Blog & Social

Who’s Ready for Spring?!? 

The celebrity presenter at the first weekend of the Maryland Home & Garden + Craft Show is ready  - and with his engaging tips for your outdoor space, you will be too!

Chris Lambton is a judge on Discovery Plus’s Clipped, host of DIY Network’s Lawn and Order and Yard Crashers and appears with wife Peyton on HGTV's Going Yard. As a noted landscaper, Chris transforms drab outdoor areas into inviting living spaces; he’s an expert in landscaping, garden planning, lawn care, and easy maintenance.

Chris will be on the Main Stage at the Maryland Home & Garden + Craft Show on Saturday, March 1 at 1 PM and Sunday, March 2 at Noon.

But before Chris travels from his home in Cape Cod to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, he answered some of our (and your!) questions.

What’s your favorite gardening and landscaping tool?

I love a good pair of hand snips. I keep them on me when I am at a job or in my yard working. They are great to deadhead, trim back overgrown shrubs or cut back dead or dying branches. A must-have for any gardener!

What’s your best tip for beginning a garden project?

Start small and build up your confidence. I recommend raised planters or grow bags to start. That way you can control the soil you are planting in. Having the right soil can make all the difference and most places have soil issues, such as too much clay, sand or rock.

What plant is often overlooked or misunderstood as people plan their outdoor spaces?

I think the most commonly misunderstood plant is the hydrangea. It isn't native to where I live so it requires lots of water (“hydra” means water). If you plant it in full sun, the flowers will burn in the midsummer heat and when it comes time in the fall or spring to prune, the timing and amount of pruning depends on variety, which can be tricky.

What part of landscaping should homeowners leave to the professionals rather than do themselves?

I always tell homeowners they should never climb ladders to prune trees or shrubs. Leave that to the professionals. We have safe ladders and someone who is assisting us by holding the ladder and helping us with trimmers or saws when we prune. Be safe!

You volunteer with organizations supporting ALS research; what about those experiences gives you the greatest satisfaction?

When I do races or fundraisers to help people battling ALS, it helps me feel connected to my mom who passed from ALS. It keeps her spirit alive, and allows my children and wife who never got to meet her a chance to see how amazing she was.

Speaking of your children: what’s the best thing you’ve learned from them?

Laugh and have fun. Life can be too serious sometimes.

What’s your best tip for bringing controlled chaos to your children’s spaces?

There is a fine line of letting your kids play and having your house turned into a toy tornado space. We love having our kids play Legos, trucks, sports, etc.,  but we also don't want to step on anything (Legos on barefeet are the worst!!!) so we have our kids control their chaos at night and put things up.

What do you do to relax, rewind or recharge?

I love working in my garden. It is my way to unplug, relax and get my hands dirty.