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Table of Contents No matter how cute and lovable your furry friends are, they can make a mess of your precious garden space. Cats and dogs are both capable of doing not-so-nice things like pulling up your plants, digging up soil, making your green turf turn yellow, and a whole lot of other things. Also, some plants can be dangerous to your pets, even when they’re perfectly safe for you! So it’s important to make a pet-safe garden....

With this guide, you’ll learn the basics of caring for this unique type of flora, and gain the necessary know-how to put it into practice. Have you ever dreamed of growing a pack of pitcher plants, a settlement of sundews, or a colony of Venus flytraps? Well, don’t let your dreams just be dreams. Turn ’em into reality with a hearty dose of carnivorous plant knowledge, on the house. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

Growing summer squash is so simple, and it’s a staple in many home gardens. In this post, I’ll show you everything you need to know in order to be successful, and have your best crop ever. The highly prolific and easy-to-grow summer squash makes it an ideal vegetable for beginners to try out. But understanding how to take care of it is an important first step. This complete guide provides all the key information that a home gardener needs for successfully growing summer squash....

Of course, furniture isn’t the only element that’s important in creating the right outdoor atmosphere. However, because it will take up the most space, it should be one of your first considerations. You may think you don’t have enough space to create an outdoor oasis, but, trust me, you do. I’ve created beautiful, Zen-like spots in everything from a tiny deck to the patio of a small cottage garden. Having even a sliver of a spot to get out of the house and breathe the air can help you de-stress and unwind from your busy life....

I later discovered that alyssum is in the Brassicaceae family, just like broccoli! In this guide, we’ll be focusing on mountain alyssum (Alyssum montanum), which is native to Switzerland, France, and Germany. Alyssum montanum Nearly 10 years ago, I had the pleasure of visiting Zermatt, Switzerland, a charming alpine town at the base of the Matterhorn. My traveling companions and I took a train up the mountains and then walked down, enjoying the sparse yet lush landscape....

It’s true that some amazing traits of this yellow blossom made it tantalizing enough to carry across the Atlantic Ocean – and we’ll explore that together in this article. Helianthus tuberosus There are a couple of common misconceptions you should quickly forget when first adding this sunny and brilliant plant to your yard. A quick rundown: it’s not from Jerusalem, and it’s most definitely not an artichoke! On the other hand, there are two things that you absolutely should remember: it’s not only a beautiful flower, but its roots (called “tubers”) make for a delicious food crop, too....

In USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9, depending on the variety, the beautiful vegetables can be grown as cut-and-come-again leafy greens or as tight, compact heads that can be up to seven pounds in weight at maturity. Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis It loves chilly weather, is essential for making kimchi, and isn’t as fussy as some other brassicas. Say “hello” to napa cabbage. Also known as Chinese cabbage, this plant is perfect for growing when many other leafy veggies have already given up the ghost....

For sashimi or sushi, wasabi is king — and yet very little of what people purchase as “wasabi” in the United States is actually real wasabi, as real wasabi is known to be a very tricky plant. Usually, the bright wasabi paste found in those tubes is actually European horseradish with food coloring! But for lovers of Japanese food, growing the real thing is worth it. Freshly grated and packed full of nutrients, it’s difficult, but doable if you know how to grow wasabi....

We’re not talking a ton of care. Depending on where you live, it could be as simple as tossing down some mulch and pruning off any broken branches. But in other areas, the process can be a bit more involved. Like humans, there are some plants that come alive in the dead of winter and then there are some that need a little something extra to get through the cold months....

Want to savor the beauty of fresh bouquets or cut flowers for a long time to come? One of the most common gifts is beautiful roses and our guide on How to Take Care of Roses in a Vase will help you enjoy them for a long time. Check out the list of flowers that look like roses here How to Take Care of Roses in a Vase 1. Cut at an Angle Before putting roses in a vase, make a 45-degree angle cut at the bottom of the stem....

I was at Chelsea on press day, so I was allowed to arrive bright and early. Sometime after 7 am, I picked up my badge at one of the back gates and wandered up to a bustling press office. Canada Blooms is our big national garden show and it is a welcome flower-bulb-filled respite at the end of the winter, but it does not compare to the grandeur and importance placed on Chelsea....

I’ve talked on this site about things you need to think about before building your raised bed, but next comes the creative part of choosing the design. Start by thinking of which materials you want to use. Pinterest is a great source of information (it’s where I discovered the corrugated steel look) and will likely introduce you to creative gardening writers who have come up with some interesting raised bed designs for gardening that they’ve written about, or even companies who sell kits....

QUESTION: Why are all the leaves falling off my poinsettia? I’m not sure they are going to make it through the season. -Lynn S. ANSWER: There are several reasons why a poinsettia plant might start dropping its leaves. The most probable cause is that it was exposed to sudden changes in temperature. If your poinsettia was in a location that experiences frequent cold drafts, or is kept in an especially cold or dry environment, it probably dropped its leaves due to temperature shock....

Yellow cucumbers are a common problem that many gardeners face, but what causes the color change? In this post, I’ll discuss all of the possible causes, and give you tons of tips to prevent it from happening. Healthy vines are in bloom and you’re excited to start enjoying the fruits of your labor, only to notice you have yellow cucumbers. It can be very frustrating and confusing, but even experienced gardeners battle with this problem....

Cockroaches can be a nuisance at home, and there are always more than you can see! If you want to get rid of these pests naturally, try growing these Plants that Repel Roaches! Here are the best plants you can grow to repel spiders Best Plants that Repel Roaches 1. Rosemary Botanical Name: Salvia rosmarinus Rosemary is one of the best herbs that can be used to repel roaches. Apart from planting it, you can also cut the fresh sprigs and put them where roaches roam....

1. Vinegar One of the most effective homemade herbicides. Vinegar is rich in acetic acid, which acts to kill the foliage and raise the pH of the soil, making it difficult for the growth of unwanted plants. However, weeds with a waxy or hairy cuticle layer are found to be a little resistant to the effects of vinegar, so it’s best that you add some soap or salt to the vinegar solution to enhance its potency....

These Artistic Home Decor Ideas with Plants are one of a kind that can completely change the decor of your rooms! Check out some amazing artistic plant wall ideas here Artistic Home Decor Ideas with Plants 1. Colorful Paintings with Plants on Table and Wall 2. An Artist’s Colorful Paradise 3. Plants in a Decorative Room 4. Hanging and Potted Plants on the Windows Check out some great ideas to display houseplants here 5....

Shrubs Thinking of adding some butterfly bush to your garden this season but aren't quite sure which type to plant? There are many different varieties you can choose from, depending on your hardiness zone. In this article, gardening expert Jill Drago looks at some of the most popular varieties of butterfly bush you can grow! By Jill Drago Last updated: November 28, 2022 | 10 min read Gardeners have grown to love the butterfly bush for all it has to offer....

By Jennifer Poindexter Have you thought of all the ways an herb garden can benefit you? Whether you like bold flavors on your food, soothing fresh tea, or even a source for homemade remedies, an herb garden could be just what you’re searching for. Consider branching outside of the common herbs and become creative by growing a few unique or even ‘weird’ herbs in your herb garden. Here are a few options to inspire your herb growing adventures....

Boutonnieres make statements by symbolizing the beauty of nature and undefined love. These DIY Succulent Boutonniere Ideas will catch everyone’s eye and make you the talk of the evening. Here are Modern Succulent Front Door Ideas DIY Succulent Boutonniere Ideas 1. Echeveria Boutonniere A beautiful boutonniere of baby Echeveria that will turn heads with its thick and fleshy rosette. Check out the DIY here. It is one of the best DIY Succulent Boutonniere Ideas on this list!...