How-To-Garden

How Often Should a Garden be Watered?

Prune Perennials in Early Summer to Extend Flowering!

How to water the garden during long dry spells

Tips for Starting Seeds in Summer's Heat

When to Harvest (and Eat!) Watermelon

Choosing the Right Autoflower Seeds for Your Garden

A leafy garden design that relies on colorful leaves instead of flowers.

Learn All About Using Fertilizer in the Garden

Expert tips for picking your garden’s fruits and vegetables at their tastiest.

Gardening With Straw Saves Time, Money, and Sanity!

How do you know if your soil is well-draining?

Best vegetable pairings for your garden—rooted in research and experience

Build an A-Frame Garden Trellis to Support Climbing Plants

Mostly Ad Hoc Tools That are Perfect for the Job!

Simple, flexible designs that help you grow herbs successfully in any space

What's the Best Fertilizer for Your Plants?

Are You Ready to Take On the Garden?

What Is Direct Sowing—and Why It’s Simpler Than You Think.

Ancient Gardening Wisdom for a Sustainable Garden

Does Epsom Salt Benefit Tomatoes, Roses, and Garden Plants?

What to Plant with Peppers for Bigger Harvests, Better Pollination, and Fewer Pests

A Simple One-Bed Plan for First-Time Gardeners

What to Plant with Onions for Better Growth, Fewer Pests, and Healthier Bulbs

What to Plant with Basil for Better Growth, Flavor, and Fewer Pests

A simple guide to growing and enjoying homegrown popcorn

What Is a Three Sisters Garden? Planting Guide + Layout

What to Plant with Carrots for Higher Yields, Better Flavor, and Healthier Crops

Keep your garden’s glory going strong—well into the snowy season.

What to Plant with Cucumbers for Better Growth, Higher Yields, and Fewer Pests

Easter Lily Care Guide: After Bloom, Planting, and Pet Safety

Select varieties that you can eat and store all year

Testing the Best Ways to Melt Snow and Warm Garden Soil

Learn to Start Your Vegetables From Seed Whenever Possible

Hydrangea Pruning Guide: When and How to Prune

Discover your garden’s ideal soil pH, test methods, natural adjustments, and pH preferences for common plants and vegetables.

The Best Herbs to Plant in the Garden . . . and Why!

Learn how to grow a vibrant, low-maintenance wildflower garden from seed, attract pollinators, and enjoy blooms all season long.

A low-maintenance perennial garden plan with reliable blooms year after year

Testing Soil pH and Soil Health (Right at Home!)

How to Germinate Plant Seeds for the Garden

A flexible, beginner-friendly vegetable garden you can grow entirely in pots

Good soil makes good gardens. Here's how to get it ready for planting.

A Spacious but Manageable Garden Plan for Growing More Vegetables

Why Bottom Heat Works—and How to Use a Seed-Starting Heat Mat Safely

A Small Backyard Garden Layout with Vegetables, Herbs, and Fruit

Which Type of Root Cellar is Right for You?

How to Germinate Seeds: Vegetable Seed Germination Temperature Chart

Expert Advice for Choosing, Designing, and Growing a Beautiful Flower Garden

From Seed Inventory to Indoor Seed Starting: Everything You Need for a Successful Garden

Native and seasonal flower garden design to feed pollinators from early spring to late fall.

Compact 4×7 raised bed divided into 1×1-foot squares for easy planning, planting, and harvesting.

Perennials: Low-Maintenance Plants That Keep Coming Back

Never lose your favorite varieties by saving tomato seeds.

The art of organizing the garden and potting shed!

These cold-tolerant vegetables thrive when started in late winter—no greenhouse required.

Need a great present for someone who loves gardening? Start here!

The simplest solution for threshing dry beans.

How to Use Wildflowers and Indigenous Species to Encourage Insects and Discourage Pests

A traditional, productive row vegetable garden with wide walkways and companion planting.

Learn how to grow healthy tomato seedlings from seed, choose the best varieties, and get juicy fruits faster than buying plants from the store.

Tips for Pruning in Winter and Early Spring

Learn All About The Differences Between Perlite and Vermiculite

A Beginner-Friendly Garden Layout for Areas With Limited Sun

Seven 4×8 beds plus two bonus beds in a 24×18-foot layout, perfect for expanding over time.

A classic perennial flower garden using dependable flowers and ornamental grasses

A Mixed Cutting Garden That Blooms Year After Year

An Annual Raised Bed Flower Layout for Cutting and Bouquets

Easy layers of shrubs, flowers, and bulbs for a welcoming front yard

Lighten Up! Learn How Vermiculite Can Improve Your Potting Mix

The Pros and Cons of Perlite: A Gardener's Guide

Winter is the perfect time to sow hardy perennials

How to Know If Those Seeds Are Still Good

Agave: The Star of Low-Maintenance Gardening

Are Pine Needles Good Mulch? The Answer is YES!

Growing New Plants from Softwood, Semi-Hardwood, and Hardwood Cuttings

Yes, coffee grounds can be good for the garden.

How to plant a garden with children

10 tips for choosing the right greenhouse structure

What to Look for Before Harvesting Garlic

How to Winterize and Protect Your Garden

It's easy to grow the cute and vibrant Polka dot plant!

Learn How to Mulch Your Garden in Fall, Winter, and Spring

What Are the Best Organic Soil Amendments?

Gleaning in Gardening and in Life: Making the Most of What Remains

Lowering Our Home-Grown Expectations

How to Sterilize Soil in Oven, Microwave, and Pressure Cooker