Posts

From pretty pastels to rich jewel-tones, pink flowers are undeniably enchanting. They add elegance and flair to your garden, and compliment many other colors that you might use around them. When you’re trying to choose your favorites, the ideas in this list are a fantastic place to start. Below you’ll find some of the most popular and show-stopping pink annual and perennial flowers. I’ve also included details about each, from their nicknames to their size, and even the sun exposure, climate, and water needs....

Harvesting sage fresh from your garden is quick and easy, and there are a few ways you can to it. In this post, I’ll show you exactly when and how to pick, pluck, or snip sage for the biggest and best harvest. It might sound intimidating to new gardeners, but harvesting sage is actually pretty simple. Plus, since it’s a perennial herb that keeps producing, you can continue enjoying it for a long time to come....

Succulents are unique, beautiful, and best of all, they’re easy to care for! In this complete guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to grow them indoors or outside, and keep them thriving for years to come. People often ask me what my favorite type of plant is. You just have to take one look at my houseplant collection (and even my garden outside), and you’ll see that the answer is quite obvious....

Why should you care about fungus gnats vs fruit flies? Because you need to understand the difference in order to effectively get rid of them, and keep them from coming back. So in this post, I will show you exactly how to tell which one you have, and give you tips for eliminating them. One of the most common questions I get from readers is “How do I get rid of fruit flies around houseplants“....

One of the biggest mistakes that new gardeners make is breezing over the importance of feeding their container plants. If you’re new to growing in containers, then you might not realize how important fertilizing potted plants really is. Feeding container plants can be a confusing and intimidating topic for newbies, I know it was for me! So it’s just easier to ignore it, right? Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a chemist to figure out how to fertilize a potted plant....

Properly storing seeds is essential, especially if you want them to last as long as possible. If done incorrectly, it’s easy for them to be destroyed by critters, moisture, or just plain old time. Whether you have leftover purchased ones, got them from friends, or even your own garden, proper storage will keep them viable for a long time. If you want to save your seeds for next year and beyond, there are some important steps to take to make sure they will last....

Seed starting mix can be expensive to buy, so I came up with my own recipe for a homemade medium. This is the best mix, and it’s super easy to make too! In this post, I will share my recipe, and show you exactly how to make DIY seed starter soil from scratch. When I talk about starting seeds indoors, one of the first questions new gardeners ask me is about the best potting soil mix to use....

Growing oregano is easier than most people think, and require very little care. In this post, I’ll show you everything you need to know in order to have your biggest and best crop yet! Oregano is a delicious, useful, and a surprisingly low maintenance herb to grow at home. Once you understand how to care for it, even a beginner can get it established, and keep it going for years in their garden....

If you’ve ever walked out to your garden to snip off a few sprigs of fresh herbs for your recipes, then you know how wonderful and satisfying it is to grow herbs. Well, perennial herbs are even better, because they will survive the winter, and come back year after year. Not only are they beautiful, you can plant them pots or the garden. Some even have medicinal properties. There are tons options on this list of perennial herbs for your garden, and it’s always fun to try something new!...

Propagating peperomia is simple and fast, and a fun way to multiply your collection. In this post I’ll show you exactly how to root stem cuttings or individual leaves step by step. Any gardener with a peperomia plant will be excited to learn that it’s very quick and fun to propagate them. This guide includes step by step instructions for a few different methods, and easy-to-follow tips that will help you get the techniques just right....

Peonies are one of the most recognizable and unforgettable garden plants that I know of. If you grew up in a cold climate, you probably have wonderful childhood memories about peonies. I’ve heard many touching stories about people who have had the same plants in their family for generations, passed down from their mothers and grandmothers. That’s because peonies are long-lived plants that can grow and bloom for 100 years....

The steps for harvesting tomatillos are very simple! However, since they don’t usually change colors when they’re ripe, it’s hard to know exactly when to pick them. It’s important to get them at the right time. If you gather them too early, they won’t be as sweet. But if you leave them on the plant for too long, they could crack or start to rot. In this tomatillo harvesting guide, you’ll learn all you need to know so you can easily tell when they’re ready, and also how to properly pluck them....

One of the hardest parts about being a gardener in a cold climate like Minnesota is our short growing season. Fortunately, cold frame gardening allows me to keep my plants going much longer than I can naturally. I’m able start planting earlier in the spring, and keep everything going through the fall – and even into winter! Cold frames are a great way for beginners to try their hand at extending the gardening season, without having to buy a big expensive structure....

Training vines is important in order to ensure they grow and look their best. Some plants will naturally climb a trellis with minimal help from us. While others will need to be trained to grow vertically. In this post, you’ll learn all about training climbing plants to grow on a trellis, with step-by-step instructions. Climbing vines are by far the most popular type of plant used for vertical gardening. But if you’re new to growing vertically, it’s important to understand how to grow vines....

Spring one of the most important times of the year for growing indoor plants. Longer days and warmer temperatures signal the end of dormancy, and the beginning of new growth. It’s important to help ease the stress of this seasonal change for them. Giving them some extra TLC in the spring will get them through it without any problems. That’s where my spring houseplant care checklist comes in handy. Use this detailed list to ensure you’re giving your indoor plants the care they need to get their growing season off to a great start!...

If you’re lucky enough to live in a tropical climate where the temperatures never get below freezing, then you can grow bromeliads outside in your garden! The rest of us have to stick to them indoors. Bromeliads make wonderful flowering houseplants that grow well in low light conditions. They are also pet friendly houseplants that are safe to grow if you have cats or dogs! Woohoo! There are tons of different varieties, and many of them will grow well indoors as houseplants....

Growing marjoram is rewarding, and their care is simple. In this post I’ll show you everything you need to know in order to have the best success. Learn how to grow fragrant marjoram to make a wonderful addition to your garden. It’s a low maintenance plant that’s great for beginners who want to enjoy home grown herbs. This guide will help anyone start growing marjoram by sharing all the essential care steps it takes to keep it thriving....

Preserving a carved pumpkin doesn’t take much time, and it keeps them from quickly rotting or getting moldy. In this post, I’m going to show you exactly how to preserve your jack-o’-lantern, and give you tons of tips to make it last longer. Halloween might be a time to celebrate spooky things, but a withered and moldy jack-o’-lantern is no fun! Thankfully there are some simple things you can do to preserve carved pumpkins so they last as long as possible....

Winterizing a rain barrel is a must if you live in a cold climate like I do. Leaving it full of water when the temps drop below freezing could severely damage, if not destroy it. In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to prepare and store a rain barrel for winter, step by step. The other day my neighbor asked me what to do with her rain barrels in winter....

For some reason, many new gardeners think that herbs are hard to grow. Well, if you’re new to it, then I have some great news for you! There are lots of easy herbs to grow, so you’ll have plenty to choose from. If you’re on the hunt for the absolute easiest herbs to grow in your garden, then this list is perfect for you! You might even be surprised to find that some that you thought would be difficult are on this list....