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Gardening Advice
Do NOT cut many of your perennials back in the fall. Here鈥檚 our list of which perennials to leave alone and which to cut back. Also, here is advice on when and how to cut back perennials to avoid damage and disease.While our annual flowers are one-hit wonders and turn black after frost, many of us wonder when to cut down different perennial plants. The guidance on 鈥渨hen鈥 and 鈥渨hat鈥 to cut has鈥
Before you pour salt on your driveways to melt snow and ice, consider its impact on your plants, pets, pavement, and water quality. Explore seven less harmful ways to melt ice鈥攁s well as ways to use less salt!Rock salt (sodium chloride) has been the conventional choice to melt ice on driveways and sidewalks as salt has a lower freezing point than water. Rock salt is effective to鈥
Saturate your garden with the verdant green of moss, an ancient plant that adds color and interest to garden spaces, especially shady areas. Mosses can be planted in late fall or early spring. Learn how to make a moss garden with our tips.What is Moss?Known as bryophytes, moss is an ancient plant that has been here for over 450 million years and will probably still be here when鈥
Wondering which landscaping shrubs are best for the front of a house? To hide a foundation or thrive in shady spots? Bring in more pollinators? Find the right shrub for the right purpose! Here are some of our ideas on choosing shrubs.The gardening adage of choosing the 鈥渞ight plant for the right place鈥 is extremely important for shrubs. There are too many beneficial shrubs to list in鈥
Find out how to overwinter rosemary and grow rosemary indoors to keep this wonderful herb growing all year!A reader鈥檚 question about overwintering rosemary reminded me that it was something I wanted to write about. I have had mixed results with rosemary plants over the years, but after killing a few, I think I have finally gotten it right.Every fall, at least one person heading鈥
By late summer, stinging insects鈥攊ncluding bees such as ground wasps and yellowjackets, and those nasty fire ants鈥攁re especially aggressive outdoors and in the garden. Why does this happen and what can we do about the problem? Why Stinging Insects Are More Aggressive You鈥檒l see much more activity from stinging insects from August through October. Why?They鈥檝e have had all鈥
Even though the basil may enjoy an extra-long growing season when warm weather sticks around, I am not ready for the party to end. I plan to keep my basil pots alive indoors to extend their life as long as possible! Here are tips on how to care for your basil indoors and keep that taste of summer (and the pesto!) going.The basil plants in the garden were spectacular this year鈥
Have you brought your plants inside? Here鈥檚 advice on which plants will survive winter and how to take care of your plants while indoors.When to Bring Plants InsideTrue annuals and plants that we grow as annuals (considered tender perennials in southern regions) can not survive cold winter temperatures. But there鈥檚 no need to say farewell to these plants forever! Many 鈥渁nnuals鈥
In late summer and fall, goldenrod appears! Don鈥檛 blame this golden beauty for allergies (that鈥檚 ragweed!). Learn what goldenrod looks like, why this amazing American native is so important for pollinators, and its role in the Boston Tea Party.Goldenrod is a true American native. After the Boston Tea Party, goldenrod tea became known as 鈥渓iberty tea鈥 and was imbibed by the colonists instead鈥
Dry shade is one of the most difficult planting situations that any gardener faces. Think of areas under trees or against the walls of a house. Here is advice on how to deal with this challenge, as well as the best native flowers and foliage plants for dry, shady areas.Dry Shade Under TreesLarge trees, especially maples, have tough, fibrous roots which form a dense, tangled mat that is鈥
Want to brighten up a shady spot? Coleus is a fantastic plant with colorful leaves. There are varieties that grow in the shade as well as sunny spots. Plus, coleus grows well in pots and hanging baskets or in the ground with color and texture through the fall. Discover the many varieties of coleus!As a young girl, one of my first plants was a coleus grown from a cutting my grandmother gave鈥
As more people add pollinator-friendly plants, they might hear criticism about the look of their 鈥渕essy鈥 yards. Here鈥檚 how to handle crabby neighbors, HOAs, and town officials while adhering to ordinances and laws.You might get a visit from the 鈥減lant police.鈥 The fault-finders often don鈥檛 realize that those 鈥渨eeds鈥 are actually native plants that require less water and pampering than鈥
