Information Not sure if you should be using cedar mulch in your garden, or looking for an alternative? Mulch has many uses, but it can be confusing to figure out which type of mulch is best for your planting needs. In this article, gardening expert Logan Hailey shares her thoughts on gardening with cedar mulch, and if you should be using an alternative instead. By Logan Hailey Last updated: November 17, 2022 | 6 min read Gardeners hear over and over again that they need to cover their soil....

QUESTION: I’m growing tomatoes this year for the first time. I’ve been reading about pinching back plants. What does that mean? Do I need to pinch out my tomato plants? ANSWER: Depending on the type of tomato plant you are growing and what you are looking for, you may choose to pinch back your tomato plants. Pinching back young tomato plants once they are four to six inches tall will encourage them to grow thick stems and lots of foliage, and you can pinch them again once the new growth has reached two or three inches....

Mustard is an excellent cool-season crop with interesting leaves ranging from purple to bright green. Mustard can taste mild, or it can be spicy and peppery. It is a favorite in Southern gardens. Growing mustard greens is simple, and they are high in antioxidants, a good source of fiber, and are high in vitamins A and C. Table of Contents Mustard greens are popular in a variety of dishes, from microgreens to curries and stir-fries....

These evergreen herbaceous perennials shine as houseplants and are an excellent option for beginners, due to their low light and water requirements. Spathiphyllum spp. Some say the plants in this genus are commonly called the peace lilies because the white spathe of their flowers looks like a flag of surrender. I think the combination of columnar central spadix and spathe looks like a candle flame flickering peacefully on a dark night....

In time I came to appreciate their ease of maintenance as much as their soothing foliage and drip-dropping flowers. Lamprocapnos spectabilis, formerly Dicentra spectabilis In the world of garden plants, few stick out as immediately identifiable as Lamprocapnos spectabilis, commonly referred to as bleeding hearts. I remember these flowers from my youth, as I’m sure many other gardeners do. It took a long time for me to grow and tend for my own, but I’ve since wasted no effort fostering these springtime lovelies since they’ve found their way into my gardens....

USDA Zones: 5 to 9 Difficulty: Easy Other Names: Hypericum perforatum, Klamathweed, Goatweed, Hypericum, Chase Devil, Amber, Touch-and-Heal Characteristics St. John’s wort (common) is a perennial herb with medicinal properties. The plant grows up to 100 cm tall forming a thin, rigid, erect momentum and branched stems. At the top of these branched stems grow yellow flowers, forming a dense umbels. Its oblong, smooth and delicate leaves grow on stems in opposite pairs....

by Jennifer Poindexter Tickseed is one of my favorite flowers. They’re versatile, beautiful, and can grow practically everywhere. If you’re in the market for an easy-to-care-for flower, don’t overlook this option. This flower blooms in yellow, red, pink, white, and even orange. You may also find it labeled as coreopsis in your local nursery. Tickseed can light up your garden with its daisy-like blooms all summer long. In some areas, it can even grow into early fall....

Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis – also known as bok choy, pak choi, or Chinese cabbage – is a green-leafed and white-stalked member of the Brassicaceae family that’s well-known for its earthy and peppery taste. Question: what do potstickers, spring rolls, and stir-fries all have in common? Answer: they all taste even better with the addition of bok choy. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

Ready to witness this amazing event? Should you protect your trees? Keep reading to find out! Magicicada spp. The loud song of a cicada buzzing in the heat is one sound that takes me right back to childhood summers spent in Ontario. Somehow, hearing their shrill solos made the sun seem even hotter than it was. But we aren’t talking about those annual summertime vocalists in this article. We’re talking about the miracle of periodical cicadas, when every 13 or 17 years, thousands of these noisy bugs emerge in the late spring, and sing all at once....

Starting with clean seed is essential. If you can’t buy heat-treated turnip seeds, you can treat them with hot water yourself before planting. Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris Black rot caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) is a highly destructive disease of crucifers, including turnips. In fact, the disease was first identified on turnips in 1893 and remains a severe problem today. The pathogen spreads easily between plants and can survive on infested plant material in the soil for years if buried deeply....

The ponytail palm is a unique houseplant that — SURPRISE — is neither a palm or a ponytail! Ponytail palms are actually succulents, believe it or not. Succulent or palm, it adds a bit of tropical flair and botanical interest to any area of your home. Table of Contents The ponytail palm plant is an excellent choice if you want to add a beautiful houseplant to your home without spending a lot of time caring for it....

Using Honey as Rooting Hormone is a great way to help cuttings propagate properly. As it has antibacterial, antiseptic, and antifungal properties that will save the plant from rot and infection. Let’s have a look at in it detail! Here are some amazing uses of honey in the garden Using Honey as Rooting Hormone According to a study published in the University of Hawaii Extension, a series of experiments were conducted to find out the efficacy of honey as a rooting hormone as compared to commercial rooting hormones available in the market....

QUESTION: What are the most common herbs? I want to start an herb garden and am not sure which herb plant will be the best to grow, so I’m curious what everyone else typically grows. — Mary C. ANSWER: Here’s a list of the most common herbs you can grow. We’ve included a description of the plant along with its culinary use and care instructions to get you started. Basil Basil is a delicate herb that can be a little dramatic in warm weather....

All varieties of squash can be sorted into two main types: summer and winter. If you’ve ever perused a seed catalog looking at all the options, you might be wondering what the difference is between summer and winter squash. And it has nothing to do with when they are planted and grown! So before we delve into the differences between summer and winter squash, let’s talk about the similarities. How summer and winter squash are the same All squashes are warm weather plants that will not tolerate freezing temperatures....

Before you try to use a soil amendment like caffeine, it is important to know Which Plants Like and Do Not Like Coffee Grounds. Keep on reading to know everything about it. Check out Growing Mushrooms in Coffee Grounds here How to Use Coffee for Plants? Coffee grounds help plants that like acidic growing medium, as they are an excellent source of nitrogen, improving the growth of the beneficial microorganisms in the soil....

Plants Are you planting lavender in your garden this season? There are a number of different common problems that can impact how well your lavender grows. In this article, organic gardening expert Logan Hailey walks through the most common mistakes that befall many lavender gardeners, from beginners to gardeners with a seasoned green thumb. By Logan Hailey Last updated: October 6, 2022 | 4 min read When a summer breeze whisps the relaxing floral aroma of lavender through an open window, you can’t help but feel peacefully pulled into the present moment....

If you want to have an uninterrupted supply of fresh greens in your home, then here are the best Container Vegetables that Magically Regrow Themselves you can grow. Have a look at kitchen scraps that can become future houseplants here Container Vegetables that Magically Regrow Themselves 1. Garlic Greens Botanical Name: Allium sativum Garlic greens offer more amazing and mild flavor than garlic. They can be grown in containers and you can start to harvest when they are 8-15 inches tall....

While many varieties in this group add fantastic vertical interest with masses of fragrant blossoms on tall, woody vines, others produce multiple shorter stems that joyfully climb, scramble, and spill throughout the garden. Spring-flowering clematis, the Group 1 plants, make a striking addition to the early-season garden, adding colorful blooms on dramatic vines that cascade, climb, and scramble. This group includes several species and hybrids, with some that bloom as early as December and continue until mid- to late spring, depending on your region....

Not all yellow roses are worthy of song, however. Some fade as they age, others are prone to diseases like black spot, or simply have disappointing blossoms. There’s something special about yellow roses. After all, the famous folk song isn’t called “The Cream Rose of Texas.” With their sunny coloring, yellow roses somehow manage to be dramatically elegant and humbly cheerful at the same time. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

If you’re looking for the best of the best but you’re not sure which to pick, peruse this carefully curated roundup of 15 of our favorite zinnia cultivars to grow in the home garden. Zinnias are a popular mainstay of the annual flower garden, grown from seed to fill the flowerbeds with vibrant color. Blooms sit atop tall stalks perfect for cutting, or dwarf plants are suited to growing in containers....