Robby

When you plant a tree, you want to ensure that it won’t lean or fall over so you should plant it deeply, right? Wrong! It may surprise you to learn that planting too deeply is one of the primary causes of premature tree death. Instead, trees should be planted so that the root flare at … Read more

Chestnuts are a delicious nut that can be grown by planting chestnut seeds With some patience and care, you can grow your own productive chestnut trees from seeds In this comprehensive guide, we will walk through the entire process of planting chestnut seeds, from choosing the right seeds to transplanting seedlings. Choosing High Quality Chestnut … Read more

Ground limestone, commonly known as garden lime, is sometimes added to garden soils that are acidic, or low in lime. The active ingredient of garden lime is calcium carbonate. Do not confuse garden lime (calcium carbonate) with the industrial product quicklime (calcium oxide). Quicklime is not suitable for adding to garden soil because it’s stronger … Read more

For thousands of years, humans have appreciated the camellia; so much so, in fact, that they’ve been planted in the gardens of nobility, and trusted to grace the grounds of ancient temples, where deities of the Shinto religion were believed to reside amongst the blooms. Because of this centuries-long love affair, these plants have been … Read more

Growing strawberries can be difficult but rewarding. If you love those delicious red (or white) berries as much as we do, youll want every tip you can get. Most people today are growing food organically, and with that in mind, may be wondering which type of mulch is best for cultivating strawberries. The answer to … Read more

As heavenly bamboo shrubs and my middle school yearbook photos can attest, there’s a fine line between an organic, natural look… and just being a mess. A well-pruned Nandina domestica manages to rock the “au naturel” aesthetic without looking artificially manicured. But the hairstyle in my junior high headshots? Definitely on the wrong side of … Read more

Although most wildflower seeds can simply be scattered on bare dirt, there are several varieties that will have a better germination (sprouting) rate with just a little extra work before planting. Seeds such as Morning Glories, Lupine, Sweet Pea, and more have very hard seed coatings, which you can see just by looking at them. … Read more

It’s fall clean-up time and you may be eyeing your landscape in search of what to trim back next. That’s when the waving plumes of your Ornamental Grass may be what your gaze settles on. Ornamental and tall native grasses are grown for their showy fall and winter interest, so put down those shears for … Read more

Learn how to identify crab apples, when and how to forage them, and delicious crab apple recipes – including how to make crab apple jelly – with forager and chef Rachel Lambert. Apples have been around since prehistoric times and there are now over 6,000 cultivated varieties worldwide, all originating from wild apples. Crab apples … Read more

I used vertical supports to hold my four zucchini plants off the ground this summer. I had given up using tomato cages a few years ago for several reasons. But, I still had the cages hanging around the garden. Employing them as supports for my zucchini was one of those “Huh, I’ve never done this … Read more