Companion planting is my new normal in the vegetable garden. I love experimenting and finding beneficial buddies for my plants. With companion planting, you can utilize your garden space efficiently, increase biodiversity and repel pests and diseases. By maximizing your space, you can grow a lot of food in a small space! Since growing tomatoes is one of the most common plants for beginners, we want to cover all the basics for tomato companion plants!...

by Matt Gibson About Damping Off Damping off, or seedling disease, is a term used for the sudden death of new plant seedlings. It is usually caused by a fungal disease, most often by one of several root rots or molds. Seedlings that are affected by damping off often fail to emerge, or fall over and die soon after emerging. Most seedlings that are affected by damping off rarely grow to produce a strong, fruit bearing plant....

What if I told you there was a way to grow plants quicker, larger and using only 5% of the water normally required. Most people would assume this is impossible. And yet, hydroponics allows you to do just this. Hydroponics is a technique for growing plants without soil, using only water, a nutrient solution and a medium to hold the plants in place. Although various forms of water culture have been practiced for several thousand years, it is only in the last 100 years that the science behind hydroponics has been more fully understood....

QUESTION: Which vegetables need full sun to grow their best? I know many of the vegetables I’ve grown in the past require full sun, but not all of them do. — Dwight L. ANSWER: It’s true that not all of the plants in a vegetable garden need full sun for an optimal growth environment, but there are lots of vegetables that do. Full sun is defined as at least six hours of direct sunlight each day....

Raking grass in spring is a great excuse to get outside and enjoy the warm weather. But if you start raking too early, you can damage your lawn. So, how do you know when to rake the lawn in spring? In this post, I will give you some tips to figure out if it’s too early to rake your lawn, and how to tell when it’s safe to start. Is It Too Early To Rake My Lawn?...

Jade plants are one of the most popular indoor plants for very good reasons. They are extremely versatile, great looking and it generally doesn’t take much to keep them happy. However, If you’ve found your Jade plant leaves turning yellow, you’re not alone. Thankfully, this article will help you identify the cause, fix it and learn to prevent the problems that cause yellow leaves. Why are my jade plant leaves turning yellow?...

Cornstarch is a fine powder obtained from corn. It’s a popular thickening agent in recipes, and you can find it on almost every kitchen shelf. Beyond the kitchen, it’s also used in many home hacks. But do you know this natural ingredient is useful in your yard as well? Continue reading Cornstarch Uses in the Garden below to find out! Check out our article on Vicks vapoRub uses in the garden here Cornstarch Uses in the Garden 1....

We all want a little privacy when we sit to chill out with our family and friends. If you too want to do the same without spending too much money, then we have some amazing Cheap Ways to Block Neighbor’s Views in Gardens & Backyards! Have a look at some helpful balcony privacy ideas here Cheap Ways to Block Neighbor’s Views in Gardens & Backyards 1. Grow Hedges If the space and budget both are tight, choose to go green and grow evergreens such as Arborvitae or Italian Cypress that can block out neighbor’s view....

1. Plastic Bottle Garden Sprinkler Make a garden sprinkler at home using an old plastic bottle. Watch the YouTube tutorial here 2. 60-Second Garden Sprinkler This DIY garden sprinkler project is similar to the project above. The tutorial is here. 3. Rain Water Garden Sprinkler Find out how they transformed a rain gutter into a sprinkler for their garden in this article. 4. Garden Sprinkler Using Recycled Materials This garden sprinkler is super easy to make with the help of recycled materials like a plastic bottle and a few used ballpoint pens....

There are maroon blossoms and dwarf plants, and flowers that are frilly and full like a giant marigold. Quick, picture a black-eyed Susan. I bet you imagined a daisy-like yellow flower with a black center, right? It’s true, black-eyed Susans don’t have the variability that something like roses or poppies do. People might assume the blooms generally have the same appearance and a similar color. But there’s actually quite a bit of variety available....

By Erin Marissa Russell & Matt Gibson The fastest growing tree in the world, according to Guinness World Records, is the Moluccan albizia (Falcataria moluccana) which is the most common tinder tree species in southeast Asia. Moluccan albizia have been known to grow as much as 35 feet in 13 months. That’s a massive tree that just soars into the air like a skyscraper and was only a seedling just over a year ago....

Houseplants grow in full glory when exposed to a few hours of sunlight, and can you think of a better spot than being close to the window? If you agree–try one of these “Best Hanging Plants in Front of Windows Ideas.” Check out the Best Plants for Hanging Baskets here Best Hanging Plants in Front of Windows Ideas 1. Spider Plants and Asparagus Ferns in Hanging Rope Planters If you have a big and bright window, hang houseplants such as Spider Plant and Asparagus Ferns in rope planters, so they can bask in the morning sun....

But what if just the long, pointed leaves grow, and no flowers bloom at all? For gardeners who want an easy-to-grow flower that refines their capacity for patience, daffodils are perfect. You plant them before the ground freezes in the fall or winter, and then you’re rewarded in the spring with the most cheerful, nodding faces. Unless… you aren’t. Perennial daffodils (Narcissus spp.) are some of the first blooms of the spring season, opening their buds as early as January or February in warmer climes, and as late as April or May in frigid areas like Alaska, where I live....

Do you know about the Different Types of Ficus Lyrata? If not, then don’t worry. We have handpicked the Best Fiddle Leaf Fig Varieties that will look smashing with your home decor! Want to grow Ficus Benjamina Indoors? Click here Ficus Lyrata The Fiddle Leaf Fig or Ficus Lyrata is one of the trendiest indoor trees with very large, heavily veined, and shiny foliage. It is native to the tropical regions of Africa and can grow well in warm and wet conditions....

Growing tomatoes in your garden requires a conducive environment. All the more so, if you plan to have a bumper crop this year. You’ll want to have a few tricks up your sleeve. So when it’s time to plant tomatoes, planting them is already within your field of expertise. Think of this as your crash course for growing strong, healthy tomato plants. Where Do Tomatoes Grow Best? Before we go into detail on how to plant tomatoes, let’s take a glance at the best conditions to grow them....

Cashews we eat come from the cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale), they’re not true nuts but seeds, growing at the end of the Cashew apple. These edible kernels are the main ingredient in various Southeastern Asian cuisines and are also famous as a protein-rich snack in Western countries. Wondering where do cashews come from? To find out, click here! What Are Cashews? Cashews are not really nuts but seeds. They are seeds of a drupe or bean that grows at the bottom of the cashew apple, which is an accessory fruit (false fruit), growing in red to yellow color....

Are Dahlias Deer Resistant? This has been the question of discussion amongst many gardeners. Some believe they are, and some think they are not. So, what’s the right answer? Let’s find out! Want to keep your cats away from houseplants? Click here Are Dahlias Deer Resistant? If you are wondering – Are Dahlias Deer Resistant, then a short and simple answer to your question is no! Though deers usually do not prefer munching on dahlias, it is a no guarantee that they would never eat them at all....

If you’re a fan of tall flower stalks with interesting botanical structures, Bells of Ireland is a great plant for you. Hailing from Western Asia, these bells don’t call Ireland their home. The culprit for this common name was most likely an enterprising seed distributor in the 20th century. While they have a wide hardiness range, these plants grow best in dry, cool areas. They’re hardy down to zone 2 and do fine in regions of zones 6 through 11....

Wildflower fields full of black-eyed Susan are a sight to see in the late spring and summer in the American south. Akin to their sunflower relatives, Rudbeckia hirta thrive in similar conditions. Large open prairies that get full sun are great for them, but flower beds are also perfectly appropriate. Table of Contents Anywhere you’d like to plant yellow flowers or native plants to attract beneficial insects is splendid for this stunning member of the Aster plant family....

We often wonder whether we can give our pets the same food items that we include in our diet. But before feeding anything to dogs, you should make sure that it won’t cause any harm. One such edible sweet fruit that’s on the list are dates. So, Can Dogs Eat Dates? Let’s find out! Can dogs eat walnuts? Find out here Can Dogs Eat Dates? Yes, dates are absolutely safe for dogs!...