backyard

The Overlooked Yard Tasks That Can Keep Thieves Away From Your Home

January 25, 2026 by Brandon Marcus Leave a Comment

There’s a certain thrill in thinking about how small actions can create massive results. Imagine a single, everyday task in your yard that can quietly transform your home from “easy target” to “don’t even bother” in the eyes of a would-be thief. It doesn’t involve cameras, alarms, or intimidating signs. Instead, it’s one of those…

5 Plants That Could Be Illegal to Grow in Your Backyard This Spring—Check Your State List

January 15, 2026 by Brandon Marcus Leave a Comment

Spring gardening season brings a rush of excitement, glossy seed catalogs, and dreams of lush greenery taking over every empty patch of soil. But hidden among the innocent-looking plants at garden centers and online listings are botanical rebels that lawmakers would rather you never plant at all. Some of these greenery glamour stars grow too…

How To Get Free Seeds From The Government by Amanda Blankenship Seeds might seem like a small expense, but any seasoned…
Should I Use Enviro Ice On My Plants? by Kathryn Vercillo Every week, I receive food from Hungryroot. It's a great…
From Trash to Treasure: Transform Shredded Paper Into Garden Gold by Amanda Blankenship Should you use shredded paper as garden mulch? It might…
What Happens to Plants If You Use Enviro Ice on Them? by Amanda Blankenship About a year ago, I wrote our first article about…

Stormwater Authorities Warn: Your Garden Could Be Causing Basement Mold

If your basement smells a little “earthy” after a storm, your garden might be part of the problem. When rain can’t soak in where it lands, it follows the easiest path—often straight toward your foundation. A few innocent habits like piling mulch against the house, aiming downspouts at a flower bed, or building up soil…

Experts Say This Winter Habit Is Causing Houseplants to Drop Leaves

You bring your plants inside for the winter, give them extra love, extra water, and extra attention—and suddenly, they start dropping leaves like they’re auditioning for a dramatic soap opera. One day your ficus is full and glossy, the next it looks like it’s quietly giving up on life. If this sounds painfully familiar, you’re…

These Plants Could Get You Fined in Your State This Year

You’re standing in your yard, coffee in hand, admiring your garden, when you find out one of your favorite plants could actually get you fined. Not because it’s ugly. Not because it’s poisonous. But because it’s illegal. Across the U.S., dozens of plants are restricted or outright banned due to the damage they cause to…

The Mulch That’s Causing Seizures in Cats — And It’s Still Being Sold in Stores

It smells like chocolate, looks harmless, and sits innocently in garden centers and big-box stores—but this popular mulch has been linked to seizures, tremors, and life-threatening reactions in cats. For pet owners, it’s one of those hidden dangers that feels especially unfair because it doesn’t look dangerous at all. No warning signs or dramatic labels….