Tips & Inspiration

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Fall is nearing and we are preparing for the Pacific Northwest hibernation. Just because we are moving indoors doesn’t mean that we have to miss out on green growing things. Using tropical houseplants we will create a lovely living indoor landscape to hang on your wall.

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an array of fall plants and decor

Online shopping has become my favorite Covid pastime. After you’ve baked all the bread, organized the cupboards, and sewn a mask for everyone in your neighborhood, online shopping is right there waiting for you; ready whenever you are. It is a welcomed change after having to make so many other adjustments around store closures, distancing rules, and sanitation procedures.

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I’ll admit to having a bit of container envy. Just a twinge of jealousy as I walk by a lavish and lush arrangement of seasonal plants perfect for thrilling guests at the front door. Unfortunately, my DIY skills are lacking in this department. I walk through the garden center and see so many choices, but I wonder: What’s the secret to a gorgeous container?

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young children in a row tending to a vegetable garden

For some of us, wrapping our heads around this different kind of ‘Back to School’ season is tough. Sure we’re getting back to schedules and routine, back to deadlines and homework, but with hours of screen time during online learning and then hours of unfilled time where there used to be extracurricular activities and sports, it’s going to be an adjustment. Not to mention all of that “togetherness” without a break! Do you have a plan to keep the little ones occupied and engaged? How are you going to keep the days from running into each other?

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garden supply

If your backyard is bland, there are fun and exciting ways to improve its aesthetics without breaking the bank. In this article, we look at some simple and inexpensive ways to transform your garden.

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A before and after shot of a backyard makover

Follow along as a landscape design professional shares her design principles, common mistakes homeowners make, and tips you can borrow to add that special something to your own backyard redesign.

Imagine, if you will, a perfectly fine yard, yet no one is out there enjoying it. That was the problem that Elida Rivera, Designer at All Oregon Landscaping Inc. was faced with when she started her backyard makeover for one of her clients. This busy family in Lake Oswego wanted their entire family to take full advantage of their outdoor space that was not being used at all at the time.

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garden supplies

Planting in your backyard garden is easy. Dig a hole, plant some seeds, and make sure the seedlings get water and sun. However, making sure your plants develop into a beautiful and productive garden requires a little bit more effort.

Healthy plants need more than just soil and sun. Garden centers are fond of telling customers that a plant's health is affected by seven factors:

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Colorful Swiss chard growing in a garden bed

This one goes out to all you new gardeners, as well as some of those “fair-weathered” gardeners cleaning out your vegetable beds and putting away your tools for the season. Is that you? Are you enjoying your tomatoes? Have you been sharing your bounty with your neighbors, whether they want it or not? Good! These are the gifts of summer. Enjoy this moment.

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A scavenger hunt is a fun way to encourage young gardeners to practive using their observation skills and engage all of their senses. We will use a nature scavenger hunt picture checklist to make new discoveries throughout your yard and neighborhood, and create a nature bracelet out of collected natural materials during your hunt. If you can find everything on the list, bring it back to any Al's store between August 22nd and September 10th for a free plant prize!

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Back by popular demand, join us to make an Air Plant Jellyfish. Low-maintenance, quirky air plants, which grow without the need for soil, are proving to be popular houseplants. Learn more about Air Plants and how they grow while creating your own jellyfish masterpiece through this fun and easy project.