Posts By

Sarah Jay

Sarah is a staff writer and content strategist at Epic Gardening. She spends most of her time researching and writing about native/adapted plants and the ecological systems that make up our growing climates.

An overhead and close-up shot of several leafy green, purple and red colored crops arranged in rows, showcasing easy healthy greens grow january

Edible

7 Easy and Healthy Greens to Grow at Home in January

Whether you have room to plant them indoors or outdoors, it doesn’t take much to help your easy, healthy greens grow. January happens to be a great month to get them started. Experienced gardener Sarah Jay discusses seven of the most nutritious greens you can grow at home.

A close-up shot of a large pruner, in the process of trimming branches and leaves of a tree, showcasing january pruning guide plants

Gardening Tips

January Pruning Guide: 5 Plants to Prune this Month

It’s time for your January pruning guide! Plants on this list are prime for pruning this month – some with caveats. Late winter is a great time to shape certain trees and shrubs. Experienced gardener Sarah Jay covers five plants to prune now and offers tips on how to do it.

A closeup of assorted fir trees landscape options appearing to have lush branches with vibrant green needles

Ornamental Gardens

7 Best Fir Trees for the Home Landscape

There is much good to say about fir trees. Landscape with them and you will learn! If you hope to add a few to your yard, there are some things to consider. Follow along with experienced gardener, Sarah Jay, as she covers seven of the best cultivars to grow in your garden.

A close-up shot of a large composition of tall foliage, all covered in light snow, showcasing hedge plants winter

Ornamental Gardens

7 Hedge Plants That Look Gorgeous All Winter

When it comes to hedge plants, winter doesn’t have to be their demise. Multiple plants remain green through winter, or bear beautiful berries and flowers. Experienced gardener and master naturalist, Sarah Jay has seven plants that not only look great, but also serve the ecosystem!

A close-up and overhead shot of a small composition of blooming purple-blue colored flowers, showcasing the best perennials winter sow

Gardening Tips

7 Best Perennials to Winter Sow

For greatest success, gardeners form a plan for spring, including some of the best perennials. Winter sow these seven perennial plants for years of blooms that form the backbone of an ecologically friendly garden. Experienced gardener Sarah Jay discusses how to do it here.

A close-up shot of a small composition of developing seedlings of a crop, all placed in DIY containers, showcasing how to start seeds toilet paper rolls

Gardening Tips

How to Start Seeds in Toilet Paper Rolls

Winter is a great time to start seeds. Toilet paper rolls make great containers for those who want a sustainable, zero-waste option to do it. There are a few particulars to consider if you want to go this route. Thankfully, experienced gardener Sarah Jay has used this method before.

Houseplants refresh air, including spider plants and snake plants grown in containers placed indoors against a pale blue wall

Houseplants

7 Houseplants That Refresh Stagnant Indoor Air

Have you ever heard that houseplants refresh air in homes and offices? While there is contention about whether this is the case, it doesn’t hurt to add a few plants to indoor spaces. If anything, they’ll refresh the interior with their color and presence. Experienced gardener Sarah Jay has seven plants you can grow indoors to liven up the space.

Clean orchid leaves as a person uses a spray bottle and a piece of cloth to wipe the plant's leaves placed near the window, the plant blooming flowers

Houseplants

5 Tips for Clean and Shiny Orchid Leaves

Clean orchid leaves make your plant healthier and happier. But new orchid growers might not have the best idea how to clean them. Experienced gardener, Sarah Jay, provides tips on how to have shiny orchid leaves all year long.

An overhead and close-up shot of a person in the process of plants sprouted seeds, showcasing how to pre-sprout seeds

Seeds

How and Why to Pre-Sprout Seeds Before Growing

Every year, we gather our seeds and starting supplies to start the spring garden. If we’re dealing with old seeds or hard-to-germinate ones, we can use a fun trick to save ourselves some space and money! Experienced gardener Sarah Jay walks you through why and how to pre-sprout seeds for more success in spring.