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.

Tall, slender green stems rise from narrow, strap-like leaves, topped with spherical clusters of vibrant purple Allium flowers, known as plants keep out moles.

Gardening Tips

11 Plants That May Keep Moles Out of Your Yard

Dealing with moles can be a major hassle. Fortunately, there are some great plants that are reputed to deter these small but destructive mammals. Gardening expert Melissa Strauss shares some plants that are said to repel those tunneling terrors out of your yard.

A white lotus flower blooming on a calm water surface surrounded by large green lily pads, with water trickling from a spout.

Gardening Tips

How to Winterize Your Garden Pond in 5 Steps

Water features like ponds add an extra layer of interest to backyards and allow you to grow unique aquatic plants. However, garden ponds also require specific winter care. Join farmer Briana Yablonski to learn how to prepare your pond for the cold days ahead.

Close-up of female hands decorating a Christmas wreath made of holiday evergreen branches, adorned with a bright red bow and golden bells.

Gardening Inspiration

13 Most Beautiful Evergreen Branches to Harvest for Holiday Decor

Fresh greenery invigorates the senses on winter days and nights and unites us in shared experiences of the season. Harvesting our own is sustainable and rewarding, and even the simplest branching brings a touch of natural elegance to the doorway or interior. Join gardening expert Katherine Rowe in a look at favorite evergreens for versatile displays in the garden and during the holidays.

Different vegetable seeds like corn, radish, and beetroot are scattered on a white table from craft bags with inscriptions, reminding gardeners to order seeds December for the upcoming planting season.

Seeds

5 Benefits of Ordering Your Seeds in December

While next year’s gardening season may seem ages away, it will be here before you know it. So, get a jump on your garden by ordering seeds in December. Farmer Briana Yablosnki shares five benefits of ordering seeds early.

Close-up of a starting seed tray with young Snapdragon seedlings showing smooth oval cotyledons and emerging heart-shaped true leaves, sprouting in December.

Seeds

17 Seeds With Long Germination Times to Start in December

If you’re wondering what to sow in December, take note of seeds with long germination times. Since these seeds take multiple weeks to germinate, planting them in December allows you to end up with healthy transplants by the time planting season arrives. Farmer Briana Yablonski shares vegetables, flowers, and herbs that you can plant in December.

Young lupine sprouts, showcasing native plant seed germination, feature slender stems, rounded cotyledons, and emerging soft, palmate leaves growing from the soil.

Seeds

7 Tips to Improve Native Plant Seed Germination

Native plants are often easier to sow than non-native ornamental species—they adapt well to local climates and sprout with little assistance. If you’re sowing them and notice sparse sprouting, use these seven tips from native plant gardener Jerad Bryant to boost their germination rates.

Bright red Euphorbia pulcherrima bracts stand out against dark green foliage

Seeds

Can You Grow Poinsettias From Seed?

Are you crushing on that stunning poinsettia you picked up for the season and want to propagate? Gardening expert Melissa Strauss explores whether you can grow these plants from seed and what other possibilities there are for propagating it.