Gardening Advice

Gardening in regions with a short growing season can be an adventure. There always seems to be another spring snowstorm around the corner! To take advantage of every possible growing day, we need to get our snow melted and garden soil thawed as quickly as possible.  We run a plant business here in New Hampshire, where our growing season is short, so it’s important to get seeds…

Does wildfire smoke harm plants? Are garden vegetables and fruit safe to eat? How do you make your landscape less vulnerable to fire, especially if you live in a high-risk area? Learn more.Wildfires have often been a challenge out West, though recent wildfires from Canada have brought this reality to the East Coast and other U.S. regions.Western wildfires have been at historic levels,…

Neem oil is a nontoxic pesticide that many gardeners say is their magic bullet to getting rid of bad bugs on plants. Known for its eco-friendly properties, you can make your own neem oil solutions at home or use commercial products. Homemade solutions tend to be more effective at protecting plants from harmful insects and diseases and are also cheaper. Read on to find out how…

When to plant garden peas? “Plant peas as soon as the ground can be worked” is a popular saying in the gardening world. Unfortunately, in my garden, that means mid- to late March! However, our fortunate southern friends can often start planting in January and February. Wherever you live, see my pea-planting tips.When to Plant PeasGarden peas (Pisum sativum L.) are cool-season crops that…

Many trees and plants were traditionally important to the celebration of the winter solstice. Think evergreens, yew, oak, mistletoe, holly, rosemary, pine, and ivy. Learn more about their symbolic meanings.The Solstice Signals a Return of LightAfter the winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year, the days will start to get longer again. But as the old adage says, “When the…

Have you decked the halls yet? Go natural this Christmas! It’s time for nature’s greenery to make a comeback. Look no further than your backyard and garden for a ready source of interesting foliage, berries, dried flower heads, and seedpods. Discover our ideas, straight from nature!If you don’t think it’s worth the effort, check prices online and you’ll find that the…

If you are blessed with a garden that gets full sun, rejoice! Your place is perfect for perennial flowers that thrive in sunny spots. I’ve narrowed my list down to 20 favorites, with an eye toward American natives, which are perfect for supporting pollinators. Take a look and tell me what you think. What is a “Full Sun Perennial”?Let’s start with the definition of “perennials.”…

Winter can be a season of extremes, but there are a few things that you can do to prepare and protect your shrubs and trees, such as wrapping a shrub in burlap. Learn more.How to Protect Shrubs and Trees in WinterWrapping Trees and ShrubsThe weight of snow and ice can be crushing, breaking branches, and even knocking over some top-heavy trees. Trees with multiple leaders, clump…

Bees, wasps, and hornets may look alike and belong to the same order of insects, Hymenoptera, but they are different insects. How can you distinguish between a hornet vs wasp and a bee? The words hornet and wasp are all too often used interchangeably, but there will be no need to do that after you’ve learnt all about their key differences in this article. The biggest…

Why do we kiss under the mistletoe? Of all the plants used in Christmas décor, few have as long and as interesting a history as mistletoe. Discover the meaning of mistletoe and the fascinating folklore behind it.First of All, What Is Mistletoe?With evergreen leaves, yellow flowers, and white berries, large clumps of mistletoe are usually observed growing high in…

How did a tropical plant become an unlikely symbol of the Christmas holiday? The history of the poinsettia, as it relates to Christmas, begins with an old Mexican legend and, later, a prominent American business venture. Discover the legend of the poinsettia!You say poin-set-ee-uh, I say poin-set-uh—but let’s call the whole thing off because the name of the ubiquitous holiday plant can be…

These days, many of us find our Christmas trees at a garden supply store or a local church, selling them as a fundraiser. Ever wonder where they get the trees? Christmas tree farms, of course! But it’s not always easy. Growing Christmas trees is similar to producing any other agricultural crop. It’s a serious business that requires a lot of hard work that lasts years! Learn more about…