By Jennifer Poindexter Finding a durable shrub that works in multiple planting zones, is low-maintenance, yet still provides beauty, can seem challenging. However, it isn’t impossible. Are you familiar with the summersweet plant? This is a deciduous shrub that meets the needs mentioned above. If you’re unfamiliar with how to grow this shrub, you’re in the right place. I’m going to walk you through the basics of growing this plant. Then, when you’re ready, you can put this knowledge into practice by adding this plant to your landscape....

But sweet alyssum is no mere filler. Its dozens of tiny white or purple blooms will attract important beneficial insects to the garden. In her new book, Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden, Jessica devotes a page to the benefits of growing sweet alyssum. The plants can be used as natural pest control in the vegetable garden to manage aphid infestations. Parasitic wasps and syrphid flies consider alyssum pollen and nectar to be a tasty food source....

QUESTION: How do I know if I overwatered my tomato plants? ANSWER: If you’ve overwatered your tomato plants, the plants will show it with wilted leaves and stems that are discolored to yellow or brown and may even fall off. You may also see blisters or bumps on foliage and cracked fruits. Roots can also show the signs of overwatering by turning dark in color instead of their healthy pale and having a slimy texture....

When most people think about how much water cacti need, they probably envision a bare, dry and hot landscape where water is at a premium. Although this might be true for many types, it’s not true for all. Growing cacti as houseplants removes them from their natural environment and places them in one where you are responsible for their wellbeing. How much water do cacti need? Most cacti should be watered once the growing medium has dried out, regardless of how long this takes....

Drying oregano is easy, and one of the best ways to preserve your harvest. In this post, I’ll show you 4 different ways to do it, and walk you through exactly how to dry fresh oregano step by step, as well as tips for storing it. Whether you have it growing in your garden, or you want to preserve leftovers from the store, drying fresh oregano is simple. Plus it gives you a zesty spice that you can use in your kitchen for cooking....

You may not live in a place like the Columbia River Gorge with its plentiful sunshine, but you can still grow apricot trees at home if you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9. Prunus armeniaca As a kid, I spent a few summers camping along the Columbia River in Maryhill, Washington – Yakama Nation land – where some of the best stone fruits in the world are grown....

Leather flower or Clematis is a hardy climbing vine with masses of attractive blooms of solid colors and dual shades ranging from white to reds, or pale pastels to dark purples. If you too want to have this plant in your home, then here’s all you need to know about How to Grow Clematis in a Pot! Botanical Name: Clematis USDA Zones: 4-9 Common Names: Clematis Javana, Western blue virginsbower, Traveller’s joy, Leather Flower....

The golden fruits are also a little sweeter than the dark green varieties, in my experience. I’m such a fan of zucchini for the home garden. I consider it the perfect starter vegetable for the newbie who wants a great return with minimal effort, and the ideal upgrade for a veteran green thumb looking to fill the freezer with tasty produce. When this veggie garden overachiever is an attractive butter yellow color, as is the case with golden zucchini, that’s just one more benefit (or as we say in the South, “one more jewel in the crown”)....

Nasturtiums are also excellent garden companions and can be used to repel or trap pests as desired. Tropaeolum spp. Bright, bold, and cheerful, nasturtiums are among the easiest flowers to grow. With only a hint of care and attention, these fast-spreading plants put on a vibrant summer-long show. The intensely colored, trumpet-like flowers seem to float in a sea of green thanks to the ample supply of lush, rounded leaves....

When deep winter snows cover the ground, many of us tend to dream of harvesting succulent fresh vegetables and fruits. Potatoes taunt us because they are a staple food in many people’s diets. As the eyes start to sprout, we are reminded of the gardening season that lies ahead. For some, the temptation of passing up something that is sprouting life is just too much of a temptation, so out comes the flowerpots and potting soil....

Table of Contents I’ll be the first to admit it. For a while, I thought wheatgrass was one of those “health foods” that people raved about just because they thought they were being healthy. Like, who wants to eat a blade of grass? But I knew I could learn how to grow wheatgrass myself, so I experimented with it. After I realized just how easy to grow it is and that it legitimately has some nutritional benefits, I changed my opinion on it....

We don’t want you to lose those tasty sprouts. This guide will help you stop diseases before they can start. If those sneaky pathogens manage to take hold, we can also help you get them under control. Summer veggies receive all the attention. Tomatoes, squash, eggplants, beans, and melons overflow the baskets at farmers markets and neighbors share their bounties with each other in August. But there’s something extra special about early spring and fall veggies like brussels sprouts....

Fruit Are you tired of paying for expensive avocados? It's not too difficult to grow your own instead. Depending on the hardiness zone you live in, Avocado trees can grow fairly easily, with less maintenance than other fruit producing trees. In this article, gardening expert Madison Moulton discusses everything you need to know to grow avocados successfully, from seed to harvest. By Madison Moulton Last updated: February 18, 2022 | 16 min read Interest in avocados has exploded over the past few years....

What’s more, with very few pests or other issues to worry about, these hardy perennials are incredibly easy to grow! Nepeta spp. Nepeta is a genus of flowering perennials in the mint family, including popular herbs such as catnip and Faassen’s catmint. Many feature attractive aromatic foliage and long blooming flowers that pollinators love. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

In arid gardens where other plants flounder, this mint relative cheerfully keeps doing its thing. It also attracts beneficial insects and deters the bad bugs, which is a life-saving benefit for the rest of my garden. Marrubium vulgare Like many people, my first experience with horehound was crunching down on a hard brown candy that my grandpa bought me from a jar at an old fashioned candy shop. I remember thinking it tasted a bit like a sad version of root beer candy....

The shrubby plants feature needle-like leaves of silvery-green and upright flower spikes in shades of mauve, pink, purple, and white that flower at different times over summer, depending on the type. Lavandula spp. An herb with many uses, sweetly perfumed lavender is an easy-care plant that makes a gorgeous addition throughout the garden. A durable and reliable performer in beds, borders, and containers, the color and heady fragrance is simply fantastic when planted in drifts or used in a low barrier or informal hedge....

Still, they aren’t necessarily easy to grow. Fragaria × ananassa We all know what it’s like to come home from the grocery store and dig into the strawberries only to find them too bland, too tart, or too far gone. And when we get a nice, sweet, juicy batch we inhale them within a day. Well, if the best tasting strawberries are what you’re after, growing your own is the way to go....

The Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) is popular for both its attractive, distinctive look and its ease of care. Their longevity means they can grow quite large, but pruning is more than a defense against an oversized plant – it can be used artistically to shape its structure into different forms. In this article, we’ll explain how to prune a Jade Plant and get the results you want. How to prune a Jade Plant: Though it grows rather slowly, Jade plants respond well to pruning....

Speaking of the seed heads, they are edible when dried, as are the flowers called umbels that look like yellow fireworks. Dill leaves, or fronds, can be eaten fresh or dried. If you’re looking in the spice aisle, dried dill is often called dill weed and can be used in everything from soups to stews. I love fresh dill in a summer salad. Growing dill from seed Dill is one of those herbs that dislikes having its roots disturbed, so it’s best to direct-sow seeds in the garden....

Over the past few years, plantable pellets have become very popular. They are fast, convenient, and easy to use, and they’re kinda fun too. Some people really love the seed pellets, and there are definitely advantages to using them over potting soil. But there are also some disadvantages that are important to consider. If you’re new to growing seeds, then this side-by-side comparison of peat pellets vs potting soil will be extremely helpful for you....