Simple ways to save money while you garden
Late summer can reveal the plants that spent June and July quietly plotting a takeover. Before grabbing the garden gloves and yanking every unfamiliar green thing from the soil, take a closer look, because some weeds deserve a proper identification first. A few may irritate allergies, some can produce an astonishing number of seeds, and…
Late-summer heat can turn a perfectly reasonable garden into a collection of thirsty plants by lunchtime. The tricky part involves knowing how much water actually helps because a quick sprinkle across the soil can look productive while doing very little for the roots. During hot weather, most gardens need consistent moisture in the root zone,…
Brown grass usually calls for a sprinkler, a hose, or perhaps a resigned shrug at the weather. For Irena Green, a homeowner in Riverview, Florida, brown grass became the opening chapter of an HOA dispute that eventually led to a court order, an arrest warrant, and seven days in the Hillsborough County Jail. The important…
The tomatoes are slowing down, the pepper plants look increasingly tired, and the zucchini has finally stopped behaving like it owns the neighborhood. Herbs, meanwhile, often keep sending out fresh leaves long after the summer vegetable garden starts calling it a season. That makes herbs some of the most useful plants to keep around when…
An HOA said “flowers only,” and one gardener decided to treat those two words less like a suggestion and more like a gardening challenge. Instead of arguing over what belonged in the yard, the gardener leaned into the wording and turned the restriction itself into the punchline. That approach makes for a funny garden story,…
A pollinator garden does not begin when the first bees start buzzing around in spring. The smarter move happens months earlier, when gardeners choose plants that can settle in, develop roots, and prepare for another season of flowers. Starting perennial pollinator plants now can give the garden a head start while also creating a more…
A backyard full of colorful berries can look like nature’s candy aisle, especially to a child who spots a shiny red or purple cluster hanging at exactly eye level. That makes berry season a great time to teach children one simple rule: pretty does not mean edible, and nobody should pick a berry for a…
A vegetable garden does not need an elaborate pergola, pricey greenhouse kit, or backyard construction project to get a break from brutal summer sun. A few inexpensive materials, some strategic positioning, and a little garden ingenuity can create useful shade when heat starts stressing lettuce, spinach, young seedlings, and other vegetables that prefer cooler conditions….
Saving seeds sounds wonderfully simple: let a plant make seeds, scoop them up, put them somewhere safe, and plant them next year. Unfortunately, seeds can act like tiny divas when gardeners give them the wrong treatment, especially when moisture, heat, immature seeds, or poor storage enter the picture. A little care at harvest time can…