When I create my summer garden, I like to add elements that make it feel like a peaceful oasis and that are very low maintenance. Cosmos spp. Cosmos flowers are gorgeous ornamental plants that flourish in less than ideal conditions. A boon to pollinators and other beneficial insects, these plants are a welcome addition to both the flower bed and the organic veggie garden. If your garden universe doesn’t include this annual, perhaps it should!...

In some instances, the best idea is to start over with a different variety or more suitable growing conditions, either right now or next season. “You are my sunflower, my only sunflower, you make me happy, when skies are gray…” Those aren’t the actual words to the song, but that’s how I sing it. Still, I have to admit, that joyous feeling only occurs when they burst into bloom, seeming to smile with their round faces and bright petals....

Some of these diseases are more readily treatable than others, and we will provide advice on how to deal with the pathogens that can be controlled. Asparagus plants are prone to a wide range of diseases. In most cases, the visible symptoms will help to determine the cause of the infection, and treatments are generally available. But diagnosing the source of the infection can be challenging. This guide will help you to distinguish between the fungi, water mold, and viruses that could be afflicting your plants....

We’re not too fond of annuals in these parts. Too much trouble. Pennisetum x advena ‘Rubrum’ With its deep purple leaves and long, colorful flower spikes, purple fountain grass is among the loveliest of the ornamental grasses. Alas, its beauty is fleeting. Hardy in Zones 9 to 11, P. x advena ‘Rubrum’ is grown as an annual in most of the United States. They were actually quite popular here in Austin, Zone 8b, for a few years, but I don’t see them much anymore – presumably because they couldn’t take our occasional chilly weather, and no one was particularly motivated to replace them....

Still, they aren’t necessarily easy to grow. Fragaria × ananassa We all know what it’s like to come home from the grocery store and dig into the strawberries only to find them too bland, too tart, or too far gone. And when we get a nice, sweet, juicy batch we inhale them within a day. Well, if the best tasting strawberries are what you’re after, growing your own is the way to go....

I share this because it’s incredible to note the subtle differences that exist between different types of basil. Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora Don’t make fun of me, but I grew up in a house where fresh (not canned!) spinach was considered an exotic addition to the dinner table. So I distinctly remember the day when I ate at the home of a friend from Thailand, and tasted my first nibble of Thai basil....

Continue reading to learn a simple and fun technique for regrowing bok choy from a cutting. Bok choy is one of my favorite leafy greens. A few crisp and juicy green leaves can really make a soup or stir fry feel complete! Since it can be an expensive ingredient in comparison to other vegetables like cabbage, it tends to be a special treat in my household. So I was excited to learn that you can easily regrow it from a stalk....

When I first started growing these tasty bulbs, the hardest part of growing them was figuring out when they were ready to harvest. I pulled a bulb early once, when the tops had started turning yellow, but sadly it hadn’t multiplied into several shallots yet. Shallots aren’t always easy to find in US grocery stores. At least, not for me up here in Alaska, where it’s also difficult to find a strawberry for sale in the wintertime....

Just about any spring-flowering species can make a beautiful display for your home, so if you have access to any of the recommended trees and shrubs that we’ll cover here, you can make this process work for you. Surprise, spring has come early! Okay, I wish. But we can make it seem like spring is already here by forcing branches to bloom early indoors – even when it’s still the dead of winter outside....

Here’s everything you can expect to learn: If you have a pothos plant, then you know already that they are pretty darn prolific. Maybe even too prolific. You turn your back and suddenly, there are vines draping down to the floor and crawling across your bookshelves… That’s when you’ve gotta take matters into your own hands and break out those pruners. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

Here are the topics we’ll explore: Achillea spp. Yarrow, Achillea spp., is a semi-evergreen flowering perennial in the aster, or Asteraceae family. Suitable for growers in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9, it has corymb, or flattened, flower heads with densely clustered blossoms in shades of pink, red, white, and yellow. In this article, you’ll learn all you need to know to cultivate and maintain yarrow in your garden. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

Judith Craft, primary gardener for the herb garden for the Austin Herb Society in Austin, Texas, likes herbs because many of them will bloom in the shade. Sometimes it can be tricky to identify the right groundcover for a particular area of your garden. This plant needs too much sun. That one likes shade. And this other one you’ve used all over the place — and you want something new....

It thrives in containers, garden beds, or on a sunny windowsill for indoor growth. Tarragon is a cold hardy perennial herb with a sweet anise-like flavor that’s a star in French cuisine and useful in a wide range of dishes. The flavorful leaves are rich in essential oils, and make a delicious addition to eggs, poultry, seafood, tomatoes, and much more. Tarragon is one of the first herbs to break winter dormancy, sending up shoots in late winter to early spring....

Even though these plants are known for being low-maintenance perennials, gardeners may still experience issues when it comes to flowering, for various reasons. Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum) are often admired for their large blooms that attract a variety of pollinators to the garden, and provide a seemingly endless supply of cut flowers throughout the season. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

My hope is that after reading this review of some of the most attractive and functional outdoor benches available, you’ll think about adding one or more to your outdoor landscape, to bridge the ever-widening gap between us and our natural world. In this modern day of decks and patios, many of us have gotten away from sitting in, or even near, our gardens, close to the flowers and the birds and butterflies that make their homes here....

I chose a little bright yellow one, and the second I popped it in my mouth and experienced the explosion of taste and texture that followed, I knew I would never again be satisfied with the supermarket toms of my childhood. I’m sure we can all agree that there is nothing quite like a freshly picked, homegrown tomato. In fact, I would go so far as to say enjoying an exceptional tomato can genuinely be a life changing experience....

Every yard has its own microclimates, and finding an ideal one can make all the difference. While an unsuitable area may cause your plant to struggle constantly, a well-picked location will help your rose to thrive. You know the saying: Location, location, location! As is the case with choosing a house, of all the decisions you make when deciding to add a rose to your garden, perhaps the most important is placement....

Aptly named, this burning bush’s claim to fame is the show-stopping scarlet hue of its autumn foliage. However, a better name might be the banned red bush. Euonymus alatus and E. atropurpureus The burning bush, Euonymus alatus, is a potentially invasive non-native woody shrub in the Celastraceae family. It’s related to the native burning bush, E. atropurpureus, as well as native bittersweet, Celastrus scandens, and its highly invasive non-native counterpart, C....

I’m not gonna lie – writing this guide has me hankering for a snickerdoodle. With each time I type the word “cinnamon,” my appetite only grows. Osmundastrum cinnamomeum The cinnamon fern is gorgeous, cold-hardy, and a breeze to grow. With practically no pest or disease issues, you won’t have to dote on or fret about it like you would other, wimpier plantings. Plus, you have the option to propagate spores, which is an enlightening experience for any gardener who hasn’t done so before....

Let’s learn more! Oenothera spp. Once cultivated for its delectable roots, evening primrose (Oenothera) is now often grown for its omega-6-containing seeds. It’s also grown for its beauty. Oenothera displays large, goblet-like flowers in yellow, white, or pink — each bloom with four petals. Evening primrose is so named for its habit of only showing its attractive flowers late in the day, similar to four o’clock, though it does leave them open until around mid-morning the following day....