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.

A red-leaved maple tree perfect for planting from bare root specimens

Gardening Inspiration

13 Trees You Should Buy Bare-Root

Bare-root trees perform well in the home garden! They’re easy to transplant, requiring less maintenance than their potted counterparts. Find them in fall or early spring while plants are dormant. Join native plant gardener Jerad Bryant in discovering the 13 trees you should buy bare-root.

A Korean spice viburnum shrub featuring clusters of white flowers among green foliage.

Gardening Tips

13 Shrubs You Should Buy Bare-Root

Bare-root shrubs lack all the dirt that container plants have around their roots! They’re free to grow, excelling quickly after planting in home gardens. Instead of waiting for leaves to emerge, splurge on these bare-root shrubs during winter to beat the spring rush.

A mature tree with smooth, light brown bark, sturdy branches, and glossy dark green leaves bears large, round, golden-yellow fruits, showing that fruit trees never grow well without proper care.

Fruits

11 Fruit Trees You Should Never Grow in Your Yard

Though fruit trees offer free food during the summer, some are extremely challenging to care for. Pests, diseases, and adverse weather create difficult conditions for the home gardener. Avoid these 11 types, and instead opt for something more manageable, like an apple tree!

A shot of shriveling plant that showcases dying houseplants

Houseplants

9 Reasons Your Houseplants Keep Dying (and How to Stop It)

Houseplants can be tricky! Though many are tough perennials that thrive indoors, some face difficulties in the comforts of our homes. These nine common issues are easily correctable with a few simple tricks. Join longtime houseplant grower Jerad Bryant in diagnosing and correcting the problems.

Close-up of a woman's hand holding an orange sprayer, applying dormant oil to a plum fruit tree.

Fruits

How and When to Spray Dormant Oil on Fruit Trees

Winter and early spring are the best seasons to combat pests and diseases. They hibernate on fruit trees and are susceptible to organic oil treatments. Tackle them now and you’ll have less damage control to do later on! Learn how and when to spray fruit trees with this easy-to-follow guide from backyard gardener Jerad Bryant.

Close-up of cup-shaped flowers with double, overlapping yellow petals edged in pink, blooming on sturdy green stems, surrounded by leathery, dark green, deeply lobed leaves, showing the beauty that comes when you grow hellebores from seed.

Seeds

How to Grow Hellebore Flowers From Seed

Hellebores often emerge when frost is still abundant in cold gardens! While nursery cultivars are diverse, growing hellebores from seed offers a challenging reward—you’ll find new, unique hybrids! Join longtime hellebore gardener Jerad Bryant in learning to grow these lovely flowers from seed.

A Sesamum indicum plant with a soft pink, tubular flower and green, serrated leaves, growing on a slender stem.

Gardening Inspiration

11 Seeds to Plant in Honor of Black History Month

Planting a seed is more than a gardening task—it’s a way to honor past generations of farmers, gardeners, and horticulturalists. Seeds contain genetics of past plant generations, and the plants they sprout represent hundreds of years of plant breeding. These crops we enjoy today are the fruits of Black Americans’ cultivation.

A bonsai-style Adenium obesum with thick, twisted roots and white flowers, growing in a round clay pot.

Houseplants

21 Houseplants That Like Low Humidity

Most homes have average or low humidity levels, especially in arid climates. Tropical houseplants won’t thrive in these regions; plants like cacti, succulents, and vigorous vines are ideal. Avid houseplant grower Jerad Bryant shares these 21 best houseplants for dry sites.

A gardener's gloved hand uses tweezers to inspect germinated seeds on a damp paper towel inside a clear container placed on a wooden table.

Seeds

How to Germinate Seeds on Paper Towels in 7 Steps

Why wait weeks for sprouts to appear when you can watch them grow? The paper towel seed-starting method is easy for beginner and advanced gardeners alike. Learn how to reuse common household items to sprout all sorts of seedlings, from lettuce to chili peppers.

Close up of flowering evergreen huckleberry plant with pink tinged blooms and dark blue berries.

Fruits

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Evergreen Huckleberry Plants

Edible berries, lush leaves, and arching stems make evergreen huckleberries one of the most decorative native shrubs available on the West Coast. They’re favorites of local birds, mammals, bugs, and gardeners! Grow one today and your neighbors will ask, “What’s that gorgeous plant in your yard?”