Natural Gardening
Container Japanese Maples: Tips & Tricks from a Pro
See our favorite maples for Fall 2022! Planting Japanese maples in containers is a great opportunity to add beauty, height & interest to your view, whether it’s on a back porch patio or part of a larger landscape. And, it’s easy to keep them happy and healthy when you meet their basic needs. Check out…
Read MoreDividing Perennials
Fall is an excellent time to divide many perennials.
Read MoreMushrooms: A Sign of Healthy Soil
As the fall rain returns, mushrooms tend to pop up in our gardens overnight. And just as abruptly, all kinds of questions and concerns pop up as well. Gardeners want to know if mushrooms will harm their plants, their children, and their pets. They want to know where they came from and how to get…
Read MoreSeed Saving Basics
Seed saving is making a comeback! Like other survival skills from home canning to foraging, saving seeds was all but forgotten for a short time, but the practice thriving once again among a new generation of enthusiasts. Seed saving is just what it sounds like: collecting and saving the seeds that your garden plants naturally…
Read MoreFeed Your Soil, Feed Your Plants: build a soil ecosystem
A garden is a living ecosystem that starts with the soil. Each handful of healthy soil contains billions of microscopic fungi, bacteria, and animals that are hard at work transforming organic material into food your plants can use. That’s the secret to organic soil fertility: You feed your soil microbes, and the microbes feed your plants.…
Read MorePests With Benefits: Give these critters a second chance
Just like many garden flora have a reputation as “weeds,” certain fauna are often labeled as “garden pests.” Some are vehemently accused of damaging our plants or wreaking havoc in our lawns. Some may pack a nasty bite or sting we can’t forget. A few unwelcome guests might even get a little too cozy in…
Read MoreForaged Finds: Safe and Sustainable Foraging
Foraging and gardening go hand in hand. Our gardens are where we nurture the plants we most want to have near us at all times, or that need our care to thrive. Foraging extends our relationships to wild plants already thriving in our local neighborhoods, parks, and natural areas. Foraging can help connect us with…
Read MoreFertilizer Basics: Gardening 101
Most gardeners have heard that plants need fertilizer. But what kind of fertilizer, how the heck do you use it, and where do you start? Even for experienced gardeners, the options can feel overwhelming. And searching online often yields confusing or conflicting advice. The good news is, choosing a fertilizer and supplying your plants with the…
Read MoreFive Pest-Eating Predatory Insects to Know and Love
Know before you squish — the bugs in your garden just might be helpful predatory insects! Some of these garden friends might look or even act a bit alarming, but ultimately they’re well worth having around. Once you know the difference between predatory insects and the herbivores that eat your plants, you’ll be able to…
Read MoreAphids: Natural Pest Management
Aphids are one of those ubiquitous pests that every gardener has to contend with. A handful of aphids won’t cause much damage, but their lightning-fast reproduction rates and tendency to gather can make them a cause for concern. But don’t reach for harsh pesticides yet! The good news is that there are lots of beneficial…
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