Savvy Gardening

Are hydrangeas deer-resistant? Tips and strategies for reducing deer damage

Are hydrangeas deer-resistant? The short answer is no. Deer love to graze on the leaves, flowers, and tender tips of hydrangeas. That said, there are strategies that hydrangea-loving gardeners like me can use to reduce deer damage. First, plant the most resistant types of hydrangeas. Next, use a barrier to keep deer away from your plants. Finally, spray deer repellent to stop grazing. Keep reading to learn more about growing hydrangeas in deer country.

How to harvest oregano for fresh and dried use

Written by Jessica Walliser

Oregano is among the most popular herbs home gardeners can grow. From pizza and salads to pasta and soups, this flavorful herb is used in many dishes and recipes. Purchasing dried and crushed oregano leaves from the grocery store is surprisingly expensive, especially given how easy the plant is to grow and harvest. This article shares information about how to harvest oregano for both fresh use and for drying, along with tips for growing it successfully.
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Direct seeding: Tips on sowing seeds right in the garden

Written by Tara Nolan

Every winter, I make a plan for which veggies, flowers, and herbs I’m going to start from seed throughout the growing season. Some of them get a head start indoors, while others I wait until the timing is right for direct seeding outside. I also have a little list of seeds for succession planting in the summer after certain crops, like garlic and peas. In this article, I’m going to share tips on direct seeding, as well as explain which crops benefit from being started outside.

Growing sunflowers in pots: A step-by-step guide

Written by Niki Jabbour

Cheerful and charming, sunflowers are one of the most popular – and easiest! – annual plants to grow. There are pint-sized sunflowers that grow just a foot tall and giant varieties that reach for the sky, but you don’t need a big garden to grow sunflowers. These classic summer bloomers can be planted in plastic pots, fabric planters, or even buckets. Keep reading to learn more about growing sunflowers in pots.

When to harvest rhubarb for the best flavor and yields

Written by Jessica Walliser

Rhubarb is a hardy perennial vegetable that produces one of the first harvests of the growing season. The edible portion of the rhubarb plant is the petiole – or leaf stem (sometimes also called the stalk). The rhubarb harvest is used to make pies, jams, and desserts, often in combination with strawberries and lots of sugar! But, harvesting the petioles at the wrong time or in the wrong way can impact future plant growth. This article discusses when to harvest rhubarb for the best flavor and yields.
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Low growing perennials: Choosing short plant options for the garden

Written by Tara Nolan

The gardens that lined the lengths of my the backyard at my first home weren’t straight. They were long, smooth curves that evoked a welcoming, almost fairy-tale-like feeling. Between the plants were solar lights that lit the garden at night. The plants in this urban oasis were chosen carefully so that everything could be seen and admired. This included a mix of shrubs, tall perennials, low growing perennials, and groundcovers.