Gardening Advice
October 6, 2021
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…
October 2, 2021
Let’s not be in a hurry to cut down plants that have interesting seed heads in the fall. The birds fully appreciate having a smorgasbord of seeds to choose from—and we love watching them feast! Listed here are 12 plants that have great seed heads for birds.
While bird feeders are always nice, wild birds like to forage for their own “bird food.” Plants with seed heads not…
October 1, 2021
Many tender bulbs—canna, dahlia, elephant ears, gladiolus, tuberous begonias, and other summer favorites—will not survive cold winters outside in colder regions. Instead of taking a risk and leaving them outdoors, it's a good idea to dig and store them indoors instead. Many of these bulbs are expensive, yet easy to keep, so it is worth the trouble!
These summer-flowering favorites all grow…
September 28, 2021
Summer's over! Time to breathe some new life into your landscape with fresh fall containers. Remove those tired summer annuals that have finally given up the ghost and replace them with something new and cold hardy. Here's a list of cool-weather plants for those fall containers.
Many of the plants gardeners in colder areas grow as annuals are actually tender perennials hardy in zones 8 to 11…
September 27, 2021
This fall—in the yard and in the woods—be on the lookout for deceptively beautiful berries. Some of these berries are poisonous. Even if you don't plan to pop a berry into your mouth, it's helpful to know which plants in the landscape have poisonous berries. Here are the most common poison berries of fall.
Poisonous Berries in Fall
If your kids have been active participants in berry…
September 27, 2021
Lavender grows best outdoors, but you can keep these aromatic gems alive through winter inside, too. Plus, lavender is not only pretty—its scent also brings a sense of calm to every room. Here are some lovely lavender varieties and advice on how to overwinter lavender.
Is Lavender a Perennial or Annual?
A fragrant and colorful plant native to Europe and Western Asia, lavender is a sun-loving…
September 27, 2021
If this was your first year growing garden fruits and vegetables, you probably have found that much of your homegrown produce does not look like what you see in the store. Don't be discouraged! It is what's on the inside that counts! Learn more about that "ugly" produce.
Experienced gardeners know that imperfect produce is actually more normal and natural than the grocery store specimens…
September 27, 2021
Grab the bounty of fresh herbs while you can—and let's dry those leaves for tea. It's simple. See both how to dry your herbs and also how to make a good cup of herbal tea!
Grow Your Own Herbs for Tea
If you grew some of the plants mentioned in this Calming Herbs post, hopefully you have been enjoying them in iced and hot teas over the summer. Even though fall is here, the party doesn…
September 27, 2021
Let’s make our fall vegetable garden cleanup easier! Here are 11 tasks to do in autumn before the weather gets uncomfortably cold. Tidying up your garden prevents problems later and means less work in the cold springtime.
Which Vegetables Can Withstand Frost?
Not all vegetables need to be removed and cleaned up. Some vegetables are hardy or semi-hardy and can…
September 27, 2021
Summer's end does not mean that flower blooms have to end! Here are some of our favorite fall-blooming flowers that brighten up our autumn landscape—including annuals, perennials, and shrubs. Why not enjoy colorful blooms and foliage for even longer?!
Annual Flowers
Lots of annuals that can take some cold temps are still pumping out the blossoms at this time of year. These…
September 24, 2021
Find out how to overwinter rosemary and grow rosemary indoors to keep this wonderful herb growing all year!
A reader's question about overwintering rosemary reminded me that it was something I wanted to write about. I have had mixed results with rosemary plants over the years, but after killing a few I think I have finally gotten it right.
Every fall at least one person heading south for…
September 22, 2021
Fall is the best time to plant shrubs. As the gardening season winds down, it’s the last call for filling in those bare spots in your landscaping with a shrub or two. Discover six shrubs that add those beloved colors of autumn right in your own yard with a beautiful fall garden.
Many gardeners prefer autumn to any other season. The heat and humidity of summer have passed, biting insects…