Polka dot plant care
The first time I met a polka dot plant, I wondered if it was real. I thought it looked like something a child might draw if you asked her to …
How to take good care of your snow shovel
How do you tackle snow removal? Do you wait until Mother Nature is finished and remove all the snow at once, or do you shovel bit by bit to avoid …
Fall outdoor checklist — Get your yard and garden winter ready
I love working outside in the fall. It’s refreshing, and the tasks are so enjoyable. I also find myself daydreaming about next year’s flower beds, eager to map on paper …
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How to clean and store outdoor furniture for winter
If you live where the snow flies and you have outdoor furniture, you’ve likely been wowed by the snow that accumulated on it one time or another. It’s a little …
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How to store your lawn mower for winter
Your lawn mower is a super hard-working piece of equipment that deserves a little TLC before you roll it into the garage after the season’s final mowing. Taking just a …
Mums — How to grow and keep chrysanthemums blooming!
Just when most other flowers are fading with the shortening days and cooler temps, and you almost have to give up on anything blooming, mums arrive! Every year, I think …
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Saving geraniums — How to overwinter your geraniums
The season’s first hard frost can be painful for flower gardeners. I cover some flowers with blankets occasionally, but really, it’s more fun to welcome the new season with open …
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How to repot a plant
I love repotting day — the day when every plant in my house that needs a new pot gets one. Someday I’ll have a little potting bench, where it’ll be …
Outdoor watering dos and don’ts
Topping my to-do list every day these mid-summer months: Water outdoor plants! (In fact, I’ll likely water a second time, this super-sunny July day.) Here are a few dos and …
Deadheading flowers — Why, when, and how to deadhead
Deadheading flowers is one of my favorite gardening tasks. It keeps me in touch with all the plants, it instantly tidies them up, and it indulges my love of productive …
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