Mary Jane Howie
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21 stocking stuffers for gardeners
Small gifts gardeners use every week, from pruning snips and a leather holster to seed packets, plant labels, and a soil thermometer. Every one fits…
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Seed starting supplies checklist
Every supply you need to start seeds indoors, from trays and seed starting mix to heat mats and grow lights, with notes on what you…
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Gifts for new gardeners
The best gifts for someone starting their first garden: a few good tools, seeds that cannot fail, a book worth reading, and the gear that…
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Best seed starting kits
The best seed starting kits for beginners and busy gardeners, from a self-watering tray to an all-in-one dome with a grow light, plus the cheap…
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Best grow lights for seedlings
The best grow lights for starting seeds indoors, from a single clip-on lamp to a full shelf setup, with the height, hours, and wattage that…
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Best electric composters for the kitchen
Electric kitchen composters compared, including Lomi, the FoodCycler Eco 3, and Reencle, with what each one makes, how loud it is, and who it suits.
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Native plants vs. garden cultivars for pollinators
Many gardeners want two things at once. They want a garden that looks beautiful, and they want a garden that helps bees, butterflies, and other…
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Pruning roses in March
March is a common time to prune roses. But timing is not strictly tied to the calendar. Prune when the worst cold has passed and…
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Early spring lawn care
Early spring lawn care is about recovery and preparation. Winter can make your turf grass compacted, matted, and low in available oxygen. Work should begin…
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March gardening tips
March is the month to reset the garden. The main job is to match your timing to the weather instead of the calendar. Use the…
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Low-maintenance plants for full sun
Low maintenance plants for full sun are the ones that stay healthy and presentable with basic care once they are established. In most gardens, “full…
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Mexican Purple garlic
Mexican Purple garlic is a purple-striped garlic with a hot, spicy bite when raw and a sweet, mellow flavor when roasted. The name covers two…
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Evergreen flowering shrubs for shade
Evergreen flowering shrubs for shade are broadleaf or needle-leaf shrubs that keep their foliage through winter and still produce flowers with limited direct sun. In…
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Choosing the right Felco pruning shears
A red-handled pair of pruners is an instant signal of quality in the gardening world. Felco pruners are known for exceptional quality and longevity. And…
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17 October gardening tasks
October is a month for cleaning, planting, and preparing. The days are shorter and nights are colder. Most plants begin to slow down, and some…
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Fall lawn care
Fall is a perfect season to spend some time improving your lawn. Cooler air and warm soil create optimal growing conditions that help lawns recover…
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Nicaise pumpkin
The Nicaise pumpkin is a French heirloom culinary variety selected for flavor, moderate size, and reliable production in home gardens. It is a Cucurbita maxima…
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How to grow cosmos
Cosmos are easy-to-grow annual flowers perfect for adding some low-maintenance color to your garden. These plants grow and flower best in full sun with at…
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How to grow zinnias
Zinnias are colorful annuals that grow best in full sun, well-drained soil, and warm temperatures. Sow seeds directly outdoors after the last frost, or start…
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How to grow ranunculus
To grow healthy ranunculus, plant the corms in well-draining soil in a spot with full sun and cool temperatures. They thrive in mild weather, preferring…
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Aphids
Aphids are one of the most common and persistent insect pests in the garden. These tiny, soft-bodied insects can damage leaves, stems, and flowers (but…
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What to do with grass clippings
Grass clippings are a valuable resource. Whether left on the lawn, composted, or used as mulch, they provide essential nutrients, improve soil health, and reduce…
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How to grow vegetable seedlings
Growing your own vegetable seedlings is a great way to extend the growing season, choose rare cultivars, control plant health, and save money. Here’s everything…
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The glorious triumph of a weed-free garden bed
There are few gardening tasks as quietly satisfying as finishing a freshly weeded garden bed. The change is immediate and unmistakable. What was crowded and…
