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Gardening Advice
Squirrels digging in your potted plants? These clever critters love soft potting soil for hiding acorns—and they can quickly destroy flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Luckily, there are several simple and natural ways to keep squirrels out of flower pots. Try these five easy DIY squirrel deterrents to protect your container plants.We have a giant oak tree in our backyard, which I love for its…
Cats can be adorable companions, but when they start digging in your flower beds or vegetable garden, frustration quickly follows. Instead of turning to harmful chemicals or traps, there are plenty of natural ways to keep your garden safe while respecting your feline friends. From clever barriers and scents to cat-repelling plants and motion-activated sprinklers, you can protect your seedlings…
Have you abandoned your compost pile because you’re tired of trudging outside? How about using worms to turn your kitchen scraps into fertilizer. Try vermicomposting!What is Vermicomposting?Vermicomposting is using worms to turn your kitchen scraps into fertilizer. Earthworms eat your garbage is an easy way to recycle food waste indoors year round. It is great science project for…
The “No-Mow May” movement encourages homeowners to delay mowing in spring to support early-season pollinators like bees and butterflies. While the exact timing depends on where you live, the idea behind mowing less is simple: letting grass and small flowers grow naturally creates food, shelter, and habitat for wildlife.But helping pollinators is only part of the story. Mowing less frequently…
Home brewing has deep roots in history, but many people don’t realize you can grow brewing ingredients right in your own garden. From hops for beer to apples for cider and herbs for traditional ales, your backyard can become the starting point for homemade beverages.The History of Home BrewingHome brewing has a long history; some anthropologists believe that beer is as old as…
Gardening in regions with a short growing season can be an adventure. There always seems to be another spring snowstorm around the corner! To take advantage of every possible growing day, we need to get our snow melted and garden soil thawed as quickly as possible. We run a plant business here in New Hampshire, where our growing season is short, so it’s important to get seeds…
As gardeners, we are connected to all people who have come before us, caring for the earth and learning how to best grow crops. Ready for the best gardening techniques? Let’s have a look at some age-old gardening wisdom that’s still relevant today.A Long History of GardeningGourds, beans, and peppers were being cultivated in Mexico by 5500 BC, and by 5000 BC, maize was being grown…
Don’t be tempted to start planting too soon! Average spring frosts are just a rough guide. Springcasting is a way to predict and track the progress of spring across the continent—as defined by plants. See when spring “officially” makes it to your neck of the woods.During an unusually warm stretch of weather in March, I was greatly tempted to start planting. Thankfully, I did…
Seeds must germinate for gardens to exist. But what makes a seed germinate? A few key ingredients make for successful sprouting, but if you ignore them, you may have poor germination. Let’s dig in to understand how seeds germinate!Germination is the process a seed goes through when it “wakes up” from its dormant state and starts to grow. Seeds are self-contained systems that contain most of…
Spring ephemerals are the first wildflowers to bloom in early spring woodlands. These delicate native plants—like trillium, bloodroot, Dutchman’s breeches, and Virginia bluebells—emerge before trees leaf out, taking advantage of the brief sunlight that reaches the forest floor. Learn how these early spring wildflowers grow, how they’re pollinated, and why they disappear by summer.A sure sign…
How many times have you heard the advice to “plant in well-draining soil”? It seems like whenever you are shopping for plants or reading about gardening, the term well-draining soil always comes up as the best location for planting. What exactly is this, and how is it identified?What Is Well-Draining Soil?The ability of soil to drain depends on its structure. Soils that drain well have…
If you’ve ever wondered how to build a garden bed that waters itself, improves soil over time, and recycles yard debris all at once, hügelkultur might be your answer. This centuries-old gardening method—popular in permaculture systems—uses buried logs, branches, and organic matter to create a raised, mound-shaped bed that acts like a living sponge.As the wood slowly decomposes, it stores…
