Basil is typically grown as an annual plant in the garden. While some types are technically short-lived perennials in their warm native climates, most culinary types (including sweet basil) generally do not survive light frost and are too tender to…
The best time to fertilize fruit trees is in the spring. Early spring, in particular, is a great time to apply a balanced organic fertilizer. Avoid fertilizing fruit trees in the late summer and early fall. Seasonal considerations for annual…
The month of September is generally the best time of year to pick apples. While different varieties of apples ripen at different times, and the climate varies the harvest from year to year, early fall is almost always a reliable…
Hostas should be cut back in late fall. Healthy hosta leaves can be left on the plant in early fall to capture much-needed energy, but all dead leaves should be trimmed off after the first hard frost to deter slugs…
Wondering when to trim oak trees? These long-lived beauties may need a trim now and then, especially if growing in residential areas. Oak tree trimming is best done in the winter between November and March. This is when oak trees…
What’s actually in those container gardening soil bags? What are the most common potting soil ingredients? Most potting mixes are made from a combination of several of the following ingredients: There are different reasons for adding each of these ingredients…
Wondering how to store potting soil? I’ve tried a lot of different techniques for potting soil storage – everything from proper airtight storage to just leaving it in the garage and hoping for the best. Here’s what has worked well…
Grass stops growing in the fall when daytime temperatures tend to stay below 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit (5-10 degrees Celsius). While it remains alive at temperatures below this range, growth is far too slow to require regular mowing. In Canada and…
Buckwheat microgreens are sturdy, fresh, and lovely to use in cooking. They’re perfect in salads, on a sandwich, or on top of a meal. Here’s how to grow buckwheat as a microgreen for the first time! Growing these microgreens is…
To plant grass seed on hard dirt, fix the hard dirt before planting the grass seed. No amount of TLC after planting will make up for poor soil prep. You need to get air and organic matter into the root…
Wondering how far apart to plant strawberries? Here are some common, tried-and-true spacing distances for strawberry plants. Strawberry plants can be spaced as close as 8 inches or as far apart as several feet, depending on the type of strawberry…
All gardeners wonder “What is dirt made of?…” at some point. It’s one of those things we take for granted until we stop and think about it. Where does dirt come from? What chemical elements is it made from? Is…