Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada travels to Detroit, Michigan, a newly crowned Bee City. She meets with a local non-profit to discuss the importance of supporting pollinators with beautiful gardens filled with native plants. Next, she heads to a local couple’s home garden, where the three work together to create an elevated herb garden.
Next, we meet host Kevin O’Connor and general contractor Tom Silva back at the shop for a quick guide on impact drivers versus drills. Tom shows Kevin how both work, explains when he’d use one over the other, and drives a few fasteners so we can see the difference.
Finally, mason Mark McCullough takes us on a house call to help a homeowner with a deteriorating driveway apron. After removing the existing brick apron, Mark and the homeowner get to work installing a new, durable cobblestone apron that will last for years.
How to Plant an Herb Garden in an Elevated Bed
Detroit, Michigan, has proudly owned the moniker “The Motor City” for over 100 years. Thanks to local initiatives, it’s also known as a “Bee City,” with gardens supporting the bee population. Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada met with a local pollinator non-profit, Detroit Hives, to talk about their impact on the local bees before helping a couple fill their elevated garden bed.
Where to find it?
Jenn delves into the world of beekeeping with a Detroit-based nonprofit, Detroit Hives that manages multiple beehives across the city.
Elevated planter box and plants provided by Featherstone Garden.
Jenn recommends raised garden beds for edible gardens. A raised bed allows you to add high-quality soil tailored for specific plants. They also improve drainage which elevates the risk of root rot.
Plants used:
- Anaheim chili
- Elegance Pink lavender
- Sweet Romance lavender
- Bush basil
- Blue Spice basil
- Lettuce leaf basil
- Amethyst basil
- Lemongrass
- Okra
Miracle-Gro Organic Raised Bed and Garden Soil with Quick Release Natural Fertilizer.
When to Use an Impact Driver Versus a Drill
General contractor Tom Silva shows host Kevin O’Connor the differences between impact drivers and drills before explaining when to use one or the other.
Where to find it?
How to Lay a Cobblestone Driveway Apron
A driveway apron is a great way to make a first impression. But, when they start to crumble, they’re making the wrong impression altogether. When a homeowner faced this situation with his brick driveway, he called the team at Ask This Old House for help. Mason Mark McCullough answered with the perfect solution: cobblestone. Join us as we follow Mark on this house call.
Where to find it?
To demo the driveway edging use a jackhammer, demo hammer, or sledgehammer.
Use hand, ear, and eye protection while using demolition tools.
Use bull snips to cut the nine-gauge wire to create a rebar grid.
- Concrete mix
- Portland lime and sand mortar
- Grout bags to apply mortar
- All-purpose gravel for the base
- Shovel
- Wheelbarrow
- Hand tamper
- Metal rake
- Level
- String and stakes to set height line
- Cobbles / Belgian blocks
- Trowel
Original Air Date: May 1, 2025, Season 23; Ep. 22 24:35
Products and services from this episode
- Raised garden bed soil starter: Miracle-Gro Organic Raised Bed and Garden Soil with Quick Release Natural Fertilizer
