A small cottage garden containing flowers, herbs, and vegetables.

Beginner Gardening

Are you ready to start flower and vegetable gardening but don’t know where to begin? Start with the basics! From soil preparation to pest management, having a comprehensive knowledge of the essentials will get you off on the right foot. Our plant professionals have crafted guides on all of the topics that you need to start developing your green thumb. Let’s get growing!

How to Prepare Your Garden for Spring Growing

A close up horizontal image of a gardener pushing a wooden wheelbarrow filled with freshly harvested produce.

Before you can enjoy the spring and summer bounty, you have to do the preparation work. Laying mulch, pruning, building and repairs, preparing the beds, and cleaning your garden tools are all important tasks. Learn how to prepare your garden for spring so you can enjoy all the wonderful summer abundance in this guide.

When and How to Blanch Maturing Cauliflower Heads

A close up of a small developing cauliflower head, the white curds just visible beneath the small inner leaves. The outer leaves are large and flat with white veins and stems, covered in small droplets of water.

Cauliflower is a cool-season crop that can be challenging to cultivate. Did you know that some varieties require your intervention to be able to produce unblemished heads? The technique is called blanching, and it protects the developing heads from sun damage. Learn when and how to do it. Read on for easy instructions.

11 Things to Do in the Garden Before Winter

Close up of a rake, with a wooden handle, and autumn leaves raked into a pile, with grass and soft focus leaf fall in the background.

The glory days of summer may be over but there are still a few things to do in the garden before winter arrives. Take the time now to get these tasks done and your plants will be protected from freeze and frost, the soil will be nourished, and your garden will be ready for action when spring arrives. Get the list here.

How to Grow Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) from Seed

A close up horizontal image of colorful amaryllis flowers growing outdoors.

If you love amaryllis, did you know that you can grow these dramatic flowers from seed? The process requires a few years of patience but allows you to create your own hybrids for spectacular results. Learn how to pollinate, harvest, and sow amaryllis seeds for years of glorious blooms with this guide. Read more now.

How to Grow Bird of Paradise Indoors

A close up horizontal image of a bright bird of paradise (Strelizia reginae) flower growing in a large indoor garden.

If you love the vibrant, evergreen bird of paradise plants, did you know that you can grow them as houseplants? Whether you are bringing your outdoor plants in for the winter, or want to add some tropical flair to your decor, learn how to grow and care for bird of paradise indoors in this guide. Read more now.

Poisonous Plants: 31 Varieties That Can Cause Harm

A close up horizontal image of a yellow Labrador retriever dog sitting in the garden surrounded by pink rhododendron flowers.

Many common plants in our gardens have the potential to harm. But sometimes, the risk is overblown. Should you avoid things like yew and datura altogether? Only if you have little kids or curious puppies? Or just exercise caution? Learn which plants to watch for, especially if you have kids or pets, in this guide.

How to Harvest and Store Kale Seeds

Top down view of a large, healthy curly leaved kale plant.

Kale has healthy nutrients, a delicious taste, striking beauty, and is easy to grow – making it a beloved staple in the vegetable garden. Why not increase your enjoyment of this super-veggie with plants grown from your own seed collection? Smart, organic, and economical, here’s how to harvest and store kale seeds.

How to Plant an Autumn Vegetable Garden

A close up of a man's hand, planting a garlic bulb in a small furrow in the soil. His other hand is holding a wicker basket, containing more garlic bulbs. The background is soft focus soil and grass.

Carrots, and cabbage, and collards, oh my! Fall is here and it’s time to head back to the garden to plant your autumn vegetable crops. For a bountiful harvest from your fall veggie patch, there are a few tips and tricks you’ll need before you sow your seeds and transplant your seedlings. Ready to learn more? Read on!

Benefits of Gardening for Seniors (and 7 Tips for Success!)

A horizontal image of an elderly woman in a wheelchair tending to a raised bed garden.

Advancing age makes it challenging to bend and dig in a garden. Learn about the benefits of gardening for seniors and discover 7 top tips for making it easier. By raising beds, working from a seated position, and using ergonomic equipment, it’s possible to enjoy cultivating plants for years to come. Read more now.

Annuals vs. Perennials: What’s the Difference?

A close up horizontal image of a colorful garden border with a mixture of annuals and perennials.

In gardening, understanding the difference between annuals and perennials is one of the most important things you can know. Most of us use a combination of both to make our gardens stand out, but do you know what the benefits are? Or why plants have different lifespans? Is one better for your garden than the other?

Growing Plants 101: The Complete Guide to Getting Started

A horizontal image of a formal garden with rockeries and borders growing a variety of different plants.

Interested in learning how to grow plants? It’s essential to learn the fundamentals before diving into this fun new hobby. This introduction to growing plants covers the basics of gardening and touches on what plants need to live. After reading it, you’ll be ready to begin your gardening journey. Let’s begin!

Organic Gardening 101: How to Get Started

A close up horizontal image of a wooden box filled with an abundant harvest of organic vegetables from the garden.

Starting an organic garden might seem like a daunting task, but with a little planning it’s much simpler than you may think. Nature provides everything from pest control to natural fertilizers, but it’s up to the gardener to employ green systems and discard synthetic ones. Get started with organic gardening now.

How to Store Your Tomato Harvest

A close up horizontal picture of a metal wire basket containing a selection of red, ripe tomatoes and green unripe fruits set on a cloth on a countertop.

Are you wondering what to do with your end-of-season surplus of green and ripe red tomatoes? Some can be kept in boxed storage to continue to ripen and enjoy fresh. But for a bumper harvest, long-term preservation is often needed. Find all the details on how to store your homegrown tomatoes right here. Read more now.

5 of the Best Ways to Freeze Fresh Herbs

A close up horizontal image of a wooden tray with freshly harvested parsley, rosemary, thyme, sage, and chives, all tied in individual bunches with string and set on a wooden surface.

When your herb garden produces more than you can use fresh, freezing is a great way to preserve their flavor, fragrance, and nutrition. It’s fast, easy, and there’s no specialized equipment needed. Plus, it’s a smart way to reduce food waste. Learn about five of the best ways to freeze herbs in this guide. Read more now.

How to Make Your Own Fresh Cut Flower Food

A close up of a fresh bouquet of cut flowers with a woman in a gray sweater in soft focus in the background.

Fresh cut flowers from the garden or florist are a pleasure. With nourishment, they may last a week or more. Purchased blooms may come with a packet that contains enough for the first day, but then what? Read on for easy instructions on how to replicate the contents of a flower food packet with household ingredients.

4 Easy Ways to Hand-Pollinate Tomatoes

A close up horizontal image of a paintbrush from the left of the frame pollinating a small yellow tomato flower pictured on a soft focus background.

A bountiful harvest of tasty homegrown tomatoes is a treat that shouldn’t be missed. But sometimes plants need a helping hand. Don’t let bad weather or a lack of pollinators thwart your green thumb. Learn four easy ways to hand pollinate tomatoes and you’ll always enjoy an abundant crop. Read more now.

How to Dehydrate Homegrown Produce for Long-term Storage

A close up horizontal image of a variety of different fruits and vegetables all dehydrated for easy storage, in separate small bowls.

Dehydrating is an excellent way to preserve your garden or orchard harvests for later use. And once you learn how to dry fruits and vegetables, it will be one of the easiest means of food preservation you can use. Read more now to learn everything you need to know about dehydrating fruits and veggies from the garden.

How to Start Your Own Herb Garden

A garden scene of fresh herbs growing outdoors in terra cotta pots.

Why not try starting an herb garden this spring? There are many edible, medicinal, fragrant, and ornamental herbs to choose from. And there are gardening options for everyone, whether it’s in the landscape or in raised beds, window boxes, or pots. Learn how to start your own herb garden this spring. Read more now.

How to Blanch Celery in the Garden (And Why You Should!)

A close up of a row of celery growing in the garden with newspaper wrapped around the stems for blanching purposes, to make the stalks white and tender.

Do you want to grow crisp and flavorful celery that’s perfect for adding to soups, salads, and smoothies? Our guide to blanching celery in the garden will teach you three of the best methods to grow your own crop that isn’t bitter, with a satisfying crunch. You don’t want to skip this step! Read more now.

How to Grow Tomatoes in Containers

A close up of a large plastic pot with healthy tomato plants laden with ripe fruit, growing on the patio, pictured in bright sunshine.

The flavor of homegrown tomatoes is an experience no one should miss. Even if you don’t have the real estate for a vegetable patch, you can still enjoy their rich taste with fast growing and prolific container plants on your deck or patio. Learn how to grow tomatoes in containers and pots with this guide. Read more now.

Your Ultimate Guide to Square Foot Gardening

A close up horizontal image of a gardener transplanting seedlings into a raised bed square foot garden.

Square foot gardening is a beginner-friendly way of cultivating healthy, super local, homegrown produce, but this space-saving method has more to it than just growing in raised beds. Keep reading to discover the roots of square foot gardening and learn what steps to take to get started with it in your own backyard.

How to Grow and Care for Succulents

A succulent arrangement in a round, shallow, white ceramic planter with a bamboo base, on an aqua and white diamond-patterned tray with gray and green garden gloves, a shovel with a gray and green handle, and scattered pebbles, with a brown wooden outdoor chair with a white cloth seat cushion in the background.

Want to become a succulent gardening pro? We share our top tips for planting, watering, fertilizer needs, dealing with winter weather or warm spells, pests and diseases, and more. Whether you’re planting outdoors in Zone 11 or growing a few potted plants in a sunny windowsill, read our guide now on Gardener’s Path.

Stop Watering Unnecessarily: How to Use a Rain Gauge

A decorative rain gauge with a clear canister that is almost full of water, market with measurements in inches and centimeters, with a green resin frog sitting in a brown Adirondack chair and reading a blue book beneath a pink umbrella, set on a cement surface with rain gently falling on a cloudy day.

It’s all too easy to overwater your garden without realizing it – until it’s too late. Cheap and easy to use, rain gauges can help. An inch of rain a week can spare you an unnecessary watering session, saving you time and money, and protecting your plants from too much of a good thing. Read more now on Gardener’s Path.

How to Harvest Wild Berries: Foraging for Beginners

Human hands picking wild blackberries.

What’s even better than just-picked berries from the garden? The ones you harvest yourself from a wild source. With some basic how-tos, attention to detail, and a keen appreciation for the outdoors, you can take a trip back to our hunter-gatherer days and safely consume wild foods. Read more now on Gardener’s Path.

Get Your Garden Off to the Best Possible Start with a Soil Test

A human hand holds freshly dug soil.

Does your garden face the same issues year after year? The answer could be in your soil. Nutrient deficiencies, pH imbalances, texture, and the percentage of organic matter can all be revealed through a simple test. Collecting a sample and sending it off for professional analysis and advice is easier than you think.

Quick Guide to Understanding Seed Packets

A human hand olds a cluster of seed packets of different varieties | Gardener's Path

Seed packets are loaded with important growing information, like sowing, spacing, and thinning. To help make sense of it all, your friends at Gardener’s Path have put together this quick guide. Check it out before planning, purchasing, and digging. Your plants will thank you.

5 Tips You Need to Navigate Seed Catalogs

Five packets of newly purchased seeds are piled on top of The Rare Seed Catalog. The purple slices of the roots can be seen on the cover of the catalog. The seed packets each contain several small seeds, an image of the delectables it will grow, and some short quotes. The seeds are for various plants including peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and others. Next to the pile of seeds is a pen and a notepad with the names of seeds to look for in the catalog. All of this is resting on a lightly stained wooden table.

Who can resist a mailbox full of seed catalogs? Browsing them is the dreamy pastime of many a gardener waiting for snow to melt and the growing season to begin. These interesting publications have been guiding gardeners for over 300 years. Get tips for navigating their colorful pages, right here on Gardener’s Path.

Full Sun Doesn’t Always Mean Full Sun

Full Sun Doesn't Always Mean Full Sun

Sometimes full sun doesn’t really mean full sun. Before buying plants, gardeners in hot and dry regions of the southern United States should take our expert advice into consideration, to learn where and what to plant. Read more about hot weather gardening now on Gardener’s Path.

Pruning Bonsai 101: How to Shape Your Plants

A close up horizontal image of a gardener pruning a bonsai tree.

Pruning a bonsai well requires equal parts technical skill and artistic vision. You need to know how to prune the plant without damaging it so you can bring the living piece of art that you dream of to life. In this guide, we’ll help you to achieve both goals with a little bit of technical and creative guidance.

An Intro to Bonsai Trees: Information for the Beginner

A close up horizontal image of a gardener trimming a bonsai tree.

Bonsai is where horticulture meets art, and practitioners strive to capture nature in a miniature display. If you’re new to bonsai, you might be curious about where it came from and what it takes to create your own. This guide will fill you in on everything a beginner needs to know to get started. Read more.

Planting Your First Vegetable Garden: A Beginner’s Guide

Colorful vegetable garden with marigolds for companion planting.

If you’re new to the world of vegetable gardening, you’re in for a treat! Fresh veggies have a flavor that can’t be beat, and they’re healthy and nutritious. Plus, growing your own is friendly on the budget, and gardening is an excellent way to reduce stress. Learn all about these positive benefits right here on Gardener’s Path.

Growing Roses 101: Getting Started

A close up horizontal image of bright pink roses growing in the garden pictured in bright sunshine on a soft focus background.

Love roses? Even though you’ve probably heard all about the diseases, pests, and other problems that gardeners face, growing roses doesn’t have to be complicated. We’ll provide the foundation you need to care for your flowers like a pro. Read more to learn the basics of growing these stunning blossoms in your garden.

Contribute to Scientific Research with 5 Citizen Science Apps

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Citizen science is an open invitation to record your observations of the natural world for the greater good. Organizations ranging from conservation societies to universities offer opportunities for lay people to submit data for analysis by scientists in a variety of fields. Read on to learn how you can contribute.

How to Prepare Fruit Trees for Winter

A close up horizontal image of an apple tree in the winter with snow on the branches and fruits pictured on a soft focus background.

Protecting fruit trees from harsh winter weather only takes a few minutes, and it’s absolutely worth the effort. Don’t ignore this important step to ensuring healthy growth and production the following season. Read more to learn how to winterize fruit trees in the garden, as well as those planted in containers.

How to Regrow Bok Choy from Scraps

A close up horizontal image of bok choy scraps in water to regrow set on a windowsill.

Did you know that you can regrow bok choy from kitchen scraps? With just a bowl full of water, a leftover stalk, and a few days to spare, you can easily regrow this plant from leavings that you might have thrown away otherwise. Read more to learn a quick and easy technique for growing bok choy from a stalk.

How to Care for Milkweed Plants in Winter

A close up horizontal image of a Asclepias plant that has finished flowering and gone to seed, covered in frost in the winter garden, pictured on a soft focus background.

Milkweed is wonderful for attracting monarch butterflies and other pollinators to the garden, and with minimal winter care, this attractive perennial herb will reemerge from its impressive root system year after year. Ready to learn how to winterize your milkweed plants for a bounty of blooms next season? Read more.

How to Care for Peony Plants in Winter

A close up horizontal image of a perennial peony plant with reddish-brown stems and foliage pictured with a light dusting of snow on the ground and on the plant, on a soft focus background.

If you are growing peonies you’ll need to know how to care for them over the cold winter months. Peony plants require a period of dormancy and chilling hours to bloom again next season. So how do you prepare your plants for winter? Learn all about winter care for peonies in this guide. Read more now.

How to Winterize Astilbe Plants: 5 Easy Steps

A close up horizontal image of astilbe flower stalks after blooming covered in snow, pictured in bright sunshine.

If the feathery, spiked blossoms of astilbe plants adorn your gardens in late summer, you need to know how to prepare them for a good winter’s sleep. While they are cold-hardy, they benefit from a little TLC to ensure that they return each spring with vigor. Learn how to winterize your astilbe plants in this guide.

How to Prepare Your Delphinium Plants for Winter

A close up horizontal image of blue delphinium flowers covered in ice during the winter pictured on a soft focus background.

Your delphiniums bloomed splendidly during the summer, and now they’ve died back. You know they’re going to return in the spring, but only if you prepare them for dormancy and keep them warm during the winter. But how do you do that? What steps are involved? Learn everything you need to know in our guide. Read more.

Creepy Plants for the Garden: Scary-Looking Plants for Halloween and Beyond

A horizontal picture of a sinister looking forest with a path running through it on a misty, foggy evening.

Are you looking to spice up your Halloween display this year? Why not grow your own? Try decorating your home and yard with a collection of mysterious and scary plants just spooky enough to make your skin crawl. Read on to learn about 13 of our favorite creepy and bizarre plants to grow in your garden this October.

How to Pre-Seed your Garden in Fall for an Early Spring Harvest

A close up horizontal image of a hand from the top of the frame planting seeds into dark, rich soil in the autumn garden.

Looking for an easy way to get an early start to the spring season? Why not try planting next year’s seeds in the fall? With minimal effort this autumn, you can get a head start on next season with a healthier, heartier crop. Read on to learn how to pre-seed the vegetable garden this fall for an early spring harvest.

9 of the Best Companion Plants to Grow with Broccoli

A close up horizontal image of a large raised bed surrounded by various small planters containing broccoli and various companion plants, with trees in the background.

Broccoli is a popular veggie around the world, and it’s easy to grow your own. But what should you plant nearby? Knowledge of the best companion plants can help you to repel pests and balance out broccoli’s heavy feeding habits. Plus, find out which plants benefit the most from broccoli’s towering shade. Read more now.

How to Transplant a Bay Laurel Tree

A close up horizontal image of the foliage of a bay laurel tree growing in the garden ready for transplanting to a different location, pictured on a soft focus background.

If you are growing bay laurel in containers indoors or out in the garden and it’s getting too big for its current home, it may be time to transplant. If you need to move your bay tree, check out this guide to learn when and how to transplant bay laurel and ensure it thrives in its new location. Read more now.

Growing Avocado Seeds: A Fun Project to Do with the Kids

A close up horizontal image of a small glass with an avocado seed held in the water with toothpicks, set on a wooden surface with a wooden wall in the background.

Store bought avocado seeds can be turned into a simple, fun project that you can do with children, at home or in the classroom. This educational activity extends learning opportunities through the summer. Demonstrate the plant life cycle and spark a love of gardening by growing a lovely tree to enjoy for years to come.

How to Grow Cherry Tomatoes

A close up of a ripe cherry tomato plant with water droplets in the sun with green foliage.

Do you fancy the idea of picking tasty, tangy cherry tomatoes fresh from the vine? Easy to grow and vigorous, they produce an abundance of bite-sized fruit in an array of beautiful colors. Among the earliest to ripen, they deliver a long season as well. Get all the best tips for growing cherry tomatoes right here.

How to Grow and Care for Tomatoes in Your Garden

A close up of three ripe tomatoes growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

The fresh taste of juicy homegrown tomatoes is one of the joys of summer gardening. Whether you enjoy them tossed in a summer salad or cooked in a classic sauce, tomatoes are a must-have in the veggie garden. Learn how to plant and grow your own tasty tomatoes and enjoy the fresh taste of summer. Read more now.

Garden Folklore Galore: Reviewing Popular Garden Myths

A garden scene showing rows of vegetables, flowers, and perennial borders, pictured in bright sunshine.

Myths and folklore are as much a part of gardening as shovels, soil, and seeds. We examine some of the most popular garden myths and analyze whether they are true, should be taken with a grain of salt, or are just plain wrong. And if they are factual, we offer our tips for using them in the garden. Read more.

Gardening at Home: 31 of the Best Kits to Get Started

A close up of various gardening tools for indoor gardening with a watering can, pots and seed starter trays, and small hand tools, set on a wooden surface.

It’s the perfect time to start growing your own herbs, fruits, veggies, and mushrooms at home, or to take up a new hobby like terrarium-making or succulent propagation. We’ve found the best kits to help you get started. Most include everything you need, with helpful instructions. Pick your favorite, and get growing!

How to Harvest and Store Carrot Seeds

A top down close up picture of a light red and white carrot flower growing in the garden in light sunshine on a soft focus background.

Saving seeds from your homegrown carrots now can ensure a bounty of garden vegetables in future seasons. If left to flower, each plant produces over a thousand seeds, so saving them is a no-brainer in terms of cheap food production. Learn how to harvest and store your own carrot seeds with this guide. Read more now.

Sun Protection: How to Beat the Heat and Survive Summer in the Garden

A woman weeding a garden, wearing a short sleeved sun protective blouse, and a wide brimmed hat with blue sky and trees in the background.

Planning to spend some time outdoors in the garden this summer? Learning how to work safely in hot temperatures and hours of sun exposure is essential knowledge for the gardener. It’s time to brush up on the basics and maybe even learn something new. Beat the heat and stay safe from the summer sun with this guide.

Vegetable Seeds: Which to Sow Outdoors vs. Indoors?

A close up of a small rustic green cabinet surrounded by baking paper containing seeds ready for planting. To the left of the frame are some biodegradable seed starting pots and a pair of gloves.

Some vegetable seeds should be sowed directly in the garden – while others are more successful when started indoors, and transplanted later. Find a list of which veggies are which, understand the reasons behind these guidelines – and learn about some exceptions you should know about, too. Read on to learn more now.

Anticipating and Assessing Frost Damage in the Fall Vegetable Garden

A close up of a dark green cabbage covered in frost. The center head is protected by the outer leaves, where most of the frost is concentrated.

When the thermometer takes a sudden dive, you may wake up to a vegetable garden coated with frost. Some crops can tolerate it, but others are ruined instantly. Learn about the hardiness of vegetables, what to do when frost is in the forecast, and how to deal with the damage that may occur. Read more now.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones Have Changed: What You Need to Know

USDA Hardiness Zone Changes | GardenersPath.com

Did you know the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones have changed? This introduces a new array of plants that can grow comfortably in your garden while also denying a few old favorites. Read on to learn about why these changes have taken place, and how they may affect new plantings as well as seasoned perennials.

7 Tips You Need to Keep Fresh Flowers Fabulous

Instructions to keep floral arrangements looking fresh | GardenersPath.com

Do you enjoy the excitement of buying or receiving fresh cut flowers, then throw them away in disgust when they wilt in stagnant water? It’s time to learn how to make vase and dish arrangements last. Read on for 7 useful tips from the pros at Gardener’s Path, and keep your blossoms first-day fresh.

What to Do When the Top of Your Tree Dies

Hire a Certified Arborist to Deal with Dead Branches | GardenersPath.com

It is frustrating and alarming when the top part of an otherwise healthy tree dies inexplicably. Want to learn why this happens, how you can treat this odd problem, and how to prevent it from happening to other trees in the future? Our expert tips can help. Read more now on Gardener’s Path.

“Ish” Gardening: Planting with Purpose

"Ish" gardening with pansies. | GardenersPath.com

“Ish” gardening is a perspective that encourages more awareness while in the garden. From old-fashioned tricks to planting with purpose and even making friends with the plants outside (no, really!), “Ish” gardening offers a fresh approach to getting our hands dirty. Read more now on Gardener’s Path.

Why More Young People Should Get Into the Garden, with Joe Gardener

Gardening show host Joe Lamp'l encourages everyone to grow their own food | GardenersPath.com

TV gardening personality Joe Lamp’l says modern edible gardening is becoming the wide availability of tools and products make modern gardening easier and more appealing to a larger variety of people around the country. Read our interview with the gregarious Joe Gardener on Gardener’s Path now.

Your Go-To Guide for Gardening with Children

Your Go-to Guide to Gardening with Children| GardenersPath.com

Are you gardening with children? You’ll love this guide from Gardener’s Path. From seeds to harvest, there are suggestions for kid-friendly flowers, veggies, supplies, methods, and activities that will please the children at your house, and teach them a few things about mother nature in the process.