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Gardening Advice
Ever been curious about how to can? From mouthwatering tomato sauce to crisp pickles to luscious jams, canning captures fresh produce at the peak of flavor—so you can store it through the winter! Learn how to can with our beginner guide!What Is Canning?Think of canning as a form of cooking. Instead of cooking one meal for immediate consumption, you are cooking food that you can…
Do you have 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 these tasty bulbs is in the fall. Learn how and when to plant garlic to maximize your harvest!When to Plant Garlic in the FallFall is traditionally the optimal time to plant garlic in most regions. Planting in the fall—about 3 weeks…
Test your garden soil this fall for a healthier, more productive garden next year. After the harvest is an ideal time to check your soil’s pH and nutrient levels, giving slow-acting amendments such as lime time to work before spring planting.Healthy soil is the secret to a thriving garden—but don’t add lime, fertilizer, or other amendments until you know what your soil actually needs. A…
When do you prune your hydrangea? It depends. If your hydrangea blooms on “old” wood, you should NOT cut back in the fall, or you will sacrifice next year’s flowers! See our handy chart on when to prune common types of hydrangea.When to Prune HydrangeasHydrangeas should be pruned based on whether they bloom on old or new wood. Bigleaf, oakleaf, mountain, and climbing hydrangeas bloom on…
Fall brings a beautiful display of colorful berries, but not every berry you see is safe to eat. Some poisonous berries can cause serious illness if swallowed, while others may be especially dangerous to children and pets. Learn how to recognize 12 poisonous berries and berry-producing plants commonly found in gardens, yards, and the woods—and remember: Never eat a wild berry unless you can…
Propagating roses may seem like something only an experienced gardener could do, but it is actually rather easy. If you have a cherished rose bush and want to create more of it for yourself or to share with friends and family, it is easy to do by taking cuttings. Just follow this simple step-by-step guide.Victoria Fields, a master gardener through the Penn State Extension, recommends rose…
Fall is a beautiful time to add shrubs to your landscape. As the gardening season winds down, nurseries often offer trees and shrubs at a discount, while warm soil and cool air give new plants a chance to establish their roots before winter. Even better, many shrubs put on their best display in autumn, with foliage in brilliant shades of red, orange, yellow, and purple.Looking for shrubs…
The secret to more flowers next season? Prune at the right time. Every flowering shrub or tree follows its own cycle, depending on whether it sets buds on old or new wood. Prune too early or too late, and you risk cutting off next year’s blooms before they even appear.
This guide covers everything you need to know—plus, our interactive Pruning Time Finder tool will give you tailored timing for…
In late summer and fall, goldenrod puts on a brilliant golden show. But don’t blame this golden beauty for your allergies—that’s ragweed! Learn what goldenrod looks like, why this amazing American native is so important for pollinators, when it blooms, and even about its surprising role in the Boston Tea Party.Would you be surprised to find that goldenrod was once so popular that it was in…
Sunflowers aren’t just pretty summer flowers! Sunflower seeds can be harvested for eating, pressed for oil, or left for birds, while the petals, leaves, shoots, and even some roots can be used in the kitchen. Sunflowers are also wonderful for crafts, bouquets, bird feeders, and more. Discover the many uses for sunflowers—and learn why this cheerful flower has been treasured for centuries…
While the classic morning glory is perhaps the most familiar member of the genus Ipomoea, the plant group includes more than 300 species—ranging from the sweet potato to fast-growing twining climbers.Morning glory vines can reach 10 feet or taller in a single season. In fact, their quick coverage made them a popular “privy plant” in the past to camouflage outhouses. As their name suggests,…
Asian greens are the stars of many fall vegetable gardens. If you’ve never grown tatsoi, pak choi (bok choy), or other Asian greens, give them a try because they will germinate fast in warm, late-summer soil. Turn over a new leaf and learn more about types of Asian greens! Greens are the real stars of the fall vegetable garden. Leaf lettuce and spinach are the most popular…
