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Gardening Advice
September 15, 2022
Help kids grow! Get them outside in the garden for hands-on learning experiences. Here activities and tips on how to set up a garden with kids in mind—plus, how to plant a school garden!
Being outside gives kids time to cut loose and burn off some steam. Your garden can serve as an outdoor classroom for showing your kids how and where we get our food while connecting them to nature and the…
September 13, 2022
Discover fall flowers and plants that brighten up our autumn landscape—and our moods! Why not enjoy colorful garden blooms and foliage for even longer?! Discover 50 fall flowers, shrubs, trees, and other plants that welcome the season with a blaze of color.
Foxglove that were cut back after flowering this summer are putting out second spikes of bloom. The rugosa rose is…
September 12, 2022
Fall is the ideal time to take cuttings of many plants! Many of our favorite tender plants (such as coleus and geraniums) may not survive winter. It’s fun and quite satisfying to multiply your favorite plants—for free! Learn how.
One of my favorite aspects of gardening is plant propagation. Whether it’s from seed or from a cutting, I love seeing a new plant emerge and grow…
September 7, 2022
When we see a green tomato, it's usually just unripe and will eventually turn red with a bit of patience. However, there are green tomatoes that are meant to stay green! The taste is very different. Learn more about true green tomatoes and how to ripen them.
If you've had an unripe red tomato, it's usually very hard with a tart taste. We either wait for the tomato to turn red, ripen the tomato…
September 6, 2022
Wish you could ditch your grass or just do less mowing? You’re not alone! Before you throw down more grass seed, discover 12 lawn alternatives—low-maintenance, drought-resistant grasses and ground covers you can step on!
Are you tired of suffering through the hassle of keeping your grass green? Have a tough slope that is hard to mow safely? Want to grow a “stepable” carpet around…
September 5, 2022
We love fall gardening! The heat is waning but the soil is still warm. There are just three steps to consider to planting a fall garden: when to plant, what to plant, and where to plant a fall garden. Let’s get started!
Why Plant a Fall Garden
Fall gardening is much less stressful for many crops—as well as shrubs, trees, and perennials. There are less weeds, less pests…
September 2, 2022
Here’s a fall vegetable garden cleanup checklist with 11 tasks to do in autumn before the weather gets uncomfortably cold. If you’ve ever forgotten to clean up in the fall, you’ll also know it makes life much easier in the spring and it’s also better to clean up for the health of your garden.
When to Start Fall Cleanup
Whenever you see summer plants…
September 1, 2022
Fall is the best time for shrubs. As the gardening season winds down, it’s the last call for filling in those bare spots in your landscaping with a beautiful shrub or two. Discover six shrubs that add those beloved colors of autumn right to your own yard!
Many gardeners prefer autumn to any other season. The heat and humidity of summer have passed, biting insects are gone, and the leaves…
August 31, 2022
Got your cloves in the ground yet? Garlic is incredibly useful in the kitchen and surprisingly easy to grow in the garden. The best time to plant it is in the fall. Learn how and when to plant garlic so that you can maximize your harvest!
When to Plant garlic
Fall is traditionally the best time to plant garlic in most regions. A good rule of thumb is to not plant garlic until after the…
August 25, 2022
In my garden, we no longer cut down every perennial plant in the fall. As in nature, many perennials find that their dying leaves protect them from the cold and provide natural fertilizer. Let’s talk about which perennials to tackle, which to leave, as well as when and how to cut back perennials properly.
When to Cut Back Perennials
It’s obvious when it’s…
August 25, 2022
Here’s a foolproof approach to making a flower bouquet—whether you grow your own flowers or are selecting flowers at a local market. Also, see which flowers are best for long-lasting bouquets.
In making a hand-tied bouquet, select flowers which have good stem strength, color, and vase life.
Avoid having boring bouquets! Try to pick a variety of flower forms, shapes, sizes,…
August 23, 2022
Also called pinks, these pretty cottage garden classics are long-blooming, prolific, and fragrant through the summer season. Discover six different types of dianthus for the home gardener—from creeping rock garden ground covers to towering flowering plants.
What’s in a Name?
Often just called “pinks,” dianthus get that nickname from the fringed look of their petals,…
