Most gardeners have spent more money filling perennial beds than they will ever admit. Year after year, the ritual is the same: walk into a nursery, fall in love with a dozen plants at $15 to $25 each, and walk out $200 lighter. The garden looks great for the season. Then the cycle repeats. The …
Gardening
Most people walk into a garden center in April and walk out $60 lighter with a single flat of flowers that stops blooming by August. There is a smarter way to do it, and it starts with knowing which flowers deliver the most color for the least money, especially when you grow them the way …
Beets are a wonderful crop to grow for many reasons. These vegetables are packed with nutrients, and you can harvest some of the leafy greens while you wait for the vibrant, fleshy roots to fully mature. To ensure healthy plants both above and below the soil, grow one or two companion plants for beets nearby. …
Don’t let limited space cramp your nut harvest dreams! With the right variety, container, and care, you can cultivate a mini-orchard on a patio or balcony. Nut trees in pots offer flavorful yields, seasonal interest, and a hands-on connection to your food—all from a compact footprint. Here’s the top 10 container-friendly nut picks, each chosen …
Planting a garden in a shady yard can be a frustrating experience. As we walk through a nursery or garden center looking for shade-loving plants, many of the showy flowers we gravitate toward require a sunny location. But there are plenty of beautiful flowers for shade, too! Shady yards often get a bad reputation, but …
Do you save your eggshells? One gardener described on a Gardening Reddit thread that she’s been saving crushed eggshells all winter and scattering them in the garden once spring arrives. This simple habit sparked plenty of conversation, with others admitting they do the same and feel it benefits their plants. The practice has become a …
Every year on April 22nd, Earth Day reminds us that even the smallest actions can have a big impact on the planet—and if you’ve got a patch of soil (or even a few pots on the patio), you’re already in a great place to start. As gardeners, we’re natural caretakers — of our plants, our …
Spotting a slithering reptile near your patio can quickly ruin a peaceful afternoon outdoors. Most homeowners want to enjoy their outdoor spaces without constantly scanning the grass for hidden reptiles. Finding a harmless garter snake might surprise you, but venomous varieties pose a real threat to pets and children. You need reliable methods to protect …
April is the cruelest month in the vegetable garden. Not because of unpredictable weather, but because of what happens in the six feet between your back door and your raised bed. Transplanting is the most decisive moment in the entire growing season. Every week of careful seed starting either pays off here or unravels here, …
Improving a home’s curb appeal often can seem like a giant, mysterious project. Where do you even begin? It’s easy to feel stuck between the same old manicured lawn and a few ambitious-looking shrubs. It turns out, your front yard can be so much more than just a green space people pass on their way …