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Gardening Advice
Happily, we’re seeing more biodegradable planting pots. They make growing seeds easy, and the pots can go right in the ground! Here are 10 types of biodegradable pots—plus, see how to make your own!As much as we would like to see plastic plant pots being recycled, tons of them end up in landfills and incinerators every year. That leads many of us to look for alternative containers in which…
It can be confusing to determine whether a plant is an annual, a perennial, or a biennial. The answer mainly depends on the plant’s life cycle. However, other factors, such as climate, can also play a role. Learn the differences—and which plants come back every year.What Is the Difference Between Annual, Perennial, and Biennial Plants?Annual Plants are a type of plant that live for just…
With Fall just around the corner, the sun is riding lower in the sky, casting longer shadows on the garden. One plant that welcomes the extra coolness and shade is the hosta.Hostas is the unsung hero of the shady garden. There are 70 species of hostas and over 3,000 registered varieties, so you have lots to choose from. Though they do bloom, they are grown primarily for their beautiful…
Garlic is an unexpectedly easy crop to grow at home if you get the timing right. Let’s talk about when to harvest garlic—and what to look for before harvesting. Plus, I’ll show you how to cure your garlic for long-term storage.To grow the best garlic bulbs, you want rain early in the season. With garlic, as harvest time approaches, the need for moisture decreases. If the soil is too wet…
You may be surprised to learn that our favorite native plant, coneflower (Echinacea), comes in many colors, shapes, and sizes. Here are seven varieties of this rugged pollinator magnet that we have planted over the years with success.I have been feeling under the weather lately, and echinacea seems to be the only thing that seems to quiet my cough. This got me thinking about how much I love…
If you can’t visit the tropics, try growing your own citrus trees in containers! Dwarf citrus varieties will grow year-round if kept in the right conditions. They all bear edible fruit, have glossy, evergreen leaves, and feature delicious-smelling flowers. (The scent is heavenly!) Learn how to care for your indoor citrus trees.Many kinds of citrus work well as container plants. Even northern…
Are any of these badly behaving trees or shrubs near your home? Here are the worst (and best) trees to plant close to your house. Plus, we’ll explain why you don’t want trees and shrubs closing in on your home and offer general guidelines on how far away a tree needs to be.Planting Trees and Shrubs Near the HouseWe all enjoy landscaping around our home. And it’s not just about…
One unwelcome visitor to my garden at this time of year is powdery mildew. Here’s how to control this plant disease with natural remedies, including a homemade baking soda spray treatment.Signs of Powdery MildewIt starts as white patches on the leaves of squash, lilacs, phlox, bee balm, and other plants, making them look like they have been dusted with baby powder. Early on, it…
Considered the Holy Grail of the garden, no color is more challenging to find in the plant world than true blue. Supposedly, only 10% of all the flowers on Earth are blue! Here are 20 beautiful blue flowers—with pictures to gaze upon!Many plants marketed as blue are actually closer to purple. Petunias are a prime example. True blue is a pure blue hue that isn’t shaded with black, white, or…
Are you bothered by bugs? Here are four recipes for natural bug repellents—using witch hazel and other ingredients right from the pantry. All effectively repel mosquitos, flies, and other insects that “bug” you—without chemicals soaking into your skin!What Bugs Are Bugging You?As soon as we step outside, bugs have a way of finding us. Some use the carbon dioxide we exhale to locate us;…
Row covers not only are great for protecting your garden from frost, but also they form an excellent, chemical-free barrier for excluding many insects that threaten crops. We cover almost everything in our garden at first for one reason or another. See the different types of fabric row covers and their many benefits.Row covers are fabric that protects your plants from cold…
How do you know which is best to use in your garden—perlite or vermiculite? Some people think they are the same and used for similar purposes, but that’s not the whole story. Let’s look at the similarities and the differences and help you to pick the best one.What is Perlite?
Perlite being added to a potting mix / Credit: RESTOCK Photos
Perlite is made from volcanic rock that has been…
