Gardeners argue every autumn about the right time to spread mulch, and the honest answer is that both seasons have a place. Fall mulching protects soil through winter and starts feeding it early, while spring mulching keeps beds warm, moist, and weed-free through the growing season. The right choice depends on the bed, the climate, […]
The end of summer does not have to mean the end of color in the yard. Shrubs planted in fall reward homeowners with foliage that shifts to red, burgundy, purple, and gold while perennials fade, then keep the display going for decades. Choosing plants that fit the site matters more than the size of the
Fall color usually means a run to the garden center for potted mums, then watching them fade by Thanksgiving. Asters deliver the same daisy-like flowers with a longer payoff: they are perennials, they shrug off cold, drought, and deer, and they feed pollinators when most other blooms have shut down. Gardeners who make the switch
Joe Pye weed is a native perennial that closes out the garden season with tall clusters of mauve and pink-purple flowers. It grows 5 to 7 feet tall in a single season, tolerates both cold and warm climates, and thrives in the moist spots where many garden plants fail, such as stream banks and drainage
Asparagus is a long-term commitment. A well-tended bed produces spears for 15 to 20 years, so the plants around it matter as much as the crowns themselves. The right neighbors deter asparagus beetles and aphids, shade out weeds while the ferns grow, and keep the soil loose and fertile, and the companion planting principles that
Peppers deliver a wider range of flavors and heat than almost any other garden crop. One plant produces crisp, sweet pods with zero burn, and another produces fruit hot enough to require gloves at harvest. The choice of which types to plant comes down to three numbers: days to maturity, plant size, and Scoville heat
Slugs and snails are garden pests that chew ragged holes in the leaves of vegetables, flowers, and fruits, and they leave shiny slime trails wherever they crawl. Both belong to the gastropod family and are close relatives of mollusks such as clams and mussels. They feed mostly at night and spend the day in dark,
Pineapple tomatoes are heirloom beefsteak varieties with roots in Kentucky, grown for a flavor that sits between sweet and tangy with very low acid. The fruit is large and ribbed, like a pineapple in miniature, and the skin and flesh blend yellow, orange, and red in striking patterns. The plants are indeterminate, which means they
Swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus) is one of the showiest native perennials for wet ground. It belongs to a genus of more than 200 hibiscus species and stands out for sheer size: strong woody stems push past six feet tall and spread about four feet wide, with deep green, pointed leaves that look nothing like the
Shorter days and dimmer light make many yards look barren by late October, but woody plants can hold color well into early winter. Gardeners who choose the right shrubs end up with foliage that shifts from green to red, bronze, and gold while perennials fade. The payoff doubles when the same plants screen views and
