by Jennifer Poindexter Did you know that some people grow thistles intentionally? One thistle that gardeners like to add to their growing space is blessed thistle. You might be wondering why anyone would intentionally grow thistles. Many believe that they have medicinal properties. Some grow blessed thistle because it can be used to make herbal teas and the greens of the plant are edible. If you’d like to dine on something a little different, consider adding blessed thistle to your garden....

Dill is a popular herb that many gardeners grow in their garden every summer. It’s an annual herb that can be used in tons of recipes. It’s also a host plant for the swallowtail butterfly caterpillar. So, even if you don’t love to eat dill, it’s still an essential herb to include in every vegetable garden. The best part about dill? It’s easy to collect dill seeds, so you can grow it in your garden year after year....

by Jennifer Poindexter Do you purchase store bought mums each autumn? Do you have grand plans of ensuring these mums survive, so you won’t have to keep buying more each year? I think many people do this only to be disappointed when their mums die over the winter. My mother is one of these people. If you fall into this category, take a deep breath, and read through this article. I’ll be sharing why some mums simply don’t make it, how you can overwinter mums in the ground, and how you can overwinter mums in a container....

For years, HPS technology has proven itself one of the best grow light choices for indoor and outdoor gardeners who want big, consistent, and predictable harvests. In short, HPS delivers. Table of Contents In this guide, we have gathered what we consider to be the most important information to help you choose the right HPS bulb for your garden. We’ll guide you through different lamp sizes, their applications, prices, and a few recommendations of what we consider to be the best HPS bulbs....

Table of Contents If you’re an indoor hydroponic grower, you know just how expensive your hydroponics garden can get due to the need to keep air conditioning, humidifiers, grow lights, etc. running. Why not start an outdoor hydroponic garden instead? Outdoor hydroponics gives you the perfect balance of nutrients and water, and in the summer when there is sufficient sunlight, your plants will grow much better and faster than in soil gardens....

Pea sprouts and pea shoots You may have noticed there are a lot of terms used for describing immature pea plants: sprouts, microgreens, pea tips, and shoots among others. However there is some overlap and I divide them into two main groups: sprouts and shoots. Pea sprouts – Sprouts are the first stage in the lifecycle of a plant. They’re grown in water and harvested after just a few days when the root tip begins to grow....

Are there rose bushes in the garden that you would like to propagate? Rose cuttings are an easy way to grow more rose plants. In this piece, we discuss what is needed to grow roses from cuttings. It’s really a simple and fun process that will help expand the rose garden in no time. Table of Contents There are other forms of rose propagation, such as growing new plants from seed or grafting cuttings onto a rootstalk....

Why include shrubs in a pollinator garden Before we introduce you to these five shrubs for pollinators, it’s important to understand why shrubs are an important addition to a pollinator garden in the first place. While bees and butterflies forage for nectar and pollen on a broad diversity of flowering perennials and annuals, shrubs fill in several important gaps that those types of plants leave open. In addition to offering a source of nectar via their flowers, the foliage of certain shrubs can also serve as a larval host plant for various butterfly and moth caterpillars....

Succulents are surrounded by many misleading myths like ‘lots of sunshine and very little water,’ which often make succulents look stunt and yellow. This post is dedicated to make you aware and beat those misleading Succulent Myths! Myth 1: Succulents Need Full Sun to Thrive It is a great myth that succulents need the full sun to grow, and they can not thrive in the shade. Why? Just like not all plants are the same, not all succulents are the same....

Spreader sticker is a somewhat dividing topic among gardeners. Or, maybe not, since it’s more commonly used in the southeastern part of the US and can be hard to find in stores elsewhere. There are those who have heard of it as an effective addition to control pests, disease, and weeds. Some are adamantly against using it, while others promise it’ll work miracles in the garden! Table of Contents Spreader-sticker is an adjuvant included in a chemical control, such as pesticide for spreading more evenly on a plant surface....

By Matt‌ ‌Gibson‌ Every year around the end of November or the beginning of December, Poinsettias start flying off the shelves, literally. In the United States alone, 35 million poinsettias in containers are brought into American homes to bring in some holiday cheer, the vast majority of which are purchased during the holiday season. Unfortunately, every new year, during the first few weeks of January, nearly 35 million poinsettias are tossed in the garbage and forgotten until next year, when the holidays begin approaching....

QUESTION: What does it mean when your lettuce bolts? Is it just seeding and can I still harvest it? -Jasmine S. ANSWER: Bolting is a natural part of the life cycle of your lettuce plants. It can be delayed, but bolting cannot be avoided entirely. When the lettuce plant bolts, it begins to quickly stretch taller, sending up a flowering stalk. Bolting means that the plant is changing its focus away from growing foliage and toward flowering and creating seeds....

There are a lot of things that you can do in the garden after September ends. Whether it’s keeping the yard cleaner, planting new plants, or harvesting, we have some really helpful autumn gardening tips to make you get the most from your garden. Let’s have a look at What to Do in the Garden in October! Here’s What to Do in the Garden in September What to Do in the Garden in October 1....

QUESTION: When is it too late to prune pepper plants? I don’t want to end up harming the plant and making my pepper harvest worse than it already is. – Bettina V ANSWER: To determine when you’ve missed the window to prune your pepper plants, you must first determine the estimated date of your first frost of the year. Once you know the date, count back four weeks and know this is your deadline for pruning peppers....

The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is an excellent choice of low maintenance houseplant that will look fantastic in your home. One of the only things that causes problems is issues with watering. As long as you follow this ZZ plant watering guide, your plant will thrive, even if you occasionally forget about it. ZZ plant watering instructions: Water your ZZ plant once the potting soil is almost completely dry and then water the plant thoroughly until water drains from the bottom of the pot....

Artificial plants can bring a natural appeal indoors with an added advantage of being completely maintainance free! So, if you are someone who wants to enjoy the look of plants without having to worry about caring for them, then you should check out these awesome DIY Crochet Plants ideas! Check out our article on Crochet Air Plant holders here DIY Crochet Plants 1. Potted Plant Pattern Here’s a cute little plant pattern with bright yellow flowers that’ll look charming on tabletops!...

Ornamental grasses are known to add beauty and texture to any landscape! If you also want to include these versatile, low-maintenance plants in your garden or patio–Check out our compiled list of some of the best Red Ornamental Grasses. What are the Best Ornamental Grasses for Containers? Discover here Beautiful Red Ornamental Grasses 1. Red Switch Grass Botanical Name: Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’ This is a North American native, and it is mostly considered one of the best red ornamental grasses of all....

In our guide to growing cauliflower, we discuss all you need to know to cultivate this nutritious vegetable. Cauliflower, Brassica oleracea var. botrytis, is a brassica, or cruciferous vegetable in the cabbage family. It grows best in cool temperatures in USDA Hardiness Zones 2 to 11. Companion plants are those that share similar cultural requirements for sunlight, soil, and water, and that can live together in a non-competitive, harmonious environment....

Deer have favorites when it comes to the vegetation on which they like to browse. And they prefer tender new growth and foliage. Young landscape trees that are well fertilized will generally have lots of new, juicy growth, making them a tempting target. There is no surefire way to rid your garden of the possibility of a deer buffet. As the evening falls, the four-legged rats – ahem, cough, cough – majestic creatures leave their shelters and search for food, and many times your garden or landscape looks like a drive-through fast food joint to them....

If you’re looking for some awesome stocking stuffers for gardeners, then you’re in the right place. This list will give you lots of great ideas that are useful, and any gardener would absolutely love to find in their Christmas stocking. 15 CHRISTMAS STOCKING STUFFERS FOR GARDENERS These small stuffers are the perfect size to add to any gardener’s Christmas stocking, or you could buy several of them to really fill it up....