If your flower beds look great but your porch smells musty after a rain, your mulch might be part of the problem. In warm, humid regions, some mulch stays wet long enough to grow fuzzy patches and kick off that “basement” odor outdoors, and sometimes it doesn’t stop there. When you spread the wrong material…
garden tips
Why Planning Plant Placement Early Prevents Disease
When gardeners talk about plant health, the conversation often jumps straight to fertilizers, pest control, or the latest miracle spray. But long before any of that matters—before seeds even hit the soil—the most powerful disease-prevention tool is already in your hands: smart plant placement. Where you put a plant, what you put next to it,…
7 Vegetables That Perform Better in Cooler Starts
Spring gardening excitement often kicks in long before the weather fully cooperates, and that impatience isn’t a bad thing if you know which crops actually enjoy a cool beginning. Some vegetables don’t just tolerate chilly starts, they genuinely perform better when planted before the soil warms up. These early-season champions grow stronger roots, develop better…
The Landscaping Mistake That Could Void Your Home Insurance
Landscaping feels like the safe, wholesome kind of home project—mulch, shrubs, maybe a new tree for shade. But one common “looks nice and saves time” move can create a real risk problem: piling flammable mulch and dense plants right up against the house, especially around the foundation and under windows. In some areas, that setup…
8 Ways to Reduce Garden Waste Before the Growing Season Starts
Spring will be here before you know it! One minute the beds are quiet and muddy, and the next you’re knee-deep in seed trays, pruners, and piles of leftover debris from last year. Before the growing season truly kicks off, there’s a golden opportunity to reduce garden waste, save time, and make your garden healthier…
Is Buying Soil in Bulk Always the Cheaper Option?
If you’ve ever stared at a mountain of soil at a garden center and wondered whether buying it by the truckload is really worth it, you’re not alone. Bulk soil sounds like a dream for every avid gardener: more product for less money, fewer trips to the store, and a garden ready to bloom like…
6 Annuals That Grow Well Without Daily Care
Let’s be honest: not all of us have the time—or the patience—to fuss over plants every single day. Between work, errands, and life’s little curveballs, gardening can sometimes feel like a luxury. But what if you could have a vibrant, colorful garden that practically thrives on autopilot? Enter low-maintenance annuals: hardy, beautiful plants that don’t…
New HOA Rules That Are Changing How People Garden in 2026
The gardening world inside HOA (Homeowners Association) neighborhoods has officially entered its plot-twist era. What once felt like a rigid checklist of green grass, trimmed hedges, and zero personality now looks wildly different as 2026 unfolds. Boards, residents, and even city governments have pushed gardening rules into new territory that rewards creativity, sustainability, and community…
6 Vegetables That Don’t Benefit From Expensive Soil Additives
Garden centers love to whisper sweet promises about miracle mixes and premium powders, but your vegetable patch doesn’t always fall for the hype. Some vegetables actually perform better when you stop trying to spoil them. They grow stronger roots, tastier harvests, and fewer problems when you let the soil stay simple and honest. If you’ve…
Is Early Garden Mapping the Key to Higher Yields on a Budget?
If you’ve ever bought seeds with big hopes and ended the season wondering where the harvest went, you’re not alone. A lot of “low-yield” gardens don’t fail because of bad soil or bad luck—they fail because the layout wasn’t planned early enough. When you sketch things out before planting, you stop wasting space, sunlight, water,…