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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 plant with seeds still attached to the top of the stem with dried buds surrounding it ready for beginner seed-saving

Seeds

A Beginner’s Guide to Seed-Saving in the Garden

When seed-saving for the first time, you may feel overwhelmed with information about hybrids, heirlooms, and proper seed-saving techniques. This easy guide takes you from start to finish so you can confidently collect your favorite plants’ seeds. Learn how magical these tiny living things are alongside native plant gardener Jerad Bryant.

Close-up of a dried seedhead with a cluster of small, fluffy seeds ready for dispersal, supported by a slender, brown stem.

Seeds

9 Native Plant Seeds to Collect Now

Native plant seeds are invaluable treasures. Use them to grow limitless supplies of perennials, annuals, shrubs, and trees wherever you’d like. Native plant seeds appear seasonally, and certain species ripen during the fall. Join native plant gardener Jerad Bryant in discovering these nine seeds you should start harvesting now.

Close-up of a gardener holding pruning shears, preparing to trim a bush to maintain a fresh appearance in the fall garden.

Gardening Tips

9 Ways to Keep Your Garden Looking Fresh This Fall

As summer heat wanes and fall temperatures arrive, you’ll want your garden to look its best. Some easy maintenance this season will ensure it looks spectacular from autumn through spring. Follow these nine easy steps from seasoned gardener Jerad Bryant to refresh your space with more plants, animals, and flowers.

A close-up of dried black flower buds scattered on a smooth, dark surface.

Seeds

How to Save Petunia Seeds For Next Year

You can save petunia seeds if you allow them to dry out on the plant and collect and store them correctly for planting the following season. Wendy Moulton will take you through the simple steps to do this and enjoy free petunias in the next couple of seasons.

A little girl in a garden holding young flowering orange marigold seedlings and a white watering can, showcasing fast-growing plants for kids.

Gardening Inspiration

19 Fast-Growing Plants to Grow with Kids

The garden is a wonderful place to teach children lessons that will follow them all their lives. Sometimes, they have a hard time being patient. Gardner and mom of three, Melissa Strauss has some great, fast-growing plants to share with you and your kiddos!

Close-up of a gardener in blue overalls trimming branches with green pruning shears as part of September garden tasks in an autumn garden.

Gardening Tips

11 September Garden Tasks

September is a wonderful time to get back out into the garden and do some maintenance work. The transition between summer and fall brings a new phase of growth and dormancy. Join Melissa Strauss in taking on freshening things up and preparing the garden for winter

Bright orange Cucurbita pepo fruits with deep ridges rest on rich, dark soil among sprawling green vines and leaves, basking in the warm sunlight.

Gardening Tips

When and How to Fertilize Pumpkins

Pumpkins are generally considered heavy feeders, benefitting from additional nutrients throughout the season to perform their best. Gardening expert Madison Moulton explains when and how to fertilize pumpkins for the best results.

Clusters of orange and yellow daylilies with elongated petals and narrow green leaves grow densely together under soft sunlight.

Gardening Inspiration

19 Perennials to Plant in September

Are you itching to do some planting now that the weather is cooling off, and it's nice to be outside in the garden again? There are some wonderful perennials that you can plant in September. Gardening expert Melissa Strauss has a list of some favorites that enjoy fall planting

An example of keyhole gardening with multiple raised garden beds with compost, vegetables and other greens

Gardening Inspiration

7 Benefits of Keyhole Gardening

Are you curious about keyhole gardening? This simple gardening technique allows you to combine all the benefits of composting with all the benefits of raised bed gardening, all in one place! Join gardening expert Liessa Bowen as we discuss seven practical benefits of using keyhole gardening to supercharge your garden, all in one compact space.

A black-and-blue butterfly perches on a cluster of tiny white flowers forming an umbrella-shaped bloom in a lush green field.

Gardening Inspiration

31 Native Plants That Attract Wildlife

One major reason to grow native plants is to lure wildlife into your backyard. Local plant species grow flowers that feed pollinators, and they sprout branches that create valuable habitat space for furry creatures. Passively attract wildlife with these 31 species from native plant gardener Jerad Bryant.

Marigold plants in a raised bed have feathery, dark green leaves and produce bright, rounded flower heads in vibrant hues of orange, yellow, and red, with a ruffled texture.

Raised Bed Gardening

19 Best Raised Bed Garden Plants for Hot Climates

Not sure which raised bed plants can beat the heat? Whether you’re in a hot climate zone or just notice that your area is subject to more and more heat waves each year, planning raised beds around high temps is a good idea. Plant biologist Emily Estep will walk you through some solid choices for raised bed garden plants in hot climates.