Gardening Know How Ideas, Tips & Guides

You may not always think of your yard or garden as an ecosystem, but it is. As the gardener, you are part of the ecosystem too. How you garden impacts the ecosystem and the surrounding environment. It’s important to understand what this means, so you can make the right choices to maintain a healthy garden ecosystem.

Probably one of the most difficult tasks in the garden is hillside full sun landscaping. Slopes are prone to erosion, which makes full sun hillside erosion control ground cover a real challenge. The question is, what is the best ground cover for slopes in full sun? Keep reading to learn about hillside ground cover in full sun, as well as trees and shrubs suited to full sun slopes.

Buying bare root plants for the first time can feel a little strange. These are plants sold while they are dormant without any soil around their roots and no rootball of soil. The plants are not sold in containers. What do bare roots on a plant look like? They look like sticks! But, properly planted and cared for, they can grow happily in your landscape.

Social media is an amazing phenomenon offering us a vast array of information. But users of social media should view the latest gardening trends with a bit of caution. Not everything we read is true, and some of it can be downright harmful. Social media is awash with tips and tricks to make gardening easier and more fruitful, but not everything may be as it seems. Read here for some garden trends to avoid.

Moss campion plant (Silene acaulis) is a rock garden plant native to the Arctic tundra and high mountains of Europe and North America. In the U.S., it is confined to the Western mountains and New England, particularly Maine and New Hampshire. Its mat-forming, evergreen foliage is found tucked away in elevations too high for trees to grow, with harsh winters and short summers. While it cannot survive in the shade, it prefers moist soil.

Anyone who has bought or sold a home is familiar with the term “curb appeal.” Your agents may have bandied about the phrase and probably suggested you trim the foundation shrubs (or add some), plant colorful flowers, and rake the leaves all in the name of curb appeal. And they were right. Attractive landscaping has the wow factor that draws people inside. We all want our landscaping to add value to our home as well as beautify the grounds.

One of the most important things to know about making your own compost is what you can and cannot put in it. For example, meat and dairy shouldn’t go in because they get very stinky and attract pests. What about eggshells, though? When composting eggshells, salmonella might concern a conscientious gardener, but it’s really nothing to worry about.

Is that grand tree sitting just next to the house a menace? Fungus on a tree might indicate that it is. It is important that homeowners, arborists, and landscapers recognize the signs when a particular tree may present a hazard. There are different types of fungi on trees, so tree fungus identification is the first step.

It can be hard enough finding suitable shade plants, and choosing the best plants for shady slopes is even harder. The plants need to be be sturdy enough to cling to a slope and also tolerate low light. They are out there, though, if you know where to look. Erosion control shade plants may be bushes, grasses or low groundcovers, and should be adaptable to the site conditions.

ELMSDALE, NOVA SCOTIA — Elmsdale is in the East Hants Municipality District in gorgeous Nova Scotia, Canada. It is proud of a “rich history of shipbuilding, forestry, railway construction and preserved natural surroundings.” With a well educated population and over half of its residents aged 15 and up possessing a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree, the region is proud of a “rich history of shipbuilding, forestry, railway construction and preserved natural surroundings.” Their community garden has no core funding, but is supported by multiple grants each year. Gardening Know How was pleased to support this great effort in Elmsdale through our 2022 garden grant program.

Denmark continues to rank as one of the happiest nations on earth. If you want what they have, it’s time to learn about hygge garden ideas. Hygge is a concept that seems to escape Americans with our hustle and bustle and “go get ‘em” attitude, but it seems we could learn a thing or two from our Danish friends. They celebrate the concept of hygge outdoors or inside. A hygge outdoor space may include a hygge patio and hygge backyard, but don’t misconstrue the idea behind hygge — it belongs with you wherever you go. Keep reading to learn about hygge and how you can incorporate it into your lifestyle.

Carefully planned and designed outdoor spaces can increase the square footage of the home. Developing a cozy outdoor space is key to opening up the home and enjoying the finer weather with style. Whether it’s a cozy patio or an intimate deck setting, outdoor living ideas can get you started on the garden space of your dreams.

Expecting a baby? There are so many gender reveal ideas out there, many of them adorable, some of them dangerous, and some less than environmentally friendly. If you’re looking for sustainable gender reveal ideas you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn how to make or source your own environmentally safe gender reveal in the form of gender reveal seed paper.

Die-hard crafters are always looking for that next project. If you’re a plant parent with containerized plants indoors or even outdoors, what could be better than creating some colorful plant cozies? These handy items can be sewn from fabric, but are often knitted or crocheted.

Almost anyone who’s interested in edible gardening would love to have their own fruit trees, but very few of us have the acreage necessary to grow full sized fruiting trees. All is not lost however, as some fruit trees are grafted on dwarfing or semi-dwarf rootstock that keeps the tree size down to a more manageable level. There’s a wide array of small fruit trees for the garden.

Fertilizer can help any of your landscape trees, but it is absolutely necessary for fruit trees. You might enjoy a fruit tree’s blossoms and the shade it offers, but the primary purpose for fruit trees in the garden is the fruit. In order to produce abundant and juicy fruit, a fruit tree has to be healthy.

There may – or may not – be reason to worry if your young fruit trees are slow to grow and produce fruit. It depends on what type of tree you welcomed into the garden and how long ago you did it. To get fruit faster, you may want to plant fast-growing fruit trees. This article will provide you with more information on fast producing fruit trees.

Do you have potted plants outdoors and live in areas where the temperature may drop below 32 degrees F (0 C)? If so, those plants will need extra winter protection to survive the freezing temperatures and desiccating winds.

Wild foragers may be aware of a hidden gem that grows wild in North America. It is staghorn sumac. Is staghorn sumac poisonous? This plant is often confused with another sumac that’s in a different genus and can cause topical rashes on contact. Staghorn sumac’s edible red berries are a source of Vitamin C and other nutrients, and make a delicious seasoning or refreshing beverage.

Welcome to Gainesville Giving Garden, a community led non-profit farm, which strives to enable equitable access to quality food and the benefits that come with healthy eating! Located in Gainesville, Florida, this garden exemplifies what can be accomplished with inspiration, some hard work, a strong community spirit and a passion for humanity.

The black swallow wort plant is a vine native to Europe that has become invasive in parts of the U.S. It was intentionally brought here as an ornamental vine but now wreaks havoc in many ecosystems. Learn how to identify this problematic vine and control methods to help eradicate it from your area.

Establishing a cut flower garden is an easy way to beautify ornamental beds, as well as add a bright burst of color to the landscape. Homegrown flower arrangements and bouquets dazzle their recipients with their freshness and longevity. Learning to properly cut and condition garden flowers is important in preventing wilt, extending vase life, and crafting memorable displays. In this article, we will explore how to cut flowers from garden beds in greater detail.

Phragmites or common reeds include native as well as introduced species of grasses. The non-native phragmites are outcompeting native vegetation and pushing out the native phragmites. Learn more about the differences between native and non-native phragmites.

The benefits of community gardens are hard to overstate. These green spaces, often in the midst of an urban landscape, are a boon to individuals and the community as a whole. One of the most surprising benefits is a significant and measurable reduction in crime.

Garlic is used in almost every cuisine on the planet, and with good reason. It is incredibly versatile but also a hardy and easy crop to grow. While there are many tips for growing garlic, each one different from the last, one thing everyone seems to agree on is planting garlic in the fall.

When it comes to gardening, hillsides are hard. Steep slopes are difficult to plow, to mow and to irrigate. But unplanted or inappropriately planted, a hill is prone to erosion.

Gluten-free foods are in high demand, and ancient grains are leading the way with buckwheat, teff, quinoa, and amaranth becoming mainstream. But have you heard of fonio? The fonio plant is an African heritage grain and one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world.

As much as we all love the idea of gardening, if your garden space is limited, the soil on your property isn’t great or you simply want gardening to be easier, here’s a seriously perfect solution. Give yourself more room to grow with Vego’s modular raised garden beds. They’re sustainably made, they last decades longer than wood, they’re easy to assemble, and will adapt to your available space, regardless of size, shape, balcony or backyard. And another plus: For something so functional, they’ll look great in your yard.

If your summer containers and patio pots are looking tired and spent, you may want to consider giving them a refreshing fall makeover. Even if your porch is on the small side, you can still add a little something to make it feel more welcoming for autumn.

It’s almost impossible – and perhaps undesirable – to avoid all impulse purchases. But it’s wise to limit it to the occasional sweet from the bakery or clothing item from a store that accepts returns. When it comes to buying plants, impulse buying is almost always a mistake. Read on for more information about sustainable shopping for plants for the home and garden.

The term pollinizer is easy to confuse with pollinator, and many people misuse the terms. A pollinizer is a plant, while a pollinator is an animal, usually an insect. Both are important in producing fruit on trees, vegetable plants, and more.

Hybrid fruits and vegetables are the result of crossbreeding between two different cultivars. The goal of hybrid vegetable or fruit hybrids is to create a new cultivar or hybrid with the best traits of the parent plants. This means that hybridized vegetables and plants often have many benefits over open-pollinated crops. The list of hybridized crops is lengthy, so we’ve compiled our own list of the top six hybrid plants to try in your garden.

Banana peels have been featured in slapstick comedy as part of pratfalls and silly physical skits. But in reality, these discarded parts of our food are actually very nutritious and have uses far beyond sketch comedy. As food prices jump higher and higher, and we make conscious decisions to prevent waste, the benefits of banana skin in our diet may become not only necessary but desired.

Potatoes are one of the most popular vegetables, likely because of their versatility. Not only can you prepare potatoes in a myriad of ways, but there are so many unusual potato varieties to try. From russet to fingerling in hues of red, yellow, white and even purple, there’s a unique potato variety out there you will enjoy. Some unusual potatoes might be considered gourmet potato varieties, while still others are de rigueur, but all of them are delicious. Keep reading to learn about unusual potato varieties and which ones you should grow.

You’ve probably heard of companion planting: Grouping different plant species near each other to the mutual or sole benefit of one or the other. Companion planting methods are used for various reasons, most commonly to repel pests. Herbs, including thyme, are often recommended companion plants. So what companion plants go well with thyme? Read on to learn about companion plants for thyme.

Nasturtium flowers are loved for their colorful blooms and unique foliage. A valuable asset in both flower and vegetable gardens, nasturtiums are a tried-and-true companion plant. Though many growers first become interested in nasturtium’s edibility, they’re often delighted to find that it may also help to repel many common garden pests. This is believed to be the result of certain aromatic chemicals that are released from the plant throughout the growing season.