As the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers…and now with longer days and better weather, gardens and vegetable patches! If beautifying your backyard, deck, or patio is on your to-do list for spring, 4Squares has you covered. Here are our tips for sprucing up your outdoor space, no matter the size and budget.

Gardening Community and Community Gardens

Medford is home to many avid gardeners of varying abilities and experience, but what they all have in common is a willingness to share their triumphs and follies. Which is why the first stop for planning your outdoor haven should be the Medford Garden and Plant Forum Facebook Group.

Whether you are a master gardener or a novice, there are certain tricks of the Medford terrain that are second-nature to this online community. Scroll through posts and learn how to deter wildlife from gnawing at seedlings, where to pick up sod, and what to grow in an area once you’ve removed invasive plants. Members also generously offer cuttings for starter plants, and for true newbies, the community is at the ready to help identify mysterious shrubs and flora.

For those with limited backyard space, Medford’s Community Gardens are a great alternative for green thumbs to bask in the sun while enjoying their favorite pastime. The crown jewel, Riverbend Garden, behind the McGlynn and Andrews Middle Schools, boasts 32 garden plots that in full bloom offer an urban paradise for members and passers-by. You can also enjoy strolling through gardens on Winthrop Street Garden, the Tufts Garden on Main Street, and the McNally Garden on Webster Street. Plots are available by application, or you can learn more about volunteering for the Community Gardens group here.

Gardening Shops and Centers

Medford is minutes away from two full-service garden centers, each well-stocked with a large selection of annuals, perennials, bulbs, and specialty plants. Ricky’s Flower Market in Somerville’s Union Square boasts a neighborhood garden center, chock-full of flowering and tropical houseplants, as well as outdoor accessories, garden care products, and tools to set you up for success in cultivating your home-grown refuge.

Mahoney’s Garden Center in Winchester is another Medford favorite, where many residents have been purchasing annuals and perennials for generations. Many Mahoney’s plants are grown locally each season at their growing facility in nearby Woburn, and their extensive selection of hardy varieties are perfect for plant beds, patio planters, and window boxes. Mahoney’s also offers landscape consultations for outdoor spaces of varying sizes as well as enviro-friendly lawn care services.

Comment below: what kind of gardener are you?

Landscaping and Hardscaping

For homeowners contemplating a larger project to revamp your yard into a private paradise, here are our choices for landscapers:

Medford-based Crowley’s Concepts has been designing and maintaining lawns for Medford residents since 1994, and in recent years moved to hardscape designs that incorporate masonry, lighting design, and the Crowley specialization: artificial turf. Recent projects include retaining walls, paver walkways, and outdoor entertainment areas, including putting greens.

Another family-owned favorite, Pat Kierce & Sons Landscaping, offers similar landscape design and maintenance plans and expertise in outdoor living hardscape design, with the added specialization in waterfall and pond design, and a certified arborist on their team.

For those looking for eco-friendly solutions, earth stone and water’s landscapes and hardscapes blend traditional and sustainable, eco-friendly techniques. Their service offerings range from hydro-seeding, sod, topsoil, and mulch installation, to irrigation and drainage systems that promote water efficiency.

What’s growing in your garden this year? Do you have a favorite place to pick up plants that I haven’t mentioned and should know about? Helping find ways to beautify your backyard with greenery and a splash of color is one of the ways I help homeowners love the way they live in Medford. Reach out and share your favorites!

Meet Me in Medford | Gardening, Landscaping & Loving Your Own Backyard

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