Basics

Whether you're new to gardening or experienced, everyone needs some gardening basics to get going!

In this category, you'll find a wealth of information that spans a wide number of topics. From seed starting to grow bag gardening, pruning tips to raised bed tricks, you'll find the fundamentals of gardening awaiting you here.

While it's optimized towards new gardeners, even a pro can find useful tips in our Basics category. We all need to get back to basics sometimes, and there are always useful tools and tips that other gardeners have developed along the way to add to your own practices.

Our Basics category can inspire you to new gardening heights, too. Those who have experience with in-ground planting can learn about other techniques such as raised beds or vertical gardening.

A close-up shot of fragrant flowers blooms of an evergreen tree or shrub that showcases seed starting setups

Seeds

15 Evergreen Shrubs With Fragrant Flowers

Do you want to enjoy a long-lasting aromatic garden? In this article, plant expert Matt Dursum shows you the best evergreen shrubs with fragrant flowers to make your garden smell great year-round.

A shot of a developing sprout during the cold season that showcases lazy winter sow

Seeds

How to Winter Sow The Lazy Way

Winter sowing typically involves mini-greenhouses made of milk jugs, but did you know you can sow seeds directly in the ground during winter? Winter sow the lazy way and you’ll avoid having to source pots, potting soil, and grow lights. Learn how to plant seeds during the cool months alongside seasoned grower Jerad Bryant.

A woman holding a potted rosemary plant with green needle-like leaves, alongside a wicker basket containing another plant.

Gardening Inspiration

Are Local Nurseries Dying? What it Means For Gardeners

Local garden centers are a community hub of knowledge, resources, and healthy plants suited to our growing areas. With a resurgence in gardening and more of us growing, now is the time for access to sound information and good supplies. Explore the merits of local nurseries and how to create well-rounded garden systems with gardening expert Katherine Rowe.

Carrots, zucchini, and beets placed on a wooden table.

Seeds

Best Beginner Vegetables: 11 Easy Crops to Grow from Seed

If you’re used to buying seedlings from a nursery, sowing vegetables from seed can be intimidating! However, watching veggies transform from tiny seeds to harvestable crops is rewarding. Join vegetable farmer Briana Yablonski to learn easy crops perfect for beginners.

Small lettuce seedlings growing in soil-filled compartments of a clear plastic container, with plant markers labeled for identification.

Seeds

9 Pros and Cons of Winter Sowing

Considering winter sowing to simplify seed-starting this season? Now is the time to get going. The easy and rewarding method is full of advantages and yields sturdy seedlings. Garden expert Katherine Rowe explores the merits and potential variables of winter sowing.

Close-up of young seedlings with tiny round cotyledons growing in cardboard egg trays filled with fresh soil to reduce seed-starting cost.

Seeds

6 Ways to Reduce Your Seed-Starting Costs This Year

Seed starting doesn’t need to be expensive, but it does require attention to detail and proper timing. If you don’t have the budget to invest in greenhouses, grow lights, and heat mats, former organic farmer Logan Hailey is here to help you start seeds for a reduced cost.

A woman standing, inspecting the crops planted in the garden beds.

Seeds

7 Things to Do Before Ordering Seeds This Year

Seed catalogs inspire us gardeners to plot the landscape of our dreams! Before you buy hundreds of seeds, some preemptive work now will help you avoid excess maintenance later in the process. Seasoned grower Jerad Bryant shares seven things you should do to prepare your garden for new seeds.

Wooden raised planters filled with lush green leafy plants, surrounded by gravel paths.

Gardening Tips

Planning Your Spring Vegetable Garden: 9 Pro Tips

It’s exciting to spend a little time this winter dreaming up the warm-season garden. Planning now saves time and effort during the main growing season, and it sets up the foundation for healthy, productive plants. Garden expert Katherine Rowe offers tips for planning a rewarding spring garden with the season in sight.