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Gardening Advice
Many plants are marketed as natural mosquito repellents—but do they actually work? Some herbs and ornamental plants contain essential oils that can help deter mosquitoes when their leaves are crushed or burned, although they aren’t a substitute for EPA-approved insect repellents.Why Mosquitoes Are Attracted to PeopleMosquitoes are more than a nuisance, as there are many mosquito-borne…
Going away this summer? With a little preparation, you can leave your garden for a week or two without worry. Follow these steps to help your garden survive your absence.It can be difficult to leave your garden for a vacation or work travel. This is especially true if you have a vegetable garden or a kitchen garden. Imagine tomatoes ripening and summer squash about to enter the crazy growth…
Wondering whether to grow determinate or indeterminate tomatoes? The biggest difference is that determinate tomato plants grow to a fixed size and produce most of their fruit at once, while indeterminate tomato plants continue growing and producing until frost. Here’s how to choose the right type for your garden.Determinate vs. Indeterminate TomatoesTo get to the short answer …
Unfortunately, tick season is here. If you and your pets go outside, it’s important to be aware of ticks! Be clear on what a tick (and tick bite) looks like, Lyme disease symptoms, how to prevent tick bites, and how to remove ticks—plus, what to do with a removed tick!What Are Ticks?Ticks are small bloodsucking parasites. Although people assume ticks are insects, they are actually…
“Garden thugs” are plants—not weeds—that grow so vigorously they can quickly take over flower beds and crowd out neighboring plants. While many are beautiful and valuable in the right place, they need regular pruning, dividing, or thinning to keep them under control.Last week I was making iced tea and wanted to add some spearmint from the flower bed near my kitchen. I couldn’t find it!…
Peppers rarely have serious issues in the vegetable garden. However, recently, we had some pepper growing problems. I thought I’d share our experiences so that you may also benefit if your peppers run into trouble.We have grown 10 to 20 different types of hot peppers every spring for many years with no problems whatsoever. Our plant customers appreciate the variety, ranging from mildly hot…
What are the easiest and quickest fruit to grow? Here are five “fast fruit” shrubs and plants. We especially recommend berries for beginners. While fruit trees may sound tempting, they take many years to harvest and a lot of care, so try your hand at something a little simpler first!Why Fruit Trees Require PatienceYears ago, we planted a small orchard of mixed fruit trees—with mixed…
Starting fall seeds in summer heat can be challenging because many vegetable seeds struggle to germinate in hot soil. However, with the right timing and techniques, you can successfully grow a productive fall garden even during the hottest months of the year.The seeds of different vegetables have optimum temperatures for germination, but right now most of them will not like this heat…
Goodness, there are some gorgeous purple flowers! In ancient times, purple dye was so rare that it was only used by the rich and powerful. Luckily, nowadays, purple is available for all of us to use in our landscapes. See 20 purple-flowering plants to add to your garden.Using Purple Flowers in the GardenPurple, a symbol of royalty and wealth, adds richness and depth to a flowerbed or…
When the heat index climbs higher than your electric bill, some veggies throw in the towel—but others throw a party. If your lettuce is wilting and peas are pouting, don’t sweat it (literally). There’s a whole lineup of heat-loving crops that thrive when the mercury rises. Here’s your guide to growing the best vegetables for hot weather—and keeping your summer garden spicy, sweet, and unbothered…
When summer brings hot, dry weather without enough rainfall, we need to water our gardens wisely. It is possible to conserve water and also have a beautiful, lush garden. Just follow these 12 steps.How Much Water Does a Garden Need?First, understand that plants drink their food. If your soil dries out, your plants will starve. We often hear that vegetables and flowers need “an inch of…
By this time of year, the spring crop of radishes has likely all been picked; it’s too hot for snap peas, and the cilantro is blooming. Here are a few speedy vegetables to plant in the summer!As you harvest any spring crops, do not let those gaps in the garden sit empty; they’ll only fill up with weeds! To get the most from your garden, break out the seeds and pop in a few wherever you…
