Gardening Know How

1 day ago | gardeningknowhow.com | Teo Spengler

Coming, ready or not – there are some troubling new types of pests that you should all be bracing yourself for! This summer, you’ll have to deal with more than the usual aphids and mealybugs, because there are a few new kids in town. These new pests are fascinating, but when it comes to getting rid of them, it isn’t all that easy. There goes the neighborhood! So if you thought dealing with common garden pests was worrying enough, this roundup might give you a whole new perspective.

3 days ago | gardeningknowhow.com | Teo Spengler

It’s not an exaggeration to say that pollinators – think bees and butterflies and hummingbirds among others – make the world go 'round. Without pollinators, nature’s system of plant fertilization breaks down. Yet, urban sprawl and the use of toxins in the environment are reducing pollinator populations with monarch butterflies and bees being the poster-children of this problem. Planting herbs for pollinators is one simple step everyone can take to help.

1 week ago | gardeningknowhow.com | Ellen Wells

After the initial potting of your indoor and outdoor plants, keeping them alive becomes your most important – and potentially most stressful – task. Knowing when and how much water to give plants is often cited by gardeners as their number one concern. A self-watering plant pot goes a long way in alleviating that worry. These clever containers provide plants with ready access to additional water on an as-needed basis.

1 week ago | gardeningknowhow.com | Teo Spengler |Amy Draiss |Janey Goulding

Quick FactsBotanical name: Hydrangea paniculata ‘Renhy’Height: 8ft (2.3m) tallSpread: 5ft (1.6m) wideSun: Full sun, afternoon shadeSoil: Excellent drainageHardiness zones: 3-8When to plant: Spring, fallBloom time: Jul-SepIf you aren’t sure what color hydrangea you like best, a Vanilla Strawberry hydrangea (aka Vanille Fraise hydrangea) offers a gorgeous fusion of pinks and whites.

1 week ago | gardeningknowhow.com | Susan Albert

If you’re keen on creating a thriving pollinator garden, you’ll welcome any chance to feed hummingbirds and watch their aerial antics. To entice them to your yard, it’s important to grow the right flowers and plants for hummingbirds. This involves planting some of their favorite nectar sources, including native and non-native plants, trees and shrubs. These tiny birds zip up, down and all around while searching for food. The best plants for hummingbirds have tubular, red flowers.