garden

At the end of November 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map. This is the first update since 2012. The zones described on the map are based on the average minimum temperature each winter across the U.S. Gardeners and landscapers use the zones as guides to determine which perennial plants...

As the weather starts to warm up in the spring, I love going out in the garden. It’s the only time that I actually enjoy weeding. Spring is my favorite time of year. I love seeing everything green up and start growing and the smell of the damp spring earth. Before you’ll get to see that new green growth in...

How To Trim Hedges the Right Way Hedges are a popular landscaping choice, and for good reason. Attractively trimmed plants can provide living walls for privacy or to divide space in the garden. A nice hedge or topiary can also act as a focal point or backdrop for other garden plants. Whether you’re trimming new hedges or maintaining established ones...

As we head toward winter, you’re probably starting to notice changes in the yard. Some trees are losing leaves, the grass stops growing as quickly as it did over the summer, and vegetable plants that thrived in the summer garden are starting to die after harvest. Some yard work slows down in late fall, but there are still some tasks...

As the weather warms up and the soil thaws in the spring, you’ll probably start thinking about getting into your garden. Once the soil is dry enough to crumble and there aren't frost crystals in it, you can start tilling and getting ready for spring planting. That means you’re going to need a reliable tiller to break up the soil...

If you’ve ever tried to dig up a new garden bed by hand or use a cultivating fork to work a vegetable garden before spring planting, then you know how hard it is to work soil with manpower alone. Powered cultivators and tillers save a lot of time and make working soil a whole lot easier. Whether you’re working large...

As we begin a new spring, many of us start thinking about what we’re going to plant in our garden. The best time for planting things in the garden depends on what the weather is like in your area. If you want to give your garden vegetables and flowers the best chance of growing and thriving in 2022, then you’ll...

There's nothing quite like the excitement of the first warm spring day when you can get out into the garden and dig your fingers into the soil. I'm sure it's not just me. Even weeding is fun in the springtime. But before spring gets here, there's an awful lot of winter to get through. Sure there are some garden tasks...

You've probably heard how great composting can be for both the environment and your garden. It gives you a way to recycle natural waste and turn it into free fertilizer for your lawn and garden. If you've never tried composting before, now is a great time to start. Composting is a great way to reuse kitchen scraps and yard waste...

Soil is a whole lot more than just dirt. While dirt is dead, soil is alive with microorganisms. You've got bacteria, fungi, and nematodes eating dead plant and animal matter and turning it into nutrients. You've got insects and worms breaking up organic matter and creating burrows in the soil that let nutrients and water reach plant roots. When soil...