by Emily Vogler | Jul 17, 2023
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As a homeowner, you always want to do whatever you can to increase your home value. If you‘re thinking about selling your home in the near future, or if you just want to make sure your home is worth as much as possible, there are a number of things you can do to improve its value. One of the best ways to do this is to focus on your landscaping.
Here are four landscaping tips that will help increase your home value:
1. Invest in curb appeal
One of the most important things you can do to increase your home value is to focus on curb appeal. This is the first impression potential buyers will have of your property, so you want to make sure it‘s a good one. There are a number of ways to improve your curb appeal, including:
– Planting flowers and shrubs
– Adding mulch or stone to your flower beds
– Power washing your driveway and walkways
– Painting your front door
– Adding new house numbers
Don’t want to do the planting yourself? Schedule a landscaping consultation with us and let the pros do it!
Backyard walkway
patio
2. Create an outdoor living space
Another great way to increase your home value is to create an outdoor living space. This is a space where you can relax and entertain guests, and it‘s a major selling point for potential buyers. There are a number of ways to create an outdoor living space, including:
– Adding a deck or patio
– Building a pergola or gazebo
– Installing a fire pit
– Installing a water feature
– Adding outdoor furniture and/or a grill
increase your home value
wooden stair that leads to a sitting area
3. Install an irrigation system
If you want to make your landscaping low–maintenance, one of the best things you can do is install a sprinkler system. Your plants will thrive with regular waterings, and our professional irrigation team can help you with that! They’ll save you time and money in the long run, and it‘s a major selling point for potential buyers.
sprinkler watering the plants
4. Use drought–tolerant plants
If you live in an area that is prone to drought, one of the best things you can do for your landscaping is to use drought–tolerant plants. These plants require less water and maintenance, and they can really help improve the look of your property. Read our blog on drought-tolerant plants here.
By following these landscaping tips, you can be sure that you‘re doing everything you can to increase the value of your home! To start a conversation with one of our designers about your dream landscape, schedule a phone consultation! You can also read more about the property value of plants from this helpful article from Garden Center Magazine!
by Emily Vogler | Jul 6, 2023
If you live in an area that is prone to drought, you know how important it is to have drought tolerant plants in your landscape. Especially if you live here in Tennessee. We’ve got a few ideas for drought-tolerant plants that are able to withstand long periods of time without water and still remain healthy. This also brings up the subject of xeriscaping – the practice of landscaping or gardening in a way that requires little to no irrigation. This can be accomplished by selecting plants that are native to or tolerant of the local climate and soil conditions, and by using mulch, rock, and other groundcover to retain moisture.
One of the primary advantages of xeriscaping is its ability to conserve water. By using drought-tolerant plants, minimizing turf areas, and implementing efficient irrigation systems, xeriscaping reduces water consumption significantly. This is especially important in arid regions or areas prone to drought, where water resources are limited. Xeriscaping emphasizes the use of organic mulches, which help improve soil health over time. Mulching conserves moisture, reduces weed growth, and moderates soil temperature. As the organic mulch breaks down, it enriches the soil with nutrients, enhances its structure, and promotes beneficial microbial activity.
Contrary to the misconception that xeriscaping means a barren or desert-like yard, a well-designed xeriscape can be visually appealing and diverse. By selecting a variety of drought-tolerant plants with different colors, textures, and heights, xeriscaping can create an attractive landscape that complements the surrounding environment. There are a variety of beautiful drought tolerant plants that you can choose from, so read on to can find the perfect ones for your landscape. Some of the most popular drought tolerant plants include:
Succulents
Succulents are a great choice for drought tolerant landscaping because they are able to store water in their leaves and stems. This means that they can go for long periods of time without water and still remain healthy. Examples include Hens & Chicks, Ice Plants, and Agave.
Cacti
Cacti are another great choice for drought tolerant landscaping because they have a shallow root system that doesn‘t require a lot of water. Examples include Prickly Pear, Barrel Cactus, and Opuntia.
Sedun flower
Sedums
Sedums are also a great choice for drought tolerant landscaping because they have thick, fleshy leaves that store water. There are a lot of examples of Sedums that are drought tolerant, but popular varieties include ground cover Sedum and trailing Sedum.
Lantana plant with flowers
Lantana
Lantanas are abundant bloomers that absolutely thrive in the summer heat. They’ll produce flowers all season long, and are fantastic to grow in containers.
Red Poppie flowers
Poppies
Poppies grow best in full sun, and don’t mind if the soil they grow in is a little less than perfect. Their eye-catching array of colors is sure to provide plenty of curb appeal in a dry summer yard!
drought tolerant plant for xeriscaping
Coneflower/Echinacea
Purple Coneflower is a beautiful perennial plant that is drought tolerant and native to Tennessee. It features vibrant purple flowers and thrives in full sun to partial shade. It is well-adapted to hot and dry conditions and requires little watering once established.
Eastern Redcedar
Eastern Redcedar
The Eastern Redcedar is a hardy evergreen tree that can tolerate drought conditions well. It is native to Tennessee and can grow in various soil types. Once established, it requires minimal watering and can withstand dry periods.
Blue Star blossom
Blue Star
Blue Star is a native perennial plant that is known for its delicate blue flowers and feathery green foliage. It is highly drought tolerant and thrives in well-drained soil. Blue Star can withstand hot and dry conditions, making it an excellent choice for Tennessee gardens.
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When choosing drought tolerant plants for your landscape, it is important to choose ones that are native to your area. This is because they will be better adapted to the local climate and soil conditions. It is also important to choose plants that are appropriate for the amount of sun and shade in your landscape. This will ensure that they get the proper amount of sunlight and water to stay healthy. If you are looking for drought tolerant plants for your landscape, stop on into the garden center – we’re stocked on all kinds of drought-tolerant plants that will thrive in your landscaping. Our staff can help you choose the perfect plants for your area! Or, to start a drought-tolerant xeriscape design, schedule a phone consultation!
by Emily Vogler | May 30, 2023
At Gardens of Babylon, we know to have a healthy and happy life, you need to incorporate nature into your living spaces. The problem is that most people don’t know where to start when it comes to adding plants and landscaping to their in or outdoor spaces, leaving them feeling stuck and uninspired. We believe you should be connected to nature and draw life and strength from it. Over the last 20 years, we have helped thousands of customers across Tennessee turn their yards into beautiful retreats of inspiration. Our eco-friendly approach ensures you get nature’s full benefit – the way it’s intended.
Check out some of the five-star Google reviews we’ve received about our outstanding service:
“As a houseplant enthusiast, I’ve heard legends of this place, and it was even better than I’ve heard!! So many rare plants all in one place, definitely more expensive than some other places but it’s clearly worth the money for the convenience! Their staff was helpful and friendly, while giving us plenty of space to browse on our own. They have such a wide selection of all plant care needs, indoors and out. I also loved the living wall, and they had a great selection of unique pots!” – Jess
“Working with GOBL was a pleasure! Eric V was great as our lead contact helping us with landscape design ideas, project planning, phasing and scheduling. Val led the teams that did the work and she and her team, including Victor and Jaime, worked hard to the plan and gave us a yard much improved and something we are very pleased with. Thank you to the GOBL team, much recommended!” – Avery
by Emily Vogler | May 5, 2023
Thrillist wrote an article featuring “The Freshest Farmers Markets in Nashville” and they mentioned us!
From Thrillist:
“Created as an open-air market in 1955 and modernized with an enclosed market house and covered farm sheds in 1995, the Nashville Farmers’ Market has been an indispensable asset to the city for decades. The outdoor area welcomes more than 150 farmers and food artisans over the course of the year, and local restaurants and individuals purchase fresh produce every weekend except for the holidays around the turn of the year when, let’s face it, the food options are a little meager anyway. The indoor market house is home to almost twenty restaurants and shops plus a small stage for live music acts and cooking demonstrations.
Featured vendors to look for: Smiley’s Farm, Gardens of Babylon, Candle with a Handle.”
At Gardens of Babylon, we know to have a healthy and happy life, you need to incorporate nature into your living spaces. The problem is that most people don’t know where to start when it comes to adding plants and landscaping to their in or outdoor spaces, leaving them feeling stuck and uninspired. We believe you should be connected to nature and draw life and strength from it. Over the last 20 years, we have helped thousands of customers across Tennessee turn their yards into beautiful retreats of inspiration. Our eco-friendly approach ensures you get nature’s full benefit – the way it’s intended.
Check out some of the five-star Google reviews we’ve received about our outstanding service:
“People are super friendly. Nursery has lots of options and DOES NOT disappoint. Definitely stop in during the “off hours” so you can enjoy. Definitely will be stopping back in if in town. Their seed collection is plentiful.” – Jessica
“Three letters- WOW. I couldn’t wait to get home to write this review! I had the best customer service experience I’ve ever had at a plant nursery / garden center before at Gardens of Babylon today. I came in with two of my own plants, a monstera and a swiss cheese for repotting. Angelina and Lily went above and beyond and took such great care of my plants. “ – Kaila
by Emily Vogler | Apr 19, 2023
A staghorn fern is quite the sight to behold! Found in tropical areas near the equator, these guys can get quite big and live in trees. Spores from the plant float in the air and land in the crooks of trees, soaking up the moisture and nutrients from the bark. They look incredible when mounted on a wall, and here at Gardens of Babylon, we even have our very first staghorn fern that was donated back to us and is still thriving in our greenhouses!
Supplies you’ll need
- a staghorn fern
- fishing line
- sphagnum moss
- a board to mount your fern onto (a piece of wood will look the most natural)
- a hanging device – hook, wire, etc.
- something to make holes in your mounting board to thread the fishing line through
- water
- epiphyte fertilizer
Step 1: Prep your plant
Start by removing some of the soil from the root ball. But be careful, you want to be a little gentle because you want to try to keep as many of these roots as possible. Remove 70% of the dirt – as an example, the plant we chose went from about 5 inches of soil to about 2 inches of soil. You only want your plant to stick off the board a couple of inches.
Step 2: Prep your board
For this hanging method, we recommend making 4 holes that go straight through your board to secure your plant with fishing line. Don’t do less than three holes! You don’t want your plant to fall off its board! We chose a piece of beautiful cork wood, which looks very natural! Then we created the holes with a small drill bit.
Step 3: Choose a potting medium + feeding
So let’s talk about what medium is going to be the best for supporting our fern. We’re huge fans of sphagnum moss. It holds moisture the best and looks the most natural. You’ll want to take a good chunk of moss and soak it completely in water. Get in there and smash it around just to make sure that everything is completely saturated! At this step, you can also add a bit of fertilizer. Staghorn ferns are epiphytes, so we’re going to use orchid food. Next, you’re going to take a handful of moss and squeeze out a lot of that water. Then, you’ll take that moss and apply a thin layer in the center of your board – this is going to be the initial rooting area for this plant until the roots can dig into the cork. Place your plant, root side down, onto the moss.
Step 4: Securing your plant
Now that it’s centered and ready to go, get out your fishing line! Hold your fern onto the board, and feed the fishing line through the back to the front side of your board! Then the other side of the fishing line then goes into a different hole. This is the initial tie off, which is what keeps your plant on this board. Try your best to go through a separation in the shields when you tie off your fishing line. We don’t want to hurt these shields because they protect the fronds! For a more in-depth breakdown of this step, check out the full video on our Youtube channel!
Step 5: Add more moss and make the final ties
Now that we made the first initial tie, it’s time to add a bit more moss to the root ball. Thin some out apply it to the plant on the soil and base. You don’t have to make this perfect. Next, take your fishing line and go all the way around the moss and root ball. Keep wrapping the line around until you have the moss completely adhered and secured to the plant. Find the end of your fishing line and tie it off! Make the knot several times to really secure your plant! Very carefully turn your plant over and find the next hole. Thread your line through another hole and do one more good tie off. If you went from top to bottom before, go left to right! Finally, double check everything, and it’s ready to go!
