Gardening Advice
March 2, 2022
Most gardeners love a reliable home remedy and are eager to embrace a magic bullet. This is the case with Epsom salts. They are supposed to make flowering plants bushier and blossom more and make peppers and tomatoes more productive. But are they really a miracle cure? Can Epsom salts be harmful? Let’s separate myth from reality.Â
What Are Epsom Salts?
Epsom salts are the…
February 28, 2022
Many of us remember hunting for that elusive “four-leaf clover” as a child, and we’ve all seen that green shamrock on St. Patrick’s Day. That brings us to today’s garden musings. Let’s talk about what a shamrock really is—and what it isn’t!
What Is a Shamrock?
The shamrock is a symbol that we commonly associate with St. Patrick’s Day…
February 28, 2022
For centuries, gardeners took their cues for planting times from nature—a field of knowledge called phenology. For instance, “Plant potatoes when the first dandelion blooms.” Learn more about planting by nature’s signs—and see more examples!
Most of us may not be familiar with the term, “phenology,” even though it’s been part of The Old Farmer’s Almanac culture for centuries.…
February 28, 2022
Primroses are hearty, rugged little perennial flowers that come in a rainbow of colors! These shade-lovers bloom from early spring through summer—for color all season long. Here are 10 types of pretty primroses.
There is nothing demure about primroses; they light up the landscape with carnival bright colors like egg yolk yellow, royal blue, magenta, and bright crimson.
Plus, they are…
February 28, 2022
The earliest plants to blossom in my garden are the snowdrops. While they are a welcome sign of spring, the hellebores really steal the show as they poke through the last of winter’s snow. Learn more about growing these perennial flowering plants, specifically the varieties of Christmas rose and Lenten rose.
About Hellebores
Hellebores bear glossy, evergreen leaves and…
February 20, 2022
Seeds must “germinate” for gardens to exist. But what makes a seed germinate? There are a few key things that make seeds sprout successfully, but if you ignore them, you may have poor germination. Robin’s latest post helps us understand how seeds germinate.
Instead of buying starter plants, many gardeners prefer to grow their own from seed. Rather than the limited selection of plants…
February 17, 2022
Flowers are starting to appear for sale in the garden centers—and that means pansies. Get to know this old-fashioned “flower with a face” and discover 10 different varieties!
Growing Pansies
Often, gardeners overlook pansies as being temporary “throw-away” plants, but most are actually half-hardy annuals, which means that you should get at least two seasons of bloom from…
February 14, 2022
In the past two years, victory gardening has seen a dramatic resurgence as more people discovered the practical benefits of growing food and self-reliance! Find out why we call it a victory garden, what’s planted in a victory garden, and how to start a victory garden in modern times!
What is a Victory Garden?
The name comes from the Victory Gardens that were planted across…
February 10, 2022
Before you pour salt on your driveways to melt snow and ice, consider the impact it has on your plants, pets, pavement, and water quality. Explore seven less harmful ways to melt ice—as well as ways to use less salt!
Rock salt (sodium chloride) has been the conventional choice to melt ice on driveways and sidewalks as salt has a lower freezing point than water. Rock salt is effective to…
February 3, 2022
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…
February 1, 2022
Garden pots need a thorough scrubbing before sowing season. It’s important to clean any pot you are reusing to rid them of “hidden” disease spores salt deposits, and bug eggs. Take those extra few minutes! Here’s how to quickly clean and disinfect your pots.
Used pots will harbor lingering bug eggs and disease spores that you can’t always see. Salt deposits also accumulate in pots…
February 1, 2022
Which hobby helps you live longer? Turns out it’s gardening! If you’re resolved to live a healthier lifestyle, eat better, and get more exercise, gardening can give you all that and more.
A recent study showed that people around the world who live longer, healthier lives have an unexpected commonality: gardening! As someone who already gardens, I’m not surprised…