Crescent-shaped mounds of loose soil are usually the first sign that gophers have moved into a yard. These burrowing rodents feed on plant roots, so the damage shows up quickly: wilting vegetables, toppled flowers, and dead patches in the lawn. The good news is that most gopher problems can be handled without calling in a […]
Baltic blue pothos (Epipremnum pinnatum ’Baltic Blue’) earns its name from the deep blue-green tint of its large leaves, and it stands out among houseplants because mature specimens develop fenestrations, the splits and holes that appear along the leaf edges. The plant grows quickly and asks for little more than warm room temperatures, slightly above-average
Rock cress, also known as Arabis, is a charming and resilient perennial plant that adds beauty and texture to any garden or landscape. Its low, spreading habit and early spring flowers make it one of the most reliable ground covers for sunny, dry sites. With its delicate flowers and creeping habit, it is a favorite
The lemon button fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia ’Duffii’) is a dwarf variety of the common Boston fern, sold under names like button sword fern, erect sword fern, little-leaved sword fern, and fishbone fern. Crush a leaf and it releases a light citrus scent, which explains the name. Its rounded leaflets earned the button label, a reference
Wine barrels spend their working lives aging wine and whiskey, and once the liquor is gone, the oak vessel still has plenty of useful life left. Gardeners turn retired barrels into planters for flowers, herbs, vegetables, and even small fruit trees. The deep, wide interior holds far more soil than a typical pot, so plants
Removing a lawn is one of the fastest ways to cut outdoor maintenance, and the method you choose decides whether the job takes an afternoon or a weekend. Homeowners remove grass to save water, to reduce mowing, or to replace turf with something more interesting. The process can be as gentle as smothering the grass
Lilac bushes reward gardeners with clusters of fragrant spring flowers, but the display depends on pruning done at the right moment. After a lilac’s first five years, an annual pruning session keeps the shrub balanced between new flowering shoots and older stems. A mature lilac typically stands 8 to 15 feet tall, and when it
A greenhouse is more than a place to grow plants; it is an extension of the home that earns its keep year-round. With the right layout, a greenhouse handles seed starting in early spring, overwinters tender plants, and doubles as a bright room for reading or working. The design choices made before construction determine how
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) ranks among the most popular houseplants because it tolerates low light, irregular watering, and a wide range of rooms. It is also one of the easiest plants to grow without soil: a cutting placed in a glass jar develops a tangle of white roots within weeks. The plant adapts to many conditions,
Growing strawberries in a home garden almost guarantees a visit from hungry pests. Slugs, strawberry bud weevils, tarnished plant bugs, spittlebugs, and strawberry sap bugs all feed on the plants, and birds take their share of the ripe fruit. Before any control method works well, the planting site needs stable soil and good drainage, because
