Basics

The safest, most environmentally-friendly way to garden is without chemicals. But sometimes a pest infestation becomes too great and leaves a gardener no other option. If you’ve hit that last resort and must use pesticides, learn how to properly handle them to keep your family – and garden – safe.

It’s easy to get caught up in all the things we have to do in our gardens … plant, prune, water, weed. It’s enough to make your head spin – especially when something goes wrong. But by revisiting some basic gardening rules, we can keep our gardens lush and colorful – and our lives less stressful.

Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to kill a houseplant. Let this tale of cactus killing be an example of what not to do with your indoor plant.

California has two seasons for planting and growing. Knowing the difference makes for a much better gardener.

Why does your neighbor’s holly produce beautiful berries, but yours doesn’t? While a majority of plants offer flowers with both male and female parts, other species are dioecious. Learn more about what this term means, as well as a short list of common dioecious plants found in the landscape.

Autumn is unfolding in the Northeast. Before you to hang up your gardening gloves and store the spade for the year, here are some typical chores to get done in your early fall garden.

Just because you can’t afford to plant everything you want now doesn’t mean you can’t do anything in your garden. Prepare your beds and pick a few key plants to install now – leaving room for later.

The term “natural garden” has three different meanings. Learn the differences between a natural-looking and a native garden, as well as how organic practices can lead to an environmentally friendly garden – naturally!

Get more done in your garden in less time (and with less money overall)! Learn some easy tips sure to make your gardening experience more organized and relaxing – so you can spend more time actually enjoying the garden space you work so hard to maintain.

What’s the “green movement,” and what should home gardeners do to participate in it? Actually, pretty much the same thing they’ve always done…except maybe do it better. Learn some easy and practical ways to “go green” in your own yard – and help the environment in the process.

If you’ve ever wondered what exactly a perennial is, wonder no longer – and pick up a few perennial basics in the process.

Are you more comfortable with computer lingo than you are with gardening terms? Take a lighthearted look into the similarities, and be afraid no longer!

Kids get into everything – including the garden. While we do our best to keep our children and grandchildren safe, accidents can happen. Help avoid potential danger by knowing what toxic plants are growing in your yard. Here’s a look at a few common poisonous species.

The right perennials in the right locations bring a yard fabulous color, texture and overall beauty. Think about the type of plant you’re looking for, then find the perfect perennial for you – and your garden.

Have a pest problem? Need to know how to pick a pesticide to control it? This article will help you choose.

Like people (and octopi), plants have some amazing qualities and talents that often go overlooked. In fact, when you get right down to it, plants are pretty cool. Let's take the time to recognize some of these neat plant facts of life.

You’ve spent a lot of money on your garden plants – make sure you get the most out of your investment by caring for them properly! Whether you’ve got annuals or perennials, inground beauties or container plants, learn the five points to keeping flowers blooming their best!

Still not sure what the difference is between an annual and a perennial? Before you start picking pretty plants off your garden center’s shelves, understand these basic plant definitions and get an idea of how each plant type can work for you.

Ever wonder how plants get those long, weird scientific names? Here's a brief explanation as to why and how plants are identified the way that they are.

What does poison ivy look like? When it comes to this pretty – but for some, deceiving – vine, it’s important gardeners know what to look for, as well as how to properly get rid of it.

You know the species – now if only you could pronounce it! Here are a couple ways for you to learn how (without calling your high school Latin teacher).

Using pesticide properly isn’t terribly hard. There is one all-important place to start: the label. Learn what to look for on the label, and find some tips to get you started with pesticides the right way.

Hardiness zones, heat zones, Sunset zones and microclimates are used to determine how well plants fare in different parts of the country. Now what the heck does that mean?

Yes, you can eat delicious and healthy produce from your garden year-round! The key is knowing what to plant and when to harvest (and how to store it all). Here’s the seasonal list to help you plan ahead.

Full sun, part sun, shade…what exactly does it all mean? Let us help shed some light on what these basic terms imply so you can give your plants what they need for a more beautiful garden this season!

We all like new things – especially in the garden in the dog days of summer. But don’t make these common midseason mistakes in your garden that’ll only waste time, money, energy and, of course, water.

Good plant tags inform, educate and encourage shoppers to try particular species in their gardens. If you’re new to gardening, understanding plant tag basics is a good way to get started. Need more information beyond a label? The Learn2Grow Plant Database for home gardeners is an amazing online resource!

Trees aren’t nearly as tough as they appear. They can be seriously wounded by our careless mistreatment. Here’s how to keep your trees happy – and what not to do.

Feeling envious of the gardens you see at flower and garden shows? Don’t! Sure, they’re amazing to look at and help you find ideas, but re-creating these masterpieces in your own yard is next to impossible. Learn2Grow’s own Mark Miller tells you why.