September 2025

What is a natural repellent for vegetable gardens? Garlic Repellent Spray Puree 2 bulbs of garlic with 1 cup of water and let sit overnight. Strain the liquid into a quart jar, add 1/2 cup vegetable oil and 1 teaspoon liquid soap, and fill the jar the rest of the way with water. Put one […]

Does lavender deter pests? Lavender But along with its soothing floral aroma, this powerhouse essential oil is also effective at battling bugs. Lavender pillows and sachets are wonderful in linen cupboards and dressers and will keep away moths and other insects while leaving a fresh scent. Some plants—such as tea tree, lavender, and basil—emit smells

What are fast-growing trees to block neighbors? Fast-growing trees like Leyland Cypress, Green Giant Arborvitae, and Hybrid Poplar provide quick, dense privacy screens. Ideal for blocking views, reducing noise, and adding greenery, these trees thrive in various climates. Thuja Green Giant is the number one choice in Fast-Growing privacy trees. At a rapid growth rate

What is the best plant to block neighbors’ views? Evergreens. Evergreens will always be a go-to for privacy—their foliage remains all year! Pyramidal evergreen trees are ideal for planting in front of windows, whereas evergreen shrubs like Boxwood are better for border planting. We really like Emerald Green Arborvitae, Blue Point Juniper, Nellie Stevens Holly,

What is the smallest tree you can plant? Growing to a mere 1-6cm in height, the dwarf willow (Salix herbacea) is arguably the world’s tiniest tree. Well adapted to live in arctic and subarctic environments, this tiny wooden sprout has developed the key strategy to surviving the cold; staying really small. As well as the

How long do flowers take to grow from seed? Flower seed packets rarely list estimated days to maturity, but most annual flowers need about 95 days from seed to flower. The ones that made my list start popping blooms in 60 to 70 days when grown under spring conditions, and they also tolerate light frost.

How long does it take to grow a flower from seeds? The seed packet should tell you how many days to bloom, which means how long it takes from germination to flowering. If you have a short growing season and the packet says it will be 80 or 90 days to bloom, you will need

Can I grow a plant from a cut flower? Most flower bouquets are cut flowers. Without roots, there is nothing to plant – it won’t survive. There are a few plants that you can coax a cutting to grow roots, but they aren’t typically the things that we call cut flowers. So if someone asks

What is the most common mistake made with container plants? Mistake #1: Selecting the Wrong Gardening Container That leaves your plant roots in wet soil because they can’t absorb all the moisture, making them more susceptible to root rot. Conversely, the soil dries quickly in gardening containers that are too small. And that leads to

What is special about the cherry blossom tree? In Japan, the flowering cherry tree, or Sakura, is an important flowering plant. The beauty of the cherry blossom is a symbol with rich meaning in Japanese culture. For more than a hundred years, we have celebrating cherry trees blooming in solidarity. Cherry blossoms and leaves are