Garlic is one of the most useful plants a home gardener can grow, and its reputation goes well beyond the kitchen. Compact, cold-hardy, and easy to slot into a crop rotation, garlic is also the centerpiece of a string of garden hacks: garlic water poured into the soil to feed plants, garlic sprays meant to […]
Pinching is a pruning step that shapes a dahlia for the whole season. The technique removes the tender new growth at the tip of a stem, and the plant responds by pushing out two or more new stems from the leaf node below the cut. More stems means more flowers, and for a cutting garden
Every garden has spots where the sun never seems to reach: under mature trees, along north-facing walls, and in the shadow of the house. When those spots also go dry, because tree roots drink first and eaves shed rain elsewhere, most plants fail fast. A small group of species tolerates both conditions at once, and
Every garden has its standouts: plants that shrug off pests, heat, and dry spells while producing flowers from early summer to frost. Dahlia and chrysanthemum are two of the most reliable performers in this group, and both succeed in pots and in the ground. The difference between a so-so display and a show-stopping one usually
Tomatoes do not need a garden bed to produce a heavy crop. A single pot on a balcony, patio, or rooftop can carry a full season of fruit, and for many growers a container is all the space they have. The trade-off is that the plant depends entirely on what you provide, because the soil
Hydrangeas produce some of the largest, showiest flower heads in the home garden, with blooms ranging from blue to red to purple to white to light green depending on variety and soil. When you grow shrubs for their flowers, the season can feel short: most varieties peak for a few weeks, and the petals fade
Sweet onions turn a small garden plot into a steady source of mild, crisp bulbs that slice easily and rarely bring tears to the cook. Candy onions, a hybrid of common and sweet onion varieties, sit between ultra-sweet types and the more sulfuric classic onions, which makes them a practical choice for home gardeners who
Roses have a reputation for being difficult, and anyone who has watched a cutting wilt in a glass of water knows why: stems need steady moisture and humidity while they push out roots. One kitchen-sink solution has gained a loyal following among gardeners: sticking the cutting into a potato before planting. The tuber holds moisture
The puffy flower heads of hydrangeas are one of summer’s most dependable garden sights, and when those blooms fade, the plant sends a clear signal. Deadheading, the practice of removing spent flowers, keeps the shrub tidy, redirects energy into growth, and lowers the risk of disease. The catch is timing: cut at the wrong moment
Plucking a ripe peach from a tree or eating a pear straight off the branch is one of the rewards of a home orchard, and squirrels enjoy the same sweet treats. A single gray squirrel can sample dozens of fruits in one morning, and once a tree becomes a regular feeding spot, the animal returns
