Gardening Help Articles

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Find handy gardening references here, including frost dates, plant hardiness zones, pH preferences, garden growing guides for vegetables, herbs, and bulbs, and more. We’re here to help the beginner gardener—as well as the experienced one!

Daffodils and Spring-Flowering Bulbs

Spring-Flowering Bulbs to Plant in Fall

Fall is the time to plant bulbs! There’s nothing more uplifting than seeing the first early spring...
Dandelion Weeds

13 Common Garden Weeds

No one likes to talk about weeds, but some plants compete with your garden for nutrients, water,...
Cabbage Seedlings

Starting Seeds Indoors: How and When to Start Seeds

Learn how to start seeds indoors, when to start seeds indoors, and which vegetable seeds should be...
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How to Build a Bug Hotel

Make a bug hotel so that your insects can overwinter! Insect hotels give beneficial insects a safe...
Wildflowers v2

When to Plant Flowers

When do you plant flowers in the garden? It depends! Is it a perennial flower, annual flower, or...
Seed Packets in Pot

Free Garden Seed Catalogs and Plant Catalogs

Find a wonderful list of free garden seed catalogs! Other than being in the garden, there’s nothing...
Gardening Tips and Tasks

Gardening Tips & Tasks

What should you do in the garden this month? Consult our gardening calendar for monthly gardening...
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones.png

What Are Plant Hardiness Zones?

Exactly which USDA hardiness zone are you in? Plant hardiness zones—also known as planting zones or...
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Keep Weeds Under Control (Without Weed Killers)

Dealing with weeds in the garden? Their often persistent nature can make for a truly frustrating...
Fields Aerial

Cooperative Extension Services

Got gardening questions? You can always ask the Almanac, but you should also know about your own...
Diatomaceous Earth

What Is Diatomaceous Earth?

Gardeners are often given the advice to sprinkle diatomaceous earth (DE) around plants to deter...
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How to Save Your Tomato Seeds Successfully

It’s easy to save your own tomato seeds from one year to the next. Most tomatoes hold 100 or more...
Raised Bed Close-up

Gardening Methods: Containers, Raised Beds, Raised Rows, and More

Once you have decided what you want to grow, consider where and how to do it. Here’s an overview of...
Red Aphids

Staying Ahead of Garden Pests

Normally I don’t go looking for trouble, but it is the best way to head off potential problems in...
Growing Guide: Spring-Planted Bulbs - Dahlia - Pixabay

Summer-Flowering Bulbs Chart

Summer bulbs are planted in the spring and then flower in the summer and also fall. Our Spring-...
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No-Dig Gardening | No-Till Gardening

Tired of the garden shovel? Sore from pulling weeds every day? Discover how no-dig gardening can ...
Hand Pruners

Gardening Tools 101: Which Tools Are Essential?

Have you got the right tools to garden? Luckily, it doesn’t take much! There are some tools and...
Garden Without Digging

Turning Lawn or Land into a Garden Bed

Want to start a garden from scratch? Here’s how to clear your land—whether it’s replacing lawn...
tips-growing-tomatoes

10 Tips for Growing Tomatoes

Tomatoes are the ultimate backyard crop, and growing them is easier than you might think. These...
Embedded thumbnail for The Perfect Compost Recipe | How to Get Your Compost Heap Cooking!

The Perfect Compost Recipe | How to Get Your Compost Heap Cooking!

If you don’t have a compost pile, fall is great time to start one. Turn dead and dying foliage,...
Girl in Tomato Garden

Vegetable Gardening for Beginners

Ready to jump into gardening? It can be daunting at first, but gardening is an incredibly rewarding...
Dandelion Garden Hoe

Where to Put a Vegetable Garden

Whether you’re starting a new garden or extending an existing one, it’s important to give careful...
Lilac Flower purple

Pruning 101: A Guide to Pruning Trees and Shrubs

Do you know how to prune correctly? Pruning directly benefits the health and visual appeal of...
Potting Soil Pots

How to Make Your Own Potting Soil

Here’s how make your own potting soil for your containers and pots! Using the right potting soil is...
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How to Make a Row Cover Tunnel

We’ll show you how to make a simple hooped or low tunnel to protect your plants, extend your...
2020 Garden Guide Cover

2020 Garden Guide

The 2020 Garden Guide, from the editors of The Old Farmer’s Almanac, is colorful comprehensive, and...
Hydrangea Flower Colors

Soil pH Levels for Plants

What is your soil’s pH level? Every plant prefers a different level of acidity. Use this soil pH...
Fresh Herbs

Herb Growing Guide: How to Grow Herbs

Growing herbs is not difficult to do! Our helpful chart will take you from seed-starting to the...
Japanese Beetles

Japanese Beetles: Best and Worst Plants

Although Japanese beetles are known to feed on more than 300 types of plants, some are more...
Bindweed

Weed Control Techniques

While it’s tempting to call any unwanted plant a “weed,” there are really only a select few weeds...
Water Hose

When to Water Your Vegetable Garden | Watering Chart

How much water do you really need? When is the best time to water your vegetables? See our tips on...
ECHO PAS Bed Redefiner (cropped)

Choosing the Right Lawn Tools: Trimmers, Edgers, and More

A growing trend these days is to let your lawn go wild, but that doesn’t mean letting it take over...
Pruning Pointers

Pruning Pointers for Trees and Shrubs

Pruning trees and shrubs may be the most feared act in gardening. Using sharp metal objects to cut...
Vegetable Gardens

Over 20 Vegetable Garden Layout Ideas

Here are over 20 free vegetable garden layout ideas—including backyard gardens, square-foot gardens...
Cabbage Worm

Protect Your Garden from Cabbage Worms

Cabbage worms can be devastating to an otherwise-healthy garden. Here are a few things you might...
Tomatoes

Vegetable Growing Guide

Different vegetables require different conditions to thrive. Plan your garden accordingly with our...
Gardening Seeds

Canadian Seed and Plant Mail-Order Sources

Here’s a list of Garden Seed Catalogs and Web sites for Canada.  If you’re seeking a list of U.S....
Frosted Berries

Frost Dates Chart for United States

What are the frost dates for spring and fall in your area? See our U.S. frost dates chart, below,...
Frosted Maple Leaf

Frost Dates Chart for Canada

What are the frost dates for spring and fall in your area? See our Canadian frost dates chart,...
Purple Loosestrife

How to Stop Invasive Plants from Spreading

What are invasive plants? How do you keep invasive plants from spreading? Let’s dig in! Have you...
Embedded thumbnail for 7 Vegetable Gardening Tips to Save Time

7 Vegetable Gardening Tips to Save Time

Does your garden feel like an endless “To Do” list? It doesn’t have to be that way! In this short...
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Planning a Better Vegetable Garden

Planning your garden is at the top of any gardener’s to-do list because it saves time, money, and...

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