Shop By Category

Fall Gardening Tips for a Bountiful Harvest

As the summer warmth begins to wane and the leaves start to display their vibrant hues, it's time for gardeners to shift their focus to fall gardening. Fall is an ideal season for gardening, with its cooler temperatures and abundant moisture creating the perfect conditions for a successful harvest. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a novice, these fall gardening tips will help you make the most of this fruitful season.

Choose the Right Crops

Selecting the right crops for your fall garden is crucial. Some vegetables thrive in cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours. Consider planting crops such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, spinach, kale, lettuce, radishes, carrots, and beets. These vegetables are well-suited for fall's conditions and can often withstand light frost.

Plan and Prepare

Before you start planting, take time to plan your fall garden layout. Consider crop rotation to prevent soil-borne diseases and pests. Prepare your soil by amending it with compost or well-rotted manure to improve its structure and fertility. Clear out any summer crops that have finished producing and remove debris to minimize overwintering pests.

Extend the Growing Season

To maximize your harvest, consider using season-extending techniques. Cold frames, row covers, and cloches can help protect your plants from early frosts and provide extra warmth. These simple structures create a microclimate that allows you to continue growing tender crops well into fall.

Optimize Watering Practices

As the temperature drops and rainfall increases, you'll need to adjust your watering routine. Monitor the moisture levels of your garden regularly and water only when necessary. Aim for deep, infrequent watering to encourage strong root development. Mulching around your plants can help retain soil moisture and regulate temperature.

Monitor for Pests and Diseases

While fall gardening generally sees fewer pest and disease issues, it's still important to keep an eye out for potential problems. Regularly inspect your plants for any signs of infestation or disease. Early detection allows for more effective intervention, whether through manual removal, organic sprays, or other appropriate methods.

Harvest in a Timely Manner

Harvesting your crops at the right time is crucial for flavor and quality. Follow the recommended maturity dates for each vegetable variety. Some crops, like root vegetables, can be left in the ground longer as the cool temperatures improve their taste. Others, like leafy greens, should be harvested promptly to avoid bitterness.

Preserve the Harvest

As the fall harvest comes in, you might find yourself with an abundance of produce. Consider preserving your bounty through methods like canning, freezing, or drying. This will allow you to enjoy your homegrown goodness throughout the winter months.

Clean Up and Prepare for Winter

Once the harvest season is over, take time to clean up your garden. Remove any remaining plant debris and weeds to prevent pests from overwintering. Consider covering your garden beds with a layer of compost or mulch to protect the soil during the cold months and improve its fertility for the next growing season.

Reflect and Plan Ahead

As you wrap up your fall gardening activities, take some time to reflect on what worked well and what could be improved. Make notes in a gardening journal to remember your successes and lessons learned. Use this information to plan your next year's fall garden with even more success in mind.

Enjoy the Fruits of Your Labor

Finally, remember to take a moment to enjoy the results of your hard work. Whether you're savoring a homegrown salad or admiring the colors of your fall garden, relish in the satisfaction that comes from nurturing a garden through its productive cycle.

In conclusion, fall gardening is a rewarding endeavor that offers a second chance to cultivate a successful harvest. By choosing the right crops, planning carefully, extending the growing season, and following these tips, you'll be well on your way to reaping the rewards of a bountiful fall garden. Stop by Red's Home & Garden this season for fall seedlings, pollinators and advice from our knowledgeable staff! 

Creating a Stunning Outdoor Entertaining Area with Techo-Bloc

In today's fast-paced world, our outdoor spaces have become essential sanctuaries for relaxation, enjoyment, and entertainment. A well-designed outdoor entertaining area can transform your backyard into a welcoming haven where you can host gatherings, spend quality time with loved ones, and create cherished memories. One of the best ways to achieve this is by incorporating Techo-Bloc, a leading provider of high-quality hardscaping products, into your outdoor design. 

  • The Beauty of Techo-Bloc Products

Techo-Bloc is renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship and innovative designs, making it a preferred choice for landscaping professionals and homeowners alike. The product range includes pavers, slabs, walls, steps, and various outdoor living elements, all available in a wide array of colors, textures, and sizes. With Techo-Bloc, you can unleash your creativity and design a unique and captivating outdoor entertaining space.
  • Pavers and Slabs for a Stunning Patio

The foundation of your outdoor entertaining area starts with the selection of pavers and slabs for your patio. Techo-Bloc offers an extensive selection of paving stones that cater to various styles, whether you prefer a classic, contemporary, or rustic look. Consider using the luxurious Blu 80 Smooth pavers for a refined and elegant patio, or explore the Travertina Raw slabs for a natural stone appearance that adds warmth and character to the space.
  • Create Inviting Seating Areas

Comfortable seating areas are essential for any outdoor gathering. Techo-Bloc provides versatile wall systems that can be used to create stylish seating walls or cozy fire pits. Utilize the Mini-Creta Architectural stone for low seating walls that encircle your patio or opt for the sleek and modern look of the Graphix wall system. Enhance these seating areas with weather-resistant cushions and throws to create an inviting atmosphere.
  • Outdoor Kitchen and Dining

Take your outdoor entertaining area to the next level by incorporating an outdoor kitchen and dining space! Techo-Bloc's Borealis wall and steps are perfect for building a durable and visually striking kitchen island or bar area. Pair it with a Techo-Bloc grill island and countertop, equipped with a built-in grill, sink, and storage options. For your dining area, opt for the Industria slab series, which brings an industrial-chic vibe to your space while providing a durable surface for your outdoor dining table and chairs.
  • Softscape Integration

Incorporate softscape elements such as cushions, pillows, lighting, lush plants, colorful flowers, and shrubs to soften the hardscape features and add a touch of natural beauty. Techo-Bloc's Eva pavers and Rocka steps, with their unique design, can create attractive garden borders and edging, seamlessly integrating your softscape with the hardscape elements.

Designing a beautiful outdoor entertaining area with Techo-Bloc offers endless possibilities. From stunning patios and inviting seating areas to functional kitchens and fire pits, Techo-Bloc's premium hardscaping products can elevate your outdoor space and transform it into a captivating haven for entertaining. Embrace your creativity, combine different textures and colors, and let Techo-Bloc “pave” the way to your dream outdoor entertaining area. Get ready to host unforgettable gatherings, create lasting memories, and enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors right in your own backyard!

 

Starting Your Own Vegetable Garden: A Step-by-Step Guide

There is something very satisfying about growing your own vegetables. Picking ripe tomatoes for a salad or steaming fresh broccoli from your garden not only gives you fantastic-tasting food but provides a sense of accomplishment from consuming something you took time and care to cultivate. If you are new to the experience, you can assemble a thriving garden quickly. All you need is a little knowledge, and here are the steps to get you started.

Select a Spot for Your Garden

There are only a few requirements when choosing an ideal location for your garden. The primary goal is to pick a location with full sun where all the plants can have optimal growing conditions. It is also essential to have convenient access so that you can give your garden the regular attention it needs. Additionally, try to choose a spot that is level. It will make the garden easier to maintain and allow you to create a healthy environment for growing vegetables.

Plan Your Layout

The design you choose for your garden is as important as the location. The layout should be designed for both aesthetics and functionality. The primary concern is creating optimal conditions for the vegetables you grow. A simple and casual garden can have wide rows that make fertilizing, watering and harvesting a snap. If you plan on growing a more significant crop, reduce the spacing between rows to allow full use of the area.

Decide What To Grow

Deciding what you want to grow is a satisfying aspect of creating your new garden. You may be inclined to try to grow every vegetable you love, but limiting what you cultivate is essential. Select veggies that are challenging to purchase or concentrate on your favorites. For instance, if you are a tomato lover, expand with multiple varieties. This will ensure you are getting the most personal reward for your efforts.

Choose Seeds or Seedlings

When in the first stages of making a garden, know that using seeds for each plant you grow is only sometimes necessary. Although you may have particular hopes about what you choose to grow, starting your garden solely from seeds can take time and effort. Instead of nurturing tiny plants indoors until they are ready to cultivate outside, you can easily visit a garden center and select young plants already ready to incorporate into your garden.

Pick the Right Soil

A soil rich in nutrients and full of life is ideal for your garden to give the plants you are growing the energy they need to thrive. Inspect the earth and identify its characteristics. Check to see if it is dense, gritty, or dry. You may need to augment it by incorporating organic matter to ensure you provide a healthy environment for your vegetables. The ideal soil should have a rich, dark, moist and crumbly texture.

Prepare for Pests

Of course, you knew this would be a subject to address. Controlling pests is part of the package when you have a garden, but it does not need to be daunting. The last thing you want to do is spray your beautiful vegetables with pesticides. Instead, there are natural methods you can use to help mitigate pests. The first step is to control the weeds. Keep them in check by adding clean straw or mulch around larger plants. Keep pets and other animals out of your garden. Consult your local garden center for pertinent information about dealing with local insects and wildlife.

Get Inspiration to Start Your Amazing Garden Today!

Now that you have a plentiful bounty outside your door, you may be unable to consume everything. Freeze or can some veggies for winter and have fun sharing your efforts with people you know with a fresh basket or casserole. At Red's Home and Garden, we have all the supplies to inspire you and make your garden dreams come true. Contact us today to get in touch with our team of professionals to help you achieve your vision. Grab some tools and get started!

What Makes a Retaining Wall Work?

Allan Block retaining walls make it possible to build homes and achieve landscaping projects in some of the most unlikely places. These walls can support foundational structures and significantly reduce soil erosion. Builders have relied on them for millennia, but how exactly do they work?

What Are the Main Types of Retaining Walls?

Before determining the secret to how a retaining wall works, it’s important to understand the two main types. These types bring different structural components and mechanics to the table.

Gravity Walls

Gravity walls require a precise weight and setback to work properly. Setback refers to the angle at which the wall leans to keep the soil in place. The weight of the wall and the degree of leaning from the vertical upright position are the two secrets behind how this type of retaining wall works.

Reinforced Walls

These walls are a little more complicated and require three components: weight, setback and geogrid. The geogrid refers to woven material used to weave soil and other materials together. Geogrid makes it possible for the walls to push back against the strong forces of the heavy soil bracing against them.

What Are Additional Components of Retaining Walls?

Weight, setback and geogrid serve as the core factors behind how these walls work. As well, there are additional components to consider.

Positive Interlock

In a retaining wall, the strength of each component is essential for the overall strength of the wall. To ensure full strength, Allan Block uses a rock-lock connection. Years of experience and experimentation have proven that this is the most stable and reliable block-to-grid interlock. It provides additional strength beyond the materials used to hold each component together.

Internal Stability

The soil and the retaining wall work together to create internal stability. When built correctly, the soil and the retaining wall function together like one cohesive unit. When the internal stability of a retaining wall fails, it can manifest as bulging, pullout or grid rupture.

External Stability

External stability depends on how well designers calculated the force of gravity and the weight of the soil. Proper analysis and accurate execution allow the soil and wall to function as one unit. Engineers achieve external stability by satisfying sliding, overturning, bearing capacity and global stability considerations.

What Are Crucial Design Considerations?

When building a retaining wall, Allan Block must review several factors and how they might affect the strength and functionality of the wall. Planning for these in the initial design phase ensures your retaining wall stands the test of time:
  • Water Drainage: Water can move more than just soil. It can also move walls and foundation structures, so drainage is crucial to maintaining stability.
  • Embedment: Engineers need to determine how deep the grid length should extend beyond the wall. This is crucial for meeting gravity mass requirements.
  • Layers: Retaining walls require enough layers to ensure the internal strength can handle the load created by the soil mass. Layers also need proper spacing to distribute internal forces.
Our home and garden center has everything you need to build a beautiful and functional retaining wall for your home. Find out more about how our trusted partners at Red's Home & Garden, such as Allan Block, can help you achieve your vision.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter