Poison ivy can look like nothing more than a crispy pile of garden debris when the season turns, but that dead-looking material deserves a very wide berth. Burning it can send urushiol, the oily substance that causes poison ivy’s infamous rash, into the smoke, creating a much bigger problem than a few itchy spots. The…
garden tips
Your HOA Says the Garden Has to Go. What Can They Actually Make You Remove?
A backyard vegetable garden can turn an ordinary patch of grass into tomatoes, peppers, herbs, pollinators and, occasionally, a very determined zucchini. Then an HOA letter arrives and suddenly that cheerful little garden looks like a legal dispute with tomato vines. The good news: an HOA does not automatically get to remove whatever it dislikes….
The First Frost Is Coming — These 7 Garden Plants Are Worth Saving Before It Hits
The first frost can turn a lush garden into a sad collection of blackened stems almost overnight, but not every plant needs to meet its chilly fate. Some garden favorites deserve a rescue mission before temperatures dip, especially plants that can move indoors, produce more food, or return next year from stored roots. The important…
Don’t Throw Away Those Dead Flower Heads — They Could Save You Money Next Spring
The flower may look finished, but the gardening value might not be finished at all. Those crispy brown flower heads hanging from your plants can contain perfectly good seeds that you can collect, store, and use to grow another round of flowers next year without buying another packet. Seed saving turns one season of flowers…
Stop Pruning These Plants in September — You Could Make Winter Damage Worse
September can feel like the perfect month to grab the pruners. Summer heat starts easing, the garden looks a little shaggy, and suddenly every overgrown shrub seems to be whispering, “Give me a haircut.” Resist the urge with many trees and shrubs, because pruning in late summer or early fall can push out tender new…
That White Powder on Your Plants Isn’t Dust: Here’s What to Do Before Winter
That white powder coating your plant leaves probably did not arrive courtesy of a very messy bag of flour. It may be powdery mildew, a common fungal disease that can spread across leaves, stems, and even flower buds when conditions cooperate. A plant covered in white does not automatically need the compost pile. With a…
Before Buying Fall Plants on Clearance, Check These 5 Things at the Garden Center
A garden center clearance rack can feel like the gardening equivalent of a treasure hunt. The prices look tempting, the plants still have plenty of green leaves, and suddenly that sad-looking perennial seems like a bargain worth rescuing. Before tossing it into the cart, though, take a closer look because a discounted plant can become…
That “Dead” Garden Plant May Be Better Left Alone Until Spring
That “dead” garden plant may look like it has officially clocked out for the season, but resist the urge to grab the pruners just yet. Many perennial stems and seed heads can serve a useful purpose through winter, giving wildlife shelter, feeding birds, protecting the plant itself, and making spring cleanup more productive. A garden…
September Isn’t the End of the Vegetable Garden: These 8 Crops Can Still Go in the Ground
September does not have to mean waving goodbye to the vegetable garden. Depending on your climate and first frost date, plenty of cool-season crops can still go into the soil now and give you fresh food long after the tomatoes start looking exhausted. The key involves choosing vegetables that actually enjoy cooler weather instead of…
Growing Your Own Food Doesn’t Always Save Money—Here’s When It Actually Does
Growing your own food can save money, but a garden does not automatically turn a grocery bill into pocket change. Seeds cost money, soil amendments cost money, containers cost money, and that adorable little tomato plant at the garden center somehow knows exactly how to make a gardener spend more money. A garden can absolutely…