With a little more sunshine pushing away the dreary clouds of a frigid Michigan winter, you might be itching to put on your favorite garden gloves and go work outside. Before you start clearing debris from the landscaping and preparing your garden soil for the prospects of new growth, consider these garden trends and tips from local experts. Whether you prefer to keep your yard or garden very simple with just a few shrubs and perennials or lush with a variety of plant species and blooms, gardening experts offer some ideas to get you started this spring.

Sometimes when a unique opportunity falls into your lap, it’s best to pick it up and run with it – even if you don’t know what’s coming next. After turning it down three times, Greg Gaines reluctantly agreed in 1990 to direct the Mr. Rogers Garden Program.

Pick a cloudy day to wash windows. If it’s sunny, the cleaning solution will dry too fast and it will streak. To make a good window-washing solution, combine one half-cup of sudsy ammonia with one pint of rubbing alcohol, one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and one gallon of water.

Recycling is one way we can all help protect our environment. It is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and then turning them into new products.

Thinking about pulling up that old, floral-print carpet in the bedroom or replacing the laminate flooring in your living room just for a change? Luxury vinyl tile is one beautiful option that many people are turning toward.