9 Plants You Should Leave Standing for Birds in Winter
That “dead” patch in your garden may be the busiest bird feeder you have. Once frost strips the color from the yard, seed heads, dry stalks, pods, and berry clusters …
Don’t Pitch Your Basil Flowers: Here’s 8 Ways to Use Them
When basil starts sending up flower spikes, many gardeners reach for the scissors. That makes sense if your only goal is to keep producing large, tender leaves. But those little …
Don’t Ignore White Mushrooms in Your Yard: What They Mean and How to Deal With Them
White mushrooms can seem alarming when they suddenly appear in your lawn, garden beds, or mulch. They may look harmless, but some wild mushrooms can be poisonous. The good news …
15 Natural Ways to Keep Deer Out of Your Fall Garden
Fall is a wonderful time to grow cool-season crops such as kale, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, and herbs. Unfortunately, deer enjoy many of these same plants. As temperatures drop, …
20 Fussy Plants People Keep Buying—Even Though They’re Hard to Keep Alive
These 20 popular plants are beautiful, widely sold, and surprisingly hard to keep alive. Learn why they are fussy—and what they actually need to thrive.
Should You Cut Back Peonies After They Bloom? Here’s the Answer
Should you cut back peonies after they bloom? Learn what to deadhead, what to leave alone, and when to cut peony foliage for healthier plants and better blooms next year.
11 Flower Seeds to Sow in August for a Head Start on Spring
Start planning next year’s garden now with these 11 flowers to sow or start in August. Get practical tips for pansies, foxgloves, sweet William, columbine, lupines, poppies, and more.
Stop Throwing Away Potato Peels—They’re a Secret Weapon for Your Garden
That bowl of potato peels is not kitchen waste—it is the beginning of your next garden win. Before you toss another handful, consider this: potato peels are moist, biodegradable, and …
12 Ground Covers That Can Take Over the Whole Yard
Ground cover sounds harmless. It is supposed to fill bare soil, knock back weeds, and make the yard feel finished without endless mowing. Then one spring, it has crossed the …
You Can Help Save the Monarch Butterfly by Collecting and Growing Milkweed Seeds
Every fall, monarchs begin one of nature’s most improbable journeys: a tiny orange-and-black butterfly heads south on a route it has never flown before. The trip looks magical from a …