Blog
Tips, guides & insights for your garden
Direct Sow These Summer Annuals in May for Months of Cheap, Easy Color
Zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, marigolds, and nasturtiums all do their best work when sown straight into warm garden soil in May. Done right, a five-dollar packet of seeds turns into a border that flowers from June until the first hard frost.
Best AI Garden Design Apps in 2026: 10 Ranked & Compared
I build AI garden design software, so I ranked the field honestly — my own app included, and where it loses. 18 apps tried hands-on, prices verified June 2026.
How to Pick Healthy Plants at the Garden Center This Spring
The first weekend in May is peak nursery season, and the difference between a plant that thrives and one that limps along all summer is often visible in the pot before you ever pay for it. Here is what to look at — roots, stems, leaves, soil — to walk out with plants that actually grow.
Stop Slugs and Snails Before They Wreck Your Spring Garden
Late April is when slug and snail populations explode and tender new growth is most vulnerable. Get ahead of them now with a layered approach that actually works — habitat changes, targeted barriers, and the few baits worth using.
Stake Your Tall Perennials Now, Before the First Big Rain Flattens Them
Peonies, delphiniums, dahlias, and other tall perennials always look fine in late April — until one heavy May rain knocks them flat. The window for getting supports in is short, and the right method depends on the plant.
What to Do With Tulips and Daffodils After They've Bloomed
The decisions you make in the six weeks after your tulips and daffodils finish blooming determine whether next spring's display is brilliant or disappointing. A practical guide to deadheading, foliage care, feeding, and when to lift and divide.
How to Design a Hummingbird Garden That Actually Brings Them In
Hummingbirds are returning to most of North America right now, and a thoughtful garden does far more than a sugar-water feeder. A practical guide to plant choice, layout, and the small details that turn your yard into a hummingbird stop.
Your May Garden Checklist: What to Plant, Prune, and Prep This Month
May is when the garden moves into full gear. Frost is finally behind most of us, tender crops can go in the ground, and the choices you make now set the tone for the entire growing season. Here is a zone-by-zone checklist to keep on track.
How to Design a Garden You'll Love in Every Season
A garden that only looks good in June is empty for nine months. Layer structure, texture, bark, berries, and bloom for year-round interest.