custom Cabinetry Ltd., and oversized sliders that open onto a huge sundeck. The dining chandelier is by Herman Miller and all of the recessed lighting is by DALS with adjustable colour temperature. Countertops are quartz by Hari Stones.

The primary suite features a walk-in closet and a spa-inspired bathroom with a steam shower by Relax-A-Mist, marble countertops, faucets by Riobel, vanity sink top by ICO, wall-hung toilets by AXA, chandelier by Kai, and a Scarlet V-Groove stand-alone tub by Bain Signature with a little window to soak in the view while you’re soaking in the tub.

“This house was built for the view — every room has a view, every bedroom has access to the outside,” says Scott.

Although the home is mostly on one level, there is a self-contained garden-level suite below the main living space with a separate entrance, a three-piece bathroom, and rough-ins to add a full kitchen for guests, extended family, studio or rental, with proper permitting.

“I’ve shown it to a family whose kids say they would like that space to hang out in,” says Scott. “An (interested) musician from L.A. wanted a separate studio space for instruments. It could even work as a home office. Your clients could park right outside and walk in, since it’s separate from your living space.”

A two-car garage with tall ceilings, lots of room for shelving or a standup freezer and sink is, says Scott, “pristine”.

In the neighbourhood

Both properties are about a 12-minute drive from the Langdale ferry terminal. Shops, restaurants and a marina are nearby in “cute and charming” Lower Gibsons, says Scott.

“And upper Gibsons, three minutes away, has a strip mall, banking, stores and high school that kids ride their bikes to.”

She says you can walk to Secret Beach in five minutes along a trail at the bottom of Mahan across Gower Point. Several other beaches are a short drive away in either direction.

And, for lunch with a taste of Hollywood North history, Molly’s Reach restaurant in Lower Gibsons, inside a building celebrating a century of existence, was the backdrop for the long-running iconic Canadian TV series The Beachcombers.

Location:127 Mahan Road, Gibsons

Listed for: $1,668,000

Year built: 1966

Type: Four bedrooms, four bathrooms

Size: 2,421 square feet

Realtor: Listed by Sue Scott, PREC, and Katie Burkard, PREC, Engel & Völkers Vancouver

Location:980 Gower Point Road, Gibsons

Listed for: $1,798,000

Year built: 2025

Type: Four bedrooms, four bathrooms

Size: 3,017 square feet

Realtor: Listed by Sue Scott, PREC, and Katie Burkard, PREC, Engel & Völkers Vancouver

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After spending the past week slowly melting in my house and repeatedly standing directly in front of a fan, silently daring it to do a better job, I've come to a conclusion: there has to be a better way to keep your home cool.

With summers getting hotter and heatwaves becoming increasingly common, I've found myself obsessively researching ways to lower the temperature at home (ideally one that doesn't demand round-the-clock air conditioning).

Planting trees for shade is an obvious long-term solution, and even houseplants can have a modest cooling effect indoors. But there was one other plant that kept cropping up in my search: coral honeysuckle.

How Coral Honeysuckle Helps Keep Your Home Cool

I'll admit, the word "honeysuckle" initially made me nervous. Like many gardeners, I've heard plenty of horror stories about invasive honeysuckles taking over fences, scrambling up trees, and generally wreaking havoc.

However, coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a very different plant. Native to North America, it is a non-invasive climbing vine that offers something many of us desperately need during summer: shade, shade, gloriously cooling shade.

When grown over a pergola, trellis, arbor, fence, or even around a porch, coral honeysuckle produces dense foliage that can help shield walls, windows, and outdoor seating areas from intense summer sun. And, by reducing the amount of direct sunlight hitting your home, clever climbing plants can help create cooler microclimates around the house thus making outdoor spaces much more comfortable during heatwaves.

(Image credit: Lenic / Shutterstock)

What I particularly like about coral honeysuckle is that the vine grows vigorously enough to create cooling cover, but it doesn't have the aggressive, garden-swallowing tendencies associated with some other climbers.

There's another benefit, too; coral honeysuckle is deciduous, so while you get welcome shade during the hottest months of the year, the leaves will drop come fall and you won't be blocking precious sunlight from reaching your home during winter, when every ray feels like a gift.

Now, as someone who is always trying to garden with wildlife in mind, this next feature is the one that really sold me. Because, from spring through summer, coral honeysuckle produces masses of tubular flowers in fiery shades of coral, orange, and red... and hummingbirds absolutely adore it.

Nature Hills Nursery Major Wheeler Honeysuckle Vine

Beloved by hummingbirds, this non-invasive honeysuckle promises longlasting blooms aplenty.

The blooms are perfectly shaped for hummingbirds to feed from, but they're also a magnet for butterflies, native bees, and other pollinators. Better still? The blooms are followed by red berries that can provide food for songbirds later in the season... so it's a super-plant that supports a thriving ecosystem and cools down our houses. Win!

Shop Watering Essentials & Keep Plants Hydrated in Hot Weather:

Know Before You Grow

XLUX Long Probe Soil Moisture Meter

A 16-inch probe allows you to easily measure soil moisture throughout your garden beds.

Terrain Daffodil Copper Rain Chain

Rain harvesting is already the chicest trend of all (who doesn't love to grow sustainably), but this cute AF rain chain takes things to a whole new level.

Terrain Heritage Garden Hose

Available in three eye-popping hues, this hose is here to do a job AND look good doing it.

If you're considering planting coral honeysuckle (and you should, obviously!), it performs best in full sun to partial shade and will need a sturdy structure, like one of these beautiful trellis ideas, to climb. Pop it over a patio or near a window to maximize those cooling benefits.

After one too many afternoons sweating in front of an underperforming fan, I'm increasingly convinced that nature may have come up with the best air conditioning system after all.

Watching birds flock to our yard is one of the true delights of gardening, right? Most of us are nature lovers, so we get a lot of pleasure out of seeing and hearing the many varieties of local birds feed, nest, and roost in the backyard. Native plants, shelter, and food sources are important, but to attract birds and keep them healthy, a water source is also vital. A bird bath is a simple solution. It provides backyard birds with water to drink, bathe in, and cool off in.

But here is the thing: a simple basin of water left out in the blazing summer sun can quickly turn from a refreshing oasis into a stressful hazard. In the peak of the nesting season, our backyard birds aren't just looking for a casual splash; they are battling heatwaves, hunger pangs, and parasites like biting mites and ticks. To attract birds to your water station, you need to turn it into a true sanctuary. And to do this, you need to think beyond the concrete pedestal, and look at the surrounding plants.

By planting certain herbs around your bird bath, you can create a “bird spa” that offers shelter, perching spots, insect control, and even nutritious food. Most of these herbs are easy to grow and can be planted around a bird bath in summer, when birds are raising their young and seeking relief from summer heat. Setting up these aromatic plant shields now requires very little effort and can make a massive difference to the health and happiness of your garden birds. Here’s how to keep your feathered neighbors healthy all summer long.

How Herbs Help Birds

(Image credit: Jokuephotography / Getty Images)

Bird baths naturally attract wildlife as a source of drinking and bathing water. Unfortunately, water sources also attract insects and pests. Standing water is a magnet for mosquitoes, gnats, flies, and more. This can make the area less pleasant and less healthy for birds (and you). Herbs around your bird bath provide a good remedy for this issue, while also providing other birdy benefits. Many release aromatic oils that insects dislike, reducing pest pressure without chemical sprays.

This summertime bird bath checkpoint is a vital moment to take action. If you leave things to chance, stagnant water can become a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes, while the surrounding open space can leave damp, waterlogged birds highly vulnerable to swooping predators – a classic bird bath mistake. Acting quickly with herbs is a genuine game-changer (and a nice smelling one). Yes, it’s important to keep water fresh using a wiggler or fountain, such as a Mademax Solar Bird Bath Fountain Upgrade from Amazon. But planting heavily fragrant herbs creates an extra level of protection against flying gnats, ticks, and mites in a potent way.

(Image credit: WilliamSherman / Getty Images)

Dense herbal foliage can offer quick cover from predators, while woody stems and flower spikes provide convenient perches where birds can preen after bathing. Flowers that produce edible seeds or berries are also useful as an additional food source. The volatile essential oils of herbs act as an organic chemical shield. When birds brush past the foliage before or after a dip, they coat their feathers in subtle traces that discourage parasites, making bathing safer and more restorative.

8 Herbs for Happy Bird Baths

(Image credit: William Reagan / Getty Images)

Transforming your water station into a safe and clean sanctuary is simple. July is an ideal time to get these key herbs into the ground or arrange them in pots around your water feature. Just give some thought to your yard’s microclimates and possible herb locations. Aim for a layered ring design. Use low-growing ground covers at the base of the bird bath, medium shrubs at the mid-tier, and tall structural stalks further back.

Most high-potency culinary herbs in USDA zones 3-10 will crave blazing full sun and sharply drained, gravelly soil. Before planting these herbs, verify light levels around your bath with a Sonkir 3-in-1 Light and Soil Moisture Tester from Amazon. You can also use this to determine moisture levels for new plants, adding some coarse sand or horticultural grit as needed, to ensure your new plantings get the perfect balance of warmth and drainage to thrive dynamically all season long. Then have fun planting bird-friendly herbs to create a spa-like sanctuary for feathered friends.

1. Lavender

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Lavender is most well known for its characteristic and strong smell. The smell comes from essential oils in the plant that deter pests like mosquitoes. The oils can even deter mites, which can be harmful to birds. As well as being a lovely fragrant plant for pollinators, their flower spikes and stems are a great height for small birds, which can use them to perch on while surveying their surroundings before taking a bath. Grow lavender in full sun with well-draining soil. You can pick up Phenomenal Lavender Live Plants from Nature Hills for a rugged, humidity-resistant variety.

This perennial evergreen subshrub thrives in zones 5-9, hitting peak oil potency during July and August. The strong, clean aroma of linalool acts as an active pest-repellent field that shields delicate songbirds (like American goldfinches and black-capped chickadees) from blood-feeding avian mites. Just don’t let the plant roots sit in waterlogged soil from bird bath splashbacks. Position on the sun-baked, windward side of your water feature to allow the breeze to diffuse the fragrance.

2. Rosemary

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Rosemary is another fragrant herb that provides a good staging point for birds. This small, woody shrub has sturdy branches that even medium-sized birds can use for perching and surveying or for hiding under. The woody stems stay in place in winter, providing year-round shelter. The smell of rosemary can discourage flying pests, like mosquitoes and flies, making the entire area more comfortable. Rosemary thrives in full sun, hot weather, and soil that drains well. You can buy Tuscan Blue Rosemary Starter Plants from Amazon.

Hardy as a permanent perennial in zones 7-11 (and a great container plant to overwinter further north), rosemary’s stiff, resinous branches support the weight of heavier, highly desirable yard birds like gray catbirds and northern cardinals, giving them a perch to dry their flight feathers and preen safely. The pungent, pine-like camphor oils are most potent under the midday sun, keeping biting flies far away. Pick an upright variety like Tuscan Blue for maximum height, or a cascading type to soften a stone pedestal base.

3. Mint

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The scent of mint has long been regarded as refreshing and cooling. It’s an ideal herb for planting next to a water feature. It won’t suffer from any splashback from a bird bath and it creates a lush, green border that can help deter pests. Mint is very easy to grow but it can be quite invasive, so it’s best to only grow it in containers around the edges of your bird bath to prevent it from spreading into the lawn or beds. You can buy Black Robert Mitchum’s Peppermint from Walmart for a continuous blast of refreshing pest-repelling menthol.

Mint is a lifesaver for partial shade across zones 3-11. Varieties like peppermint (Mentha x piperita) or spearmint adore heavy water splashback, thriving on the overflow from bathing robins and blue jays. Its sharp, refreshing menthol oils peak in midsummer, driving away frustrating swarms of gnats and midges. Keep it confined to heavy patio containers or window boxes placed around the base of your bird bath. Its dense, lush canopy keeps low-foraging ground birds safe from summer predators.

4. Lemon Balm

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Lemon balm has a bright citrus fragrance with natural compounds to discourage gnats and mosquitoes. The essential oils are similar to those found in citronella, a natural and powerful insect deterrent. As with mint, it provides a soft and lush leafy border around bird baths. The dense leafy coverage helps birds feel safer near their water source. Lemon balm is a fast grower, so keep up trimming it to encourage manageable growth through the season. Buy August Breeze Farm’s Lemon Balm Plants from Walmart for a lush, aromatic mound of citronella-rich leaves.

This ultra-hardy perennial flourishes across zones 3-9 in partial shade. The leaves release a strong, clean lemon fragrance whenever birds brush against them, making the surrounding air uncomfortable for invasive mosquitoes. Small, skittish songbirds like tufted titmice and house finches love slipping into its soft, dense foliage to dry off out of sight. Shear the plant back hard by half in mid-July to encourage fresh leaves.

5. Fennel

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Fennel is a tall herb that you can grow as part of a second ring of plants around the bird bath. The tall, feathery arches provide visual interest, but also good perching areas for birds looking to bathe safely. Another great benefit of fennel is that it attracts insects that serve as a food source for your birds – for instance, it is a host plant for swallowtail butterfly caterpillars. These (and other insects drawn to fennel) provide a high-protein buffet for backyard birds. Buy Organic Bronze Fennel Live Plants from Amazon for height, texture, and beneficial insect activity.

This architectural perennial giant thrives in zones 4-9, reaching 5 feet tall (1.5m) by mid-July. Its delicate chartreuse or bronze fronds provide a semi-transparent privacy screen that filters harsh sunlight without blocking the view. Just don’t plant it near cilantro or wormwood, as they can stunt each other's growth. Its sturdy, umbrella-like seed heads offer an ideal landing deck for acrobatic indigo buntings and chickadees.

6. Catnip

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While our feline friends are drawn to this herb from the mint family, flying insects don’t like catnip. So it’s another great choice for keeping pests away from your bird bath. Catnip produces a compound called nepetalactone, known to deter mosquitoes. Plant this, along with mint and lemon balm, to create a zone that is inhospitable to gnats, mosquitoes and other pests. Buy Catnip Starter Plants from Walmart for bushy clumps loaded with high-potency, pest-repelling compounds.

Of course, one potential issue with growing catnip is that it can draw in cats. To keep birds safe, plant your catnip 10-12 feet (3-4m) away from the bird bath, on the far side of a protective barrier. This clever spacing creates an excellent, highly effective aromatic drift that purifies the air without creating a dangerous ambush point for visiting songbirds. Also, don't let it flower continuously if you want to maximize its bug-repelling leaf potency. Pink it back frequently so it keeps coming back strong.

7. Common Thyme

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A popular culinary herb, common thyme is also an attractive ground cover. Grow it around the edges of your bird bath to create a natural, softer, and safer surface for birds. The edge of a bird bath can be slippery for little birds' feet. This creeping herb provides some grip to give birds confidence landing at your water source. Thyme is easy to grow, as it tolerates heat and loves full sun. It just needs soil that drains well, but otherwise it is easy to maintain in the growing season. Buy Creeping Thyme Starter Plants from Amazon for an aromatic plant mat around the bird bath.

Hardy in zones 2-10, varieties like 'Creeping Red' or 'Elfin' form dense, springy, texturized carpets that wrap around slippery stone or plastic rims. Furthermore, the warm, earthy scent of thymol is released every time a bird lands on it, creating protection against crawling pests and skeeters. Just don't allow mud or wet leaves to sit on top of its foliage, as it requires clean air circulation to do its best work.

8. Echinacea

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We don’t often think of this as a herb, but echinacea is absolutely a herb, and it’s a great companion plant for a bird bath. It provides a useful food source for birds that eat seeds. Also known as coneflower, echinacea flowers produce abundant seeds in large cones in late summer. The large cones mature into nutritious seeds and will feed birds through fall and even into winter, depending on how many flowers you grow. Grow in full sun close to your bird bath. You can buy Greenwood Nursery Store Magnus Coneflower Live Plants from Amazon for vibrant bird-friendly blooms.

This must-have structural perennial, hardy in zones 3-9, bridges the gap beautifully between your water feature and the surrounding yard. While its coarse leaves offer excellent mid-tier cover during the high-heat spikes of July, the real magic happens once the petals fade and those giant, oil-rich seed cones can support American goldfinches, pine siskins, and tufted titmice. So do leave the dead flower heads intact on the stalks near your bird baths. Pair your echinacea with native grasses to create a high-reward playground right next to your splash pool.

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