Gardening Hacks for Senior Gardeners

The gardens at Great Dixter.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Mulching is one of the best things you ca

Being a plant parent is not an easy job, and no matter how careful you are, there might be some plants in your collection not getting enough care and attention from your side, which may lead to their untimely demise. Worry not–with some of these Quick Hacks for Dying Plants, and you will be able to bring them back from the ICU!

Here at my Copake Falls garden all day with a truckload of irresistible botanical goodies will be Broken Arrow Nursery. They will be accepting advance phone orders, too, between now and Wednesday, May 31, if there is something special you simply must have. Their website; phone is (203) 288-1026.All ticket sales from my garden will be donated to two local nonprofits I love: the Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program in nearby Ghent, N.Y., and Turtle Tree Seed in Copake.And there’s much more:Those of you who r

Explore the world of DIY container water gardens and bring nature’s serenity into your home. With these creative ideas, you can transform everyday containers into peaceful aquatic oases, perfect for growing water-loving plants.

Did you ever think a tomato cage could be that useful? Make an appealing gabion plant stand out of a sturdy tomato cage and place it on your front porch, backyard or patio. Visit BHG for the tutorial.

This article is part of our new 8-week, limited edition newsletter series, The Low-Water Gardening Guide, where we’ll walk you through what it takes to create a sustainable garden, from swapping in the appropriate plants to new irrigation methods to the tools you’ll need and more. Sign up here to get each installment straight to your inbox.

When we talk about native plants, we’re often referring to landscaping, but what about growing your own edible native plant garden? Native plants have adapted to where you live, after all, and unlike, say, your usual tomatoes and strawberries, native edibles have new flavors and scents to try. Meanwhile, planting edible native plants helps to forge a connection between the way we live now, and the way communities in the West have existed for thousands of years. “Just growing these plants is a way to tap into the continuum of time,” says Evan Meyer, the executive director of the Theodore Payne Foundation. “By growing edible plants, your garden can become a much more meaningful place.”   

This article is part of our new 8-week, limited edition newsletter series, The Low-Water Gardening Guide, where we’ll walk you through what it takes to create a sustainable garden, from swapping in the appropriate plants to new irrigation methods to the tools you’ll need and more. Sign up here to get each installment straight to your inbox.

Adding a water feature to the garden can be so exciting—not only do the dulcet tones of running water act like your own personal Calm app, but also the water helps pollinators, birds, and even bobcats who need a cool drink on a hot day.   

We all know that as the Earth’s climate warms up, conserving water is important, and that the best way to do that is with natives and low-water plants. But one of the lovely benefits of native plants is that greenery suited to its particular climate looks like it belongs. “A low-water garden feels and looks right in much of the West,” says June Scott of June Scott Design in Los Angeles, California.

Select a strong basket that can handle your weight. Choose the one with low height, so that you and your kids can easily step onto it.