little to no direct sun Great for tight Cleveland side yards, north facing courtyards, and areas shaded by nearby homes. Perennials & Groundcovers Hostas — the go to for deep shade Ferns (lady fern, ostrich fern) — lush, woodland feel Foamflower (Tiarella) — delicate blooms, spreads gently Lungwort (Pulmonaria) — spotted leaves + early spring flowers Sweet woodruff — fragrant,…
3–5 hours of sun Perfect for courtyards with morning sun + afternoon shade or filtered light from nearby homes. Perennials & Flowers Coral bells (Heuchera) — colorful foliage, great in containers Astilbe — feathery blooms, loves moisture Bleeding heart — spring charm, thrives in cool shade Hostas — endless varieties, lush texture Grasses Feather reed grass ‘Karl Foerster’ — narrow,…
6+ hours of direct sun Great for bright courtyards, south facing spaces, and open patios. Perennials & Flowers Black eyed Susan — tough, cheerful, long bloom time Purple coneflower (Echinacea) — pollinator magnet, drought tolerant Russian sage — airy texture, loves heat Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ — thrives in poor soil, great fall color Daylilies — reliable, low maintenance Grasses Little…
Basement mold doesn’t appear out of nowhere. It’s almost always a symptom of a bigger problem: excess moisture in the soil around your home. When the ground stays wet for long periods—especially in spring—humidity rises inside the basement, creating the perfect environment for mold to grow. Understanding why this happens is the first step toward fixing it. And one of…
Local plants, smart greenery choices, and space saving design ideas. Small yards are common across Cleveland’s neighborhoods — from Lakewood and Tremont to Parma and Old Brooklyn. But even the tiniest outdoor space can feel like a private courtyard retreat with the right landscaping. Here are Cleveland friendly ideas that make a small courtyard lush, inviting, and beautifully designed. 🌿…
Why It’s Hard to Grow a Beautiful Lawn After Stump Grinding When a stump is ground out, the surface looks ready for grass — but underneath, the soil is still recovering. The area is usually filled with wood chips, sawdust, and decaying roots, all of which compete with new grass for nutrients. As that buried wood breaks down, it steals…
🌧️ Why Spring Moisture Becomes a Problem Spring is the season when every source of water arrives at once. Melting snow, saturated clay soil, and back to back rainstorms overwhelm the ground. When the soil can’t absorb any more, water spreads across the yard and begins pushing toward the foundation. Cold, compacted soil absorbs water slowly. – Heavy clay holds…
Spring flooding on residential lots usually comes from a mix of soil conditions, weather patterns, and changes in how water moves across the property. Understanding these causes helps homeowners see what’s happening beneath the surface and what can be improved. Seasonal Weather Patterns That Overwhelm the Ground Spring brings a combination of rapid snowmelt and frequent rainstorms. When these arrive…
A former stump spot can become a showpiece flowerbed because the soil is loose, airy, and naturally mounded. The key is to work with the shape and history of the site rather than against it. What kind of flowerbed works best on a former stump site? A raised, layered perennial bed is the most natural fit. The ground already sits…
When a tree is removed, the soil beneath the stump doesn’t immediately return to “normal.” In fact, the area often becomes more acidic, especially if the tree was a conifer. This acidity affects what will grow well in that spot — and what won’t. Understanding why stump areas turn acidic and which plants naturally thrive there makes it much easier…
