Sarah Mason

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Garden Guides uses a knowledgeable team of editors, writers, and experts to create all our content. We dive deep into the ever-evolving conversations surrounding gardening and landscaping, striving to deliver the most current and helpful tips, strengthened by expert insight and tutorials from our talented team.

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Stories By Sarah Mason

  • Trees
    Trees By Sarah Mason November 4th, 2022

    How To Kill Bushes With Salt And Vinegar

    How to Kill Bushes With Salt and Vinegar. Removing unwanted bushes can be hassle, especially if you are short on time and energy. While pulling the pesky plants up yourself or hiring a professional is always an option, a more efficient, cost-effective method can be used: a salt and vinegar solution. Salt and vinegar can be combined to create a quick and easy plant killer, which will effectively dehydrate and destroy any undesired bushes in your yard.

    By Sarah Mason November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Sarah Mason November 4th, 2022

    How To Prune Pieris Japonica

    How to Prune Pieris Japonica. Pieris japonica, commonly known as lily-of-the-valley bush, Japanese andromeda or Japanese pieris, is a round, compact evergreen shrub that grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 8. Japanese pieris produces attractive, bell-shaped white or pink flowers that hang in clusters of 6-inch chains in early winter or late spring. Native to Japan, Taiwan and Eastern China, Japanese pieris grows up to 12 feet tall and 10 feet wide. An annual pruning keeps Japanese pieris healthy and blooming.

    By Sarah Mason November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Structures
    Structures By Sarah Mason November 4th, 2022

    Keeping Algae Out Of Fountains Without Harming Dogs

    Keeping Algae Out of Fountains Without Harming Dogs. Algae, of the taxon Eukaryota, is a common problem in fountains in all U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones. These photosynthetic organisms occur in most habitats including oceans, freshwater, aquariums, sand, snow and yes, even fountains. While it's possible to use harsh chemicals to prevent the buildup of algae, these additives are not always safe for thirsty pets who may sneak a few gulps from the fountain. You can take a few steps to keep algae out of fountains in a pet-safe way.

    By Sarah Mason November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Sarah Mason November 4th, 2022

    How To Keep Bees Out Of Grapes

    How to Keep Bees Out of Grapes. As you admire your grapevines (Vitis L.) in late summer, you may begin to notice black and yellow insects invading your crop. Honey bees, wasps, hornets, bumblebees and -- most commonly -- yellow jackets, are frequent pests of grapevines. These insects are attracted to the high sugar content in ripe grapes and can appear in swarms of hundreds in the last few days before harvest. While bees are considered beneficial to grapes as pollinators, yellow jackets are not; they accomplish little pollination and their stings pose a serious threat to humans. You can take a few steps to manage grapevine pests such as yellow jackets and bees. Grapes grow in all U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones.

    By Sarah Mason November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Sarah Mason November 4th, 2022

    How To Trim A Podocarpus Gracilior Hedge

    How to Trim a Podocarpus Gracilior Hedge. When you want a dense hedge that screens out the neighbors without looking harsh and unneighborly, Podocarpus gracilior, more commonly known as fern pine, is a good choice. Fern pine is an evergreen hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 to 13, with a dense growth of feathery blue-green leaves along its 30- to 50-foot height. Because it is a tree, growing fern pine as a hedge means regular trimming.

    By Sarah Mason November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Sarah Mason November 4th, 2022

    How To Take Care Of Outdoor Potted Plants Over Winter

    How to Take Care of Outdoor Potted Plants Over Winter. Unlike annuals, which experience their entire life cycle in a single growing season, perennials return year after year. The stems, leaves and flowers of perennial plants typically die back each winter and regrow the following spring from the same root system. Perennials aren't immune to cold weather. Harsh winters can kill these plants, but you can take precautions to protect your potted perennials during the winter.

    By Sarah Mason November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Sarah Mason March 24th, 2022

    How To Lay Sod Over Sand

    How to Lay Sod Over Sand. Sod establishes quickly and can be laid any time during the growing season -- exactly the kind of fast and easy solution a busy mom needs. Sod can be installed over nearly any type of soil -- sand, silt, clay or loam -- if a 4- to 6-inch layer of topsoil is first added. However, most moms don't want to spend their hard-earned cash on expensive topsoil. If you'd like to lay sod directly onto sand, sod grows best over a sandy loam, which is soil that is mostly sand with a little clay and silt.

    By Sarah Mason March 24th, 2022 Read More