Plant Hacks on TikTok That Can Help You With Your Gardening As with anything online, and especially creator content on social media, there are a few ideas and tips on TikTok that you might have to take with a degree of scepticism. Some simply won’t work and might even do more harm to plants than good. If you are a new gardener, it’s better to take advice from experts rather than TikTokers....

This rental home was divided between upper and lower floors with the renters on the lower floor having access to the only green space - the front yard. I had access to what would have been the backyard except it had been turned into two parking spaces. What’s a girl to do? Luckily, the exterior stairway leading to my apartment was wide and with southwest exposure, perfect for container gardening....

If you want to enjoy annual flowers that bloom all summer, they need to be started earlier in the growing season – often as soon as the last chance of frost has passed in the spring. However, if you missed the opportunity to start seeds earlier in the year, you will be glad to know that July is not too late to sow seeds of certain varieties. Your USDA zone is a factor, as tender annuals will soon die off in areas with early fall frosts....

Most plants grow well in a raised bed – just keep in mind that raised beds generally drain well. So you might have less joy with flowering plants that need consistently moist soil, or even standing water. To take the hassle out of picking floral displays with real staying power, try these seven plant ideas for a raised flower bed. Choosing the Best Plants for Your Raised Flower Bed Ideas When looking through backyard raised flower bed ideas, strike a balance between flowers you like and those that will grow well in the conditions you can provide....

The Best Ornamental Grasses Ornamental grasses require little maintenance and add color and interesting texture to any garden. Which types of ornamental grasses to choose? Pick one appropriate for your hardiness zone and climate. Here are seven of our favorites. 1. Muhly grass (Muhlbergia capillaris) This beautiful and showy ornamental grass grows to 3 feet (90 cm) in either direction in a sunny location in USDA hardiness zones 6–11. Growing muhly grass is easiest in warm locations....

There’s something deeply satisfying about planting seeds in fall, knowing that nature will take its course through the cold months, preparing for a dazzling display of blooms come spring and summer. Fall planting is an act of faith and anticipation. The soil, still clinging to its summer warmth, nurtures the seeds, while the cooler nights encourage slow, steady growth beneath the surface. The garden may look bare now, but it holds the promise of vibrant color, texture, and fragrance in the months ahead....

When choosing shrubs for curb appeal, think about what they will look like throughout the seasons. The longest-blooming perennials will provide interest in spring, summer, and fall. Where space is limited, a single versatile shrub can be the star of your small front yard landscaping ideas. However, even attractive shrubs could detract from the appearance of your home if you can’t maintain them or if they don’t grow well in the conditions available....

Currently, raising chickens in the backyard has exploded in popularity. Not only is it nice to have fresh eggs, but you can also control what your chickens eat, hopefully leading to optimally healthy eggs. Chickens are also great gardening assistants, improving soil, retarding weeds and eating up pests. Find out how easy it is to make your own chicken garden. Common Problems Gardening With Chickens As with most silver linings, there is a cloud lurking nearby when planting for chickens....

The Red Queen As someone with a fair amount of obsessive behavior, I always understood the red queen in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass. Although I would stop at punishing anyone for planting the wrong color of roses, I can imagine myself painting them the correct hue. Of course, in real life that would probably kill the roses, but I digress. The red queen is a pivotal character and the main protagonist in the book....

Learning to properly water various species of daisies is of special importance, and plays a key role in the flowers’ ability to thrive. But how much water do daisies actually need? Which Daisies Need the Most Watering? A daisy’s water requirements can vary greatly from one garden to the next. Factors such as temperature, rainfall and soil quality can greatly influence the plants’ need for water. While many types of daisy can survive solely on rainfall, others may need more consistent watering in order to grow and flower well....

So which are the fastest growing shrubs? Read on for some ideas. Choosing Plants for Fast Growing Hedges Most gardeners want their new shrubs to grow fast, but they also have other preferences. Decide what you want your shrubs to do before heading out to buy hedge plants. Many home gardeners prefer easy-care hedge plants, plants that do not require a lot of time and nurture. Some prioritize flowering hedge plants, while for others, it’s important to have evergreen hedges that keep their foliage all year round....

Never Let ‘Em Set Seed Did you know that lambsquarter produces half a million seeds per plant? That’s nothing compared to the two million seeds generated by a single purslane plant. If you’ve ever heard the saying “never let ’em set seed,” that’s why. Each time a weed drops seeds into the garden bed, it increases the weed seedbank. The seedbank consists of the number of viable seeds in the soil....

In particular, knowing how to water orchids – and how often to do it – can seem a confusing aspect of orchid care, with hacks such as watering orchids with ice cubes devised to make the process easier. Indeed, getting moisture levels wrong is one of the most common orchid care mistakes. However, in addition to watering plants correctly, humidity plays a crucial role in their well-being. Do Orchids Like Humidity?...

What is Yard Waste? Yard waste is any organic material you generate in your yard or garden that needs to be disposed of or put somewhere else. It includes leaves, sticks, grass clippings, anything trimmed off shrubs or trees, and plants you’ve removed or cut back. Why Can’t You Put Yard Waste in the Trash? If you live in a municipality with waste collection, you probably know that you are not allowed to put yard waste in with your other garbage....

Though I’m lucky to have lots of room to play, the no-till method I used works for any size space. So whether you have an entire acre of hay to convert or just a small yard full of grass you want to remove for a garden, you can scale this project to fit your needs. The best part of this project, though, is how easy it is to turn anywhere into the garden of your dreams....

Why You Should Try Sustainable Gift Giving Landfill capacity has become exhausted in many areas. One publication states that 45.4 million tons of waste is dumped per year. That is clearly an unsustainable situation. Gift wrapping, packaging, and throw away consumption culture further exacerbates the issue. Setting a standard for zero waste, saving money, minimizing our carbon footprint, choosing ethically sourced items and shopping local are all easy ways to help the sustainable agenda....

Growing the Tastiest Edible Seeds You may have a pretty good idea which seeds you can harvest for future growing. But harvesting for the kitchen table is one of the most creative ways to use leftover seed. The list of available seeds to eat is vast, and goes way beyond some of the obvious candidates, and you’d be amazed how easy they can be to cultivate. We eat seeds in many ways....

There are tropical, desert, and mountainous varieties of succulent. They may be found in meadows, arid zones, rain forests, and almost any other environment. Many of the most unusual succulents are endangered due to human activities and habitat loss. When sourcing unusual succulent plants, always ensure the seller is reputable and the plant has been sourced legally. Cactus Succulents Desert environments are thought to be harsh and inhospitable places, nearly devoid of life....

As long as they have enough space to take root, the right soil nutrients, and some drainage so they don’t rot, seeds aren’t particular about the container they are grown in. Luckily there are many household items that can be repurposed as seed starter pots – saving paper, plastic, and even styrofoam from being sent to landfill. Why not get creative and make your own pots from papier mâché, or even fashion a mini greenhouse?...

There are a few general rules to obey when setting out tender plants and transplanting seedlings. These types of flora cannot withstand a late frost – they need certain growing conditions, and they need to be hardened off for best results. Every species has different needs and it is important to know the plant’s growing wants and situate them accordingly. However, we are going to outline the most common mistakes novice gardeners make that will threaten crop yields and the health of plants....