If you’re not careful, gardening can quickly become an expensive hobby. But, it doesn’t have to be. There are tons of ways to garden on a budget and still have beautiful and bountiful beds. Trust me, I know this first hand. When I started gardening on my own, I was a broke college student. I had to get creative, which means I spent a lot of time finding ways to garden on a dime....

Harvesting onions is easy, but it can be difficult for newbies to know when they are ready. So in this post, I will tell you how to figure out when to pick onions for the biggest and best crop, and show you exactly how to do it. One of the great things about harvesting onions is that it’s really hard to get it wrong. Unlike so many other vegetables, they’re a patient crop that you can take your time with....

Slugs are one of the most destructive and frustrating garden pests there is. They hide during the day and come out at night to feast on your garden. So, your plants will be fine one day, then turned to swiss cheese overnight. It’s never fun to discover that while you were sleeping, these slimy pests were busy destroying your favorite plants! Controlling garden pests can be difficult. While it is possible to get rid of slugs, you’ll need to be diligent, and find the methods that work the best for you....

Watering poinsettias is a struggle for many, and doing it wrong is one of the biggest mistakes that people make. In this post I’ll show you all you need to know including when, how much, and how often they need it. Properly watering poinsettias is a key part in keeping them healthy through the holiday season and beyond. It can be tricky for beginners to understand how to give them just the right amount throughout the year....

Brown tips on spider plants is a very common problem. But the good news is that it’s fixable. In this post, I’ll tell you all the causes and also the solutions so you can get rid of them for good. The most common issue people have with spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum, aka airplane plant) is brown tips and how to deal with them. This problem can be caused by a wide range of things, which makes it frustrating for beginners to figure out....

I’ve been thinking a lot about winter interest in the garden lately. It’s probably because winter has not been kind to us so far this year, giving us lots of cold and snow. On these frigid days where nobody wants to be outside, I appreciate the winter interest plants in my gardens more than ever. I used to be the kind of person that had to completely clean my gardens every fall....

When I tell people that I have a fish pond in my garden, one of the first questions I get asked is “How do you clean a fish pond?”. A common question indeed. I’ve struggled with how to keep my pond clean in the past, and I’m here to tell you that the struggle is real! My pond got so bad one year that I was ready to pull it out and fill in the hole....

Holiday cactus are gorgeous and easy to care for. In this post, I’ll tell you all you need to know about them, and give you tons of growing tips for keeping them healthy and blooming year after year. Once the summer is over, most of my houseplants are getting ready for their long winters rest period. But, this is when my holiday cacti are just beginning to come alive. I love that they flower at an opposite time than most others....

Ever since I started gardening, I dreamed of having a greenhouse of my own. Because Minnesota has such short summers, I never got to spend as much time in the garden as I wanted to. A few years ago, my husband helped make that dream a reality by designing and building a DIY greenhouse for our veggie garden. I was thrilled! It has been amazing to be able to work in my garden for several months longer than I could without it....

Seed starting can seem intimidating and complicated for beginning gardeners. But, I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t need to be. Growing plants from seeds is a rewarding and fun process once you get the hang of it, and the perks don’t end there. With my experience and tips, we can get you growing seeds confidently, no matter your climate, or the types of plants you’re most interested in....

Figuring out what plant propagation tools, equipment, and supplies you need can be confusing and stressful, especially if you’re just starting out. So, in this post, I’ll share a list of the most important things you’ll need, along with some “nice-to-have” items. If you want to start propagating plants, then you’re probably wondering what you’ll need to get going. The good news is that you don’t need a ton of expensive tools and equipment to propagate plants....

What is the best potting soil for jade plants? I get asked this question so much that I finally decided to write a post about it. So in this article you’ll find all you need to know about how to choose the perfect mix for Crassulas. Jade plants are easy to care for, but they require a specific type of soil in order to thrive. If you’re not careful about what kind of potting mix you choose, your jade plant might end up dying on you....

Canning pumpkin is easier than most people realize, and it’s a great way to enjoy them all year long. In this post, I’ll show you how to do it step by step, including lots of tips for the best success. Whether you have extra from the garden or get some from the grocery store, canning pumpkin is a great way to make them last longer. Canned pumpkin is a nice ingredient to have on hand for making soups, pies, and all your favorite recipes anytime you want....

A vegetable garden doesn’t have to purely functional, it can be beautiful too. Every year, I strive to create a colorful vegetable garden plan so that my veggie garden will look just as pretty as my flower gardens! There are tons of colorful vegetables to grow in your garden, and it’s always fun to try something new! You might just be surprised to learn that some of your favorite crops come in different colors too....

I love being surrounded by plants all year round, and that’s one reason why I have a large collection of houseplants. I like to grow a variety of them, but I especially appreciate the ones that are simple to maintain. Well guess what, the dumb cane houseplant (Dieffenbachia) is one of the easiest! It’s no mystery why dumb cane plants are one of the most common houseplants you see for sale at garden centers and big box stores....

Squash grown on the ground can quickly overtake a small plot, and many home gardeners don’t have enough space for them. Even so, some people are too nervous to trellis them because they worry the vines are too large and heavy. But the good news is that any type of climbing squash can be grown vertically! Growing squash on a trellis or other vertical structure helps to keep this bully from taking over your vegetable beds....

Trimming trees is always a scary topic for newbies (I know it was for me!). In most cases you can easily do it yourself, without worrying about hiring an expensive professional. There are some proper techniques you need to follow in order to avoid damaging your tree. But I am going to make this easy for you, and walk you through everything you need to know about how to trim a tree yourself, step-by-step....

ZZ plants are gorgeous and extremely easy to care for. In this post, I’ll tell you all you need to know about growing Zamioculcas zamiifolia, so you can enjoy yours for decades to come. The first time I set eyes on a ZZ plant, I instantly fell in love. I had to buy one immediately! I mean the thick, dark green foliage looks so shiny and healthy, how could anyone resist adding one to their collection?...

Growing spinach can be tricky if you don’t know how to care for it. So in this post, I’m going to tell you all of the secrets to success, and give you tons of tips so you will have your best crop ever. Spinach is a popular leafy green that many people find hard to grow. But I have some great news for you, it is a lot easier than you think....

Fruit flies can be a major pest in the kitchen, especially during the gardening harvest season! If they’re driving you crazy, try this easy DIY trap that will not only catch them, but kill them too! The best part is that it only takes a couple of minutes to make, and you can set it up the moment you see the first fruit fly hovering over your fresh produce. It really does work like a charm, and get rid of those pesky bugs in no time....