Coconut coir is a fibrous material used to manufacture products like brooms and mats, as well as a host of soilless growing products. In its various forms you can use it to line planters, improve soil water retention and aeration, and support tropical plants like orchids. Learn its pros and cons now on Gardener’s Path.
Is your garden bugged by stink bugs? Learn how to banish these malodorous, produce-eating pests from your garden once and for all with tips and hints from the experts at Gardener’s Path.
Have you ever seen hummingbirds in the wild? Tiny and fast, they’re hard to spot. Wouldn’t it be great to slow them down for a good look? You can, with a hummingbird feeder filled with the sweet nectar they crave. Read on to learn about 5 products that are perfect for attracting these tiny wonders to your yard.
Herbs are wonderfully low maintenance plants. And with just a little bit of care and attention in the spring, these aromatic, tasty, and healthful edibles will flourish for your enjoyment. From top-dressing to propagating, join us for all the details you need on how to care for your herb garden!
Aphids are a nightmare, leaving plants shriveled and dying after an infestation. Learn natural ways to keep them from making your backyard their home, plus ways to manage an onslaught without resorting to potentially dangerous chemical preparations. We’ve got gardening solutions you can use, here on Gardener’s Path.
Constructing your own container of showy annuals and perennials is an easy and fun project to welcome the springtime weather. Following just a few core design principles, you can create your own eye-catching arrangement of flowers and foliage. Read all about spring container gardening and design now on Gardener’s Path.
Purple martins are one of America’s best-loved birds. Do they call your yard home? To learn how to give them the proper environment to bring their beautiful song and aerial acrobatics to your property, read more now on Gardener’s Path.
Do you have a shady area that you’d like to brighten up, with a minimum of annual maintenance? Try layering some perennials into the area. Learn about our favorite suggestions now on Gardener’s Path.
A number of culinary herbs make excellent groundcover, adding variety, texture, and beauty to the garden and sublime flavor to meals. Learn more about these versatile plants now at Gardener’s Path!
Have you been inspired to allow your chickens to help in the garden? While the results can be amazing, there are some common pitfalls to the practice. Get the truth about what it takes for your feathered friends to be truly cooperative this season – read more now on Gardener’s Path.
Should you lime your lawn this year? Find out how this natural conditioning agent may be beneficial. Understand the difference between calcitic and dolomitic varieties. Learn about factors that affect soil’s pH balance and discover the only reliable method for making an informed decision, right here on Gardener’s Path.
Are you looking for an affordable way to xeriscape with succulent plants? Create an enchanting low-maintenance array of colors, shapes, and textures by purchasing one of each of your favorites, and propagating the rest yourself. Learn how with easy instructions from your friends at Gardener’s Path.
Put out the welcome mat for spring with an array of flowering bulbs and branches. Learn what forcing means, and how to select, prepare, and cultivate an indoor profusion of daffodils, forsythia, hyacinths, and branches like pussy willow. Learn everything you need to know in this guide. Read more now.
Trying to attract more butterflies to your backyard? Read our suggested 6 options to learn how to experience the beautiful presence of these winged wonders.
Are you itching to get into the garden, but it’s still too cold outside? Satisfy your craving to play in the dirt by starting seeds indoors. With an egg carton and potting medium, you can grow flowers, herbs, and vegetables to transplant outside when the weather warms. Learn how on Gardener’s Path.
Have you heard of adding bone meal to the soil when planting flowers and vegetables? This organic fertilizer is rich in phosphorus and calcium, nutrients essential for healthy roots, foliage, flowers, and produce. Is it the right amendment for your garden? Learn how to be sure, right here on Gardener’s Path.
Arranging fresh flowers for the table is easy when you follow these instructions for our festive holiday sparkle centerpiece. Choose flowers from your local market, make a container from an everyday item, and use your garden’s off-season treasures to craft glittering accents. Let’s get started, here on Gardener’s Path.
Backyard birds are a gardener’s buddies. We’ve put together an expert guide on what to expect in your area, complete with a list of favorite feathered friends throughout the US. Learn all about what they’re looking to eat to help encourage them to call your garden home. Read more now on Gardener’s Path.
Bulbs add beautiful blooms to the garden, and many of them will happily multiply and naturalize on their own. But some, usually the expensive ones, are more reluctant to divide and need manual manipulation for offspring to form. Join us now for all the details on how to successfully propagate your own bulbs at home.
Nothing says Halloween like jack-o’-lanterns, but what good are they if they rot before you can say trick-or-treat? Before you go to the farmers market, read 9 quick tips to make carved pumpkins last longer. From selecting the best to inhibiting moisture, we’ve got ideas you can use, right here on Gardener’s Path.
Nothing says “tropical” like the colorful foliage of garden croton, with its leathery evergreen leaves and bright red and yellow accents. If your climate zone is a cool one, you can grow it in a sunny indoor location for a lush island vibe. Read all about this easy-to-grow, long-lived plant now on Gardener’s Path.
Building a bat box is an easy DIY activity, with a functional and beneficial outcome that provides a home for the nocturnal wildlife in your area. With just a drill – no other power tools required – you can produce a fully functional bat house. Keep reading to learn how to build your own now on Gardener’s Path!
If you’re sick of shaking your head when you look at the damage deer do to your hostas, roses, and fruit trees, you aren’t alone. Installing a deer fence is the best option to keep those voracious critters out of your garden and yard. Read more now on Gardener’s Path to learn how to install your own DIY fence.
Want to grow your own mushrooms at home? From enokis to shiitakes, and many varieties in between, we’ve found some of the best kits available today to produce your own delicious harvests that will tantalize your taste buds – no foraging required! Read more and find the one that’s best for you now on Gardener’s Path.
Succulent plants are not just for desert landscapes. Cluster them in bright containers to energize a patio, or among river rock for a serene garden bed. Set pots around the house for eye-catching color, shape, and texture. Easy and fun, they add style to any decor. Meet eleven beauties, here on Gardener’s Path.
Possibly the only foliage plant you’ll need in your garden beds, hardy Coral Bells provide reliable performance in sun or shade. Toss in a flower that’s as delicate and light as they come, and you’ve got yourself one wonderful perennial. Read all about how to care for your Heuchera now, here on Gardener’s Path!
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.
Battling deer set on destroying our work in the garden doesn’t need to be as challenging as we might think. Approaching the situation with knowledge, the right game plan, and a good set of tools is the solution to preventing this frustrating pest. Read on to learn more about how to keep the deer away from your yard.
Ready to add some classic heirlooms to your vegetable patch? We explain this often misunderstood gardening term, and share some of our favorite varieties and where to find them, from pink tomatoes and purple beans to rainbow carrots and a variety of delicious options in between. Read more now on Gardener’s Path.
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.
Looking for the best way to support your tomatoes? Using the Florida Weave, all of your plants can be supported with the same trellis. It’s easy to set up, requires very few materials, and can be used for both determinate and indeterminate varieties. Read more now on Gardener’s Path and learn how to make your own.
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.
Weeds – they’re every gardener’s struggle. But you may be creating more work for yourself. Find out how they work and key tips to keep them at bay, as well as the best way to pull them and what to do with the debris. If you want to save time in the garden and minimize this seemingly endless chore, read more now.
Every gardener would love to spend less time weeding their garden and more time enjoying it. But how? Stale seedbed cultivation is a tried and true method that will dramatically reduce the number of weed seeds in the soil that are just waiting for the chance to out compete your vegetables. Read more on Gardener’s Path.
For vertical gardens, leafy greens, and especially root crops, or if you simply want improved soil and drainage, a raised bed is the best option. But buying these from the store can really make you question the frugality of gardening. Check out this simple plan to build a small, economical version. Read more now.
Floating row covers are a must for every gardener. From extending the season to keeping out pests, this multipurpose fabric can transform the way you garden. Keep reading to learn how to use floating row covers to make the most of every season.
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.
Whether you’re a seasoned hen-raising expert or a newbie about to embark on this egg-producing hobby, Kathy Shea Mormino’s “The Chicken Chick’s Guide to Backyard Chickens” will teach you all about raising these generous birds in your garden. Read our review of this easy-to-read and humorous book now at Gardener’s Path.
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.
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.
An iconic troublemaker in the backyard, the Japanese beetle is an invasive species that’s been causing damage to American gardens for over a hundred years. It’s a difficult pest to control, but with help from Gardener’s Path, we can learn about this bug and take the right steps to minimize its impact. Read more now.
Need a creative DIY project? Garden paths can add interest and practicality to the landscape, and they’re useful and attractive whether you have multiple acres or a small suburban lot. If you’re ready to make some design-savvy changes to your outdoor space, learn how to add walkways to your yard now at Gardener’s Path.
You’ve filled your yard with fescue, miscanthus, and fakahatchee for multi-season interest that’s beloved by the residents of your home as well as the wildlife. Wondering how to prune your ornamental grasses? Get tips on the how, the when, and the why of cutting back these artistic and pretty landscape plants now.
Cut out the guesswork and do things the right way when it comes to garden pests! Prepare yourself for a primer on all things pesticide, and read about why applying chemicals is always the last-ditch solution. Read more now on 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.
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.
Like many of your other landscape plants, trees need a little extra attention as winter prepares to rear its chilly head. Get the best tips now on Gardener’s Path for preparing your beauties for the arrival of Jack Frost.
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.
If you love to make your own Christmas decorations but don’t have a lot of free time to handcraft a wreath, make a swag for the door instead. Fast, simple, and easy, they add a gorgeous splash of fresh seasonal color that will look good for weeks. Join us now for a step by step tutorial!
Have you flipped and scrolled through magazines and web pages, marveling at immaculately presented winter decor? It’s tempting to imagine these stunning pieces as out of reach, something of a rarity for the average gardener. But fret not! We here at Gardener’s Path have a simple and easily customizable design for you to use in your own home. If you want find yourself endlessly enjoying winter centerpieces and you hope to dazzle your holiday guests, read on to learn how you can craft your own piece from scratch.
Let’s put our hands together for the bats! These flying critters are vital in the backyard and offer their services as bug catchers of the highest caliber. By offering bats a place to roost in your garden, you can encourage them to make regular appearances, offering their mosquito-catching skills. To learn the benefits of bats, plus tips to build your very own bat box, read more now on Gardener’s Path.
Don’t give up yet – there’s hope for your houseplants! Tropical greenery cures our indoor doldrums, but many of us are fearful that we are agents of black-thumbed death, forever doomed to a plant-less lifestyle. Gardener’s Path has the solution – our guide to basic houseplant care, plus a selection of excellent houseplants that can take one heckuva beating. Keep reading to learn all about it!
A tidy garden is a healthy garden, and cutting back perennials helps to achieve both of these things. But confusion comes into play when deciding which perennials to cut back when. Relax! We’ll teach you how biannual pruning can become an act of meditation for the gardener. Read our handy guide, and you’ll look forward to a tidy cleanup.
Shade trees are natural climate control for your home and yard. They offer protection from the light and heat of the sun and can serve as a buffer against strong, cold winds that whip heat away from the house. Gardener’s Path has compiled a selection of fast-growing shade trees, excellent selections for your home in every US Hardiness Zone. Read more.
Did you know your flock of chickens will provide tastier and more nutritious eggs if you provide them with fodder or sprouts? Learn how delicious and healthful greens can also make your birds happier — read more now on Gardener’s Path.
“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.
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.
Are cockroaches — much to your horror — running amuck in your garden? Check out Gardener’s Path for advice on discouraging and killing these vile creatures. We’ve got ideas for natural deterrents, as well as tips for bringing out the big guns, if you really have to.
Is it all in our minds, or does gardening really relieve stress and make us happier? As it turns out, the answer to both is yes! Science is catching up with what we’ve always instinctively known about the benefits of horticulture – read all about it right here!
Need to energize a ho-hum space? Do it with tillandsia. These unique air plants require no soil, and add color, interest, and texture to any décor. Create exotic tropical arrangements and vary them to suit your mood. Learn about this intriguing flowering species from your friends at Gardener’s Path.
Would you like a miniature indoor garden that’s virtually maintenance free? Let’s make a terrarium! Turn an empty container into a lush, eye-catching display with plants like ferns, ivy, moss, and violets. Learn everything you need to make your own natural work of art, right here on Gardener’s Path.
Meet Bob Piaschyk, a smart and determined Texas nurseryman whose sharp eyes identified a beautiful and unusual tree. With luck, its propagation could lead to the financing of his grandkids’ educations. Learn about his quest now at Gardener’s Path.
Gardening has so many benefits, especially for seniors. See why horticulture is good for our oldest generation, and learn what you can do to make it a safe and fun experience for all ages. We will also explore ways to use your green thumb to create bonding moments! For all of this and more, continue reading on Gardener’s Path.
Have you heard of juglone toxicity? This side effect of keeping black walnut trees may be killing your other plants. Learn what fruits and flowers can withstand living near the tree and how to properly treat sensitive plants with our owner’s guide on Gardener’s Path.
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.
Have you heard of xeriscaping? Often associated with desert climates, it’s much more than succulents and cacti. This sensible landscape style conserves water, reduces garden maintenance, and provides habitat for endemic species. Learn all about its aesthetics and efficiency here on Gardener’s Path.
Do you want a greenhouse but don’t want to spend a whole lot? If so, check out this great build now. Free pallet racks and other repurposed materials make this one cheap build!
Perennials provide long-lasting garden beauty. To get the best performance and value from these landscape stalwarts, the simple task of plant division serves many purposes. Learn more about the plant health, garden design, and budget-boosting benefits of dividing perennials – read more now on Gardener’s Path.
Should you cut back your bicolor or African iris every winter, as you probably do with your ornamental grasses? It depends on a few factors. Learn more about when and how now from Gardener’s Path.
The crape myrtle is celebrated for its abundant groupings of colorful and delicate flowers in hues from white to deep red. If you know anything about these trees, you know that pruning them is a subject of great debate. To learn the proper way to trim crape myrtle trees, read more now on Gardener’s Path.
Spring is a busy time for gardeners, but a lot of chores can be done before the weather turns nice. Start on your spring garden checklist while it’s still cold and gloomy outside – then you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy working with the soil when the warm sunshine does arrive!
Want to boost your garden’s productivity throughout winter, early spring, and beyond? Visit Gardener’s Path and learn about season extension: how to build greenhouses, cold frames, hoop houses, and more to protect your crops from the cold – with tips from beloved gardening and homesteading bloggers.
You don’t have to be disappointed with planters that fizzle out by mid-summer again this year. For outstanding results, follow our basic steps to create containers full of vibrant, healthy plants – and use our easy trick to produce a fantastic display of color and form from spring right through to fall! Read more now on Gardener’s Path.
Are you looking for a quick and easy holiday decoration? Make this Blooming Heart Centerpiece for your Valentine’s Day table. All you need is a visit to your local produce market for flowers, a run to the craft store for floral foam and ribbon, and about half an hour to put it all together. Read on for easy directions from your friends at Gardener’s Path.
Raised beds are excellent for those with hard clay or soils with too much sand. They assist with drainage for climates with too much rain and help retain moisture for those who don’t get enough. And they are ideal for those with back and knee problems. Read more about the benefits of these gardening enclosures now!
Do you have a garden? If so, the makings of beautiful foliage arrangements are at your fingertips. Learn simple techniques for arranging flowers and greenery grown in your own backyard. From selecting containers to cutting focal flowers, this simple guide from Gardener’s Path introduces the basics of an age-old art that you’re going to love!
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.
Are you looking to recycle your food trash and improve your garden soil at the same time? Trhy vermicomposting, Grow your own earthworms and turn your food trash into valuable compost that can be applied straight to your plants or made into a manure tea! Find out all you need to know now!
Teaming With Microbes was a landmark guide for raising awareness of the soil food web in 2006 – and promoting more environmentally aware, chemical-free gardening techniques – fueling an organic food revolution. Does it still apply today? Read more on Gardener’s Path now, and find out why you should toss out those chemical pesticides and fertilizers!
What to do when spring finally comes around? The early part of the season is for getting important chores done in preparation for growing through summer: like soil work, pruning, compost care, seed starting, and more. Are you ready? Read on to get prepared for your very own growing season!
Growing your own plants can be one of the most rewarding experiences if you have a green thumb… or even a black thumb. This guide will get you started with giving your plants the best start, to allow them to blossom to their full potential. Lesson 1: They’re Alive! You may have realized that plants …
Bees are so important to our food supply- we wouldn’t be able to produce the vast array of fruits and vegetables that we enjoy on a daily basis without them. Some of the most beautiful plants that we grow in our gardens are a delight to our furry friends. By increasing our plantings of these wonderful flowers, we can help the pollinators to survive and thrive. Read more on Gardener’s Path now to find out how you can help.
Do you want a showy spring time bloom for your flowering trees and shrubs? Check out our guide and learn the ins and outs of trimming up your woody plants to maximize their flowering performance.
Are you new to gardening and are getting confused by all of the terms thrown at you? Such as perennials and annuals? If so, check out this article and learn about the differences and how each type of plant needs to be treated to make your landscape or garden a success.
Do you have a bunch of rocks in the soil in your yard that you don’t know what to do with? Make peace with what nature has provided and incorporate them into your landscape. Read on for one gardener’s view of the situation.
A beautiful cottage garden will take you back in time – but you don’t need to put in hours of work to grow your own. Bring fragrance and color while you learn how to plant to avoid weeding, and to keep your plants going year after year. Learn how here on Gardener’s Path. Read more now.
Lighting is a critical piece to any well (or not so well) designed garden or yard. Find out all you need to know with our top notch guide. Read more now on Gardener’s Path.
Shady patches of the garden by the roadside can be problem areas, where little will grow due to runoff with a high salt content. We’ve compiled a list of the best salt-tolerant perennials for shade, and we’re eager to share it with you. Read more now on Gardener’s Path.
Flowering vines can be a great accent or the focal point in your lawn or garden. Read about which varieties work best and how to choose the appropriate varieties for your area. Get the complete scoop now!
One of my favorite things to do during the winter is to put food out for the birds. Not only does this activity nourish the birds during the hardest time of the year, but I find it immensely entertaining to watch who comes in for dinner. For several years, I served as one of Cornell …
Vines can make an excellent choice if you are looking for plants to grow on your property. They can enhance a property’s aesthetic beauty, add privacy, soften hard edges, and benefit the environment. Vines are generally low maintenance and can be easily trained to grow on gazebos, trellises, and arbors. Growing vines in the northern …
Gardeners in temperate areas either endure winter, or defy it. Those who endure it are sustained by color catalogs from seed, bulb, and plant nurseries; those who defy it resort to greenhouses or windowsills crowded with amaryllis, forced bulbs, and foliage plants. For those of us in hibernal denial, however, there’s another outlet: find plants …
It was brought home to me one afternoon as I looked out my bedroom window to see if I could find any flower buds on my Magnolia campbellii that bloomed so heavily last year. I saw no newer buds but I did notice some of my other plants were taking up much more space than …
Weeds are a really challenging problem. I spend considerable time pulling them, digging, them, and sorting them. Generally speaking, the broadest definition of a weed is something that’s growing someplace where you don’t want it. You can recognize this type of plant after you pull it because it often either won’t come out without major …
A friend of mine, Mary, loves gardening and cut flowers. It only makes sense that she has her own cut flower garden, which has actually inspired me. Mary not only keeps fresh flowers in her own home; but she also makes up gorgeous bouquets to take to the elderly shut-ins, who live in her neighborhood. …
What are fleas? Fleas are very tiny parasitic insects that survive by feeding off the blood of mammals. What do fleas look like? Fleas are wingless, usually measure between 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch in size, and have six legs that are adapted for jumping. Fleas are able to move through the fur of …
A vertical garden allows you to maximize your space and grow your own fruits and vegetables. Whether you are an apartment dweller or have a small cottage, this technique allows you to stick more in smaller spaces. Find out how now.
Dreading a dreary winter? Make your fall landscaping pop with some colorful flowers and shrubs. Read our fall landscaping ideas at Gardener’s Path.
There are plenty of ways to garden in a small space, all while sticking to your budget. This easy guide will help point you in the right direction. Read more now.
Plant containers come in a wide variety of prices, sizes, colors, shapes and materials. Each specific container has advantages and disadvantages of its own. Read this post to get the skinny.