Anawalt Gardening & Tool Tips
Unpruned Palo Verde is a tangled mess of brambles and branches. But trimmed into shape, it’s a delight to the eye — light and airy with a graceful spreading canopy.
Regular pruning is critical to tree health and beauty. The right tools will make the job quicker, easier, cleaner, and more precise.
DIYers love tools. They collect them like squirrels gathering nuts for the winter — there can never be enough.
But while owning every tool under the sun sounds appealing, is it practical? Renting tools instead can save space, money, and stress, especially for the tools you’ll need only occasionally. Â
Agave holds an honored place in Mexican culture, and not just for the alcohol distilled from its juice.
The plants are native to the hot, arid regions of North and Central America and are highly adapted to desert environments. They store water in their thick, fleshy leaves, perfect for low-water gardens in similar climates.
LA’s typically mild climate affords the luxury of year-round gardening, but unpredictable dips in temperature can ruin a garden or landscape unless you take precautions.
That exotic-looking plant in your neighbor’s yard is actually a banana export from South Africa, a country known for bizarrely beautiful flora and large carnivorous animals.
Bird of paradise showcases a gaudy blossom that resembles a bird in flight, hence its name. Southern California’s mild climate is perfect for cultivating this tropical beauty.
Staining protects wood’s natural beauty. It highlights the grain, adds depth, and shields the material from sunlight, moisture, and wear. Your choice of wood stain and the quality of your application can dramatically alter the look and feel of the finished piece.
A poorly executed stain job can be blotchy, uneven, or worse — it can ruin your project altogether.
Does life have you tied in knots? Try Zen. No, you don’t have to withdraw to a mountaintop retreat when you can build a Zen garden instead.
A Zen garden won’t solve your troubles but can help you find tranquility in a hectic and demanding world.
You haven’t even started painting, and already you’re paralyzed with indecision.
It’s the paradox of choice — too many options shut down your brain, and you walk away buying nothing.
But selecting house paint — apart from the potential landmine of color — is much easier if you understand a few basics.
Flowering trees do more than beautify.
They lower ambient temperatures and reduce cooling costs, and attract pollinating insects like bees and butterflies. Some species are drought-resistant and flourish with minimal care.Â
What’s the showiest flower of them all?
It might be the dahlia, with its extravagant and intricate blossoms, extraordinary color variety, and long blooming season.
Dahlias are native to Mexico and Central America, where the Aztecs cultivated them for their edible tubers.
Marigolds come from Central America, particularly Mexico, where they’ve been cultivated for centuries. They hold cultural significance in festivals like Mexico’s DÃa de los Muertos and India’s Diwali.
They’re incredibly versatile, growing in a wide range of climates and conditions. Â
Originally from the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, pothos grows wild in Southeast Asia and Australia. It prefers shady, forested areas where it can climb trees and cover the forest floor. Understanding its natural habitat can help you replicate these conditions at home.
The hammer, one of the first tools in human history and descended from a lowly rock, is now highly specialized and employed in various tasks from construction to crafting to animal care.
Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean region. Its name comes from the Latin words ros (dew) and marinus (sea), meaning “dew of the sea.” Ancient Greeks and Romans considered rosemary a symbol of remembrance, love, and fidelity.
In the kitchen, it’s an essential seasoning for stuffing, roasted potatoes, focaccia, braised vegetables, and more.
Painting plastic opens a world of creative possibilities. As you unleash your inner Michelangelo, you’re also doing a good deed — like keeping that old, faded plastic lawn furniture out of the landfill.
Fresh paint can revive old patio furniture, upgrade home decor, or add a personality to the models on your shelf.
Native to China, persimmons have been cultivated for over 2,000 years. The trees were introduced to the United States in the mid-1800s and have since become common in gardens nationwide.
Southern California presents the right blend of sunlight, mild temperatures, and soil fertility.
