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Serena Manickam

Serena Manickam is a freelance editor and writer and sustainable market gardener in rural Virginia. She holds a BA in environmental science and runs Fairydiddle Farm, a small market garden in which she grows no-spray produce and herbs to sell at a local farmer’s market.

Artichokes get along well with most other plants, but their impressive size can make it difficult to determine what and how to plant around them. Depending on the variety, artichoke plants can reach four to six feet tall and wide, casting shade and crowding out anything growing too close. But artichokes do appreciate companions, and …

Read More about 12 Best Companion Plants for Thriving Artichokes (And What to Avoid)

When looking to update your outdoor space, you can hire professionals to do the work for you, or for a more customizable and budget-friendly option, you can slip on a pair of gloves and implement some easy DIY landscaping ideas. We’ve compiled a list to help get you started, as well as some simple tips …

Read More about 9 DIY Landscaping Projects to Easily Beautify the Yard

Steep slopes present a challenge in the garden, both in the initial planning stages and in relation to ongoing maintenance. Ground covers offer an excellent solution. These plants grow densely and often quickly, covering the ground to shade out weeds and stabilize banks, preventing erosion. Though the term “ground cover” might not inspire much creativity, …

Read More about 10 Ground Cover Plants Perfect for Slopes to Prevent Erosion

Pink is a classic attention-grabbing color that we can all appreciate in the garden. Flowers come in a broad range of pink shades, from a delicate blush to bold magenta. With help from this list, choose the best annual pink flowers for your garden, and enjoy filling containers and gaps between perennials with rosy-hued blooms. …

Read More about 11 Pink Annual Flowers Perfect for Pots and Other Containers

Everyone knows that roses are red (and other colors, too), but so many other flowers come in crimson shades, too! Red is such a bold, romantic color- and it belongs in your yard. The list below celebrates 11 perennial red flowers that bring vivid color to the garden year after year. 1. Wild Columbine (Aquilegia …

Read More about 11 Stunning Red Perennial Flowers Worth Putting in the Garden

Many flowers are pretty but effervescent, delighting us with their beauty for only a few short weeks each year. While these plants certainly have a place in the garden, sometimes we just want a flower that blooms for a longer period of time. The following long-lasting annual flowers will ensure you have blooms in the …

Read More about 10 Annual Flowers to Plan This Year for All Season Blooms

Growing native plants is a great way to support pollinators like butterflies and bees, songbirds, and other wildlife. Even the smallest patio garden can provide much-needed habitat for native creatures. And it doesn’t have to be difficult! Many beautiful native wildflowers, such as those listed here, are incredibly easy to grow. 1. Lupine (Lupinus spp.) …

Read More about 12 Beautiful Native Wildflowers for an Easy Garden Blueprint

Often chosen for the texture and autumn interest they add to the garden, ornamental grasses have many virtues. Some are tall, towering over most other garden plants, and serve as a visual anchor or a privacy screen. Others form low mounds, tucked in among bright flowers to add softness to the landscape. As you decide …

Read More about 11 Companion Plants That Thrive Next to Ornamental Grasses

Whether they grow in the sun or shade, perennial yellow flowers bring a golden ray of sunshine to the garden. And since they grow back year after year, you don’t have to worry about replanting them every spring to enjoy their beautiful blooms. Want more bursts of yellow in your garden? Check out these 11 …

Read More about 11 Bright Beautiful Yellow Perennials to Add to the Garden

Succulents come in wide unique varieties and can be so much fun to grow. Not so much fun? A mealybug infestation! These nasty little insects attack succulents indoors and outdoors and can quickly spread from one plant to another if left unchecked. Learn how to get rid of mealybugs on succulents easily and effectively without …

Read More about Have Mealybugs on Your Succulents? Here’s How to Get Rid of Them