Winter may feel like a time to hibernate and forget about the garden, but your vines have other plans. As the temperatures drop, those leafy climbers are busy preparing to either thrive or take over once spring arrives. The difference? Whether you give them a proper trim before the snow flies. Cutting back the right…
garden tips
12 Native Plants That Establish Best in Autumn
Autumn isn’t just about pumpkin spice lattes and cozy sweaters—it’s also the golden season for planting. While spring often steals the gardening spotlight, fall quietly offers the perfect conditions for new plants to put down roots and thrive. Cooler temperatures, fewer weeds, and steady moisture levels create an environment that’s practically a growth invitation for…
Why Soil Aeration Works Best in Cooler Months
Picture this: you’ve got a beautiful yard, lush and green on the surface—but underneath, your soil is gasping for air like it just ran a marathon. Over time, foot traffic, lawn equipment, and even the weight of rain compact the soil, squeezing out the space roots need to breathe. The solution? Soil aeration—a simple yet…
6 Flower Beds That Benefit From Fall Re-Edging
Fall isn’t just for pumpkin spice, cozy sweaters, and leaf piles—it’s also one of the most underrated times to give your garden some serious love. When most people are packing up their tools and saying goodbye to summer blooms, smart gardeners are out there redefining their flower beds—literally. Re-edging in the fall does more than…
What Happens to Plants If You Use Enviro Ice on Them?
About a year ago, I wrote our first article about Enviro Ice. Companies like HungryRoot use this gel to keep items cold for shipping, and I receive it in my monthly food deliveries. Surprisingly, you can use this nitrogen-based product to fertilize your plants according to the manufacturer. I considered trying it in my garden,…
How Mulched Leaves Reduce Soil Erosion
Picture this: a crisp autumn afternoon, trees blazing in shades of amber and gold, leaves tumbling lazily to the ground. Most people see those fallen leaves as a chore waiting to happen—a weekend spent raking, bagging, and sweating. But here’s the secret your yard’s been trying to tell you: those leaves aren’t waste. They’re one…
9 Fall Harvest Crops That Can Be Stored Without Refrigeration
The crisp air of autumn doesn’t just signal sweater weather and pumpkin spice—it’s nature’s cue for the great fall harvest. For generations, people have relied on clever storage methods to make their crops last long after the first frost. While our modern kitchens hum with refrigerators and freezers, not everything from the fall harvest needs…
7 Crops That Should Be Blanched Before Freezing
You finally did it—your garden exploded with beautiful, healthy veggies, and now your kitchen counters are buried in greens, beans, and corn like a farmer’s market on overdrive. You’re feeling like a homesteading hero until the panic sets in: how do you actually store all this produce before it turns into compost? The answer, my…
How Windbreaks Improve Garden Health in Winter
Winter can be brutal on a garden. One day it’s crisp and calm, the next it’s a full-blown arctic blast tearing through your backyard like it’s on a mission to ruin everything you planted last summer. The cold itself isn’t always the enemy—it’s the wind that’s the real villain. Harsh winter winds can strip moisture…
10 Plants Deer Target More Often in Fall
If you’ve ever stepped outside on a crisp autumn morning to admire your garden—only to find your prized plants chomped down to sad little stems—you’re not alone. Fall is deer season, and as the temperature drops, their appetites rise. These graceful grazers suddenly become relentless foragers, raiding gardens and landscapes in search of calorie-rich snacks…