Savvy Gardening

A tour of Le potager du roi / The King’s Garden in Versailles, France

Outside the official grounds of the Palace of Versailles in France lies a gated vegetable garden that dates back to the 17th century. Le Potager du Roi, which means The King’s Kitchen Garden, was commissioned by King Louis XIV, and designed to feed those at court and his servants. This is a veggie gardener’s dream. Gardens teem with vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Additionally, hundreds of fruit trees are planted around the perimeter, pruned using various techniques. What’s amazing is that the garden still exists pretty much as it did during the Sun King’s reign.

Deer proof gardens: 4 sure-fire ways to keep deer out of your garden

Written by Jessica Walliser

Gardening with deer presents a unique set of challenges. Those of us familiar with the battle know how difficult it can be to have a beautiful garden in deer territory. The furry buggers seem to know exactly which plants are our favorites, don’t they? Over the last twenty years I’ve tended over 40 gardens as a professional horticulturist, and I’ve learned a lot about the ups and downs of gardening with deer in that time. Today, I’d like to share all of the things I’ve learned and present a four step plan for building gorgeous, nearly deer proof gardens.
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Planter ideas: Inspiring design tips for creating gorgeous garden containers

Written by Tara Nolan

I am always on the lookout for creative planter ideas. I find them on walks around my neighborhood, on garden tours, at botanical gardens, even at some of my local nurseries. Besides the endless array of foliage and bloom choices, the containers themselves can also play into the look—or fade into the background, letting the plants get all the attention. It all depends on the look you’re going for. Either way, I look forward to putting together my own planters each spring.

Swiss chard rainbow: The best colorful varieties to grow

Written by Niki Jabbour

There are many reasons to grow Swiss chard in your garden. Not only is it a versatile green that is delicious raw and cooked, it’s also easy to grow, very productive, and available in a wide variety of vibrant colors. It’s fun to grow a Swiss chard rainbow in garden beds and containers and you’ll enjoy tender leaves from spring through late autumn. In this article you’ll get chard growing tips and discover the most colorful varieties to plant.

When to transplant daffodils: Tips for dividing and replanting bulbs

Written by Tara Nolan

I wait with great anticipation each year for my daffodils to bloom. They appear in that second wave after the earlier bulbs, like snowdrops and crocuses. If your clumps seem to be getting too thick, knowing when to transplant daffodils is the best way to ensure that these sunny, springtime bloomers really perform for you year after year. In part, that’s because, if left unchecked, these clumps of bulbs easily can become overcrowded. Overcrowding can negatively affect the overall health of your plants, putting a real damper on flowering.
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Tomato plant leaves curling up? Here’s why

Written by Jessica Walliser

If you notice your tomato plant leaves curling up, don’t panic but do take action. There are several factors that can cause this response in tomatoes and most of them are fairly easy to manage if you catch the issue early enough. In this article, I’ll discuss some of the most common reasons for tomato leaf curl and offer tips for fixing them.
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