Starting Suitable North Carolina Shrubs From Dormant Hardwood Cuttings
A few bare stems from a shrub you already own can turn into new plants without a trip to the nursery. Hardwood cuttings are taken…
By Jasmine Hughes · Oct 31, 2026
In the Garden
What Feral Hogs Tearing Up Your Central Texas Yard Overnight Are Really Hunting For
Ella Brown T · Oct 31
If your beets have leafy tops and tiny roots this fall, late thinning may help if they’re crowded
Ethan Brooks · Oct 31
Trying the Mason Jar Method to Root Fall Rose Cuttings in North Carolina
Jasmine Hughes · Oct 31
From the Garden
Tired of Mowing St. Augustine All Winter? These 7 Florida Natives Stay Green Without It
Your mower deserves a winter break, and parts of your Florida lawn might not need grass at all. Native groundcovers and low shrubs can replace…
By Aria Moore F · Oct 31
The Winter Bird That Shows Up in the Texas Panhandle and Almost Nowhere Else in the State
By Ella Brown T · Oct 31
A coyote in your backyard this fall means doing these 9 things before you ever turn and run
By Ethan Brooks · Oct 31
If your fig tree still has hard green fruit on it now, pinch the tips and next year’s crop comes in earlier
By Ethan Brooks · Oct 31
Lavender Is Gorgeous and Fragrant, but Is It Really a Rat Deterrent for Your Yard?
By John Miller CA · Oct 31
In Bloom
What's thriving right now.
Fall peas flowering without pods? Check for frost, heat, water stress, and a row cover
By Ethan Brooks
Is your potted lavender sitting in soggy mix this winter? Check the pot’s drainage first
By Ethan Brooks
These 12 Common Houseplants Hide Toxic Sap That Sickens Curious Cats, Dogs and Toddlers
By Ethan Brooks
How North Carolina Mums Get a Better Chance of Returning Next Fall
Plant of the Week
Turk’s Cap Can Give Passing Hummingbirds Another Place to Feed in Central Texas
Late summer in Central Texas brings tiny travelers zipping through yards on their way south. A flower with bright red blooms can give them a...
By Ella Brown T · Oct 31, 2026
Read MoreThe Potting Shed
Field Notes
Your fall lettuce bolts and turns bitter after a warm November spell, and shade cloth saves the rest of the bed
You walk out to the garden and your lettuce looks like it grew a tiny tree overnight. The leaves taste...
By Ethan Brooks on Oct 30
Can Your California Neighbor Make You Cut Back a Hedge That Sits Entirely on Your Side?
You planted a hedge on your own land, and now the neighbor wants it trimmed down. It feels like the...
By John Miller CA on Oct 30
Potted Rosemary Gray and Brittle After a Cold Night? Check for Cold Injury
You step onto the porch after the first chilly night and your rosemary looks dull and feels crisp. It is...
By Ethan Brooks on Oct 30
Should North Carolina Gardeners Still Plant Trees This Fall After Such a Long Drought?
Fall is the season most North Carolina gardeners circle on the calendar for planting trees. But dry soil can turn...
By Jasmine Hughes on Oct 30
How To Adjust Your California Avocado Tree’s Watering as Fall Weather Changes
Your avocado tree drank deeply all summer, but October brings cooler days, shorter light, and maybe your first real rain....
By John Miller CA on Oct 30
These White Perennials Come Back in Your Texas Yard Every Year Through Heat and Drought
Texas summers can turn a pretty flower bed into a crispy mess by July. The good news is that some...
By Ella Brown T on Oct 30