Onions take 16 to 24 weeks to grow, depending on whether you start from seeds or sets and which onion type you plant. Seed-sown onions started in January or February need up to 24 weeks, while sets planted out in March or April are ready in as little as 16 weeks, says Morris Hankinson, director […]
Shade gardening is on the rise as more homeowners look past the sunny borders and find that the shadier corners of the yard can be just as productive. The common misconception is that shade means nothing grows, when in reality hundreds of perennials, ferns, and shrubs prefer low light. With a little pre-planning, a dark
Companion planting is the practice of growing plants together so they support each other. In an herb garden the benefits show up as better pest control, healthier soil, and more efficient use of space. Good pairings share water and light preferences, deter each other’s pests, or fill different layers of the same bed. Bad pairings
The moment a houseplant breaks winter dormancy is one gardeners wait for all season. Not every houseplant goes into true dormancy, which involves the total dieback of stems and leaves, but shorter days, cooler temperatures, drier air, and reduced watering tell many plants to slow down until spring. Slower growth, no new flowers or leaves,
Sprinkling crushed red pepper flakes around flower beds is one of the most shared garden hacks on social media. The idea sounds reasonable: dust the soil and foliage with the same flakes that sit in your kitchen spice rack, and rabbits, insects, and other pests will move on. The internet is full of before-and-after stories,
A thin lawn invites more than an ugly yard. Bare soil washes away, weeds claim every open patch, and pests move in where grass should be. Reseeding fixes the problem, but only when the seed matches the site. Cool-season and warm-season grasses, sun and shade mixes, pure seed versus coated blends: the choices on the
Termites cause about $6.8 billion in property damage every year in the United States, and most homeowners only find out after a colony has been feeding for years. Mulch sits beside the foundation on millions of properties, which makes it the first suspect when termites show up. The relationship between mulch and termites is real,
Nothing beats the look of a fresh, evenly cut lawn, and warmer weather pushes many homeowners to install new grass. The route to that result runs through rolled sod or seed, and both fail when people step on them too early. Walking on new grass compacts the soil, crushes young roots, and leaves patchy or
A seat in a garden is an invitation to rest. Garden seating does double duty: it gives you a place to pause and it shapes how the whole yard reads. A bench under a tree, chairs beside a fire pit, or a hanging chair on a porch each changes how people move through and enjoy
Ornamental grasses earn their place in a landscape by working year-round: green blades through summer, seed heads and warm fall color, and structural shapes that hold snow in winter. The catch is choosing the right species. Many grasses flop, spread aggressively, or demand more water than a busy homeowner will supply. The nine grasses below
