In the far past, hedgerows were often planted to mark property lines and edges of fields where grazing animals fed. It kept the sheep in and the deer out. At …

When I moved into my second-story apartment downtown, it was the first time in my life that I didn’t have a yard. I had no patch of grass to call …

Although the gardener grows plants as a source of food and beauty, it’s easy to forget that the plant’s sole purpose in life is to reproduce. Bolting – or going …

Is that one ripe? Can I pick that yet? How can you tell if it’s ready? To all of my new gardening friends out there, let me put your worries …

Zucchini and squash can be relatively easy plants to grow. But like most crops, there are a number of things that can go wrong. If you’re having issues with your …

Fifteen years ago, my wife Shana and I bought a little farm on twelve acres in southcentral  Pennsylvania. It was all we could afford at the time — maybe even …

It’s strawberry season, and it’s time to make all of your favorite strawberry dishes. Strawberry jam is hands down my favorite jam. You can keep that weird gelatinous grape stuff, …

Crunchy. Zingy. Garlicky. In my book, these three words describe the perfect pickled vegetable. Who doesn’t love a good, crisp dill pickle heavy on the garlic; that first juicy bite …

There is no need to wonder why growing strawberries is so popular. They’re extremely rewarding, not just in harvest size but in looks, and incredibly easy to grow. Their small …

B. A. N. A. N. A. S. And no, we’re not talking about the iconic Gwen Stefani song (although we won’t judge you if it’s stuck in your head right …

As someone who lives on the second floor of a large brick building, I know a thing or two about stifling rooms in the heat of summer. You know, the …

Hover flies are truly unsung heroes in the garden. Operating like undercover agents, hover flies are easily mistaken for bees or wasps. When at rest on a flower, it’s nearly …

Every year we gardeners spend the entire growing season holding our breath. Seriously, we do. Think about it for a moment. We wait patiently in the spring, fingers crossed, hoping …

Few things taste better than the summer’s first fresh strawberry. Take one bite of a sun-ripened berry, and you’ll never be satisfied with watery commercial varieties again. Fresh strawberries are …

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Ducks are better than chickens. I know; it hurt me a little to say it too. But it’s true. It’s …

When it comes to making your living space fresh and inviting, it’s hard to find anything that does the job better than plants. And while I love the creeping tendrils …

Just as you might be congratulating yourself on your green thumbedness – after all, your tomato plants are big and healthy and strong – you notice dark lesions on the …

Is there a stubborn patch of soil in your garden where most plants seem to wither away? You could be faced with something all gardeners dread – low-quality soil. As …

Ah, summertime! The lightning bugs are hovering over the lawn in the evenings, the hot weather has us all drinking gallon upon gallon of ice-cold switchel, and everyone is planning …

If you’ve got an aphid problem you’re looking to fix, you’ve probably read that ladybugs are the solution. Using these cute little beetles to combat tiny green pests is an …

For many of us, living a life of self-reliance goes hand in hand with making better choices concerning the environment. By creating a more self-sufficient lifestyle, we’re choosing to remove …

Purple! Yes, purple. You need more of it in your garden. We’ve all got plenty of green going on, but what you really need is more purple. You may not …

Did you know all rose petals are edible? Though some are more fragrantly delicious than others. However, it’s important to note that the only rose petals you’ll want to ingest …

One of the great things about strawberries is that they are very easy to propagate. Buy one plant and it will usually produce several new plants over the course of …