Two Minutes in the Garden

Peat has been a gardening staple for decades -- but at what cost? With growing concerns over climate and ecosystems, is it time we rethink our use of peat?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Why Hummingbirds Are Avoiding Your Feeders

Is overpotting just an old gardening myth we're still clinging to? Is potting up no longer needed? Some research suggests bigger pots might be better -- but it's not that simple.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Why Your Compost Pile Stinks & How to Fix It

You may already be a wildlife gardener, but might you be interested in taking the next step in developing your curiosity about garden wildlife and becoming a naturalist? Inspired by Menno Schilthuizen's new book, The Urban Naturalist.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Tips for Creating a Wildlife Pond & Garden

It's been a hotly debated issue for years: does it improve drainage in your containers if you first add a layer of gravel or some other course material to the bottom? Some new research puts it to the test.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 10 Surprisingly Simple Garden Tips You Might Be Overlooking

Are the weeds in our garden trying to tell us something about our soil? Is it reliable? And should we be taking action based on what they're saying?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Control Weeds Without Herbicides

It's been a controversial suggestion for orchids for many years. It also gets recommended for houseplants in general. But is watering plants with ice cubes a good idea?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Propagate Orchids at Home

Is it true that pests won't attack healthy plants? Can you really determine the health of your plant through one simple measurement? And where did these ideas come from?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: DIY Bee House Using Scrap Lumber

We don't want them in the house, but can we trust ants around our plants? Do we need to step in and do something, or might they be beneficial in the garden?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 2024 Fall Hummingbird Migration (Canada & United States)

An overview of vermicomposting -- worm composting. It provides very similar benefits to the garden as composting, but can be done indoors and stay active year-round, even in colder areas.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Save Seeds: Collecting Seeds From Your Garden Plants

Over the last 200 years, earthworms have gone from being despised by gardeners to being loved as signs of healthy soil. Many gardeners now even raise worms in their houses to create vermicompost. But it's not all rosy.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Simple Trick to Save the Best Seeds from Your Garden

Are today's fruits and vegetables -- the ones you buy at the store -- less nutritious than they used to be? You hear that a lot, but you'll also hear that it's a myth.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Outdoor Plant Tags & Markers that Last a Lifetime (Really)

We always used to be able to say that there were no GMO garden seeds. That's still true in most of the world but, in the U.S., gardeners can now buy seeds for the genetically engineered, high-antioxidant Purple Tomato.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: What to Know Before Reusing Old Potting Mix

A recent study claimed that urban-grown fruits and vegetables had a carbon footprint six times that of those from conventional farms. Rants ensued.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Monarch Butterflies: How Gardeners Can Truly Help

For the last 15 years, gardeners have been told that soil acts like an antidepressant, thanks to a particular bacterium. Is there anything to it?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Winter Sowing: Two Reliable Methods for Outdoor Seed Starting

It can do great things on farms, but does crop rotation make sense in a garden? What are the benefits claimed for crop rotation, and can we get those same benefits in easier ways?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How To Compost In The Winter (Easy Method)

Do nutrients really specialize in one aspect of plant growth, like roots or shoots? Why adding more of one nutrient to your soil, like a phosphorus-heavy bloom booster, often doesn't provide any benefit.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Growing Poinsettias: Year-Round Care & Reblooming Guide

Are you using a balanced fertilizer in your garden? It may seem like a simple and effective way to provide nutrients to your plants, but it could also cause problems for your soil and for the environment.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Indoor Seed Starting: Best DIY Setup on a Budget

Most countries use a confusing and outdated NPK labelling system for fertilizer packages. What do the numbers mean? Depending on where you live, it's probably not what you think. And why is a "balanced fertilizer" not so balanced after all?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: When to Take Down Hummingbird Feeders in Fall

Our plants can't live without them, but how do we know that they're getting them? Do we need to feed them to our plants? And what are these essential nutrients?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Make African Violets Bloom & Rebloom

Not everyone wants them in their garden, but others grow them deliberately. They aren't even plants. So what are mushrooms and are they okay around our plants?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 2023 Fall Hummingbird Migration (Canada & United States)

What kinds of soap should we be using -- or avoiding -- in the garden? What about liquid dish soap? And we're all familiar with soap, but what is it, exactly?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 25 Vegetables You Can Grow in Shade

Compost is great for your garden, but can you have too much of a good thing? What problems could there be if you use too much? Will it harm your plants ... or something else?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Bring Plants Inside: Timing & Debugging Tips

What can you add to your compost pile? Is it any organic material, or are there some things you may want to avoid? What about dryer lint or hair?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Hostas for Sun: Sun-Tolerant Options For Your Garden

Calculating C:N ratios? Regular turning? For anyone who's been put off from composting because it sounds too involved -- it really isn't as hard as it's sometimes made out to be.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Breaking the Eggshell Myth in Gardening

When it comes to building healthy soil, there may be no more important tool in the garden than compost. So what is compost, and how does it help our plants?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Propagate Sweet Potatoes to Grow New Slips

We've heard that humus is good for our garden, but do we know what it actually is? And, for that matter, does ANYONE know what it actually is? And why has humus become a controversial topic?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Why Frogs & Toads Are Good For Our Gardens

We're told not to overwater our plants, but some popular houseplants grow fine with their roots fully immersed in water and nearly all outdoor plants experience overwatering at times. How does that work?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Tips for Choosing the Right Clematis Trellis

No Mow May is a popular initiative that encourages people to stop mowing their lawns for a month to help bees and other pollinators. But does it really work? And what are the drawbacks? In this episode, we explore the pros and cons of No Mow May from a gardener's perspective.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: The Surprising Benefits of Moths in Your Garden

Frogs enrich your garden in many ways: they control pests, provide food for other wildlife, and indicate a healthy environment. In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of frogs and their role in the garden ecosystem.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Get Rid of Weeds: Easy Tips For Organic Gardeners

At the beginning of a new gardening season, temperatures are still low, but some vegetables thrive in cool weather and can be ready to eat in just a few weeks. Choose these vegetables and before you know it, you'll eating your first batch of produce fresh from your garden.MORE FROM Empress of Dirt: 20 Fast-Growing Vegetables in 4-6 Weeks (Spring or Fall)

Most bees don't live in hives and most don't live in hollow stems. They live in the ground and emerge from the soil in the spring and summer to join us in the garden. What can we do to make their winters easier?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Tea Time: How to Harvest & Dry Homegrown Herbs

Deer can cause a lot of damage to your garden, but there are ways to prevent or reduce it. Learn about different types of fences, repellents, deterrents and deer-resistant plants that can help you protect your plants from these hungry animals.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: The Complete Guide to Growing Delphiniums in Your Garden

Also known in many parts of the world as bicarbonate of soda or bicarb soda -- you see it recommended for dozens of uses in the garden. It sounds pretty harmless, but should we be using it around our plants?READ MORE at Empress of Dirt: Baking Soda in the Garden: Is it Really Harmless?

What's the advantage of starting seeds -- especially indoors? What do you need? What do seeds need to germinate? And how can you improve your odds against diseases?READ THE FULL GUIDE at Empress of Dirt: Seed Starting for Beginners: Sow Inside Grow Outside

Carrots are one of the most popular vegetables to grow in the garden, and you can get them in a range of sizes and a rainbow of colors.ALSO FROM Empress of Dirt: How To Grow Carrots Indoors At Home In Flower PotsAND: How To Grow Fairy Carrots In Jars

Does hitting the trunk of a tree with a baseball bat or or a stick make it produce more leaves -- or maybe more flowers or fruit? It sounds crazy, but is there anything to it?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Houseplants & Humidity: Tips That Help (& Those That Do Not)

In permaculture circles, they're called dynamic accumulators -- plants that accumulate above average levels of particular nutrients in their leaves, which we can then add to compost piles, use as mulch or in other ways make the nutrients available to our plants. Do they work?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Grow Leafy Greens Indoors at Home (Simple & Fast Method)

Humidity doesn't get as much attention as temperature, light and soil moisture, but it can have a big effect on our plants. Many houseplants prefer more humidity than we give them, especially over the winter. What can we do about that?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Homemade Peanut Butter Suet for Birds (Easy Recipe)

It's one of the world's most popular houseplants. Easy to grow and easy to propagate -- and maybe even a handy source of some skincare gel.

What makes the leaves of some trees change color? Is there a benefit to the trees? And what about deciduous trees that keep leaves over the winter?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Propagate African Violets (Step-By-Step Tutorial)

Many gardeners put paper overtop of a lawn to create a new garden bed. Or add paper to their compost pile. Is it safe?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How To Bring Plants Indoors For The Winter (Best Timing & Bug-Free Tips)

You hear it suggested a lot in gardening circles as a pesticide and maybe even to prevent diseases, but what is horticultural oil and how does it work?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Creative No-Carve Pumpkin Ideas (Quick & Fun)

Blue flowers do exist in nature, but not in many of our most popular flowers. And it's even been a struggle for scientists to create them.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Great Fall Weather? Get These Garden Jobs Done

It's not for everyone, but human urine in the garden has lots of enthusiasts. Urine contains lots of nitrogen and several other essential nutrients, but it also has some things that aren't so good for plants.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How To Welcome Dragonflies To Your Garden

We've all heard that we should be planting more milkweed to help a declining number of monarchs, but some reports say they're actually doing fine without our help.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How To Keep Houseplants Watered While On Vacation

They've become poster children for the global decline in insect numbers and they face significant threats. How might we be able to help monarchs in our garden?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Easy Houseplant Tagging System To Simplify Plant Care

They're big and colorful -- powerful fliers that stand out in a crowd. And they eat mosquitoes. What can we do to attract dragonflies to our garden?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How To Grow Rosemary From Cuttings (Indoors or Outdoors)

Keeping carbon out of the air and in our garden can help the environment, but can we keep carbon sequestered and have healthy soil at the same time?NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Grow an Oak Tree From an Acorn (Step By Step)

Carbon sequestration is one way our plants help the environment -- by taking carbon out of the air and holding on to it or putting it in the soil.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Soil Calculator (Mulch, Compost, & Potting Mix Too)

They aren't the world's fastest-growing trees, but you can start with an acorn and -- with some patience -- end up with a tree that supports a diverse range of wildlife in your garden.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Mid-Summer Garden Tasks: What To Do Now

Oak trees not only look great, they support a diverse range of birds, insects and other wildlife, as well as microorganisms in the soil.NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How To Grow Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine (& Creative Display Ideas)