Savvy Gardening

Native white aster plants for the garden

As most most perennials start to fade and tree leaves transform into their brilliant fall coats, white aster plants (among other varieties) provide mini fireworks displays of color in the garden. Actually, a lot of them aren’t in the garden because they’ve just appeared wherever their seeds have ended up—at least in my yard they have. They’re in the lawn, in the stones of my firepit, at the edge of the ravine. I love coming across their delicate blooms, shining through a pile of dead leaves.

Yellow raspberries: How to grow these golden gems in a home garden

Written by Tara Nolan

Simple to grow with an excellent flavor that’s generally more sweet than tart, yellow raspberries are a type of specialty berry well worth adding to your garden. I have a new garden where my husband and I dug out invasive lily-of-the-valley and daylilies that I want to put to better use. My vision is a collection of berry bushes, including yellow raspberry varieties, because they are hardy and survive our cold winters.

Anthurium: A complete guide to growing anthuriums

Written by Niki Jabbour

Anthurium is an exotic-looking plant with showy red, pink, or white flowers and glossy green leaves. The blooms can last for months, with the large, heart-shaped spathes adding bold color to indoor spaces. Commonly called flamingo flower, this tropical makes an excellent houseplant thriving in a site with bright, indirect light. Keep reading to learn more about growing, caring for, and propagating anthurium plants.

When to cut back hostas: 3 options for healthier, more attractive plants

Written by Jessica Walliser

Among the most popular perennials for shade gardens, knowing when to cut back hostas is an important part of their care. Hosta leaves are stars of the low-light garden, with hundreds of cultivars that come in many different shades of green. The foliage of these low-maintenance plants looks glorious all summer long, but when fall strikes and the first frost arrives, they quickly turn yellow and die back. But when is the best time to prune back hosta leaves? Is it in the fall or the spring? In this article, I’ll discuss the 3 main pruning times for hostas and share some reasons for each.
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Gifts for garden lovers: Useful items for a gardener’s collection

Written by Tara Nolan

When it comes to finding gifts for garden lovers, it can be tricky to know what to purchase. A seasoned green thumb likely has a pretty good collection of tools by now. A novice gardener is still probably in acquiring mode, deciding what works best for them. All gardeners are different and will have their go-tos. But sometimes it’s helpful to choose items you’ve fallen in love with—or one a fellow gardener has discovered is invaluable—that you know someone else would appreciate. In this article, I’m going to share some of our Savvy Gardening favorites, as well as some quick tips on why they make a thoughtful gift.

Growing herbs in water: Tips for success and 10 delicious options

Written by Niki Jabbour

Growing herbs in water is an easy way to create an indoor herb garden on a windowsill or under a grow light. Herbs like basil, thyme, mint, and parsley add incredible flavor to food and most are easy to grow in water. Plus, it’s a mess-free and pest-free method to enjoy fresh herbs all year long. Keep reading to get tips on growing herbs in water and discover ten of the best kitchen herbs to grow this way.