Bougainvillea Care: Get Bright Blooms in Pots and Garden

Magenta bougainvillea on an obelisk trellis in a large terracotta pot on a sunny stucco patio

Few plants put on a show like bougainvillea. Its papery magenta, orange, pink and white color can cover a fence or spill from a patio pot for months. Good bougainvillea care is simpler than most people think, but it works a little differently than care for other flowering plants. In this guide, I’ll explain what … Read more >>

Rainwater Harvesting for Gardens: Easy Rain Barrel Setup Guide

Rain barrel under a downspout filling a metal watering can beside raised beds of chard and kale

Every time it rains, gallons of free, soft water run off your roof and down the storm drain. Rainwater harvesting for gardens lets you catch that water and use it on your plants instead. It’s one of the easiest eco-friendly upgrades a home gardener can make. In this guide, I’ll walk you through why it’s … Read more >>

Gardenia Care: Keep This Fragrant Shrub Blooming Indoors and Out

White gardenia flowers and buds on a glossy-leaved shrub beside a brick walkway

Few shrubs smell as sweet as a gardenia in bloom. Those creamy white flowers and glossy green leaves make it a favorite near patios, doorways and sunny windows. It also has a reputation for being fussy, and that reputation is partly earned. The good news is that gardenia care follows a clear pattern. Give it … Read more >>

How to Start Composting at Home: Easy Guide for Beginners

Gloved hands turning dark finished compost with a garden fork in a wooden pallet compost bin

Every week, a lot of good organic material leaves the average American home in a trash bag. Coffee grounds, carrot peels, fallen leaves and lawn clippings can all become rich, dark compost instead. If you’ve been wondering how to start composting at home, the good news is that it’s simpler than most people think. In … Read more >>

Venus Flytrap Care: Water, Sun, Soil and Feeding Done Right

Venus flytrap with red-lined open traps growing in live sphagnum moss in a pot on a sunny porch

A Venus flytrap looks exotic, but it isn’t fussy once you understand what it wants. Good Venus flytrap care comes down to four things: bright sun, pure water, poor soil, and a cold winter rest. Most flytraps that die in our homes get the opposite of at least one. In this guide, I’ll walk you … Read more >>

15 Best Herbs to Grow in Pots (Sun and Shade Picks)

Basil, parsley, rosemary, thyme and flowering chives growing in terracotta and glazed pots on a deck

Fresh herbs are some of the most rewarding plants you can grow, and you don’t need a yard to do it. A few containers on a patio, porch or sunny windowsill can keep your kitchen stocked with basil, thyme, mint and more for most of the year. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the … Read more >>

Bonsai Tree Care for Beginners: Water, Light, Pruning and Repotting

Hands trimming a juniper bonsai with a branch cutter on a wooden potting bench

A bonsai looks delicate, but it’s a real tree with real needs. Most beginner bonsai die from a few fixable mistakes: the wrong spot, the wrong soil, or watering by the calendar instead of by the soil. This guide covers bonsai tree care from the ground up. You’ll learn which trees belong indoors, how much … Read more >>

How to Grow Microgreens at Home (Harvest in 1 to 3 Weeks)

Trays of radish, sunflower and pea microgreens on a kitchen counter with scissors and a bowl of cut greens

Microgreens are one of the fastest ways to grow fresh food indoors. You can go from seed to salad in a couple of weeks, and you don’t need a yard, a garden bed or much space at all. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to grow microgreens from start to finish. You’ll learn … Read more >>

How to Grow Herbs Indoors: Fresh Herbs All Year Long

Basil, mint, parsley and chives in white pots under an LED grow light on a kitchen shelf in winter

Fresh basil in January sounds like a luxury, but it doesn’t have to be. Once you understand how to grow herbs indoors, a sunny windowsill can keep your kitchen stocked with flavor all year. The good news is that herbs are some of the most forgiving plants for beginners. They need the right light, the … Read more >>