Americans spend over $10 billion a year on lawn and garden fertilizers, and most backyard gardeners never question whether that money is well spent. But there is something experienced growers have known for generations: some of the most powerful soil builders on the planet cost less than a cup of coffee and do the work…
Tick season is here—and it’s delivering more than just itchy bites. With Lyme disease cases quadrupling over the last 20 years across the U.S., ticks pose a growing risk to families, pets, and even pollinators. But you don’t have to sit back and wait for bites. With a little awareness and guidance, you have options. …
They might look cute at the nursery, but some trees bring more trouble than they’re worth. Weak branches, root systems that lift sidewalks, and nonstop leaf litter are just the beginning. A tree that seems perfect in a pot can quickly turn into a yard-sized problem once it matures. Some trees may look appealing when…
You don’t need to spend your upcoming spring and summer weekends elbow-deep in the dirt to have a vibrant, productive garden. You can grow a lush, thriving garden that practically takes care of itself, with just a fraction of the time and effort that most people expect. Somewhere along the way, gardening picked up a…
Most gardeners reach for the spray bottle the moment they spot a pest. But that reflex may be doing more harm than good, including to the very garden they are trying to protect. According to the University of Florida’s Department of Entomology and Nematology, conventional pesticides carry documented health risks, from skin conditions to neurological…
The arborvitae hedge lining your fence, the bark mulch you refreshed last spring, and the ornamental grasses swaying beautifully at the edge of your patio are some of the most common landscaping choices in America, and in wildfire-prone regions, they may be among the most dangerous things on your property. It’s not a comfortable thought,…
You don’t need a backyard, you don’t need a plot at the community garden, and you don’t even need to dedicate that much time. Truly, all you need is a pot, some potting mix, a sunny spot, and the right vegetables. Container gardening has exploded in popularity for a simple reason: it works. Whether you’re…
Those gnarly surface roots snaking through your yard aren’t going anywhere, and cutting them could cost you the entire tree. The good news is that hiding them well is easier than you think, and a few of these fixes will actually make your yard more beautiful than before. Surface roots are one of the most…
American lawns cover roughly 40 million acres of land, an area about the size of New England, and the vast majority of that acreage supports almost no wildlife at all. We spend billions maintaining these green monocultures every year, and in ecological terms, they give almost nothing back. If that bothers you even a little,…