To separate a garden bed from grass, you can either create a clean dug trench (the "trench edge" method) or install a physical barrier. Both methods stop grass roots (rhizomes) from spreading and give your landscape a polished, tidy look.
In gardening, the "70/30 rule" is a flexible guideline used in several different ways depending on your gardening goals. The three most common interpretations involve native plants, garden design, and vegetable growing.
No, you do not need to manually dig out or remove the grass. Instead, you can save time and effort by smothering it using the no-dig or "sheet mulching" method.
Several layers of newspaper will block light, causing the grass to die. A few months later, the soil will be ready for planting. Tip: Lay down newspaper layers during the summer, and wet them to help keep them in place.
Use a sharp spade to dig down and then slide the spade horizontally just under the shallow grass root system (about 1 inch down). Remove the sod in sections at a time, or roll it up as you slice underneath.
That's more chemical to the roots where it will have a greater impact. And, THAT'S why any time after the end of June (and before nighttime temps start to cool in October) is perfect for killing your lawn. Don't forget, when using any herbicide product, be sure to read and follow label instructions.
Many Amish communities maintain their lawns quietly without grid electricity or standard gas engines. They typically use heavy-duty manual push reel mowers, while larger properties may use horse-drawn gang mowers, a scythe for taller patches, or sometimes small, modified gas-powered mowers depending on the specific church district.
Install Landscape Edging
Plastic, steel, wood, brick, or stone garden edging creates a physical barrier that blocks underground grass roots and keeps them from spreading among your flower beds.
Never fill your raised garden bed with trash, toxic materials, or raw, uncomposted waste. Specifically, avoid using pet waste, treated or painted wood scraps, coal ash, fresh manure, and synthetic fillers like foam or packing peanuts, which leach chemicals, burn plants, and cause root rot.
To kill grass in garden beds without harming your desirable plants, use selective grass herbicides (like grass-specific weeders), smother the area with cardboard and mulch, or carefully spot-treat with vinegar. Always protect your flowers and vegetables from drift by using a piece of cardboard as a shield.
The "rule of 3" in landscaping is a design principle stating that grouping elements in odd numbers—specifically threes—creates a more natural, balanced, and visually appealing space than pairs or even-numbered arrangements.
What you put under a raised bed depends entirely on your yard's soil type and local pests. Generally, the best foundation consists of a bottomless frame sitting directly on the ground, layered with cardboard to smother weeds, followed by organic "hugelkultur" material like logs and twigs to save on soil costs.
The "3-hour gardening rule" is a safety guideline advising gardeners to avoid working outdoors between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. during the summer months. This window is when the sun’s UV rays are at their strongest and temperatures peak, posing risks for both you and your plants.
Here are some of the most common landscaping mistakes and how to avoid them, along with how to create a beautiful garden in your own yard.
For most vegetables and accessibility needs, the ideal raised garden bed height is 16 to 24 inches. The best height for your specific project depends on what you are growing, your budget, and your physical comfort.
Read on to learn some of the most common mistakes made by beginner gardeners—and how to avoid them.
Raised beds need water more often since the soil is more exposed to air and dries quicker. Similar to growing in containers, the extra watering can leach nutrients out of the soil quicker than in-ground gardens. For that reason, raised beds will likely need fertilizer more often.
What you shouldn't compost
Professional landscapers keep flower beds pristine by combining proactive prevention with consistent maintenance. Their strategy relies on four core steps: applying pre-emergent herbicides to stop seeds from sprouting, using high-quality landscape fabric, laying a thick mulch barrier, and practicing dense planting.
Never fill your raised garden bed with trash, toxic materials, or raw, uncomposted waste. Specifically, avoid using pet waste, treated or painted wood scraps, coal ash, fresh manure, and synthetic fillers like foam or packing peanuts, which leach chemicals, burn plants, and cause root rot.
🍁 Mid-Fall (Late September – October)
This is the ideal window for insulating your plants and protecting soil before winter. By now, soil has cooled but hasn't frozen, making it the right time to apply mulch for root insulation.
Yes, Amish people bathe regularly, though the frequency and methods vary significantly depending on the season, how physically active they are, and the strictness of their specific church district.
Many traditional Amish communities consider manufactured toilet paper an unnecessary luxury and use resource-saving alternatives instead. In outhouses, families often repurpose old newspapers, magazine pages, or catalogs (like the Sears and Roebuck catalog). To make the paper soft enough to use, they crumple it vigorously multiple times.
Amish men generally do not use condoms. Because the Amish view having children as a blessing from God, the use of artificial contraception is typically forbidden by their religious doctrine.