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 stone that says welcome to my garden sitting in cedar mulch in a garden bed.

Gardening Tips

Cedar Mulch: Should You Be Using it in Your Garden?

Not sure if you should be using cedar mulch in your garden, or looking for an alternative? Mulch has many uses, but it can be confusing to figure out which type of mulch is best for your planting needs. In this article, gardening expert Logan Hailey shares her thoughts on gardening with cedar mulch, and if you should be using an alternative instead.

Pink and Red Flowers in Frost Covered Garden

Gardening Tips

11 Tips For Protecting Your Plants This Winter

Looking to make sure your plants aren't frozen solid this winter? There are a few steps you can take to ensure your plants won't die when the winter frosts hit. In this article, organic gardening expert Logan Hailey walks through her top tips for keeping your plants protected this winter!

november gardening tasks

Gardening Tips

11 Gardening Tasks You Should Do in November

Fall gardening brings with it plenty of work in order to prepare for spring. There are many garden tasks you can do specifically in the month of November, no matter your climate. In this article, gardening expert Jill Drago shares the gardening activities she plans on tackling in her own garden this November.

Gardening Inspiration

How to Prune Tomato Plants in 6 Easy Steps

Are you struggling to find the most efficient way of pruning your tomato plants this season? Tomato pruning can be a chore, but it doesn't have to be complicated. In this article, gardening expert and farm owner Jenna Rich walks through the six steps you'll need to follow when pruning your tomato plants this season.

A close up of potatoes and cucumbers recently harvested after growing in the garden. The cucumbers are in a brown wicker basket, and the potatoes are still covered in soil, in a blue plastic basket.

Companion Planting

Can You Plant Cucumbers With Potatoes in Your Garden?

Thinking of planting cucumbers with potatoes in your garden this season? Maybe you are curious if it's even a good idea? In this article, gardening expert and homesteader Merideth Corhs examines if planting cucumbers with your potatoes is a good idea this season, or if you should stick to other companions for either vegetable.

A close up image of apples on a tree in full sun exposure. The foliage is visible and the rays of the sunlight are yellow, and glinting off the foliage and fruit at the same time.

Gardening Inspiration

Do Apple Trees Need Full Sun, Partial Sun, or Full Shade?

Looking to plant some apple trees this season, but aren't sure if they need full sun, partial shade, or full shade? Finding the perfect place for your trees can be the difference between plenty of fruit, or none at all. In this article, gardening expert Merideth Corhs looks at the sun requirements for Apple Trees in your garden.

A small garden that has many different plants in the space. You can see two to three different plants in small containers in a small gardening space.

Gardening Tips

15 Tips For Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces

Do you have a small garden space that you aren't quite sure how to fully utilize for your garden grown vegetables? There are many different ways to make use of smaller growing spaces. In this article, organic gardening expert Logan Hailey walks through her top tips for maximizing space in smaller garden areas.

zucchini and tomatoes

Companion Planting

Should You Plant Zucchini With Tomatoes This Season?

Looking to grow both tomatoes and zucchini in the garden, but aren't sure if they should be planted near one another? These two popular garden plants will yield plenty of fruit, but should they be planted as companions? In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen shares if you should be planting tomatoes with zucchini, or if it's best to stick to other plants.

garden scarecrow ideas

Gardening Tips

11 Ways to Keep Birds Away from Seeds in Your Garden

Looking for some ways to keep birds out of your garden? There are quite a few humane methods to keep birds away from your garden and your recently planted seeds. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen shares her favorite humane bird-control methods that will keep birds under control so your plants can grow!

plants that attract dragonflies

Gardening Tips

15 Plants That Will Attract Dragonflies to Your Garden

Are you looking to add some plants that will attract dragonflies to your garden this season? There are plenty of beautiful options that will have dragonflies paying you a visit all season. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen walks through her favorite plants for bringing dragonflies to your garden this season.