Savvy Gardening

Winter sowing: An easy, low-cost technique for starting seeds

Winter sowing is one of my favorite techniques for starting seeds because it’s easy, doesn’t take up indoor space, uses recycled materials, and is a low-cost way to produce a lot of seedlings. It’s also very effective for many types of vegetable, perennial, annual, and herb seeds. In this article you’ll learn when to winter sow and get step-by-step instructions for sowing seeds in milk jugs as well as plastic containers.

Monstera adansonii: How to grow the Swiss cheese vine

Written by Jessica Walliser

The Swiss cheese vine (Monstera adansonii) is a charming houseplant with unique foliage and a vining growth habit. With holes scattered throughout its leaves, it’s perfect for houseplant parents who are looking to add a bit of quirkiness to their collection. In this article, I’ll offer care advice for Monstera adansonii, along with tips for propagation and troubleshooting.
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Annual vs perennial plants: Understanding the differences

Written by Tara Nolan

For those who are new to gardening, figuring out what’s an annual vs perennial plant is an important piece of information to take to the garden center. This knowledge helps determine how you plant up a new garden, or add to an existing plot, and it guides you to container arrangement options. Once you figure out what you need to put where, your seed and plant list will take shape. Where things get tricky is when you get into terms like hardy annual or tender perennial on a plant tag. What do they all mean? This article will share information about both annuals and perennials, and the variations that come with each definition.

Climbing nasturtium: How to grow this colorful annual vine

Written by Niki Jabbour

Climbing nasturtium plants are the perfect annual flower to grow vertically on fences, trellises, and arches. The vigorous stems grow 5 to 6 feet in length and the vines flower non-stop from mid-summer until frost. Bees and hummingbirds love the cup-shaped flowers which come in brilliant shades of red, orange, gold, pink, and cream, as well as many bi-colors. The best part? Climbing nasturtiums are super easy to grow in garden beds and containers. Keep reading to learn more about how to plant, grow, and care for climbing nasturtiums plants.

Dwarf Hinoki cypress: A compact evergreen for year-round beauty

Written by Jessica Walliser

True to its name, the dwarf Hinoki cypress may be one of the more diminutive evergreens you can grow, but it makes an oversized contribution when it’s included in landscaping or container gardens. With its fan-shaped foliage ranging in color from golden yellow to deep green, this compact shrub is an excellent winter interest plant that also looks great all year long. Dwarf Hinoki cypress shrubs add extra texture and dimension when included in rock gardens, entryways, and many other planting sites. They work particularly well for gardeners with small spaces. What’s more, this dwarf evergreen is a good candidate for topiary displays and even bonsai.
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When to cut back asparagus for healthy, productive plants

Written by Jessica Walliser

When to cut back asparagus is a common question among vegetable gardeners. While growing asparagus isn’t difficult, knowing when and how to prune these perennial plants can mean the difference between a prolific harvest of healthy spears and poor production from pest-ridden plants. In this article, I’ll share important insight into how asparagus grows and then offer information on the best time to cut back asparagus plants for optimum plant health and production.
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