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.

Young hydrangea cuttings with green, slightly serrated leaves are rooted in plastic cups filled with soil, standing in a garden flowerbed ready to propagate hydrangeas in the fall.

Propagation

How To Propagate Hydrangeas in Fall

While we often associate hydrangea propagation with a spring activity, we can also accomplish it in the fall with a little extra care to overwinter. Cuttings, ground layering, and division are methods to try early to mid-season. Gardening expert Katherine Rowe outlines how to add to our hydrangea display with propagation techniques this fall.

A base angle shot of a composition of developing flowers under a bright, full moon, showcasing moon phase gardening

Gardening Tips

How To Garden With the Moon Phases

The moon, as an ancient timekeeper and astronomical force, has a bearing on plant vigor for those attuned to lunar gardening. Gardening with the moon phases is about harnessing the physical effects of lunar activity on water draw and gravitational pull. Timing the phases with planting and harvesting yields the juiciest crops and the most robust roots. Here, we explore the historic method and how to try moon gardening in our own landscapes to measure results.

A close-up shot of a person's hand holding an uprooted foliage, showcasing how to remove invasive plants

Gardening Tips

How to Remove Invasive Plants from Your Property

Unruly and aggressive, invasive plants blanket the ground with dense growth. They displace native plant species and harm ecosystems over time. Don’t let them grow in your yard, or they’ll quickly spread out of control! Join native plant gardener Jerad Bryant to learn how to remove invasive plants from your property.

Two glowing fireflies rest on a vibrant green fern leaf amidst the fall garden.

Gardening Tips

Inviting Fireflies to the Garden: It Starts in Fall!

Did you catch the magic of fireflies in the garden this summer? If so, support them all year with easy steps in fall (including less end-of-season maintenance). If you missed them, measures to increase garden biodiversity may help lure them. Not only flashy, but they also bring predatory and pollinator benefits. Gardening expert Katherine Rowe explores how to invite fireflies to the garden with a foundation this fall.

A close-up shot of a group of livestock with a person in the background collecting their eggs, showcasing fall chicken care

Gardening Tips

Fall Chicken Care: What to Do Before First Frost

Fall is a transitional time for chickens and their owners. As egg laying and the weather cools off, there are many tasks you can carry out to protect your girls over the winter. Join chicken mom Melissa Strauss for some tips on caring for your chicks in the fall.

A close-up shot of a poultry livestock walking in a yard area with dried, fallen foliage, showcasing fall leaves chickens

Gardening Tips

5 Ways to Repurpose Fall Leaves For Your Chickens

If you have a ton of deciduous trees and you need to use them up, save them for your coop. Garden gold comes from fall leaves. Chickens can benefit too! Find out how you can repurpose that fallen foliage as experienced gardener Sarah Jay provides 5 ways to do so!

A shot of a person in the process of raking and cleaning a yard area of fallen leaves, beside a wheelbarrow, showcasing october gardening zones 6-8 checklist

Gardening Tips

Your October Gardening Checklist for Zones 6 through 8

October lets us relish the heart of fall in zones 6 and 7, with zone 8 warmth lingering a little longer. Mild days, cool nights, and shorter daylengths trigger seasonal change. With frost right around the corner, garden accomplishments now prepare for healthy overwintering. The garden checklist this month also includes enjoying the easy beauty and harvests that fall brings.