unique garden accessories in Wilton

Create a Garden Design That’s Great for Daydreaming and Meditation

When it comes to designing your garden, you may already have particular tastes, one design you may want to think about is a space that promotes meditation and philosophy. Having a beautiful space to meditate can bring peace and it can benefit your health.

container gardening — Source: Marvin Gardens Facebook

Here are some ideas you may want to consider adding to your garden design.

Adding shapes such as spheres to your garden can bring a sense of structure and peace while also providing texture.
Balance is key when promoting peace in your garden. This does not have to mean mirror imaging; asymmetrical balance can also add calm.
Gardens that are used for meditation often use greenery and foliage instead of flowers. This is thought to provide fewer distractions.
Well-placed seating such as a bench gazing out over the garden can provide a place to stop, breathe, and take in the beauty.
Plants that provide texture can be a great place to draw the eye, also drawing the mind to stop and think.

If you are interested in different types of garden design and finding the right design to suit your needs, contact us at Marvin Gardens.

Great Reasons to Take Another Look at Your Front Lawn

The front lawn is the first thing people see of your home, so they will already have a first impression formed even before they step into the front door. You therefore have to make sure that the front lawn is always on top condition — you’ll never know who may drop by.

home gardening landscaping — Source: Flickr

Aside from keeping the front lawn clean, you can also update it to increase your home’s curb appeal. Nowadays, this is an easier thing to do because of the many options for designing an outdoor space that are available to homeowners.

But how can you tell if your front lawn needs an upgrade? Here are some telltale signs:

The front entryway isn’t highlighted enough to be prominent.
It’s confusing to navigate a vehicle up or down the driveway.
Views from outside aren’t blocked, resulting in a lack of privacy.
The walkway to the front door doesn’t look welcoming.
Your maintenance and watering expenses are higher than you’d want them to be.

If your front lawn exhibits these signs, then allow us at Marvin Gardens to come to its rescue. We have an extensive collection of garden accessories to liven up your front lawn. Contact us for more details.

Tips to Keep Your Lawn Healthy No Matter the Season

If you want to keep the curb appeal of your property high, then you have to take care of your lawn all year round. The following are a few tips that you should be sure to follow in order to take care of your lawn during each season:

Spring – Fertilize your lawn during the spring in order to keep the lawn’s fresh green look. Look for fertilizer with a lot of nitrogen in order to encourage stronger growth. You’ll want to mow regularly as well.

Summer – Don’t use fertilizer unless rain is predicted; otherwise it will stress the lawn. Make sure to water it regularly to prevent it from drying out in the summer heat.

Fall – Fall is all about preparing your lawn for the harsh weather of winter. Fertilize your grass using a high potassium fertilizer to toughen it up for the winter months.

Winter – Avoid walking on the grass during the winter during more frosty periods. Remove debris from the lawn in order to prevent it from blocking sunlight from the grass.

Use these tips to care for your lawn throughout the year. For help designing an outdoor space, contact us at Marvin Gardens.

Design Tips to Create a Festive Holiday Container Garden

holiday planter decorating — Source: Marvin Gardens Facebook

Container gardens are a great way to add color to any space in your home but are especially useful in the winter months around the holidays. They can be kept growing through the most intemperate winter making them indispensable for people who love to have plants nearby all year-round.

Here are a few reasons you should use container plants at holiday time:

They’re Alive – It often seems that many decorators resort to twigs and dead branches to fill out their holiday décor. While that is a reasonable strategy, it does not bring the same vibrancy and aroma as live plants.
They Can Fill Window Boxes – Don’t plant them directly in the window box – just insert them in their containers and move them indoors when necessary.
They Move – These little biomes can be used over and over again. Place them inside in the dining room for your cocktail party one week and then move them outside for a night of entertainment under the stars.

For more information about these and other creative garden design ideas, please visit us at Marvin Gardens. You will find us online at MarvinGardensUSA.com or you can reach us directly at 203-544-2020.

Teach Your Kids to Garden With Bulbs

One way to get your kids involved in gardening is to start with planting bulbs. Planning your garden with bulbs is an easy way for kids to participate, regardless of their age. There is something for everyone to do and it makes for a great family activity.

Planting bulbs doesn’t require special tools, but you can make it easier by investing in a bulb planter, instead of using a ruler and garden trowel. This tool comes pre-marked with measurements that make it easy to dig the correct depth that is needed for each type of bulb.

Start by having your kids arrange the bulbs in the area where you will be planting them before digging holes. This will allow for adjustments if needed. Avoid planting bulbs too far apart because clumps of bulbs look much nicer than spindly spread out plants.

Dig the holes, plant the bulbs with the pointy end up, cover with dirt and you are done. When spring arrives, your kids will be excited to see the fruits of their labor, and this may help foster a lifelong interest in gardening.

Learn how Marvin Gardens can make planning your garden an enjoyable activity for your entire family.

Important Things to Do in Your Garden Before Winter

garden care ideas — Source: Marvin Gardens Facebook

The fall season is upon us and winter is approaching fast. Inexperienced gardeners may think that means a lull in activity but more knowledgeable ones understand that there are still plenty of things to do to get ready for next year. Here are just a few suggestions for where to start:

Plant Bulbs – It is important to get these in the ground before it freezes so that the plants have some time to root and establish themselves. Then they will be ready for an early spring thaw and you will have flowers as early as possible.
Divide and Transplant – Similarly, transplanting is best done now so that the plants are acclimatized to their new environment and ready to bloom at the earliest possible time.
Fertilize the Lawn – Don’t forget your lawn. The winter months create a long hiatus when your grass won’t be receiving much nourishment. A little fertilizer in the fall will go a long way towards keeping your lawn green now and in the spring.

For more information on these and other garden care ideas, please visit us at Marvin Gardens.

Festive Garden Design Ideas for the Holidays

Want to do something different this year with your yard and garden holiday decorating? Marvin Gardens has some wonderful ideas!

Place luminaries along the front walkway and then focus a single spotlight on the front door’s custom designed wreath.
Instead of trying to light all the trees and shrubs in the yard, decorate one single tree in white or clear lights. Combine this with the first suggestion above and you make a subtle but elegant statement.
When your summer plants succumb to Mother Nature’s cold blast don’t just store those pots and urns until next spring. Fill them with sprigs of holly, fluffy pine branches, red berries, pine cones and other greenery.
Don’t forget the mailbox. A couple short pieces of evergreen intertwined with glittering pine cones and anchored with a big red bow is so cheery and welcoming.
Fill window boxes with winter greenery. Change out summer cushions on the patio furniture with ones featuring more of a holiday theme. Use baskets of pine cones, oversized ornaments and sprigs of mistletoe and holly for outside tablescapes.

Marvin Gardens has everything you need for your garden design ideas. Please contact us today for more information.

Ideas for Decorating a Romantic Style Garden

If your personal design aesthetic trends toward a romantic style, you should definitely consider transforming your garden into a romantic escape. Consider the possibilities that are just outside your door. Simple changes and additions to your garden can extend the romantic design, including:

Vintage items. Metal watering cans, unique garden accessories, and iron wall hangings can all enhance the design of your garden. You may already have some of these items tucked away and just waiting to be used in your garden design.
Plenty of pots. Creating a container garden in terra cotta, painted, or glazed pots will bring color and visual interest to your garden. The pots can be displayed throughout the garden or clustered together to create interesting vignettes.
Picket fences. Many people consider pickets only in fencing. In fact, picket fencing can be used throughout a romantic garden. Consider backing a potting bench in picket fencing or using it against a wall to act as a trellis.

Contact the professionals at Marvin Gardens for more unique garden design ideas. We are committed to helping our customers transform their gardens into the spaces of their dreams.

Create a Table Centerpiece From Your Garden

garden design accessories — Source: Marvin Gardens Facebook

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and there is a lot to do before your friends and family sit down to dinner. You can cross one thing off your to-do list by creating a Thanksgiving table centerpiece from your garden. Pairing design accessories with items from your garden makes for a unique and meaningful table centerpiece.

Our favorite ideas include using:

Acorns and leaves. Look to the ground for acorns and leaves that will add color and texture to the table. A small sprig of leaves and a few acorns are perfect set against a cluster of roses.
Greenery. Pieces of greenery from pine, spruce, or noble trees can be collected and used in centerpieces. These garden items can be added to floral arrangements in vases or circled around candles.
Fall-blooming flowers. If you have mums or other fall blooming flowers in your garden you can use these in your holiday celebration. Choose a vessel that your guests can see over and consider wrapping it in burlap or raffia reminiscent of the harvest.

If you’d like to learn more about creative ways to decorate for Thanksgiving using things items from your garden contact the professionals at Marvin Gardens.

What Not to Do in Your Garden

gardening tips — Source: Marvin Garden Facebook

Gardening is a great way to relax, and many people that try it find a lifelong hobby. However, when you’re new to gardening it’s easy to make simple mistakes that can harm your plants. Use this guide to avoid big mistakes that are commonly made by beginning gardeners.

Using the Same Soil

Using the same type of soil for everything in your garden area can seem simple, and after all, soil is just soil, right? The short answer is no! When buying soil, especially if you’re going to use it for indoor plants, make sure you ask a garden professional for the right kind.

Staking All Trees

When planting young trees in really windy areas, staking is a good idea to keep them from toppling to the ground. However, if you’re not in a windy area, allowing the trees to sway actually helps roots grow deeper, making a stronger tree.

Always Using Mulch Rings

Not all trees need mulch rings. In fact, all they do for many varieties of trees is extend the drip line, making them need more water.

Visit us at Marvin Gardens for beautiful garden accessories to make your healthy garden even more beautiful.