15 Cool Gardening Trends You're Going to Witness in 2022

Perhaps not known for his greenfingers, it seems apt to quote the musician Paul Weller, who in 1978 gave us the great lyric ‘No matter where I roam, I will return to my English rose’. Because no matter how many other garden plants come and go, the popularity of the garden rose never seems to diminish. You might not see many in a Chelsea Flower Show garden but us gardeners know some good plants when we see them and roses regularly top polls for the nation’s favourite flower.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones are based on the temperature conditions of the place. They range from zones 1a to 13b. Most of the United States comprises zone 3a, which has a low temperature of around -40 and -35 degrees (F), and zone 8a, with 10 to 15 degrees. Outdoor gardening is on hold as by December, most annual plants have finished their cycles and been taken up, and many perennials are dormant.

I have a dorky habit to confess. Whenever my to-go iced coffee is finished, I dump the ice from my reusable cup into the dirt of a street tree. It’s probably like half a cup of water, and I am sure it doesn’t make a difference, but I can’t not do it.

Americans are rethinking their relationship to lawns. While traditional turfgrasses do serve many purposes in the landscape, such as erosion control and mitigating solar heat, they are not always the best solution. They require vast amounts of time and resources to maintain while supporting little ecological diversity. In the face of increasing drought and water restrictions, the time has come to consider grass alternatives.   Whether you are wanting to attract more pollinators to your landscape or are looking to replace struggling turfgrass in the shade, there is a grass alternative to meet your needs. Consider the function you want your lawn area to serve when selecting plants. Lawns are traditionally used to stabilize soil and provide a surface for playing, walking, or gathering. In landscape design, lawns create cohesion, providing an open framework around which gardens are laid. From flowering perennials to native turf species, there are grass alternatives to meet each of these needs. Often, the best solution is a mosaic of several low-growing plants.

Hens and chicks plants make great low-maintenance options for dry, sunny gardens. And there are so many interesting cultivars available in a range of hues, from chocolate brown to green to bright orange and yellow. The common name may be confusing until you grow them yourself and realize it makes sense. One main rosette (mama hen) will eventually produce several offsets or babies (the chicks!). Though I’ve never heard them referred to by houseleeks, their other common name, the Latin name you’ll see on plant tags for these popular succulents is Sempervivum. They are members of the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae).

When referencing my front yard’s native grass and wildflower planting, I irreverently and affectionately call it my weed patch. I’ll address the irreverent part in a later blog.

Step outside your door and look around at your lawn and garden. You probably see a few common weeds. Now look again. You might also be looking at dinner or the ingredients for a poultice to ease that rash that’s been nagging you.It’s easy to disregard weeds as a troublesome nuis

The Homestead Act first came into effect in 1862 when President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill to promote homesteading where a homesteader would be provided with a land to build a home, farm the land for a minimum of 5 years and make some improvements. This Act provided 160 acres of land to the people willing to homestead in exchange for a small filing fee and the amendments that followed increased the allotments further promoting homesteading in the US. This is now no longer in effect and ended in 1976 with the introduction of Federal Land Policy and Management Act.  However, homesteading was allowed until 1986 only in Alaska.

We may not think much about the trees outside our homes, but if we heed the words of FDR, who famously said, “Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people,” it’s time we should. After all, urban forests—the ecosystems that make up our communities, including the trees planted on our residential properties, in parks, and along streets—are vital to our health and the health of the environment.

While everyone has their own method for loading and unloading the dishwasher, there actually is a right way to do so—at least with the former. So the next time you get into a debate with your roommate, whether it’s a parent or significant other, you have the official answer in your arsenal.

Though often typecast as a mere Thanksgiving pie ingredient, pecans are more than deserving of a spot in your pantry (or freezer) all year long. That’s because beyond their delicious taste, these crunchy favorites are also packed to the brim with nutrition. Read on to find out just what makes pecans such a healthy addition to your lifestyle as well as some tasty pecan recipes to get started.

Cooking over a live fire is nothing new. In fact, it’s exactly how early civilizations made protein safer and more delicious to consume. While the invention of grilling took place an estimated 780,000 years ago, your grilling recipes and techniques need to stay stuck in the dark ages.