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Table of Contents These days, mint is everywhere. It’s in our chewing gum, tea, foods, and God knows our breath would be less than ideal if it wasn’t in our toothpastes. Because of this versatility, it should come as no surprise that mint is one of the most popular plants to have ever been discovered, and that peppermint is the most common cultivar that people grow. The benefits of mint are extensive to say the least, so I’m sure that it has the ability to benefit you in at least one way....

Succulents are easy to grow–but, still–if you’re a supposed succulent murderer who can’t keep them alive, this post is for you. Start growing these 13 succulents that grow like a weed and get back your green thumb again. Check out our article on best soil for Succulents here Succulents that Grow like a Weed Many of the succulents in this list are aggressive growers in their ideal climate and if you live in such a place (warm and dry), avoid growing them on the ground, especially the ‘Mother of Millions‘ plant....

1. Aloe The plants from the aloe genus, especially the aloe vera is undoubtedly the best choice for your office desk. It’s a low maintenance plant and has a proven ability to soak up benzene and formaldehyde from the air. Plus, the gel in the leaves has medicinal value. 2. Snake Plant Snake plant or Mother in Law’s Tongue is one of the hardiest houseplants that can thrive in the typical dry air, low lighting conditions, characteristic of an office environment....

Whenever possible, I like to keep my gardening activities as low-cost as possible. When there are SO many great cheap mulch sources, there’s no reason to buy it at the garden center. Check out some of these mulch ideas, and comment below if you have one of your own that I didn’t include on the list!​ 24. Lawn cuttings Lawn cuttings are a classic source for mulch. If you use them, be sure not to spread them too thickly, as they might heat up while they break down (creating a mini-compost pile)....

Let’s learn more about this alluring species and then learn how to attract them to your gardens. After a long flight from South America, a bird could use a juicy meal and a place to rest, right? For purple martins, those tasty insects and summer lodgings could be in your yard, if you offer these attractive and melodious birds a proper residence. With the exception of a limited range in the far northwest, the birds have crossed the western United States off their summer destination list, though they still return each spring to the eastern part of the country....

Geranium Cranesbills, or hardy geraniums, are perennial members of the Geraniaceae family, one of many flowering genera within the family tree, which includes geraniums as well as close family members pelargonium and erodium. Native to temperate regions around the world, these cheery plants can be found nodding in mixed woodlands, meadows, prairies, alpine meadows, and rocky slopes. With a particularly heavy population in the regions of the eastern Mediterranean, it’s no surprise that its name comes from the Greek geranos for crane....

There are over 3,000 species of this true bug worldwide. The cicada is an insect in the Cicadoidea family of the Hemiptera, or true bug order, that is related to aphids, crickets, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, and stink bugs. It makes its home in and around woody trees and shrubs, and has the potential to cause great damage. And while it may not always be easy to spot, the cicada makes its presence in the landscape abundantly clear by producing a droning, rhythmic buzzing sound that starts out soft and gets louder....

Sometimes the simplest tools are the best. My favorite gardening tool of all time is the Hori-Hori Japanese gardening knife, or as I like to call it, the “MacGyver” of the garden. The Japanese named it “Hori” because “Hori” means “to dig” in Japanese. Some call it the mountain vegetable knife, which hearkens back to its early uses as a way to cultivate and care for veggies grown in their steep geography....

1- Shady Balcony Garden Usually a balcony facing North or East is left empty or used as a “warehouse”: Brooms, rugs, various storage materials are piled up there to utilize the space. Is it the right way to use a balcony? A big no! Balcony is an only open space in most of the apartments and flats and you should use it wisely. How to Fix it? Grow plants that tolerate shade or grow in less sunlight....

There are over 20 zinnia species in the wild. Only a few of these species are commonly grown in gardens, though due to the incredible popularity of these flowers, they have been bred into hundreds of different cultivars and hybrids. Zinnias are truly marvelous flowers, spectacularly colorful annuals that are incredibly easy to grow. And they come in a dizzying array of colors, shapes, and styles that the butterflies will love nearly as much as you do!...

Guzmania is a genus of over 120 species of flowering plants in the bromeliad family. There is another plant in this family that is edible and can be found in grocery stores all over the United States. That’s right, pineapples are also bromeliads! Just like a pineapple crown, the guzmania bromeliad flower stalk rises from the center of the plant. The flowers bear a similar appearance to the dark green leaves but tend to come in colors like bright red, yellow, orange, and white flowers....

1. Rooftop Herb Garden You’re lucky if you live in a city home and have access to a rooftop. You can transform this limited space into an urban herb garden. Not just herbs, you can cultivate vegetables like tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, salad greens, and even small fruit trees on that rooftop garden. Also Read: How To Make a Rooftop Vegetable Garden 2. Patio Herb Garden If you own a patio, porch, deck, or veranda, you can utilize that area by growing herbs, as these edible plants don’t need much space....

A compost thermometer is a necessary piece of equipment for hot composting. The higher the heat, the faster your materials will break down. But you don’t want it too hot, lest your pile dry out! Table of Contents So today, we’ll take the mystery out of the humble backyard thermometer. These devices are fairly simple to use, but they’re definitely necessary. And it’s important to get the right one! 6 Best Compost Thermometers 1....

Have you ever wondered about having plants in the kitchen? This is an excellent place to decorate with some plants. Generally, kitchens have good ventilation with large windows that provide plenty of light and fresh air. However, it can also be a little difficult place for delicate plants because of the fumes, humidity, and heat generation by the stove or oven and grease. How much light your kitchen receives? This is the first and most important step that will decide whether you can grow plants in your kitchen or not....

As a gardener, you want your plants to grow up big and strong. To achieve that, you’ll probably have to boost their health with some sort of fertilizer. In this article, we’ll discuss an effective yet offbeat fertilizer called bone meal. Table of Contents Not only is bone meal fertilizer organic, but it’s chock full of nutrients. It primarily supplies phosphorus, one of the three primary plant nutrients, but also calcium and nitrogen....

It just takes a little bit of knowledge and you can be off to the races, growing plants and fish in perfect harmony. In an aquaponic system, you attempt to create a symbiotic relationship between fish or other aquatic creatures, bacteria and hydroponically grown plants. The fish waste is a source of organic food for the plants and the plants purify the water for the fish. Bacteria are involved in converting the fish waste into less toxic substances that feed your plants....

In autumn, we show off our pumpkin and gourd collections, and we decorate with warm colors. Many of us love to bring all of this together in charming arrangements in our yards and gardens, and on our front porches. Fall is a celebration. It’s the celebration of a successful summer growing season with a much anticipated reward – a bountiful harvest. So it’s no surprise that our autumn-themed outdoor decorations reflect this....

This is fine if you will just be making apple sauce or apple butter with them, but what if you want to sell your apples? Imagine this scenario with me: you’re examining your fruit trees, several that you’ve been growing for years. Much to your horror, most of your apples have come down with evil looking sooty blotches that may coalesce to cover the entire fruit, or specks that look like fly excreta....

It took no time at all to gather handfuls of the seeds, and the following year I ended up with a long, full row of pink, white, and maroon blooms growing along my fence. My bees and a multitude of other pollinators loved it too. Sure, you can purchase new seeds each year at the nursery. But saving them is a simple process, and one that’s easy to master when you want to fill your garden with more cosmos....

In this guide, you will learn to manage pests and diseases that are common to the caraway plant by taking preventative measures, recognizing signs of trouble, and controlling an infestation or infection. Caraway, Carum carvi, is an aromatic herb best known for bearing the fruit, or seed, that flavors classic rye bread. Caraway is also easy to grow and is a great addition to the kitchen garden. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....