Posts By

Jerad Bryant

Jerad Bryant is a plant nerd, botanical writer, and avid gardener in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Jerad is an active member in his local community of plant nerds in both the Willamette Valley Hardy Plant Group and the American Rhododendron Society.

Clusters of small, five-petaled true blue flowers with bright yellow centers in soft focus.

Flowers

Are Flowers Really Blue? 21 Best Plants with True Blue Blooms

Blue flowers are extremely rare in the plant kingdom. Many have the word blue in their name, despite their color being closer to purple or violet. A true blue flower is a sight to see in the home garden. Nurseryman and landscaper Jerad Bryant shares 21 of the best plants with true blue blooms.

Japanese maple varieties in a landscaped garden display a striking mix of green and purple foliage, with delicate, deeply lobed leaves that create a layered, elegant texture among surrounding plants.

Trees

The Top 9 Japanese Maple Varieties for Home Landscaping

Color-changing leaves aren’t the only reason to plant Japanese maples! The trees grow twisting branches and stunning seed pods that helicopter to the ground when they’re ripe. These nine varieties are some of the best cultivars, and they’re easy to install during landscaping projects.

A woman cares for a young indoor food forest with diverse potted plants on a bright windowsill filled with natural light.

Edible

How to Grow an Indoor Food Forest

Don’t let bad weather stop you from growing food crops. If it’s too cold, too hot, or too wet, you can grow food indoors in pots, trays, and planters. From leafy greens to root crops, and perennials to fruiting shrubs, the possibilities are endless. Indoor gardener Jerad Bryant shares how to grow a food forest inside your home.

A gardener uses a garden pitchfork to turn a steaming heap of organic matter in an autumn setting, illustrating october composting in progress.

Gardening Tips

October Garden Composting Guide

October comes between the warmth of summer and the cool of winter, when the weather is changing. The fall season may seem challenging for compost, but it’s easy to recycle garden debris during the cool months. Backyard composter Jerad Bryant shares what to do for successful composting in October.

Close-up of prepared garden beds for winter shows raised iron beds fully covered with a thick layer of dry autumn leaves as mulch, with nearby low bushes also insulated under mulch for protection.

Gardening Tips

Preparing Garden Beds for Winter: To Cover or Not to Cover?

Should you cover your garden beds? Covering insulates and warms the soil to encourage healthy crops during the cold months. It’s not always necessary, though, and some gardeners may choose not to cover their beds. See what you should do, and learn how to prepare your garden beds with backyard gardener Jerad Bryant.

A close-up shot of a small composition of white colored flowers, placed ins a white pot, near a window, showcasing how to overwinter potted mums

Flowers

How to Overwinter Potted Mums

Potted mums fill bare gardens in the fall with their flowers. They bloom at the end of the growing season, which is why they’re commonly available at stores at the end of summer. Though some mums are hardy, others are frost-tender. They need special care to survive the winter, especially if they’re growing in pots.

A row of kale plants with sturdy stems and curly green leaves grows in a garden bed covered with straw mulch, providing natural frost protection.

Gardening Tips

13 Plants You Should Mulch Now to Protect From Frost

As frosty weather sets in, it’s important to safeguard your most tender plants. Protect them now with a thick layer of mulch to keep their roots insulated and warm through the winter. Backyard gardener Jerad Bryant shares the 13 plants you should mulch now in the home garden.

A garden bed of young spinach plants is sheltered beneath a white frost cloth that drapes lightly over the leafy greens.

Gardening Tips

How to Protect the Garden with Frost Cloth

Frost cloth is an invaluable tool in the winter garden. Use it to blanket your tender plants and protect them from light frosts and freezes. It’s amazing what a single layer of fabric can do! Join former nurseryman Jerad Bryant to discover how to protect the garden with this unique material.

A close-up shot of a large composition of vivid deep red colored flowers of the autumn bonfire azalea

Shrubs

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for ‘Autumn Bonfire’ Azalea

Azaleas are blooming spectacles in the home garden. Most blossom in the spring, but special types like ‘Autumn Bonfire’ bloom from spring until fall! This reblooming azalea in the Encore® series is easy to care for and quick to establish. Learn how to cultivate it in your yard alongside azalea grower Jerad Bryant.