Humid-area gardeners suffer with plant disease more often than their arid-area counterparts, as high humidity encourages the kind of fungal and bacterial growth that leads to numerous plant diseases. While some garden maladies are just an inconvenience, others can decimate your harvests. Plant biologist Emily Estep explains preventative and regular steps you can take to manage diseases in humid gardens.
Mushrooms seem to come out of nowhere, peppering our lawns with pops of color and unusual shapes. Most folks don’t give them a second glance, having no idea which mushroom is which, but their identities don’t have to be a mystery. Amateur mycologist Emily Estep names and explains 12 common lawn mushrooms that you might just see after a rainy day
Are you looking for the perfect ground cover perennial? Lamb’s ear not only has fuzzy, lamb-like leaves, but also, it has dainty purple flowers that pollinators love. The flexible species grows in many locations, as long as you keep its soil and leaves mostly dry. Plant biologist Emily Estep walks you through everything you need to know about how to plant, grow, and care for lamb’s ear plants.
Whether you love to eat bananas or just adore the look of tropical plants, a banana tree or two would make an excellent addition to your home garden. Some produce grocery-store-tier fruit and others are just ornamental, but each one can add something special to your space. Most are perennial in warm zones, but gardeners in cooler zones can grow them outside part-time, too. Plant biologist Emily Estep will walk you through the best banana trees for home gardens to help you get started.
If you love both mushrooms and growing your own food, you may have wondered whether or not you can propagate store-bought mushrooms at home. In fact, it turns out that you can. Plant biologist Emily Estep will explain how mushrooms propagate and how you can mimic the process, ultimately harvesting your own fresh stock for little to no cost.
Growing delicious, healthy mushrooms at home is easy, with more guides, kits, and information online each day. But with so many options, from colorful oysters to toothy lion’s mane, how do you know which to choose? Amateur mycologist Emily Estep names and explains 13 different mushrooms you can grow at home to help you make a shroomy selection.
Would you like to grow your own delicious, healthy bananas at home? ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ banana trees are fairly easy to grow, especially if you live in a warm climate, and they can produce harvestable bananas each year. If you’re not sure how to care for a tropical banana species, no worries. Plant biologist Emily Estep will walk you through everything you need to know.
Are you looking for an easy-going perennial to add a tropical vibe to your landscape? The cold-hardy Japanese banana tree is perennial down to USDA zone 5, making it the ideal choice. Even in colder regions, these tropicals can be kept in containers and brought indoors for winter. Gardening enthusiast Emily Estep will tell you all you need to know to get a Japanese banana tree to thrive.
Not sure if you should plant in raised beds or opt for in-ground gardening? Raised bed popularity is on the rise due to clever new designs, though in-ground gardening has a classic appeal. Gardening enthusiast Emily Estep explores the pros and cons of both options so you can make the best decision.
Did you wake up one morning to find your beloved lawn covered in mushrooms? Are you wondering where they came from and if you should be worried? Good news: there’s no cause for alarm. Plant biologist and amateur mycologist Emily Estep will walk you through the basics and alleviate your concerns about mushrooms in your lawn.