Is Your Outdoor Plant Dead or Dormant? 5 Easy Ways to Tell

PHOTO: HELIN LOIK-TOMSON / GETTY IMAGES When a plant in your garden is slow to show signs of new growth in spring, you may be wondering if it’s…

Don’t Start Yard Cleanup in Spring Too Soon—Here’s Why

PHOTO: FOTOOXOTNIK / GETTY IMAGES As the weather warms and the first green shoots appear after the winter, many gardeners are eager to start tidying up their yard….

How Long Do Seeds Last? Plus How to Tell If Old Seeds Are Still Good

PHOTO: EMILY MINTON-REDFIELD How long seeds last depends on a number of factors, such as the type of seed and storage conditions. With proper care, many seeds can…

How to Harden Off Seedlings Before Transplanting Them Into Your Garden

PHOTO: NEYYA / GETTY IMAGES To plant your garden in spring, you likely start seeds indoors or purchase greenhouse grown seedlings at garden centers. But before you move these…

How to Plant and Grow Mint

Mint has so many different uses. Its fresh green leaves add a tangy punch to fruit salads, ice cream, sherbet, and brewed tea. It’s a flavorful addition…

When and How to Prune Rosemary for Healthier Plants

Knowing when and how to prune rosemary will help you get the most out of this popular herb. Rosemary is often grown as an annual in cool climates, but…

10 Best Companion Plants for Peppers

PHOTO: BOB STEFKO To grow healthier bell pepper plants that are disease and pest free while avoiding the use of toxic pesticides, companion planting can help. By choosing the…

How to Prune Pepper Plants for a Better Harvest

Most gardeners have their own special preferences on how to prune tomatoes; however, closely related pepper plants are often overlooked when it comes to pruning. This is a missed…

Follow This Summer Garden Checklist to Keep Plants Thriving All Season

Summer gardening can feel like a whirl of activity: The flowers need planting before it’s too hot for them to thrive. The mulch needs refreshing to stop…

10 Perennials to Cut Back in Fall

PHOTO: CARSON DOWNING Some commonly grown garden plants don’t respond well to fall pruning, and pruning at the wrong time of the year can actually reduce blooming and cause…