Late summer can turn a young fruit tree into a very thirsty little drama queen. While an established apple, pear, peach, or plum may have roots reaching into a larger volume of soil, a recently planted tree still works with a smaller root system, so several hot, rainless days can create serious stress before the…
gardening
Should You Cover Freshly Sown Seeds With Burlap?
Freshly sown seeds have a surprisingly difficult job. They need moisture, good contact with the soil, and protection from the kind of downpour that can turn a carefully prepared seedbed into a tiny muddy landslide. A loose piece of burlap can help with all three, making it a useful trick when the weather, soil, or…
5 Garden Crops That Can Double as Attractive Border Plants
A garden border does not have to choose between looking good and putting food on the table. Several edible crops bring enough color, texture, shape, or sheer personality to work beautifully along paths, flower beds, patios, and other highly visible spots. That makes edible landscaping a particularly clever trick for gardeners who want every inch…
What Causes Hollow Spots Inside Otherwise Healthy Potatoes?
A potato can look flawless on the outside, only to reveal a strange empty pocket when the knife reaches the middle. Gardeners call this condition hollow heart, and it can turn a perfectly ordinary spud into a potato with what looks suspiciously like a tiny underground cave. The good news is that the hollow spot…
7 Soil Amendments You May Find Discounted in Late Summer
Late summer can bring an unexpected gardening opportunity: cheaper soil amendments. Garden centers often start clearing seasonal inventory as summer winds down, which can put compost, organic fertilizers, peat products, and other soil helpers into the bargain bin. That does not mean every discounted bag deserves a place in the garden shed. Some amendments improve…
Can You Use a Laundry Basket to Cure Onions and Garlic?
A laundry basket can help cure onions and garlic, and it can work surprisingly well. The trick has nothing to do with laundry and everything to do with airflow, because freshly harvested bulbs need a dry, airy place where moisture can escape instead of getting trapped around the skins and necks. That makes a laundry…
Why Are Your Pears Ripening From the Inside Out?
A pear can look like a botanical beauty on the outside, then reveal a mushy, brown surprise when the knife reaches the center. That frustrating problem happens because pears naturally ripen from the core outward, so the inside can become soft and overripe while the surface still looks perfectly respectable. The trick lies in knowing…
8 Plants That Add Structure After Summer Flowers Begin Fading
Summer flowers know how to make an entrance. By August, however, some of those dazzling blooms start looking a little tired, leaving gaps where all that glorious color once stood. The good news is that a garden does not need to become a collection of floppy stems and fading petals once summer reaches the home…
7 Low-Cost Ways to Protect Grapes as They Begin to Sweeten
Nothing tests a gardener’s patience quite like watching grape clusters finally plump up, only to discover that birds, wasps, raccoons, or hungry squirrels noticed them first. The weeks before harvest bring the biggest reward, but they also attract every creature in the neighborhood that appreciates a sugary snack. Protecting grapes during this stage often makes…
5 Reasons a White Film Appears on Garden Soil
A white film across garden soil can make a healthy planting bed look like it belongs in a science experiment. That powdery layer often signals changes happening beneath the surface, and identifying the cause helps gardeners protect their plants and improve soil quality. Thankfully, a white coating does not automatically mean disaster has moved into…