Photo: Via Flickr

This guide to fast-growing trees tells you about some of the most popular and readily available varieties. It is a great starting point when it comes to choosing the right ones to grow in your garden. There are lots of ways you can use trees to enhance your home.

Grow Your Own Fruit

If you like growing your own food and have space, planting an orchard is a great idea. Fruit trees are very pretty. In the spring, the blossom smells wonderful and they are a great source of food for the bees.

In the past, many fruit trees like cherries had to be planted in pairs to produce fruit. One female and one male, but, in most cases, this is no longer necessary. You can now buy hybrid varieties that can produce fruit even if you only plant a single tree. This means that you do not necessarily have to have a big garden to be able to grow a wide variety of fruit. Many of these trees can produce fruit within just a year or two of being planted in your garden.

Photo: JC Webb Studios

Create Truly Private Spaces in your Garden

For those homeowners who have other houses located close to them, privacy can be a big issue. If you are overlooked by neighbor’s planting a hedge can be a great way to solve this problem. There are plenty of fast-growing evergreen trees available. Most are perfect for this job especially those that can be cut and trimmed liked boxwood which always creates a modern design to your home. Once established they do not take a lot of looking after. All you need to do is to cut them off at the top once they have reached the desired height and trim them back once a year.

Photo: Private Newport

Create Separate Areas in your Garden

If you have a big garden, dividing it up into separate spaces is a great way to improve your home backyard design through gardening. It is nice for the children to have somewhere they can kick a ball around without worrying about damaging your plants. You can use fast-growing trees to create a hedged off play area and do so within a few seasons. Fast-growing cypress is a particularly good choice because they create a dense hedge that will stop balls from escaping and doing damage to delicate plants in other areas of your garden.

Create Micro-Climates

You can use the same method to create little micro-climates within your garden. This is particularly useful if you live somewhere that is very windy. Some varieties of evergreen tree can grow even in areas where there is a strong prevailing wind. Typically, they do not grow as fast, but once established and are tall enough they can become really effective windbreaks. You can learn more about using them in this way by clicking through and reading the in-depth article you will find there.

If you’re looking for the perfect centerpiece for your garden this spring, this disco birdbath is for you! Revamp that broken birdbath that’s been collecting dust in your garage with this easy facelift! Don’t have a birdbath? Build your own out of terracotta pots! We’re loving this easy tutorial from Patricia’s Pots, which takes you through the whole process, step-by-step. Give your feathered friends their own place to party (and recycle in the process!) by getting started on this awesome birdbath today!

What you will need:

– An old birdbath or a birdbath made from terracotta pots

– Water Weld (just in case your old birdbath has any cracks)

– Old DVDs

– Clear spray paint

– Liquid Nails Clear Seal glue

– Mapei Keracolor Sanded Grout with Polymer with Grout Boost mixed in

– An old spatula

– Damp rag

– An old butter knife

– Sandpaper

– Scissors

Step #1:

If your old birdbath has any cracks in it, you need to fill them in. Water Weld is perfect for the job since it repairs and seals cracks that are going to be wet or underwater. It’s also drinking water safe, which makes it perfect for the birds! Take the Water Weld (it comes in a tube of clay) and kneed it together well. Take your old butter knife and slice the Water Weld into smaller pieces.

Step #2:

Smooth the Water Weld over the cracks using the butter knife, making sure to push it into the cracks well. Leave the Water Weld to sit for 60 minutes.

Step #3:

Take the sandpaper and sand down the Water Weld until the surface is smooth.

Step #4:

Now you’re ready to decorate! Since DVDs are made up of two layers, you’ll need to separate them in order to get to the nice shiny side that’s inside. Take the DVD and make two cuts. Cut from the outer edge to the middle, and repeat the same process on the other side. You should now have two halves. Run your fingertip around the edges to loosen the layers. Separate the layers and you will be left with a thin, shimmery layer you can use for decorating your birdbath.

Step #5:

Cut the silvery part you saved into small pieces. This birdbath needed about 20 DVDs worth of pieces to cover it completely.

Step #6:

Take your clear spray paint and spray paint all the pieces. This will prevent the shiny part from flaking off.

Step #7:

Once the spray paint has dried, begin gluing the pieces onto the birdbath using Liquid Nails Clear Seal. Cover the rim of the birdbath first, then work your way towards the middle.

Step #8:

When you’ve covered your birdbath and the glue has dried, it’s time to mix the grout. You can use Mapei Keracolor Sanded Grout with Polymer in white with Grout Boost mixed in. When you’ve mixed the grout, take your old spatula and spread the grout between the DVD pieces. Use a damp rag to wipe off the excess grout.

Step #9:

Leave the grout to dry for about 3 weeks before placing it outside. This is why this is the perfect project to get started on while it’s still chilly out! It’ll be ready for your feathered friends just in time for spring!

Photos and idea: Me and My DIY.

If you want to get started on your very own soup garden, you need to decide which ingredients you use most in your favorite recipes. If you love tomato soup, plant several varieties of tomatoes like meaty romas and grape tomatoes. For chicken noodle, onions, carrots, and parsnips, along with herbs like thyme and parsley. Other great additions to any soup garden would be garlic, turnips, sweet potatoes, beans, and kale.

To start your soup garden, make sure water is easily accessible. Many herbs don’t require much watering, but vegetables need to be watered often. Make sure you use mulch, as it helps reduce weeds and waterings. The use of flow meters help you to keep track of exactly how much water you are using. Work a lot of organic matter into the soil to create a nutrient-rich soil that your vegetables will love. If you don’t have enough yard space, you can still plant many vegetables and herbs on your balcony or patio in large pots.

To enjoy your harvest into the winter, you need to plant a larger garden and then freeze or can your vegetables. Tomatoes, green beans, and peppers can be frozen or canned. Onions, potatoes, garlic, and winter squash can be stored for months in cool, humid conditions.

Photos: Ewa in the Garden, HG Decoration, Home Garden Air.

You’ve probably seen all the awesome pallet ideas floating around on the internet lately. Everyone’s in a pallet craze, making anything from benches to playhouses for their kids! The possibilities are endless! Here is a simple DIY for making a cool swing for your yard!

What you will need:

• 1 pallet
• saw
• rope
• wood stain of your choice
• sandpaper
• cushions and pillows (optional)

Step 1:

Cut the pallet in half with a saw.

Step 2:

Add two leftover boards to the side of the pallet if you would like drink holders.

Step 3:

Lightly sand the pallet to get rid of any splinters and rough edges.

Step 4:

Attach the swing using a strong nylon rope. You can put the swing under a tree, or on your front porch! Add a cushion and a few decorative pillows if you like.

 Photos and idea: Sheryl Salisbury Photography.