Don’t Plant These 3 Pretty Bullies in Your Garden Beds
Chinese lantern, dotted loosestrife, and variegated ground ivy can spread beyond their welcome. Learn when pots help, how to prevent escapes, and when to choose another plant.
Gardening
Plant Your Fall Mums Early—Don’t Wait Until the Flowers Fade
Give hardy fall mums more time to establish before winter. Learn when to plant, how to handle the root ball, and the watering detail that is easy to miss.
A Simple Trick for Rooting Stubborn Bougainvillea Cuttings
Help stubborn bougainvillea cuttings root with a simple humidity cover, the right stem, an airy mix, and patient aftercare.
Why Some Mums Return Every Fall—and Others Never Do
Why do some mums return every fall while others disappear after winter? Learn how variety, planting time, root protection, and a few seasonal habits change the odds.
Stop Tossing Your Wood Stove Ash: Here’s How to Use It in the Garden
Wood stove ash can help acidic garden soil—if you use the right amount. Learn where it belongs, which plants to avoid, and how to handle it safely.
The Clematis Fertilizing Mistake That Can Steal Next Season’s Blooms
Extra fertilizer can backfire on clematis. Learn how nitrogen, feeding time, and pruning group affect flowering—and what to do before cold weather arrives.
Seeing More Hummingbirds in Your Yard? September Is the Reason
Seeing more hummingbirds this September? Learn how fall migration changes backyard activity, when to keep feeders up, and which late flowers can help.
Think Twice Before You Chase This Garden Guest Away
If a gray, pink-nosed opossum wanders through your beds after dark, resist the urge to grab a broom. A passing opossum is usually a shy cleanup crew, not a garden …
Before September Ends: 11 Perennials Ready for a Trim
September makes a gardener want to grab the shears, but the calendar is not the real signal. The right plants to trim are the ones that have finished flowering, developed …
The September Secret to Bigger Geranium Blooms in Pots
September can make a tired potted geranium look newly ambitious. Cooler days often end the midsummer heat stall, but the plant will not produce its best second show by accident. …