Though the garden lies dormant in winter, and our thoughts may be far from tomatoes and flowers, now is the perfect time to plan next summer’s garden and even get some seeds started! Browsing seed catalogs is a favorite wintertime activity of many gardeners, and once the seeds we’ve chosen arrive in the mail, we’re …
Serena Manickam
The state of Montana lists 35 noxious weeds and regulated plants. These problematic plants cause damage to crops, livestock, habitats, ecosystems, or humans, and they often affect more than one of those categories. But many of the invasive plants in Montana don’t look like weeds at all. In fact, some of them might be growing in …
The trick to attracting your favorite birds is to provide the right bird feeder filled with the right feed. Some birds, like cardinals, will need bigger features, while others, like bluebirds, prefer cozier settings. And then there’s the seed to consider, from plain sunflower seeds to special mixes — and some birds don’t eat seed …
If you live with a curious cat, you might feel that your indoor gardening has to be limited to silk plants to keep your furry friend from accidentally ingesting something toxic. However, many plants are safe to grow around cats! Once you learn which plants are toxic and which are not, you can confidently go …
Although even the most common garden plant can bring immense joy, sometimes it’s fun to branch out and try something unusual. A unique show-stopping plant can serve as a stunning specimen, wowing visitors and passersby. And while some of the unusual plants on this list provide a fun challenge, others are deceptively easy to grow. …
Festive holiday plants bring much-needed life to indoor spaces during a season when, in many places, the outside world looks dormant and bleak. But how do we keep those beautiful plants happy and healthy throughout the holidays? With proper care, Christmas cacti, Norfolk Island pines, and even poinsettias can decorate our homes for months and …
Oregano (Origanum spp.) is one of my must-grow herbs due to its versatility in the kitchen and low maintenance in the garden. But I might not be utilizing its full potential! Oregano serves an excellent companion for many plants, offering such benefits as deterring common garden pests, attracting pollinators and other beneficial insects, and providing …
Tennessee is home to a wealth of beautiful native trees, shrubs, vines, and other plants. Unfortunately, though, these native species are threatened by the encroachment of aggressive, fast-growing weeds. These invasive plants in Tennessee cause havoc not only on native ecosystems but also on the economy, by impacting everything from agriculture to outdoor recreation. As …
When you plant your first raspberry patch, there appears to be a lot of empty space around the vertical-growing canes, and it can be tempting to fill in those bare spots with some companion plants. However, raspberries send up new canes every year and may need that extra space as they fill out and spread. …
More than 3 million acres are infested with invasive plants in South Dakota. While this may seem on the surface like a strictly ecological problem, these weeds result in losses of more than $100 million every year*. Invasive plants in South Dakota outcompete native plants, degrade wildlife habitat, reduce crop and livestock production, negatively impact outdoor …