gardening Archives - Page 2 of 2 - DeckTec Outdoor Designs

Harvest Abundance? Give It Away!

August 9th, 2014|Garden & Lawn Care, Gardening|

Have you ever been hungry, really hungry? Have you ever wondered where your next meal might come from or if it will come at all? According to a report from the United States Department of Agriculture, one in seven people in Colorado are food insecure. "Food insecure simply means that people are not sure where their next meal is coming from," said Jodi Torpey, a member of Garden Writers Association and volunteer coordinator for Colorado's Plant a Row for Hunger organization. "They're not sure about tomorrow or next week. Even if they are working, minimum wages aren't enough to ensure they'll eat." Carol Ledbetter, the Program Administrator for Plant A Row's national effort concurs. "It isn't just derelicts that are going without food," she said. "It's also a lot of people working two jobs, or who can't find a job while they're taking care of their kids. We have to [...]

Composting: Dirt Easy and Great Rewards

June 28th, 2014|Blog, Garden & Lawn Care, Gardening|

Anyone who gardens for more than a year or two has heard of composting. Some may even have dabbled in it with varying degrees of success. If you've ever been curious about this green thumb practice, we have some great information for you. Recently, we talked to two composting experts in our area and asked for the low down on the humus under our feet. Here's what we found: A Process and a Product Cara Ablin, the color department supervisor for Wilmore Garden Center in Littleton, and Judy Elliott, education specialist and lead trainer for the Denver Master Composter training and outreach program sponsored by Denver Recycles, have a wealth of knowledge and resources for you to make this the year composting becomes part of your gardening life. The first lesson they pointed out is that composting is a process and not just a product. "Some people get a bin [...]

Be a Water-Wise Gardener This Summer

May 3rd, 2014|Blog, Garden & Lawn Care, Gardening|

Quick. What's one of the simplest, most effective tools to help keep a healthy lawn this summer? While you're thinking this question over, let's talk about the good news. The major drought that had us all wondering if and when we could comfortably water our lawns is on the downswing. However, whether you're new to the area or you've lived in Colorado a long time, being permanently aware of water use is a big responsibility for everyone who enjoys the Art of Outdoor Living. According to Travis Thompson, Denver Water Spokesperson, Colorado is considered a dry state, and it is up to all of us to be living within water-wise constraints. "Our customers did a really good job last year," said Travis. "We reached our conservation goals which put us in a better position to keep providing a healthy water supply to everyone. We just want to remember that conservation [...]