Garden Basics

July means mid-summer. That spells oppressive conditions for both plants and people. It's not bad enough that the heat bakes you: The mosquitoes and ticks take that as a cue to feast upon you. The chief task of Southern gardeners is fighting drought. Northern gardeners should be watchful for dry conditions, too, but not to the same degree. Mid-summer is a good time for Northerners and Southerners alike to take stock of the garden and consider suitable adjustments for next year's garden. Discover the short ultimate mid-summer gardening to-do list.

Be prepared for when the weather gets steamy. Get tips on how to keep your garden alive when extended periods of hot, dry weather arrive. A drought can be a gardener's worst nightmare. When a hot, dry weather pattern sets in, it affects your landscape in many ways. There is nothing you can do to prevent a drought, but there are some strategies you can employ to minimize the impact on your garden. Learn best tips for gardening in drought conditions.

Growing tomatoes is often the impetus for starting a vegetable garden, and every tomato lover dreams of growing the ultimate tomato: firm but juicy, sweet but tangy, aromatic and without blemish.
Unfortunately, there are few vegetables more prone to problems than tomatoes. The trick to growing great-tasting tomatoes is to choose the best varieties, plant them properly, and control problems before they occur. Start here with some tried and true tomato growing tips to make sure you can have a great tomato harvest each year.

Any gardener can tell you that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. But the second best time is today, so dig in and make it happen. Seedlings aren’t expensive and a tree provides untold benefits, including shade, birdsong and even an increase in your property value. Here are 14 top tips to get you started.

Flowers are beautiful, bringing a splash of color to our gardens and veggie patches. But they are so much more than just beautiful. Flowers play an important role in our ecosystem, they can be edible, and they are perfect for attracting beneficial insects and other small helpful animals. This is especially true for pollinators. The functioning of our ecosystem rests on the tiny backs of these pollinators - a huge burden to carry with their small shoulders! In fact, we rely on pollinators to produce up to a third of our food. Discover how to plant with pollinators in mind, and the bees, birds, and butterflies (and your fruit-bearing plants) will thank you.

You and your family members aren't the only ones in your home who get hungry; your indoor and outdoor plants need a regular boost of nutrients that are essential for healthy growth. While you don't have to go through the trouble of cooking something special for your green companions, there are quite a few kitchen scraps and leftovers that your garden will appreciate and show its appreciation with healthy, green growth and lots of blooms.
So before you toss those scraps in the trash or garbage can, check out these 10 kitchen items that can nourish your plants.

Shady sites present a challenge to the home gardener, as most plants do best in relatively sunny conditions. Adequate sunlight is essential for many flowers to bloom, but there are also some shade-loving flowers that are perfect for a shady garden. These plants can handle a location that is not full of sun and still bloom in bright, vivid colors. In addition, many of these shade-loving flowers come in a wide variety of colors and other characteristics. Some of the plants grow relatively large, while others remain petite and close to the ground. Discover 10 recommended plants that will thrive nicely in the shady areas of your yard.

The hottest period of the year is perhaps the most critical time for looking after citrus trees in order to ensure a good crop. The potential for plants to dry out is obviously greatest at this time; so ensure that plants are kept free of weeds or lawn to the drip line of the tree. Summer finds citrus trees developing and bearing fruit, so it’s an important time for citrus tree maintenance. Learn tips for summer citrus tree care with an eye towards improving fruit quality, retention, and yield.

Whether deterring pests or adding nutrients, certain plants work well together. These plants will not only tolerate being planted next to, or near each other, they will actually benefit from the arrangement. The trick is to find out which make good bedfellows - and which do not. Learn some perfect partnerships for a healthy garden.

Whether you are brand new to gardening or you have a veteran green thumb, you know that gardening is a rewarding way to spend more time outdoors—or make the most of your indoor space! While gardening is fun, it can also be very challenging. It’s a subtle art and science since many plants require delicately balanced conditions in order to thrive. These gardening tips and tricks are easy and affordable, and will help you to get the best results this year!

Converting kitchen and garden waste into usable soil is what composting is all about. Food waste, grass clippings, weeds, small brush, coffee grounds, eggshells—all of these organic ingredients should go into your compost pile, not the landfill. When adding material to the composter, keep in mind the pile needs regular moisture and a proper ratio of carbon-rich materials, or “browns,” and nitrogen-rich materials, or “greens”. Discover how to conquer the art of composting and how to create custom compost with grass clippings.

Water is undoubtedly the lifeblood of every tree, shrub and plant on earth, the indispensable element that enables plants to survive and grow. All plant tissues are primarily made up of water, and experts tell us that plants release 90% of the water they absorb into the air through transpiration. Therefore, in order to maintain healthy plants in your garden, there must be an adequate amount of water available at all times to meet their needs.
Carefully monitoring and adjusting the soil moisture around your plants will increase the likelihood that you will have a healthy, vibrant garden. Here are some useful summer watering tips to ensure your plants receive enough water to thrive throughout the summer.

The longest day of the year falls on June 20th, bringing warmer temperatures and extra sunlight. Flowers are blossoming, there’s lots to harvest in the vegetable garden, and keeping on top of bolting plants is a priority — particularly weeds! In the meantime, discover a comprehensive list of jobs to take care of in your flower garden this June.