There really are few things in this life that are more tragic than putting your heart and soul into something only to be thwarted by natural forces. Deer can be a serious thorn in the side of rose gardeners – no pun intended in this case. Unfortunately, deer eat roses. But selecting the right type...
Collecting yucca seeds and replanting them yourself is a great way to propagate new yucca plants. Yuccas aren’t just one plant but a genus of plant that contains around 50 species. Yuccas are native to hot, dry, and arid regions of the Americas and the Caribbean. They are tough, hardy plants with sword-like leaves and...
For most gardeners, fall is the time to wrap up the garden for the year. By mid-September to mid-October, depending on your climate, most of your garden plants have died off for the year. While many gardeners hang their hats up in fall, garlic lovers are just getting started. Why? Because you can plant a...
Spider plants are one of my favorite types of plants. They’re really easy to propagate and make more of, they don’t require very much attention at all, and they can really add a fun splash of foliage to any indoor space. Plus living in a home barely larger than the average tiny house, it’s nice...
Dahlias are a beautiful flower to cultivate in any garden because they come in a wide range of colors and sizes, and you can easily grow Dahlias from seed right at home. The plant size varies from species with plate-sized flowers on 6-foot plants to small border variants. Despite their wide variety, dahlias often have...
Growing pumpkins is a true delight that I never miss out on. I don’t think in the last decade there has been a summer where I didn’t grow a pumpkin or two. They’re my favorite fall decoration, and when they start to rot, my chickens love to feast on them. But part of growing hearty,...
Spider mites are a very common pest among indoor houseplants. They damage plants, like cactuses, by consuming juices from the inside of the plant. Even though cactuses generally look pretty tough, with their thick leaves and bases and thorny exteriors, they are susceptible to infection by spider mites. Treating cactus spider mites in a timely...
Mandevilla, which is sometimes called rocktrumpet, is a flowering perennial vine when grown in hardiness zones 10 and 11. In cooler climates, it grows as an annual. Gardeners like keeping this vine because of the stunning, pink flowers with yellow centers that the vine produces. All plants can experience health problems, just like us. One...
Basil is a really popular herb for gardeners everywhere. It’s easy to grow, produces amazing, fragrant leaves and flowers, and goes in a ton of different culinary dishes. My personal favorite way to use basil is in making pesto. But all plants can be susceptible to problems and basil is one of them. One of...
Acorn squash is a type of squash related to other summer varieties of squash, like zucchini. It’s often referred to as a winter squash because of its use in more winter culinary dishes. Acorn squash is an easy type of squash to grow that produces delicious food straight from your garden. Knowing when and how...
I have a long-running affinity for Christmas cactuses. They’ve been in my life pretty much since the day I was born. When I was young, my mom had a Christmas cactus that she got from her mom (and still has) that to this day still erupts in bright pink flowers every December. I feel lucky...
Backyard chicken keeping is an increasingly popular hobby that is experiencing a resurgence, and the Cornish Cross chicken is on the rise in popularity. More and more cities are rolling back ordinances that prevent keeping chickens on your property, leading to an uptick in interest. Meat chickens are also becoming increasingly popular as the cost...
