Savvy Gardening

The best LED grow lights for indoor gardening

Using a grow light to start seeds or grow houseplants, microgreens, and herbs inside your home is an efficient way to promote healthy plant growth. LED grow lights have become the standard for indoor gardeners for their energy efficiency and long life. Yet with so many options available you might be wondering how to choose the best LED grow lights. Over the years I’ve used many LED light systems to grow all types of indoor plants. Below I share my top choices for LED spotlights, tabletop models, and multi-tier grow stands. Keep reading to learn more.

Can you reuse potting soil? Yes, and here’s how

Written by Jessica Walliser

Gardeners who grow in containers may find themselves asking “Can you reuse potting soil?” In this article, I’m going to answer that question, along with a few others you might have about recycling used potting soil. Commercially made potting soils are expensive, and even if you follow our DIY potting soil recipes and make your own mixes, the cost can still take a bite out of your gardening budget. Reusing potting soil can help. But it won’t work in every situation, and you have to follow a few guidelines to ensure the health of your container plants. Let’s dig in!
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When to trim boxwoods and how to do it right

Written by Jessica Walliser

Knowing when to trim boxwoods—and which methods and tools to use for the job—is as important for establishing new, young plants as it is for properly maintaining older, larger boxwood bushes. Luckily, with a few snips here and there, it’s easy to spur new growth or simply preserve an existing, desired shape.
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Winter shrub covers: Tips to protect from the weather and wildlife

Written by Tara Nolan

While there are lots of shrubs that will do perfectly fine over the winter, sometimes they need a little help to make it through. And that may not be just as a result of cold temperatures. Hungry wildlife could be after some of those tender branches, too. My cedar hedges in the backyard are consistently turned into lollipops because the deer enjoy nibbling the lower branches if they pass through our yard. Winter shrub covers are a great way to protect vulnerable bushes. In this article, I’m going to share tips on choosing winter covers, and how to safely wrap your shrubs.

How to use a bee house: Tips for installation and care

Written by Tara Nolan

Between my gardening practices, the plants I dig into my garden, and structures like my pollinator palace, I’m always looking for ways to support bees and other beneficial insects on my property. While bee houses have become quite popular, they don’t always come with the information on how to use one.

Snake plant leaves turning yellow: 9 causes and solutions

Written by Niki Jabbour

There’s a reason snake plants are my favorite houseplant. First, they have attractive upright foliage in a range of colors and variegations. Secondly, they’re super easy to grow, tolerating most light conditions and thriving on neglect. That said, occasionally you may notice snake plant leaves turning yellow. Don’t panic! It’s not easy to kill a snake plant. You just need to figure out the issue. Below I share nine reasons a snake plant’s leaves may turn yellow and how to fix them.