 Your garden looks great. You picked out the best plants to fit in your beds.
You chose the right ones for your hardiness zone, with the perfect positions selected based on watering needs and sunlight. But something seems off. Something is missing…
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7 ways to spice up your planters with $260 composite PVC window box giveaway from Good Directions!10/12/2018
This post contains affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through my link I make a small commission at no additional cost to yourself. Thank you for being such wonderful and gracious readers. I am truly thankful for you all!
Two words.
Curb appeal.
That's how the Lazy Hill window box from Good Directions is going to change your life. Are you ready for your house to go from bland to bold with some serious window box pizzazz?
It's the season for a stunning array of fall foliage adorning the front of your home.
Window boxes are incredibly versatile. Just think. Pansies in spring. Million bells in summer. Mums in fall. Even tiny Christmas trees to tie you over the long winter. Swooning with delight already?
We are ecstatic for the winner who gets the Lazy Hill Montauk Composite PVC window box from Good Directions. You choose either the 36 inch or the 42 inch sized window box. Whatever suits your dwelling best! ARV: $240 and $260 respectively.
Tell us what you would plant in the comments below!
HOW TO ENTER TO WIN!
This post contains affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through my link I make a small commission at no additional cost to yourself. Thank you for being such wonderful and gracious readers. I am truly thankful for you all!
I dread this time of year.
It's time to decide who makes the cut. Which plants will be brought inside to survive our harsh, Buffalo winter and which ones I will (big teary gulp) cut loose.
Specifically, I'm talking about my herbs, fragile annuals, and tropical plants/houseplants that have been permitted to bask in summers' glow!
Tough call each year.
But the reality is, there's not enough space in my home for them all. Besides, even if there were, there's not enough sunlight. And I could never buy enough grow lights to sustain them all.
So I must choose. And I need to stop killing the ones that I do keep!
Over the years, I've learned that some plants do better indoors than others. So I'm willing to put forth more effort on their behalf. Some plants have surprised me, too!
This post contains affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through my link I make a small commission at no additional cost to yourself. Thank you for being such wonderful and gracious readers. I am truly thankful for you all!
This next generation hydrangea is going to steal the show in my front landscaping next summer!
Plants love fall.
I'm a firm believer in fall planting. Plants seem to bounce back quicker and end up more robust than spring or summer dug up plants.
Now is the ideal time to move plants that are in the wrong spot, divide plants and bulbs that have gotten too large and add perennials where there is a gap.
You can score great deals this time of year at the local garden center and even those dreaded big box stores. But by the time I get there with three kids in tow, the selection is either sparse or non-existent.
This is why shopping online for plants is incredible.
What a pleasure it is today to offer you an online gift card from Nature Hills Nursery for $150 so you can fall in love with planting again!
*Use your gift card now or wait for spring to order*
Here's how to WIN!
Use the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post! Contest ends October 28th!
This post contains affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through my link I make a small commission at no additional cost to yourself. Thank you for being such wonderful and gracious readers. I am truly thankful for you all!
The U-pick blueberry farm our family frequents just raised their prices.....again.
It used to be $2.00 a pound. Now it's $3.00 a pound.
If I'm going to pay the same price or more whether I pick my own berries or buy them at the store, why bother trudging to the patch on a hot and humid July day?
Yes, I know the blueberries are fresher at the farm. Yes, I know I can eat while picking. But still. I have to bring water, hats, snacks, 3 kids and potentially use a porta potty. Eww.
So Tom and I got to talking. We realized that it's time to grow are own blueberries in our quest to create a more edible landscape. Fall is the perfect time to plant blueberry bushes!
With True Vine Ranch, we were able to successfully accomplish our dream! They'll be plentiful pictures come spring, but until then let's talk blueberries. Today is all about blueberries down to the nitty gritty tiny details. Fifty fantastic facts to inspire you to grow your own blueberries this fall.
And I have a little secret about True Vine Ranch at the end of this post that you might not believe...
Fuzzy socks.
Crunchy leaves. Cozy sweaters. Scrumptious soups. Fall is coming, folks! And pumpkins......please. Lighted pumpkins as it gets dark so quick these days. Luminaries from our friends over at Desert Steel! We are thrilled that the winner gets 2 (yes I said 2!!!) pumpkin luminaries from Desert Steel in the shape and color of your choice! Orange or white? Tall or squatty? Which will it be for you? Tell us in the comments just below! Valued at $110! HOW TO ENTER TO WIN! Use the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post! Contest ends October 4th!  'Houston, we have a problem.'
C'mon, you know what movie that's from...right? Leave your guess in the comment section! Anyhow, that quote best describes the issue Tom and I were having with our landscaping. We are attempting to make the perimeter of our house more edible. For this dream to become a reality a lovely Jane magnolia tree needed to be moved. Talk about mission impossible (another movie reference!) The magnolia tree does not like to be uprooted and moved. But we needed the spot for a blueberry bush. Besides, when originally planted, we failed to consider the 8-10 spread the Jane magnolia tree requires. And so, we read and researched the best way to transplant this gorgeous tree. The ideal time to transplant a deciduous magnolia tree or shrub is in the fall. Keep in mind that root pruning must be done well in advance of transplanting. So that's where we will start you off today. Root pruning. Then we'll tell you the easy peasy steps to successfully transplant a magnolia tree without killing it. A million reasons to beam with Smile Brilliant & $149 at-home teeth whitening system giveaway!9/5/2018
This post contains affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through my link I make a small commission at no additional cost to yourself. Thank you for being such wonderful and gracious readers. I am truly thankful for you all!
"I really wish my teeth were more yellow or even brownish." ...Said no one ever. Like it or not we are judged by our physical appearance. (Insert big sigh here followed by an ughh.) And it's true. Who wants yellow or brown teeth? Ick. Right? Looks matter. Period. Teeth matter. Period. When you meet people for the first time one of the things they'll notice are your teeth. It's a cruel world. Now if you're thinking right now...."hmmm... can't figure out Laura today. I mean, what do teeth have to do with the home & garden?" Correct answer....not much. Except that we all have teeth. Hopefully! And if we have them, we should be proud of how they look. Agree? So it's my pleasure to introduce you to Smile Brilliant today in the hopes that you will learn a bit about at-home teeth whitening options and even earn a $149 credit towards a Smile Brilliant kit! HOW TO ENTER TO WIN! Use the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post! Contest ends September 20th! BIG NEWS FLASH! Type in the promo code raiseyourgardenat checkout for an extra 15% off! Contest open to those in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia. We LOVE you all! *The $149 credit will cover the T3 sensitive system at-home teeth whitening kit!* 
Motivated to weed today? Nope. How about edging the driveway?
Me neither. But if you win the the EdgeMaster (ARV $40.65) and WeedSLAYER (ARV $33.10) two piece lawn tool giveaway from Corona Tools USA you're going to get your weeding mojo back! Because now is the time to get the job done right with the right tools for the job thanks to Corona Tools USA. And I think I feel a song coming on because it's Corona's 90th birthday! Tom and I actually had this conversation in the car the other day. Me "Did you know Corona Tools has been around for over 90 years, wow...that's a long time. Since the 1920s long time." Tom "Well, that means they're pretty awesome or they would have gone out of business long ago. Both product and customer service are fantastic." Exactly. You want tools in your shed or garage made by Corona Tools USA! How to Enter to Win: Use the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post! Contest ends September 20th!  To celebrate our 12th (or was it our 11th?) anniversary, Tom and I took a day trip to Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion.
And many thanks to my MIL for taking the kiddos for the day, as they would have failed to appreciate the splendors of the place! So today's post is chiefly beautiful eye candy. We bought our tickets off of Groupon for just over $5 each! On site, you'll pay $14 a ticket. Consider the extra expense a donation since Sonnenberg could use the funds to do a few repairs. Although we enjoyed our visit tremendously, there is no doubt that the house and even the gardens are falling into wreck and ruin. But isn't home and garden maintenance a struggle for us all? Nestled in the Fingers Lake Region, Sonneberg Gardens is an idyllic spot to kick back and spend the day. Aptly named, the Fingers Lakes is located in New York State and famous for its series of long, thin lakes. It's also known for vineyards. How would I describe the Finger Lakes Region with just one word?!... 
Buffet, server, sideboard, credenza, console, cabinet...call "it" what you will but this cottage style beauty is a stunning piece of white mahogany wood furniture. Crown molding, shaker style doors and antique brass hardware will have you swooning.
Are you ready to win this generously sized buffet with farmhouse charm? Comes fully assembled! The classic Halifax Buffet by NovaSolo is delightful Danish design with hygge at the heart of it all. Hygge Home ignites that comfy and cozy feeling in your dwelling space now as you celebrate life at home. How to Enter to Win:
For four whopping entries, do all four! Let us know that you have entered by telling us how you would use this beautiful buffet. Do this by scrolling down to the bottom of this post and leaving a comment. Please tell us how many entries you have earned!
Contest ends September 20th. Canadians most welcome to enter!
 Begonias I was shocked to learn just how many common plants are toxic to pets, some that I never considered to be in that category. We have pets so this is a big issue for our family.
It's tough because you don't want to paranoid, but at the same time you want to protect your pets. My two girls are old enough now that they know better not to munch on strange plants. And even when they were younger, I could have communicated which plants were big no no's. But pets don't quite work this way. Even with their soulful eyes, they're not human. I've discovered that cats in particular are tempted by plants. They tend to chomp on plants and spit them up. So I'm giving you the rundown of which plants you should avoid when considering what to grow. Some are worse than others....and some are only "somewhat" toxic if you get my drift. My focus today is mostly on cats and dogs, probably the two most common pets. Not that I don't love horses, but they aren't the best indoor pets. The poop alone! Although I once worked with a guy in sales who had indoor/outdoor goats that slept on his couch! Use your imagination on that one... Anyhow, here's what I learned!  Sundials are intriguing.
Certainly the ancient Egyptians must have thought so since they are reputed to have used them first. Or perhaps it was the Greeks, Romans or Babylonians. No one knows for sure! What we do know is that sundials are instruments used for telling time with a rich history. And if you're going to own a sundial, you might as well display a quality one. A stunning sundial made by Good Directions is beautiful to behold on your patio, porch, deck, rooftop and even showcased poolside. Sundials can be displayed both indoors or outside. Besides, your outdoor space is becoming more of an equal with your indoor dwelling quarters. It's time to invigorate it! Every product molded by Good Directions is lovingly infused by art to enhance that ultimate living space you cherish ~ your home. So we are over-the-moon (or should we say over-the-sun?) thrilled for you and your chance of winning your very own armillary sundial from Good Directions valued at $250!
This post contains affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through my link I make a small commission at no additional cost to yourself. Thank you for being such wonderful and gracious readers. I am truly thankful for you all!  You know it and I know it.
Fall is lurking around the corner. Translation? It's time to start fussing over your Halloween costume! Wrong. It's time to start considering what fall crops you should plant. And to be blatantly honest, I guess it's also time to order that Halloween costume before prices skyrocket. But I digress. You are gonna love planting in this lovely composite "Frame It All" Raised Garden Bed! This lovely tiered and elevated garden bed is the place to plant those fall crops. Here's what you should plant for succession planting before the snow flies...  I call it professional development.
My husband calls it lazing in the sun. One of the toughest parts of being a blogger is product testing. Especially when it's a comfy hammock. But the product must be thoroughly tested. I have to know if it works! Now it's your turn to relax in this pillowtop Hatteras Hammock to savor every minute of summer. Book in one hand. Fudge pop in the other. The hammock. What an invention. Relax, recharge, refresh and repeat in your swanky new pillowtop Hatteras Hammock from The Hammock Source, the place to buy a hammock. I promise. Top of the line in quality and selection. The creme de la creme of hammocks. Swoon! You will be ecstatic if you win the famous pillowtop Hatteras Hammock from The Hammock Source to help you relax. And you get to choose the color! To enter, like the Raise Your Garden Facebook page and share this post or sign up for our newsletter. For two entries, do both. You can earn one entry per day by commenting on any of our blog or Facebook posts. Let us know that you have entered by telling us the last time you used a hammock! Contest ends August 27! How early is too early to mow the lawn?7/27/2018  Are you at war with your neighbors?
Neighbor wars happen to good, honest and nice people! I've heard so many hysterical stories over the years from my students when I taught English. Laughed so hard! Especially over petty things like "how early is too early to mow the lawn"? I mean....would you rather have a neighbor who woke you up in the morning by lawn mowing or kept you up at night with that infernal weed wacker blasting in the side yard? Fortunately for us, we never have this issue because our neighbors are great! In fact, my husband even borrows the neighbors zero degree riding lawn mower. This cuts his mowing time in about a fourth. So we must be the annoying ones! Unlike my former students, our mowing life is good. But how about you? And which side of the fence are you on? Those who keep the lawn in pristine condition, mowing once or twice a week, or those who barely mow twice a summer? How about Sundays? Is there ever a day of rest...albeit a day of no blasting noise? Your thoughts? Because the mowing season lasts from April to November and that's a lot of racket! Cause offending and annoying the neighbors is always a bad idea. You don't want to be forced to move when you hit these rough patches. But this is what baffles me most of all!  I try hard not to squeal.
Some might even consider the practice unbecoming for a nearly 40-old-woman! But when my galvanized planters arrived from Evergreen; I audibly squealed. One minute you are unloading the dishwasher in a hurried frantic frenzy. The next you are oohing and ahhing over your new planters. And I have no doubts you will feel the same if you are the lucky winner of one of these two planters sets from Evergreen. Yup. There are 2 winners today! First place gets the galvanized metal square nested planters with brass edging, set of 4 (ARV $231). Second place gets the galvanized metal long trough planters, set of 2 (ARV $56). Both with earth-shaking rustic farmhouse style! Evergreen has those green thumbs on the pulse of trend so I hope you win! To enter, Follow us on Pinterest and pin at least 5 images or sign up for our newsletter. For two entries, do both. Let us know that you have entered by telling us about your favorite plant! Do this by scrolling down to the bottom of this post and leaving a comment. Please tell us how many entries you have earned. Contest ends August 15th! For extra good luck and our eternal gratitude Like our Facebook Page & Share this post!  You know exactly what happened to Rapunzel's mother.
Pregnant and desperate for greens, her husband was caught red-handed stealing those tempting rampion greens from the neighbors garden. Unfortunately, the neighbor turned out to be a witch and the consequences were dire. The couple lost their firstborn child to the witch! But that's just a fairy tale. It doesn't happen in real life. Wrong. It does. And more often than you might think. Which begs the question: Have you ever stolen produce from the neighbors garden while they were gone? Have I?  No doubt about it.
Cake is good and frosting does make the cake better. But it is the vibrant sprinkles on top that define the dessert as a masterpiece. That's the the best way to describe Viridian Bay Home & Garden products to you. They are the sprinkles on your cake. No where else have I seen such bold and distinctive decor for your garden and home that will serve entertaining purposes so well. So I was thrilled when Viridian Bay sent me a lovely hand cast aluminum accent table and aluminum and glass lantern to review. Yours for the win! First place gets the accent table (ARV $250) and second place the small Brindille lantern (ARV $70). To enter, join the Raise Your Garden Group and share this post or sign up for our newsletter. For two entries, do both. Let us know that you've entered by telling us about your style! Do this by scrolling down to the bottom of this post. Please tell us how many entries you've earned. Big newsflash. You all win because using the code GARDEN20 at checkout gets you 20% off your entire first order at Viridian Bay! Contest ends July 31st!  It's official.
The cruciferous cauliflower has been crowned king of vegetables. And why not? As more of us are adopting low-carb, plant-based, gluten-free and paleo diets we're sampling new veggies to keep us inspired. Looks like clean foods that limit additives, refined sugars and synthetic or genetically modified ingredients is the wave of the future. To keep up with this trend, I planted 13 cauliflower plants. Not even the traditional white heads, but the purple variety. Certainly, I have my misgivings. After all, if I get just a few cauliflower heads, or worse, none at all.....just think of all the space in my garden that I've wasted. All for naught! But it's done. And what is life if you're not willing to take a few risks? Even if you didn't plant cauliflower this year, here's 5 ways and a few reasons to chow down on the cruciferous cauliflower. The allure of the outdoors with the purple cosmos garden torch & $59 Desert Steel giveaway!6/29/2018  Remember those awesome bird feeders and solar lights from Desert Steel? Guess what...Desert Steel is back! Better than ever.
This time it's their marvelous purple cosmos garden torch at stake. The cosmos torch has that magnetic appeal that will light up your life and backyard this summer! So we hope you become the lucky reader to win this terrific torch from Desert Steel (ARV $59). To enter, like the Raise Your Garden Facebook page and share this post or sign up for our newsletter. For two entries, do both. You can earn one entry per day by commenting on any of our blog or Facebook posts. Let us know that you have entered by telling us what lights up your life. Do this by scrolling down to the bottom of this post and leaving a comment. Please tell us how many entries you have earned. Contest ends July 18th!  I'm a infinitely curious person.
How about you? I like to be in the know! And that's got be why social media is so popular. Why else would we torture ourselves on Facebook? Social media tell us that everyone else is living a life much more profoundly exciting than are own. But it's fun to compare notes. Especially gardening notes. I want to know what you planted this year! Right after the garden is planted, I go into crazy analyzing mode trying to figure out if the balance is right. It's tough to strike a balance between growing what can be eaten and what plants exist solely for aesthetic purposes. Didn't plant too many flowers this year. And the ones that did get planted were strictly from seed. They are doing great! Especially the sunflowers. Still, I question: Too many peppers and not enough peas? Should I have planted corn and watermelon because my 6-year-old wanted to try her hand at those crops? I didn't. Couldn't justify the garden space. Besides, with corn being just 25 cents an ear at the local stand, why bother? Better to grow the crops that are pricier to buy and consume less space. So super short and sweet post today telling you what I planted. And I'm hoping you chime in today giving me the scoop on your garden. So yes, it's you I'm speaking to! Give a holler out and tell me what you planted in the comment section! Nags Head Hammocks Poly Lumber Adirondack chair set giveaway from Pawleys Island (ARV $760!)6/18/2018  It just may turn out to be one your most agonizing decisions ever. What color are you gonna choose? The struggle is real. Tom and I wrestled with the decision for hours. Blue? Lime green? Orange? White? Red? Black? WeatherWood? Cedar? Turquoise? Chocolate? Out of desperation, I even called on my mother to opine. Why? Because the Durawood Poly Lumber chairs from Nags Head Hammocks are the last forever variety. You buy them for now. You buy them for life. You will grow old together...awww! But just not gray together because the Sunrise Adirondack chairs from Nags Head Hammocks don't fade over time. For the record, the chairs do come in a gray version, too. But I digress. Neither do these Adirondack chairs chip, crack, rot, rust, splinter or wear down. So I'm elated for you and your chance of winning the whopping $760 Sunrise Adirondack chair set from Nags Head Hammocks. The dynamic duo manufactured by Pawleys Island. To enter, like the Raise Your Garden Facebook page and share this post or sign up for our newsletter. For additional entries like Nags Head Hammocks on Facebook, follow them on Instagram and follow RYG on Instagram Do all for 5 whopping entries! Let us know that you have entered by telling us what color chair you'd choose. Do this by scrolling down to the bottom of this post. Click here to see color selection. Please tell us how many entries you have earned. (1-5 possible entries total). Contest ends July 23rd!
 It's 6:13 a.m. Sunday morning and I hear... "Mom, can I go outside to swing on the Swurfer." My initial instinct is to roll over to try to catch up on my sleep. But Emma is relentless so out she goes. My 8-year-old is having a blast and I'm able to get the bacon in the oven. All is well. So I had this epiphany a few days ago while assessing my backyard. I'd love to fill every last inch of green with tomato plants however that's not fair to my three young kids. They need space to play, explore, dream and run. Balance is truly the key to so much in life. And that's when I unearthed the Swurfer while surfing online for a unique swing. It was exactly what I wanted. So I reached out to Swurfer and asked if they'd send me a sample to review and they were more than gracious with their yes! So I'm rooting for your chance to win one of these incredible standing swings valued at $130 for your yard. To enter, like the Raise Your Garden Facebook page and share this post or sign up for our newsletter. For two entries, do both. Let us know that you have entered by telling us about the last time you used a swing! Do this by scrolling down to the bottom of this post and leaving a comment. Please tell us how many entries you have earned. Contest ends July 9th!
Choosing the best compost bin6/12/2018  Whether you are a beginner at composting or a seasoned veteran, you will need to have an efficient place to store your composting matter. This could be as simple as a pile in the back corner of your yard or, more likely, a compost bin. Bins are much better for keeping odors at bay and containing your compost to a confined space. It is important that you choose the best composting bin to suit your needs and these helpful tips will assist you in making that selection. Because you know that throwing out eggshells and banana peels doesn't work for us thrifty gardeners....right!
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Hi, I'm Laura and hail from Western New York. I consider myself a lifelong learner who loves gardening with a 360 degree view. Thanks for stopping by!
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