Neither Mulch Nor Landscape Fabric: How To Suppress Weeds With Cloth
Use a large cloth like an old bedsheet or table covering as an alternative to traditional sheet mulch and landscaping fabric to limit weeds in your garden.
Read MoreEllen Douglas
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Stories By Ellen Douglas
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How To Protect Succulents From Heavy Rain Without Causing Damage
Succulents are sun-loving plants that prefer dry conditions and will rot if not protected from prolonged downpours. There are a few ways to tackle the problem.
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Gardener Transforms Tuna Cans Into A Tiny Edible Garden
The key to this gardening DIY is the type of plants the gardener grows: microgreens. The seeds are no different but the method is a bit, as well as the harvest.
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Why Potted Hydrangeas Often Don't Return After Winter
If you've purchased a potted hydrangea only to be disappointed that it didn't bloom again after the cold months, it's likely due to the type of hydrangea it is.
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Say Goodbye To Traditional Mulch: The Popular Garden Vegetable That Can Suppress Weeds
Tired of spending a fortune on organic mulch materials for your garden? If you grow this vegetable, you can harvest the leaves and make your own mulch for free.
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Prevent Weed Growth With The Help Of These Light-Blocking Solutions
Weeds need sunlight to grow. There are various methods that can work for your garden to prevent the unwanted plants from receiving the needed light.
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Which Household Slug Remedies Are Safe To Use Around Vegetables?
Salt is one of the most popular household slug remedies of all — but too much salt can seriously harm your vegetables. Here’s what to try instead.
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Keep This Part Of Your Lawn Trimmed To Help Slow Weed Growth
There are parts of a lawn a mower can't reach. When trimming these areas to help slow weed growth, you also need to be mindful not to cut away too much.
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How To Reduce Nitrogen In Your Garden Soil With One Popular Crop
Excess nitrogen in your garden soil can lead to poor harvests, fewer blooms, more pests, and other issues. This crop is like a natural nitrogen vacuum.
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Behold The Rare Cactus With Stunning White Flowers That Only Bloom At Night
This cactus native to Central America can be grown as a houseplant. Its long stems are attention-grabbing and so is its blooms that die back by morning.
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Not Clematis Or Hydrangea: The Sun-Loving Vine That Looks Good On Brick Walls
Vines on brick walls are about as classic cottagecore as it gets, and this particular variety is remarkably easy to grow and looks more unique than basic ivy.
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Not Hostas, Not Coral Bells: The Perennial Berry That's Great For Your Shaded Garden
This shade-loving plant with a name taken from court culture develops orange-red berries in the fall that birds enjoy. It blooms its flowers in April and May.
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The Drought-Tolerant Shrub With Fragrant White Flowers To Plant In Your Yard
This shrub explodes with lovely-smelling white flowers in early spring, and it’s not picky about soil conditions — including the occasional drought.
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Say Goodbye To Traditional Mulch: Use This Golden Perennial For Fewer Weeds Under Trees & Shrubs
The purpose of mulch? Among the reasons, holding on to moisture and suppressing weeds. Given this, you might consider growing this perennial as a living mulch.
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Where To Avoid Planting Mums In Your Garden
Mums are a quintessential fall flower, and many types can thrive year after year — but only in the right conditions, with enough sunlight and the right soil.
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The Medicinal Herb Gardeners Rarely Grow Anymore
Though this plant (historically used as a remedy) blooms eye-catching flowers, it's not grown in many gardens today. Those flowers have earned various monikers.
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The Aromatic Herb To Grow That Knocks Parsley Down A Peg
This aromatic herb has a taste likened to anise. It can be used culinarily in much the same way as parsley, in soups, salads, and sauces. It also self-seeds.
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Not Hydrangeas: The Violet-Blue Flower With Peculiar Buds That Gardeners Rarely Grow
If you're tired of the usual blue-flowering plants, try this quirky species that's beloved by bumblebees. Oh, and did we mention it's native to North America?
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Not Marigolds: The Cool-Season Annual With Cheery Blooms For Your Shady Fall Garden
Marigolds require lots of sunlight, but this similarly sunny-looking flower does just fine with a bit of shade and turns your garden into an autumnal paradise.
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The Popular Garden Herb You Should Plant Under Fruit Trees
When you grow this herb near fruit trees, let it flower so that it can attract pollinators, plus the beneficial insects that can provide natural pest control.
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The Yellow Vining Plant That Hummingbirds Will Flock To (It's Not Black-Eyed Susan)
This yellow vine is a Florida native and known to attract a particular hummingbird with coppery feathers. The vine can be grown vertically or as ground cover.
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The Late-Blooming Perennial That Enjoys Shade And Moisture As Much As Hostas And Astilbes
This perennial gets two of its common names (one after a reptile) from the shape of its flowers. Its display of pink, white, or purple blooms lasts until fall.
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How To Repel Moths With An Overlooked Solution From Your Spice Cabinet
Whether you’re dealing with moths in your pantry or closet, they’re a nuisance you’ll want to get rid of. There are a few ways this kitchen ingredient can help.
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How To Repel Flies With A Minty Essential Oil They Can't Stand
Maybe a swarm of flies has found its way into your kitchen, or they're buzzing around you nonstop on a hike. Either way, this repellent may be a solution.
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This Overlooked Part Of A Shade Tree Helps Control Erosion, And It's Not The Roots
A shade tree can do more than block the hot sun; while its roots are important for many aspects of landscaping, they can also help control erosion.
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Does Zoysia Grass Grow In The Shade?
Three main species of zoysia grass are best-suited for turf. One species and its cultivars stand out if your primary concern is growing the grass in shade.
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Not Lavender, Not Euphorbia: The Tough Perennial To Grow In Gravel Garden Beds For Endless Blooms
If you've got gravel garden beds you want to fill with beautiful flowers, try growing this hardy and drought-tolerant plant for colorful blooms.
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