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.

Dormant bare-root strawberry plants with tangled roots and short, dry stems, ready to be planted and taken care of, placed next to red garden shears and blue gloves.

Gardening Tips

How to Take Care of Bare-Root Plants Until Planting Time

Bare-root plants are superb alternatives to container specimens. They establish themselves quickly, grow well with less water, and are more cold-hardy. Though ideal for planting, they are only available when the weather is chilly, moist, and frosty. If you can’t plant them now, learn to keep them safe until you’re ready.

A gardener transplants a kohlrabi seedling, started for transplanting in March, into loose, dark brown soil in a sunny garden.

Seeds

17 Seeds You Should Start Now for March Transplanting

March is chilly, wet, and stormy in many temperate regions of the U.S. Though some areas have mild winters without frost, most experience latent spring freezes until well into April. These 17 plants are cold-hardy and transplant well, making them perfect for seed starting in March.

A round bowl with seeds soaking in reddish-brown water, creating a contrast of dark seeds against the lighter edges of the liquid, with a soft light illuminating the surface.

Seeds

How Seed Soaking Affects Seed Germination

It's just about springtime, and we are starting our seeds for the spring garden. Some benefit from special treatment, like pre-soaking them. Gardening expert Melissa Strauss explores how this affects your seeds and how to do it.

A black lawn mower stands on a green lawn, indicating when to mow the lawn for the first time.

Gardening Tips

When to Do the First Lawn Mow of the Season: 11 Considerations

As winter evolves into spring, lawns begin pushing out fresh new growth! The grass blades turn from gray, yellow, or brown to bright green. Though the lawn is growing, is now a good time to cut it? Let’s first dive into these 11 considerations before deciding. How early to mow depends on your climate, lawn type, and how you treat your grass.

The eggplant features thick, green stems, broad dark leaves, and oblong, shiny purple fruits nestled among the foliage—one of the survival crop seeds for your garden.

Seeds

11 Survival Garden Crops to Grow from Seed in February

What is a survival garden crop? These veggies and herbs offer superb nutritional value, easy cultivation, and unlimited harvests. They’re perfect for gardeners who want to substitute grocery store trips for homegrown produce. Join backyard gardener Jerad Bryant as we delve into the 11 survival crops to sow in February.

A potted flowering houseplant with tubular white and blue flowers grows under beginner-friendly grow lights.

Gardening Tips

A Beginner’s Guide to Grow Lights

Grow lights turn the darkest room into a tropical paradise! They’re essential for seed starting, winter houseplant care, and other fun horticultural activities. Keep one in storage—you’ll never know when you may need it. Longtime plant light user Jerad Bryant shares all you need to know to get started.

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.