17 Outdoor Entertaining Essentials To Keep You Warm and Cozy

As a long-time Alaska resident, I’m used to busting out the chunky blankets shortly after Labor Day. The summers are magical but short, and we usually see our first snowfall by early October. But that doesn’t mean that I or my statesmen are ready to re…

As a long-time Alaska resident, I’m used to busting out the chunky blankets shortly after Labor Day. The summers are magical but short, and we usually see our first snowfall by early October. But that doesn’t mean that I or my statesmen are ready to retreat inside—especially during a pandemic that’s prevented us from socializing indoors. That’s why I’ve made it my personal mission to find ways to entertain outdoors well into the fall and winter.

Whether it’s a gathering in a garden or backyard, on a porch or patio, or maybe even in the driveway, the key is to make the space warm, cozy, and inviting for guests. Here are all the essentials you’ll need if you’re planning to entertain outdoors when the temps drop—even if you’re not living in Alaska.

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10 Thanksgiving Decor Ideas for a Most-Inviting Porch

Now that we’ve said our farewells to summer, the best season (this is not open for debate) is finally here, and we’re officially looking forward to Thanksgiving. The food- and family-centric holiday might be just under two months away but, trust us, it…

Now that we’ve said our farewells to summer, the best season (this is not open for debate) is finally here, and we’re officially looking forward to Thanksgiving. The food- and family-centric holiday might be just under two months away but, trust us, it will sneak up on you if you let it.

While our dinner menus are coming together slowly in the back of our minds—turkey (of course), all the vegetables, apple pie—we’re focused right now on what the outside of our homes will look like. We’re seeing Thanksgiving porch decorations full of bright orange and pristinely white pumpkins, leafy wreaths, and warmly lit, vintage lanterns put out to make friends and family feel welcome before they even walk through the door.

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It’s Time to Plant Your Fall Vegetable Garden—Here’s How

If you have free space in your garden beds or empty containers, it’s still early enough to plant for a fall harvest. Vegetable gardening in the fall is often more successful than in the spring or summer because you are up against fewer odds: weed growt…

If you have free space in your garden beds or empty containers, it’s still early enough to plant for a fall harvest. Vegetable gardening in the fall is often more successful than in the spring or summer because you are up against fewer odds: weed growth slows down, the plants are under less heat stress, there’s more rain, and many garden pests are also (temporarily) gone. While you can certainly do a thorough end-of-seasoning gardening cleanup (and you should!) you can also make use of your fertile ground for a harvest-timed harvest.

Read on for the best ways to leverage the last of the pre-winter weather for a successful fall vegetable garden.

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So, What Is Ungardening Anyway?

while I consider myself lucky to have a beautiful outdoor space to call my own, the entire property is absolutely riddled with Oriental bittersweet. This invasive vine manages to strangle (and often kill) every plant it comes in contact with—we’ve lost…

while I consider myself lucky to have a beautiful outdoor space to call my own, the entire property is absolutely riddled with Oriental bittersweet. This invasive vine manages to strangle (and often kill) every plant it comes in contact with—we’ve lost full-grown, 100-year-old trees to it—and it’s near impossible to get rid of once it has a foothold.

Given how awful this plant is, I was shocked to find out that some nurseries actually sell it as an ornamental plant. In fact, it’s fairly common to find invasive species and non-native plants in garden centers, and while they might look pretty—bittersweet gets festive red berries with orange shells in the fall—these plants aren’t great for our local ecosystems. That’s where “ungardening” comes in. We spoke to an ecologist about how this new gardening movement can help reverse ecological decline and build habitats for local wildlife, and it turns out that it’s perfect for anyone with a laissez faire gardening style (like me!).

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Does This Internet-Trendy Plant Food Actually Work?

TikTok has brought us some of the greatest life hacks including cleaning tips, cheesy, creamy pasta recipes (feta pasta, anyone?), and all-around entertainment (raise your hand if you’re still scarred by #bamarush!). But today I’m not here to talk abou…

TikTok has brought us some of the greatest life hacks including cleaning tips, cheesy, creamy pasta recipes (feta pasta, anyone?), and all-around entertainment (raise your hand if you’re still scarred by #bamarush!). But today I’m not here to talk about Kendra Scott earrings or the Lululemon Align Tank that every 18-year-old freshman at ’Bama rocked on the Tok. I’m here to exercise my green thumb and get down and dirty with plant TikTok.

How to Make TikTok Plant Fertilizer

A few weeks ago, Armen Adamjen, aka creative_explained, shared a video on TikTok demonstrating how to use just three basic household ingredients—spent coffee grounds, cinnamon, and seltzer water—to create an instant plant fertilizer for indoor and outdoor plants. Armen’s instructions? Just combine 4-6 tablespoons of coffee grounds with one teaspoon of cinnamon and one cup of club soda in a large measuring cup. Mix together until combined. Pour the mixture over the soil of your plants once every two weeks and watch as your plants thrive. At first glance, it seems like the perfect way to get a second life out of used coffee grounds—but was it more than that? “What we have here is a super powerful mixture with potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and more minerals,” says Adamjen, adding that this combination of minerals is natural plant food. But does this combination actually benefit your plants?

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The Very Best Flowers to Plant in the Fall

Even the best cared-for yard can look a little worn by the end of the summer when many plants are covered with powdery mildew, a widespread and easily identified plant disease (for reassurance, it does not kill the plant, it’s just unsightly). Planting…

Even the best cared-for yard can look a little worn by the end of the summer when many plants are covered with powdery mildew, a widespread and easily identified plant disease (for reassurance, it does not kill the plant, it’s just unsightly). Planting some fall-blooming flowers for a fresh look is a perfect remedy to perk up your yard.

Fall is also the time to plant spring-blooming bulbs that provide the color splashes we crave after a long winter.

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12 Ideas to Deck Out Your Small Balcony—Without Sacrificing Space

Ah, a balcony. The city-living dream. We can give up in-unit laundry, a parking space, and a second bedroom, so long as there’s a teeny bit of outdoor space to bask in. It’s simply one of those things that make living in a city apartment all worth it, …

Ah, a balcony. The city-living dream. We can give up in-unit laundry, a parking space, and a second bedroom, so long as there’s a teeny bit of outdoor space to bask in. It’s simply one of those things that make living in a city apartment all worth it, because you’ve got your own slice of outside without having to actually leave.

That said, in most areas, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a balcony that’s bigger than 20 square feet, which means space is at a premium, and smart solutions for fitting all the things you want out there are essential. While sometimes you’ll need to make the tough decisions between bistro table or vegetable garden, bar or outdoor sectional, sometimes it’s just a matter of employing smart ways to use the small space.

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4 Steps to an (Almost) Bug-less Garden

“Something is eating my so-and-so plant, what should I spray?” is a question I get asked… very often. My answer is always short and rather brusque: “Nothing, before you know what you’re up against.”

There are almost one million insect species in the w…

“Something is eating my so-and-so plant, what should I spray?” is a question I get asked… very often. My answer is always short and rather brusque: “Nothing, before you know what you’re up against.”

There are almost one million insect species in the world but only three percent of them are viewed as pests. Indiscriminately treating anything that visits your garden plants in search of food or shelter with a wide-spectrum insecticide does more harm than good, because it kills everything that crawls and flies, including beneficial insects and the pollinators we need so badly. It’s also a waste of time, effort, and money—plus, it can create a health hazard for humans and pets.

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All the Signs That It’s Time To Repot Your Plant

There comes a time in every houseplant’s life when an upgrade in living accommodations is required, and it’s time for a repotting. This could be because your plant has outgrown its previous potting container or because it simply needs a soil refresh. E…

There comes a time in every houseplant’s life when an upgrade in living accommodations is required, and it’s time for a repotting. This could be because your plant has outgrown its previous potting container or because it simply needs a soil refresh. Either way, repotting is an important part of keeping your plants happy and healthy long-term. Here’s what you need to know when it comes time to transfer your plant to a new home.


Signs It’s Time to Repot

When it comes to how often houseplants should be repotted, it’s unfortunately not an exact science. It varies depending on the plant, the age of the plant, and the conditions in your home. Generally, young plants will need to be repotted more often than mature, established plants, but timing can ultimately vary.

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A Tour of Ina Garten’s Garden (Naturally, It’s Thriving)

If you’ve ever watched an episode of Barefoot Contessa, you’ve caught a glimpse of Ina Garten’s beautiful barn in East Hampton, New York, as it’s where she films every episode. The internet-famous chef also has a stunning farmhouse-style home on the pr…

If you’ve ever watched an episode of Barefoot Contessa, you’ve caught a glimpse of Ina Garten’s beautiful barn in East Hampton, New York, as it’s where she films every episode. The internet-famous chef also has a stunning farmhouse-style home on the property, where she’s lived since the ‘90s. Well, it turns out that Garten’s outdoor living space is every bit as dreamy as her interiors, and somehow we’re not surprised.

Yesterday, Garten offered her Instagram followers a tour of the property’s lush gardens, and to say we’re smitten is an understatement. Here’s everything we spotted growing and will be adding to our planting list next year.

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