spider mites

Early Signs of Spider Mite Infestations

March 16, 2026 by Brandon Marcus Leave a Comment

Spider mites don’t make noise, they don’t wave a warning flag, and they can devastate your garden before anyone realizes what’s happening. These pint-sized pests are relentless, and their appetite for destruction grows exponentially the longer they go unnoticed. Knowing the early signs of spider mite infestations isn’t just helpful—it’s critical for anyone who wants…

12 Of The Worst Garden Pests And How To Get Rid Of Them

February 27, 2026 by Brandon Marcus Leave a Comment

The battle for a thriving garden begins the moment the first leaf pushes through the soil. Lush beds and tidy rows may look peaceful, but a quiet army of insects and critters waits for tender stems, juicy foliage, and ripening fruit. Ignore them, and they take over with astonishing speed. Understand them, and the balance…

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…

Can Your HOA Force You to Grow Grass? One Maryland Couple Is Fighting That Battle

Can an HOA really tell a homeowner to rip out a garden and put grass back? In Maryland, the answer gets surprisingly interesting, especially after Janet and Jeff Crouch fought their HOA over a yard filled with native plants, flowers, trees, and habitat instead of a conventional carpet of turf. Their dispute helped spark a…

7 Ways to Make a Garden More Useful After Sunset

A garden does not have to clock out when the sun disappears. With a few smart additions, the same patch of soil that produces tomatoes, flowers, herbs, and leafy greens during the day can become a comfortable place to relax, entertain, cook, or simply enjoy the cooler evening air. The trick involves designing for nighttime…

What Should You Do When Ground Cherries Fall Before Ripening?

Ground cherries have one wonderfully strange harvest signal: they fall off the plant when they ripen. But when those little papery husks hit the soil while the fruit inside still looks green, the garden suddenly feels like it has changed the rules halfway through the game. The good news is that a few early drops…

6 Crops That Can Be Blanched for Better Flavor

Blanching does more than prepare vegetables for the freezer. A quick dip in boiling water can soften harsh flavors, tame bitterness, loosen tough textures, and make certain garden vegetables taste noticeably more pleasant at the table. It sounds like a small cooking trick, but the difference can be surprisingly dramatic. The key lies in timing….