When to do your spring cleanup in the Upstate
A few honest rules of thumb for cutting back, mulching and pruning around Spartanburg County — and the one mistake I see every year.
Read →Journal
Notes from the garden.
A handful of short essays — usually written on a notebook in the truck, then typed up later.
Five plants that thrive in Upstate clay
Our clay-heavy soil isn't a problem — it's an opportunity. Here are five plants I keep coming back to.
Read →How to water new plants (the short version)
Forget the daily sprinkle. Here is the simple watering rhythm I tape to every client's fridge.
Read →Fall is the secret best season to plant
Around here, October planting beats April planting almost every time. Here's why.
Read →Deer-resistant plants that actually work in the Upstate
No plant is truly deer-proof, but these dozen have held up for me across hundreds of yards from Greer to Inman.
Read →A decent lawn in the Upstate without the chemical treadmill
You don't have to choose between a putting green and a weed patch. Here's the simple yearly rhythm I use on my own yard.
Read →Three quiet design moves for a small Upstate backyard
Most of the yards I work on are a quarter acre or less. Here's how I make them feel bigger without adding a thing.
Read →Stone patio or concrete pavers — what I actually recommend
Both have a place. Here is how I help clients decide between flagstone, bluestone and manufactured pavers.
Read →When you actually need a French drain (and when you don't)
Half the drainage problems I'm called about can be fixed with a regrade and a downspout extension. The other half need real work.
Read →A pollinator garden that doesn't look messy
You can support bees, butterflies and goldfinches and still have a yard your neighbors compliment. Here is the simple recipe.
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