Why I Cut My Pepper Plants Back Hard Before Winter
Hard pruning turns a sprawling pepper plant into a compact framework that is easier to inspect, store, and keep alive indoors until spring.
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Stop Wasting Your Sage Leaves: 8 Smart Ways to Use and Preserve Them
Put extra sage leaves to work with eight practical ideas, from crispy fried sage and brown butter to safe freezing, drying, and herb vinegar.
How to Get a Christmas Cactus to Bloom for the Holidays
September may feel too early to think about holiday flowers, but this is when the countdown begins for Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti. These plants do not suddenly decide to bloom …
Garden Centers Call These 15 Plants “Low-Maintenance”—They’re Anything But
The plants most likely to steal your Saturday rarely look demanding at the garden center. They sit in tidy rows, covered in flowers, with tags promising “easy care,” “tough,” “drought …
10 Bulbs You Can Plant This Fall for a Garden Full of Color Next Spring
Spring color starts in fall…. While the garden is winding down, spring-flowering bulbs are waiting in garden centers, ready to disappear underground and return when winter finally loosens its grip. …
One Bush, Years of Berries: The Right Way to Grow Blueberries at Home
Blueberries are one of the most rewarding fruits to grow at home. With the right variety, the right soil, and a little patience, a single healthy bush can produce fresh …
Grow Your Own Fresh Ginger at Home From One Grocery-Store Root
Ginger is easy to grow, incredibly useful, and one of the most satisfying plants to start at home. You don’t need a large garden. You don’t need special equipment. In …
The Three Biggest Watering Mistakes for Hydrangeas
(This article requires about one minute to read in its entirety) Hydrangeas are generally easy to grow, but watering them correctly can make the difference between healthy, colorful blooms and …
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 …