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Gardening Advice
September 5, 2022
It has been a hot, dry summer. It’s been tough on gardens, but lawns are suffering as well. If yours looks like the winner of an ugly lawn contest, don’t despair: There are a few things you can do this fall to help it recover and improve its looks for next year.
Your revived fall lawn will give you weeks of pleasure before winter sets in.
Start with healthy soil. Fall is the…
September 5, 2022
We love fall gardening! The heat is waning but the soil is still warm. There are just three steps to consider to planting a fall garden: when to plant, what to plant, and where to plant a fall garden. Let’s get started!
Why Plant a Fall Garden
Fall gardening is much less stressful for many crops—as well as shrubs, trees, and perennials. There are less weeds, less pests…
September 2, 2022
Here’s a fall vegetable garden cleanup checklist with 11 tasks to do in autumn before the weather gets uncomfortably cold. If you’ve ever forgotten to clean up in the fall, you’ll also know it makes life much easier in the spring and it’s also better to clean up for the health of your garden.
When to Start Fall Cleanup
Whenever you see summer plants…
September 1, 2022
Fall is the best time for shrubs. As the gardening season winds down, it’s the last call for filling in those bare spots in your landscaping with a beautiful shrub or two. Discover six shrubs that add those beloved colors of autumn right to your own yard!
Many gardeners prefer autumn to any other season. The heat and humidity of summer have passed, biting insects are gone, and the leaves…
August 31, 2022
Got your cloves in the ground yet? Garlic is incredibly useful in the kitchen and surprisingly easy to grow in the garden. The best time to plant it is in the fall. Learn how and when to plant garlic so that you can maximize your harvest!
When to Plant garlic
Fall is traditionally the best time to plant garlic in most regions. A good rule of thumb is to not plant garlic until after the…
August 25, 2022
In my garden, we no longer cut down every perennial plant in the fall. As in nature, many perennials find that their dying leaves protect them from the cold and provide natural fertilizer. Let’s talk about which perennials to tackle, which to leave, as well as when and how to cut back perennials properly.
When to Cut Back Perennials
It’s obvious when it’s…
August 25, 2022
Here’s a foolproof approach to making a flower bouquet—whether you grow your own flowers or are selecting flowers at a local market. Also, see which flowers are best for long-lasting bouquets.
In making a hand-tied bouquet, select flowers which have good stem strength, color, and vase life.
Avoid having boring bouquets! Try to pick a variety of flower forms, shapes, sizes,…
August 23, 2022
Also called pinks, these pretty cottage garden classics are long-blooming, prolific, and fragrant through the summer season. Discover six different types of dianthus for the home gardener—from creeping rock garden ground covers to towering flowering plants.
What’s in a Name?
Often just called “pinks,” dianthus get that nickname from the fringed look of their petals,…
August 21, 2022
Bothered by bugs? Here are 4 homemade bug repellents for your skin—and they take seconds to mix up for an effective everyday spray. Using witch hazel or other simple ingredients, these DIY bug sprays kick those pesky mosquitos and insects to the curb and keep you bite-free. If you prefer not to spray chemicals on your skin, check out these natural recipes using simple pantry ingredients…
August 18, 2022
The blooming of the bearded irises is something I eagerly await each spring. This year, I made a mental note that I should divide and replant the irises in later summer, after flowering. The time is now! Here’s how to divide irises—with step-by-step pictures.
Even though my irises were planted years ago and are terribly overgrown, the blossoms were still gorgeous this spring.…
August 17, 2022
Keep plants pumping out the flowers and fruit with midseason fertilizing. But if you just can’t afford another trip to the garden center to purchase yet another bag of overpriced fertilizer, here are 10 natural fertilizers, many of wish you may have right on hand.
If your plants are beginning to look a bit shabby and tired you can’t really blame them. They have been working hard for you…
August 17, 2022
Asian greens are the stars of many fall vegetable gardens. If you’ve never grown tatsoi, pak choi, or other Asian greens, give them a try because they will germinate fast in warm, late-summer soil. Turn over a new leaf and learn more about types of Asian greens!
Way down south, August means planting another round of warm-weather crops, but where temperatures aren’t so…