Viveka Neveln

Virginia

Garden Editor at Better Homes and Gardens

garden communicator, plant geek, tree hugger, trowel-wielder, solution seeker. Assoc. Dir of Comm/Assoc. Editor for American Horticultural Soc. @AHS_Gardening

Articles

Do You Really Need to Thin Seedlings in Your Garden?

1 month ago | bhg.com | Viveka Neveln

Credit: Photo: Peter Krumhardt It's always exciting when your seeds start sprouting up in garden beds or in starter trays. So the idea that you should get rid of some of the tender little seedlings to thin out the plants seems almost heartbreaking. Would it really be so bad to just let nature take its course? Unless you're very precise when sowing, here's why experts say thinning seedlings is often key to your garden’s success.
How Many Plants Should You Put in a Container? 5 Must-Know Tips

1 month ago | bhg.com | Viveka Neveln

Credit: Photo: Grant Webster / Container Design: Sandra Gerdes Whether you want to grow a pot of herbs or create some colorful porch pots, how many plants should you put in one container? The answer depends on the size of the container in question, the types of plants you want to grow, and the look you're going for. Get your container gardens off to a strong start with these tips on figuring out how many plants to grow in them.
10 Best New Flower Varieties for Nonstop Color, According to Our Test Garden

2 months ago | yahoo.com | Viveka Neveln

Fill your flower beds and garden pots with these new annual flower varieties for colorful blooms all season long.
10 Best New Flower Varieties to Grow This Year, According to Our Test Garden

Mar 26, 2025 | bhg.com | Viveka Neveln

Photo: Grant Webster Each year, the Better Homes & Gardens Test Garden grows new plants coming onto the market. Why? So we can help gardeners figure out which varieties are truly outstanding, based on their real world performance. And we mean real world—we don't baby these plants other than perhaps a little more diligent weeding than a home gardener might do. Our plants have to contend with rabbits, bugs, hail, heat, humidity, floods, and other less than ideal urban conditions.
21 Hardy Perennials That Add Color to Your Landscape Every Year

Mar 21, 2025 | bhg.com | Viveka Neveln

These hardy perennials thrive in all kinds of sun exposure, high heat, or freezing temperatures, and still bloom beautifully every year.
Waxed Amaryllis Bulbs Are a Must-Have Holiday Plant—Here's How to Grow Them

Dec 7, 2024 | bhg.com | Viveka Neveln

Photo: Carson Downing Amaryllis bulbs are often grown around the winter holidays for their big, colorful flowers. But perhaps you've never seen a waxed amaryllis bulb before. They're already trendy holiday decorations in Europe, but are becoming increasingly popular in the U.S., popping up everywhere from Trader Joe's to Costco to various online retailers. As if by magic, these waxed bulbs grow and bloom almost anywhere you put them without needing any watering.
Waxed Amaryllis Bulbs Are a Must-Have Holiday Plant—Here's How to Grow Them | Flipboard

Dec 7, 2024 | flipboard.com | Viveka Neveln

1 day agoFrom the heartfelt to the hilarious, from the budget-friendly to the splurge-worthy, from the kids to the grownups, from the impersonal gift exchange to the "wow, I feel seen" — we've got all the gifts for you. 1. A Lego "Tiny Plants" set — one of the iterations from their much beloved Botanical …
Living Space: Create beautiful fall window boxes

Sep 19, 2024 | chronicleonline.com | Viveka Neveln

Colorful fall window boxes in front of the house make for a warm welcome, especially in autumn when the rest of the landscaping might look a little tired. If you've had summer annuals in your window box, fall is a good time to rotate them out for something more seasonal. One of the best ways to do this is to mix seasonal favorites, such as kale and mums, with other plants that look showy in autumn, such as grasses.
Our best tips for creating beautiful fall window boxes - Tribune Content Agency

Sep 17, 2024 | tribunecontentagency.com | Viveka Neveln

Colorful fall window boxes in front of the house make for a warm welcome, especially in autumn when the rest of the landscaping might look a little tired. If you’ve had summer annuals in your window box, fall is a good time to rotate them out for something more seasonal. One of the best ways to do this is to mix seasonal favorites, such as kale and mums, with other plants that look showy in autumn, such as grasses.
Our best tips for creating beautiful fall window boxes

Sep 16, 2024 | prostoknow.com | Viveka Neveln

Colorful fall window boxes in front of the house make for a warm welcome, especially in autumn when the rest of the landscaping might look a little tired. If you've had summer annuals in your window box, fall is a good time to rotate them out for something more seasonal. One of the best ways to do this is to mix seasonal favorites, such as kale and mums, with other plants that look showy in autumn, such as grasses.