Gardening Articles, Tips and How-tos
Garden smarter with our library of articles written by our team of expert gardeners. Daily posts include everything from beginner gardening tips to in-depth articles on botany and landscaping.
Hardy Hibiscus--Hardier Than You Think
Hibiscus moscheutos. These eye-popping beauties are, surprisingly, not well known here. Many people can't believe they can grow here. Believe me when I say, they can, and do!! No special care required. Read More
Picking the Best Apples for Your Pie
It's National Apple Month! Celebrate with a great apple pie. Here's a list of some of the best dessert apples for your fall pie. Read More
Plant Pronunciation, Part 1: People Plants
I was chatting with the knowledgeable owner of a local nursery. "I can't resist these hew-KER-uhs," I told her as she rang up my purchase of three heuchera plants. "Oh, yes, the YOO-ker-uh is very popular," she replied diplomatically. "YOO-ker-uh!" I thought. "Isn't that a card game?" I hurried home to find out whose pronunciation was correct. Read More
ABCs of Bt, a "natural" pesticide
Caterpillars, mosquitoes and a few other pests can be controlled without using highly toxic chemicals. Read on to understand Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) treatments for pest control. Read More
Cold Hardy Euphorbias- the small globoid to columnar species
Many Euphorbia species are grown in cultivation in pots in protected greenhouses and cold frames. But can any of these survive outdoors in the warmer temperate climates? The following article briefly summarizes my experience growing a few of these smaller species outdoors in a Mediterranean climate. Read More
Growing Poinsettias In Romania
I never heard about poinsettia until four years ago. A week before Christmas, I saw a picture of poinsettia in a Romanian magazine and fell in love with it instantly! I told myself "I have to buy me one of these!"but I couldn't have been more wrong! Poinsettias are very expensive in our country and I couldn't possibly afford to buy one from the flowershop, so what was I to do? I badly wanted one poinsettia in my home, for Christmas! Read More
Have no fear, Earthkind roses are here
In the dead of winter when those pretty catalogs start pouring in, you begin dreaming of a rose garden. After weeks of looking and planning, you decide that roses may be too much work. Have you actually gone through with your impulse only to have a rose languish through the first few seasons then never come back? Have you sworn off roses after suffering such disappointment? Well don't throw in the towel just yet. Earthkind roses might save the day. Read More
New Salad Greens for 2008 - Part III: Variety Greens
A salad bowl filled with nothing but lettuce even a variety of lettuces - is like a monochrome picture or a chorus without harmony. It's missing something. This article showcases some of the new introductions in greens that gardeners can plant in 2008 to add some spicy flavor accents to their salads, as well as some that stand particularly well in warmer weather when many kinds of greens turn bitter and harsh. Read More
Palm Hardiness- the OTHER factors aside from Cold Hardiness
When palms are described in terms of their hardiness, almost always it is reference to their cold hardiness. This is how a palm gets a USDA number of let's say 8a, 9b or 11 etc. However there are severe limitations to this hardiness designation that pertain to the cultivation of palms (this is probably the case with many other plant species as well, but I am most familiar with palms). These other forms of hardiness can be completely overlooked if one is reading texts and referring simply to a palm's USDA hardiness rating. And serious miscalculations concerning the likelihood of a certain species ability to survive one's marginal climate can lead to disappointment and loss of potentially costly plants. The following article is a discussion of some of these other important hardiness parameters. Read More
Growing Sweet Potatoes
Have you dreamt of growing your own superfoods? You do not need anything special to grow one super, healthy tuber in particular. Read More
The Garden Watchdog Top 5 Awards for the 2014 Season
Award show season is here We have the Golden Globes, Oscars and Grammy Awards, but did you know that Dave's Garden has awards too? Each year we announce the Top 5 companies in each Garden Watchdog category. The vendors anxiously await the results and a Top 5 badge is as coveted as any golden statue. This article spotlights the best of our best and we hope you'll take the time to check out these great vendors. Read More
Back to Basics Composting
Over the past decade or so, compost-making has become a serious endeavor. Read More
DIY Garden Bed Edging
Quick! What's one way you can add a bit of flair and a sense of order to your garden at the same time? Read More
Extending the Lettuce Harvest
If you love lettuce, these tips will help you grow lettuce for longer periods of time the garden. Learn how to beat the heat! Read More
A Cheap Planning Of My Garden
Planning a new garden on a plain, full of weeds ground can be difficult, but it's such fun! What should I do first, where do I start are such hard questions, but this was a challenge I was so happy to accept! Read More
Tips for Repotting Herbs
Herbs are low-maintenance plants, but they still require repotting occasionally. Read More
Winter Bloomers Revive the Soul
Winter in Ohio (Zones 5, 6 and 6a) begins in December and continues through the end of March--sometimes longer in certain years. An array of winter blooming perennials and shrubs helps us get through the dreary, cold days. And in more temperate regions, a greater variety of floral displays helps keep the winter blahs from setting in. Read More
Star Fruit: Delicious Five Point Wonders!
Scrumptious, unusual fruit... right at your fingertips! Read More
Unusual, Delicious ....and Just a Little Ugly.
Every year, I make it a point to grow a new vegetable variety I?ve never tried before. And the weirder, the better. This year, I settled on the Spanish Black Radish. Read More
The Colorful History of Seed Catalogs
Seed catalogs not only provide a bright spot in winter for the gardener, but they also offer a colorful glimpse into the past. Read More
