Growing Chives: The Versatile Onion Family Herb

Chive Basics & Benefits Chives—smallest, non-odorous onion relatives—have graced Asian and European gardens for 5,000+ years. Their grass-like clumps produce hollow leaves and purple puffball flowers (which intensify fla

Transform Your Landscape with a Gazebo

Gazebos: From Royalty to Every Homeowner Once exclusive to royalty, gazebos now enhance average homeowners landscapes affordably—often in a single weekend with some helping hands. Choosing Your Gazebo Style Enclosed gaz

Complete Guide to Growing & Using Parsley

Parsleys Rich History & Varieties Parsley has graced gardens for centuries. Ancient Greeks used it as garden borders, victory crowns, and tomb decorations. Romans believed it prevented intoxication. Today, two main varie

Essential Garden Housekeeping for Health & Beauty

Why Garden Maintenance Matters Most gardeners prefer outdoor planting to indoor chores, but gardens require their own form of housekeeping. This maintenance serves dual purposes: preserving aesthetic appeal and protectin

Designing an Elizabethan Herb Garden: Culinary, Medicinal & Aromatic Varieties

Creating Your Own Shakespearean Herb Garden Planning an herb garden offers both enjoyment and practical rewards. For centuries, herbs have served culinary, medicinal, and aromatic purposes, with tribal healers passing do

Control Plant Diseases Before They Destroy Your Plants

Disease Causes Leaf/stem: Bacteria, fungi, viruses. Bacteria steal nutrients. Fungi (most common) parasitize plants, spread via spores (wind/water). Viruses invade tissue, spread by aphids, leafhoppers, thrips, human pr

History of the Cherry Tree

Ancient Origins Cherry trees likely originated in Asia Minor near the Black and Caspian Seas. Greek/Roman literature mentions cherry wood for professional uses. Fragile fruit left few early records. Arrival in America 1

Good Fences and Border Plants for Backyard Privacy

Creating Sanctuary Yards are home extensions. Plants create living walls for privacy, especially in dense neighborhoods. Combine plants with fencing for cost savings and openness. Plant Selection Criteria Fast-growing,

Growing Basil Plants and Using Basil Leaves

Growing Basil Basil thrives in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil, full sun, warmth. Dont mulch until soil warms. Attracts butterflies. Start seeds 6–8 weeks before last frost; germinate in ~2 weeks. Space 12 inches. Deter

Landscaping with Rocks: Natural Beauty, Low Cost

Why Use Rocks? Adds texture, visual interest, and costs little—you may already have plenty on site. Our Project Tree rings: Circles of stones (2+ ft diameter) around four trees defined spaces beautifully. Walkway: Flat

Enjoy Your Own Garden Fountain

Why Add a Fountain? Fountains add elegance, complement landscaping, and the sound of running water creates tranquility. No pond needed—freestanding options abound. Types of Pondless Fountains Birdbath style: Self-conta

Seaweed Fertilizer: Boost Yields Naturally

Why Seaweed Fertilizer? Can increase yields ~25%. Applied via roots or foliar spray. Enhances quality, nutrient density, disease/pest resistance (red spider mite, aphids). Works by expanding root systems and improving se

The Ancient History of Berry Improvement

From Wild to Cultivated Modern commercial berries (strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, hybrids like boysenberry, loganberry, youngberry) derive from wild species native across continents. Most blueberry hybrids are ~50-yea

After Making Herb Vinegar: Freeze and Dry Your Herbal Bounty

Making Herb Vinegar Wash/dry fresh herbs. Pour warm (not hot) vinegar over them in glass jars (any except distilled). Ensure herbs are submerged. Seal, steep 1–2 months away from sunlight. Strain, add fresh herbs for app

The Fascinating History of the Pear: From Antiquity to Modern Orchards

A Fruit with Ancient Roots Archaeological evidence from Swiss lake dwellings confirms Europeans knew Pyrus communis millennia ago. Whether apple or pear came first remains debated. The European pear differs fundamentally

The Joys and Essentials of Indoor Gardening

Bringing Nature Inside Indoor gardening—growing houseplants in homes and offices—is a popular hobby with aesthetic and health perks, including air purification. Organic and container methods dominate, avoiding synthetic

Gardens Behind Bars: How Prison Horticulture Programs Change Lives

From Guard-Dog Yard to Green Oasis At Utah’s Purgatory Correctional Facility, a former dog-training area now blooms with vegetables, fruit trees, and vines under shade tarps. Inmate Tony Perez tends the garden, finding p

How a Professional Garden Designer Transforms Your Outdoor Space

When to Call a Garden Designer Many gardens evolve organically, but creating a new one—or reviving a neglected space—benefits from professional expertise. A designer handles the full scope: drainage, grading, tree placem

Herb Gardening 101: Culinary, Ornamental, and Medicinal Herbs

Three Herb Categories for Every Garden Herb gardening suits beginners and experts alike. Plants thrive in beds, containers, or indoor windowsills. The three main groups—culinary, ornamental, and medicinal—offer flavor, b

Start Your Own Organic Vegetable Garden: Benefits and Basics

Why Go Organic? Organic gardening restricts synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, focusing instead on building living soil and growing diverse crops. Genetically modified organisms are excluded. The trade-off? Produce ma