Canning, Planting and Extending Your Outdoor Living Season

Canning, Planting and Extending Your Outdoor Living Season

Lowe's plants, tips and fire pits help you have fun outdoors this autumn

MOORESVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- When spring arrives, the to-do list for even the most seasoned gardener can be overwhelming. Springing ahead with spring planting not only can keep one thing off your to-do list next year, but also can help your plants grow better by giving them a few months to grow before they flourish.

Planting in the cooler temperatures of fall reduces stress on young plants. The plants will need less water to adjust to their new home and the roots have time to get established, ensuring fuller plants come spring. Trees and shrubs are great to plant during the fall because their roots take hold more easily.

Some plants can be tricky to grow, so try these simple-to-plant perennials that last for years:

    --  Shade-loving hostas are one of the most popular and easy-to-grow
        perennials. Plant these happy-looking leafy plants and watch as they
        slowly emerge in early spring.
    --  Peonies are prolific bloomers and stay pretty year after year. Plant in
        these beauties two inches below the soil, and their beautiful blooms
        will grace your garden in the spring.
    --  Elegant and tall like supermodels, irises are head-turners in the
        garden. With petals that seem to rest on one another, these striking
        purple flowers make any garden pop when the sun shines the spotlight on
        them in spring.

Fun With Fall Projects

Planting an edible garden promotes a healthier lifestyle and provides stress relief and true sense of accomplishment. And canning is a great way to save money while having some fun with your garden. Doing it yourself likely will make your homemade salsa and jam or canned pickles taste better than anything you could buy at the local grocery store. Lowe's has a number of sweet and savory recipes, from salsas to jams, at LowesCreativeIdeas.com, and visit Creative Ideas' how-to-guides and videos for simple, step-by-step canning instructions.

If you're canning for the first time, try the Enamel Water Bath Canner Kit (Item #113016). Lowe's also carries jelly jars making it a one-stop-shop for all your canning needs. Have an especially bountiful garden? Then Lowe's Wide Mouth Quart Jars (Item #113011) are perfect for you. With 12 in a box, canning your whole garden is a breeze.

Fire Up the Pit or Heater to Extend Your Outdoor Living Season

With the weather starting to cool, don't give up on time outside enjoying your backyard or patio. Building your own fire pit or adding a patio heater are two great ways to continue using the space.

An outdoor space heater like the Garden Treasures Mocha Patio Heater (Item #48650) is the perfect option for those late-night games of darts or an outdoor dinner fresh off the grill.

A fire pit is a great way to warm up when the weather cools down. You don't have to sacrifice outdoor style with the allen + roth 35" Steel Fire Pit (Item #85978) which comes with a decorative, patterned cast aluminum base. Or if you prefer something more traditional, the allen + roth Steel Fire Pit (Item #76222) is another great option that provides heat in a matter of minutes.

ABOUT LOWE'S:

With fiscal year 2010 sales of $48.8 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE(R) 50 company that serves approximately 15 million customers a week at more than 1,725 home improvement stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.


    Source: Lowe's Companies, Inc.