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Gardening Advice
Looking for a touch of spring in the middle of winter? Paperwhite narcissus are the easiest bulbs to grow indoors—no chilling or special care needed! These fragrant white flowers bloom in just a few weeks, bringing instant beauty and freshness to your home. Here’s how to plant, grow, and care for paperwhites for stunning winter blooms.Unlike other spring-flowering bulbs that need a cold…
Some flower bulbs will not survive cold winters and need to be dug up and stored indoors over winter. Among these are cannas, elephant ears, gladiolus, tuberous begonias, dahlias, and other summer favorites. Many of these bulbs are expensive, yet they’re easy to keep, so it is worth it! Here’s how to store bulbs over winter.What Are Tender Bulbs and Why Save Them?Unlike spring…
Fall cleanup can be confusing—should you cut back your perennials or leave them standing? The truth is, not all plants benefit from a fall trim. Some need their foliage to survive the winter, while others risk disease if left untouched. In this guide, we’ll share which perennials to cut back, which ones to leave alone, and how to keep your garden healthy and full of life through the colder…
We usually treat evergreen trees as background plants, quietly doing their work offstage, where they offer cover and food for wild animals, provide shade, block the wind, or mark a boundary line. Cue the dwarves! Like the Munchkins in Oz, these small evergreen trees will steal the show!What are Dwarf Evergreens?Like large evergreens, the smaller “dwarf” evergreens hold their green…
We all know that trees and plants help offset pollution and clean toxins in the air. So, would indoor plants do the same with indoor air? Let’s explore how plants purify the air—and we’ll list the 10 best air-purifying houseplants for your home.About Indoor AirToday, Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors, often in places with little or no ventilation. The air inside our super…
Here’s a fall vegetable garden cleanup checklist with 11 tasks to do before the weather gets uncomfortably cold. If you’ve ever forgotten to clean up in the fall, you’ll 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 CleanupWhenever you see summer plants dying or diseased, remove them to avoid disease.…
Want mums that return every fall? Choose hardy garden mums—perennial chrysanthemums bred to withstand winter. Varieties such as Korean mums, Mammoth mums, and the Morden series are far more cold-tolerant than decorative florist mums. Learn which varieties to grow and how to plant, pinch, and overwinter them successfully.What Are Hardy Mums?Hardy mums are perennial garden chrysanthemums…
Who says the summer herb party has to end when the first frost hits? With a little TLC, you can keep your basil thriving indoors and enjoy fresh, fragrant leaves for pesto, pasta, and salads all winter long. In this guide, we’ll show you how to bring your basil inside, keep it happy, and even propagate cuttings so the taste of summer never leaves your kitchen.To make sure we had enough basil…
Find out how to overwinter rosemary and grow rosemary indoors to keep this wonderful herb growing all year!Every fall, at least one person heading south for the winter will come to me with plants that they can’t bear to let die. I am a sucker for a beautiful plant, so if I have the room, I usually say yes. I have gotten some remarkable plants that way—jasmine, streptocarpella, orchids,…
You can save seeds from this year’s pumpkins to plant next year! It’s fun to grow your own jack-o’-lanterns. Here’s how to store those seeds this fall and plant in the spring!You also save money by growing your own. Pumpkins are easy enough to grow and require very little pampering. And if you have a special heirloom variety, you can try to grow it again!Saving Pumpkin Seeds1.…
Many gardeners think you can’t use pine needles as mulch because they are too acidic. This myth has been debunked many times! If you have access to free pine needles, by all means, rake them up and use them liberally in your garden. They not only make great mulch but are an excellent addition to the compost pile as well.Pine Needle Mulch BenefitsPine needles are light and fluffy, making…
By using organic soil amendments, you can turn poor garden soil into a nutrient-rich paradise. What do we mean by “soil amendments”? What are some great soil amendments? Here is a brief overview listing some of the best amendments for your garden!Which Nutrients Do Plants Need?Just like humans, plants need a wide range of nutrients to keep them growing healthy and strong. Soil…
