Plant Care Archives - Page 2 of 33

Plant Care

The Fire-Resistant California Groundcovers Homeowners Are Laying Down Instead of Bark Mulch

If you live in a fire-prone part of California, that ring of bark mulch around your house might…

By John Miller CA · Jul 26

Plant Care

The California Native Groundcovers That Choke Out Weeds All Summer Without a Drop of Herbicide

Pulling weeds all summer gets old fast, especially when California’s dry heat makes bending over the garden feel…

By John Miller CA · Jul 26

Plant Care

The Wildfire-Resistant Plants California Counties Now Want You to Put Back Into Defensible Space

For years, a lot of Californians heard “defensible space” and figured it meant ripping out every plant near…

By John Miller CA · Jul 26

Plant Care

California Fuchsia: The Late-Season Native That Makes Hummingbirds Forget About Your Feeder

If you have ever watched a hummingbird zip right past a full feeder to land on a single…

By John Miller CA · Jul 26

Plant Care

California Ground-Nesting Native Bees Need Bare Soil, Not Just Flowers

Most California gardeners plant flowers to help bees, and that instinct is exactly right. But a whole group…

By John Miller CA · Jul 26

Plant Care

The Fragrant California Flowers That Drive Rats Out of the Yard Naturally, No Traps Needed

Rats can turn a peaceful California backyard into a stressful mess, chewing through irrigation lines, raiding fruit trees,…

By John Miller CA · Jul 26

Plant Care

The California Seed Libraries Handing Out Free Native Plant Seeds to Anyone Who Asks

Imagine walking into your local library and checking out packets of seeds instead of books. Across California, seed…

By John Miller CA · Jul 25

Plant Care

A Familiar Pest Is Moving Between California Tomatoes and Pomegranates – Here’s What to Do

Something is chewing its way through California backyard gardens this summer, and if you grow both tomatoes and…

By John Miller CA · Jul 25

Plant Care

The Best California Native Plants for Pulling Quail Into Your Yard and Keeping Them Safe

California quail are one of the most charming birds you can host in your yard, with their little…

By John Miller CA · Jul 25

Plant Care

The Dwarf Fruit Trees California Gardeners Are Quietly Growing in Pots on Tiny Patios

You do not need a big backyard to grow real fruit in California. All over the state, homeowners…

By John Miller CA · Jul 25

Plant Care

The Best Southern California Native Plant Nurseries Serious Gardeners Quietly Drive Hours to Reach

If your yard is thirsty, struggling in the summer heat, or oddly quiet without bees and birds, the…

By John Miller CA · Jul 25

Plant Care

The Fire-Resistant California Shrubs That Give You the Look of Ornamental Grasses Without the Burn Risk Near the House

If you love the soft, swaying look of ornamental grasses but live where wildfire is a real worry,…

By John Miller CA · Jul 25

Plant Care

Why California Mourning Doves Return to the Exact Same Branch Every Year, and What It Says About Your Yard

Every spring, a soft cooing from the backyard signals that a mourning dove has settled into a familiar…

By John Miller CA · Jul 25

Plant Care

The Tiny California Garden Spider That Hunts the Pests Wrecking Your Plants, and the Homeowners Who Sweep It Away by Mistake

Walk through almost any California garden and you will likely pass within inches of a spider so small…

By John Miller CA · Jul 25

Plant Care

California Gray Rush Near Water Can Support Dragonfly Habitat and Help You Manage Mosquitoes More Effectively

Somewhere between hope and gardening reality lives the idea that one plant near a backyard pond can call…

By John Miller CA · Jul 25

Plant Care

How to Set Up Your California Yard to Help Backyard Birds Cope With the Next Brutal Heat Wave

When a heat wave rolls through California and temperatures push past 100 degrees, the birds visiting your yard…

By John Miller CA · Jul 25

Plant Care

There’s a California Lizard Eating the Pests No Pesticide Can Touch, and Most Homeowners Toss It Out by Instinct

A small lizard basking on your backyard fence might be doing your garden a quiet favor. Most California…

By John Miller CA · Jul 25

Plant Care

The Fragrant California Plants You Can Line Your Patio With to Keep Ticks Off the Paths Where Your Family Walks

Ticks love to hitch a ride on tall grass and shady garden edges, and that is bad news…

By John Miller CA · Jul 25

Plant Care

When Tree Frogs Turn Up in Your California Garden, They’re Confirming Something Specific About Your Yard

Finding a small frog clinging to a plant stem or tucked under a pot in your California garden…

By John Miller CA · Jul 25

Plant Care

The California Barn Owls Hunting Rats Better Than Any Trap, and the One Change That Keeps Them Nesting

Barn owls are one of California’s most effective natural allies against rodents, and plenty of homeowners want to…

By John Miller CA · Jul 25

Plant Care

Local Plant Rules in California Are More Specific Than Most Homeowners Realize

Some plants that have lived in California yards for decades are now showing up on county lists with…

By John Miller CA · Jul 24

Plant Care

This Common California Lizard Quietly Cuts the Lyme-Disease Risk in Your Yard, But Homeowners Keep Driving It Off

That small lizard doing push-ups on your backyard fence is probably a western fence lizard, and it plays…

By John Miller CA · Jul 24

Plant Care

When Mourning Doves Pick Your California Yard to Nest, It’s Telling You Something About the Garden You Made

Finding a Mourning Dove nest tucked into a backyard shrub or balanced on a porch beam can stop…

By John Miller CA · Jul 24

Plant Care

The California Native Groundcovers That Blanket a Slope Like Ivy but Won’t Feed the Next Wildfire

If you have a hillside in California, you have probably noticed how fast ivy or ice plant can…

By John Miller CA · Jul 24

Plant Care

The California Native Shrubs That Do Everything Rosemary Does but Feed Wildlife and Never Go Woody

Rosemary earns its spot in so many California yards because it shrugs off drought and smells amazing, but…

By John Miller CA · Jul 24

Plant Care

Plant These California Natives Near Water and Watch Dragonflies Move In and Thin Out the Mosquitoes Fast

Standing water in your yard can turn into a mosquito nursery fast, but nature has a built-in cleanup…

By John Miller CA · Jul 24

Plant Care

The California Nurseries Serious Gardeners Drive Hours to Reach for Rare Native Plants Nobody Else Stocks

Big box garden centers sell the same handful of plants to everyone, but California’s native landscape holds hundreds…

By John Miller CA · Jul 24

Plant Care

Sweet Almond Verbena Is the Heat-Loving Patio Plant That Makes Texas Summers Smell Better

Texas patios can feel brutal by July, but sweet almond verbena turns that heat into perfume. This tough,…

By Harris Cole · Jul 8

Plant Care

American Beautyberry May Make Mosquitoes Less Welcome in Texas Backyards

Mosquito season in Texas can make even the prettiest backyard feel off limits, especially after spring rains or…

By Harris Cole · Jul 7

Plant Care

6 Native Texas Vines That Cover Fences Without Wisteria’s Takeover Problem

Wisteria can look romantic for one spring, then spend the next decade trying to swallow your fence, trees,…

By Harris Cole · Jul 7

Plant Care

More Toads In Your Texas Yard Means Fewer Nighttime Garden Pests

If your Texas garden seems to come alive after sunset, so do the pests chewing through tomatoes, peppers,…

By Harris Cole · Jul 7

Plant Care

Texas Spiny Lizards Are Coming Back To Yards That Make These Small Changes

Texas spiny lizards are more than quick flashes on a fence post – they are quiet pest patrol,…

By Harris Cole · Jul 7

Plant Care

Texas Native Plants That Help Keep Chiggers Out Of Your Yard In Summer

Chiggers love the same neglected summer spots that frustrate Texas gardeners – damp shade, tangled weeds, and overgrown…

By Harris Cole · Jul 7

Plant Care

The Easy Garden Task to Do Now If You Want Less Weeding Later

Weeding is one of the most time-consuming jobs in the garden. Once weeds get established, they spread quickly…

By Ethan Brooks · Mar 11

Plant Care

Cool-Weather Crops You Can Get Growing Before Spring Fully Settles In

Spring does not have to be warm before you start growing food. Many vegetables actually prefer cooler temperatures…

By Aria Moore F · Mar 9

Pruning

Don’t Prune Your Roses Until You Check This First

Don’t Prune Your Roses Until You Check This One Thing First Pruning roses is one of the most…

By John Miller CA · Mar 7

Plant Care

The March Mistake That Leads to More Weeds by May

The Common March Mistake That Can Fill Your Garden With Weeds by May March is when many gardeners…

By Ethan Brooks · Mar 7

Plant Care

Small Container Garden Changes That Can Make a Big Difference in Plant Health

Container gardening is one of the easiest ways to grow flowers, herbs, and vegetables almost anywhere. But small…

By Ethan Brooks · Mar 6

Pruning

What to Prune in Early Spring – And What You Should Leave Alone

Early spring is one of the most important pruning windows in the gardening calendar. Done at the right…

By Jasmine Hughes · Mar 5

Plant Care

How to Tell If You’re Feeding Your Plants Too Much – and Fix It Fast

Fertilizer can help plants grow faster, greener, and stronger – but more is not always better. In fact,…

By Ethan Brooks · Mar 5

Plant Care

Peace Lily Not Blooming? 4 Things You Should Change Before Spring Reaches Its Peak

Peace lilies are known for their elegant white blooms and glossy green leaves. But sometimes the plant grows…

By Ethan Brooks · Mar 4

Plant Care

17 Seeds You Can Start Now for Strong Transplants Later (Even if It’s Still Cold)

You don’t have to wait for warm weather to get your garden growing. Starting seeds indoors while it’s…

By Ethan Brooks · Mar 3

Plant Care

Do This One Simple Task in March for a Weed-Free Garden All Summer Long

If you’re tired of fighting weeds every summer, March is your golden opportunity to get ahead of the…

By Ethan Brooks · Mar 2

Plant Care

15 Hardy Plants That Survive Late Frost Without Damage

Late frosts can sneak up on gardeners and wipe out plants overnight, but some tough plants simply shrug…

By John Miller CA · Feb 28

Fertilizing the Garden

Before You Throw That Away, Your Roses Might Want It

Before you toss out those everyday kitchen and yard scraps, think twice. Some of the most powerful rose…

By Harris Cole · Feb 27

Plant Care

9 Things You’re Doing That Are Secretly Killing Your Houseplants

Houseplants can brighten up any room and even help clean the air, but keeping them alive is trickier…

By Jasmine Hughes · Feb 25

Plant Care

16 Best Perennials for Pots That Come Back Year After Year – Low-Maintenance Plants for Lasting Beauty

Perennials are the backbone of any garden — and when grown in pots, they offer flexibility, beauty, and…

By Ethan Brooks · Oct 26

Garden Plants

Vermont Perennials That Return Strong Every Year

Vermont’s unique climate can pose challenges for gardeners, but certain perennials thrive year after year. These stalwarts don’t…

By Ella Brown T · Oct 19

Garden Plants

North Carolina Container Gardening Tips for Small Spaces

North Carolina’s diverse climate offers exciting opportunities for container gardening enthusiasts. Whether you’re on the coast or nestled…

By Ella Brown T · Oct 15

Plant Care

The Drought-Proof California Native Shrubs That Replace Boxwood Along Driveways and Never Notice a Dry Summer

The Fire-Resistant California Groundcovers Homeowners Are Laying Down Instead of Bark Mulch

The California Native Groundcovers That Choke Out Weeds All Summer Without a Drop of Herbicide

The Wildfire-Resistant Plants California Counties Now Want You to Put Back Into Defensible Space

California Fuchsia: The Late-Season Native That Makes Hummingbirds Forget About Your Feeder

California Ground-Nesting Native Bees Need Bare Soil, Not Just Flowers

The Fragrant California Flowers That Drive Rats Out of the Yard Naturally, No Traps Needed

The California Seed Libraries Handing Out Free Native Plant Seeds to Anyone Who Asks

A Familiar Pest Is Moving Between California Tomatoes and Pomegranates – Here’s What to Do

The Best California Native Plants for Pulling Quail Into Your Yard and Keeping Them Safe

The Dwarf Fruit Trees California Gardeners Are Quietly Growing in Pots on Tiny Patios

The Best Southern California Native Plant Nurseries Serious Gardeners Quietly Drive Hours to Reach

The Fire-Resistant California Shrubs That Give You the Look of Ornamental Grasses Without the Burn Risk Near the House

Why California Mourning Doves Return to the Exact Same Branch Every Year, and What It Says About Your Yard

The Tiny California Garden Spider That Hunts the Pests Wrecking Your Plants, and the Homeowners Who Sweep It Away by Mistake

California Gray Rush Near Water Can Support Dragonfly Habitat and Help You Manage Mosquitoes More Effectively

How to Set Up Your California Yard to Help Backyard Birds Cope With the Next Brutal Heat Wave

There’s a California Lizard Eating the Pests No Pesticide Can Touch, and Most Homeowners Toss It Out by Instinct

The Fragrant California Plants You Can Line Your Patio With to Keep Ticks Off the Paths Where Your Family Walks

When Tree Frogs Turn Up in Your California Garden, They’re Confirming Something Specific About Your Yard

The California Barn Owls Hunting Rats Better Than Any Trap, and the One Change That Keeps Them Nesting

Local Plant Rules in California Are More Specific Than Most Homeowners Realize

This Common California Lizard Quietly Cuts the Lyme-Disease Risk in Your Yard, But Homeowners Keep Driving It Off

When Mourning Doves Pick Your California Yard to Nest, It’s Telling You Something About the Garden You Made

The California Native Groundcovers That Blanket a Slope Like Ivy but Won’t Feed the Next Wildfire

The California Native Shrubs That Do Everything Rosemary Does but Feed Wildlife and Never Go Woody

Plant These California Natives Near Water and Watch Dragonflies Move In and Thin Out the Mosquitoes Fast

The California Nurseries Serious Gardeners Drive Hours to Reach for Rare Native Plants Nobody Else Stocks

Sweet Almond Verbena Is the Heat-Loving Patio Plant That Makes Texas Summers Smell Better

American Beautyberry May Make Mosquitoes Less Welcome in Texas Backyards

6 Native Texas Vines That Cover Fences Without Wisteria’s Takeover Problem

More Toads In Your Texas Yard Means Fewer Nighttime Garden Pests

Texas Spiny Lizards Are Coming Back To Yards That Make These Small Changes

Texas Native Plants That Help Keep Chiggers Out Of Your Yard In Summer

The Easy Garden Task to Do Now If You Want Less Weeding Later

Cool-Weather Crops You Can Get Growing Before Spring Fully Settles In

Don’t Prune Your Roses Until You Check This First

The March Mistake That Leads to More Weeds by May

Small Container Garden Changes That Can Make a Big Difference in Plant Health

What to Prune in Early Spring – And What You Should Leave Alone

How to Tell If You’re Feeding Your Plants Too Much – and Fix It Fast

Peace Lily Not Blooming? 4 Things You Should Change Before Spring Reaches Its Peak

17 Seeds You Can Start Now for Strong Transplants Later (Even if It’s Still Cold)

Do This One Simple Task in March for a Weed-Free Garden All Summer Long

15 Hardy Plants That Survive Late Frost Without Damage

Before You Throw That Away, Your Roses Might Want It

9 Things You’re Doing That Are Secretly Killing Your Houseplants

16 Best Perennials for Pots That Come Back Year After Year – Low-Maintenance Plants for Lasting Beauty

Vermont Perennials That Return Strong Every Year

North Carolina Container Gardening Tips for Small Spaces