Basics

Whether you're new to gardening or experienced, everyone needs some gardening basics to get going!

In this category, you'll find a wealth of information that spans a wide number of topics. From seed starting to grow bag gardening, pruning tips to raised bed tricks, you'll find the fundamentals of gardening awaiting you here.

While it's optimized towards new gardeners, even a pro can find useful tips in our Basics category. We all need to get back to basics sometimes, and there are always useful tools and tips that other gardeners have developed along the way to add to your own practices.

Our Basics category can inspire you to new gardening heights, too. Those who have experience with in-ground planting can learn about other techniques such as raised beds or vertical gardening.

A close-up shot of a monarch butterfly feeding on nectar of a composition of pink flowers, showcasing late summer pollinator plants

Gardening Tips

15 Essential Pollinator Plants That Boom in August

As the summer comes to an end, pollinators search for sources to provide nourishment for migration and hibernation. By planting these late summer bloomers, we can create a refuge for them in our gardens. Join beekeeper and pollinator enthusiast Melissa Strauss to learn about August bloomers that support pollinators.

A vibrant field of red, orange, and yellow daisy-like flowers with textured golden-brown centers and green foliage, showcasing underrated pollinator plants.

Gardening Tips

13 Underrated Pollinator Plants You Should Grow

Some of the best plants to add to your pollinator garden go largely unnoticed. These may not appear on many lists, so we wanted to share them with you. Join pollinator enthusiast and beekeeper Melissa Strauss for some underrated pollinator plants you can grow.

shade cloth hanging over green plants

Gardening Tips

How and When to Provide Shade Cover for Plants in Summer

As we head into the peak of summer heat and sun, even our plants get a little weary. In cases of prolonged high temperatures or dry spells, extra shade protection helps maintain their health and production. Gardening expert Katherine Rowe explores when to protect our plants to offer cooling relief from summer extremes.

A close-up shot of a large purple colored flower, growing alongside a cluster of ripening fruits, showcasing intercropping zinnias with tomatoes

Companion Planting

Can You Plant Zinnias With Tomatoes?

Combining flowers with vegetables in the same growing space is a great strategy to maximize garden productivity and visual appeal at the same time. But not all plant partnerships work equally well together. Gardening expert Madison Moulton explores whether zinnias and tomatoes make good companions and how to successfully grow them together.

A close-up of a small snail pest with a coiled shell crawling on wavy, bright green, glossy lettuce leaves.

Gardening Inspiration

What’s Eating My Lettuce? 7 Common Lettuce Pests

Lettuce is easy to grow in the ground, in raised beds, and in pots, indoors or out. However, the crispy crunch of a fresh leaf is not immune to several pests who may beat us to the goodness. Gardening expert Katherine Rowe explores what to scout for and how to stave off common lettuce invaders.

A close-up shot of a person's hand in the process of directly sowing a germ of a plant, highlighting when to do fall seed-starting

Seeds

When to Begin Fall Seed-Starting: Tips for Your Zone

We may be in the heart of summer, growing and harvesting, but it’s not too early to begin planning or even starting some of our favorite fall seeds. From blooms to vegetables, with direct sowing or starting indoors, garden expert Katherine Rowe outlines when to begin fall seed starting for your growing zone.