We have updated our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Effective July 1

Gardening Planning

Prepare for your next gardening project by discovering our planning ideas & tips.

Fertilizer_iStock_184300332

Filed under:

Fall Fertilizing: Essential Tips to Make Your Yard Grow

Read this guide to learn why autumn is the best time of year to fertilize your yard.
Open airy bedroom full of plants

Best Plants for Your Bedroom

Your bedroom should be a place of peace and rejuvenation. Why not increase the ambiance by adding a plant to your space? Here are some of the best plants for the bedroom.
Jenn Nawada explains plant hardiness zone map.
Play

Understanding the Plant Hardiness Zone Map Update

In this video, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada shares the recent updates to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map.
A variety of pumpkins in different colors

How to Grow Pumpkins

Follow these steps and strategies to learn how to grow pumpkins in your garden for a beautiful, bountiful harvest.
woman planting flowers in backyard garden flowerbed, Soil Options For Your Garden

Understanding the Types of Soil in Your Garden

If you want your plants to prosper, start by getting to know your native soil. Then follow our tips for making it as fertile as can be.
indoor plants, herb, home, window seal

7 Easiest Herbs to Grow Indoors

Whether for cooking or decor, growing indoor herbs is easy and rewarding. Read this guide to learn about the seven best herbs to grow indoors and the conditions and requirements for each.
Mulch_iStock_1406527921

How Much Does Mulch Cost?

Are you planning on refreshing your flowerbeds with a new layer of mulch? Or have you added a new raised bed full of veggies that need some moisture retention? Read on to discover everything from figuring out the volume and how much you can expect to pay to calculating how much mulch you’ll need.
Fall_Garden_iStock_149164106

Expert Tips on Planting a Fall Garden

Cooler temperatures make gardening a more pleasant experience. So start now to enjoy healthy, delicious homegrown vegetables throughout autumn. These tips on timing, sowing, and growing will help.
Fragrant_Garden_0541649

13 Fragrant Plants to Include in Your Garden

Enhance the fragrance factor of your outdoor space with these irresistibly sweet-smelling flowers, herbs, and shrubs.
Bunny_iStock_1174635499

These Plants Will Keep Rabbits Out Of Your Garden

Harvesting your garden is the bountiful payoff for all of that hard work. But if the area you live in is home to many greenery-munching rabbits, you may want to rethink what you’ve planted. Here are some common plants and flowers that repel rabbits, almost guaranteeing you’ll have one less pest to deal with this year.
Sulfur_0647525

Should You Use Sulfur in the Garden?

Sulfur is a powerful nutrient that all plants need to grow and thrive. From determining if your garden lacks this critical element to how to augment it successfully, here’s everything you need to know about adding sulfur to your garden.
ASK_2026_houseplants_SF
Play

Houseplants for Different Areas of the House

This Old House landscape expert Jenn Nawada takes us to a local greenhouse to discuss how to choose houseplants for any room.
ASK_JennNawadaSpecies_08022021MR_0131_SF
Play

All About Holly Bushes

Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada explains how to identify and care for holly plants and incorporate them into a landscape.
FallGarden_iStock_508909395

Best Vegetables to Grow in a Fall Garden

A fall garden is a fantastic way to extend your growing season. Here are the best vegetables to grow no matter what your zone.
Hydroponic_iStock_1134349969

All About Hydroponics

The basics of hydroponics explained—plus the pros and cons of gardening without soil.
ornamental_grass_1924_SF
Play

All About Ornamental Grasses

Ask This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada discusses a variety of ornamental grasses, how to care for them, and how to incorporate them into a landscape design.
arborvitae_1918_SF
Play

All About Arborvitaes

Ask This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada explains some of the basics of selecting and caring for a couple different species of arborvitae.
hot_climate_plants_3718
Play

How to Choose Plants for Hot Climates

Roger Cook, landscape contractor, visits a large nursery in Fayetteville, NC, to see which plants will work well for landscaping in warmer, southern climates.
AdobeStock_306948679__1_.0

Everything‌ ‌You‌ ‌Need‌ ‌to‌ ‌Know‌ ‌About‌ ‌Tri-Color‌ Dappled‌ ‌Willow‌ ‌Trees

Tri-color dappled willow trees are stunning, with gracefully arched branches and new growth that shifts from a lustrous pale pink to whitish-green.
AdobeStock_294696277.0

A Complete Guide to Hass Avocado Trees

Hass avocado trees yield delicious, creamy, nutty fruit and account for 80% of the avocados eaten worldwide.
AdobeStock_133607327.0

Everything You Need to Know About Emerald Green Arborvitae Trees

Emerald Green Arborvitae are hardy, resilient trees that can stand up to drought, insects, and extreme temperatures—all while making excellent accent trees, foundation plants, or privacy screens.
AdobeStock_233599724.0

A Guide to Brown Turkey Fig Trees

If you want to plant a low-maintenance fruit tree, consider the Brown Turkey fig. In this guide, we’ll explore what a Brown Turkey fig tree looks like, how to plant one, and what diseases threaten its ability to survive.
agriculture-berry-close-up-color-298696.0

How to Grow Everbearing Strawberry Plants

If you’re looking for your next home gardening project, consider purchasing an everbearing strawberry plant. In this guide, we’ll explore the appearance, planting process, and maintenance tips for this plant.
AdobeStock_192943648.0

A Guide to Frost-Proof Peach Trees

Get fresh peaches without the hassle of frost and peach leaf curl with a frost proof peach tree. In this guide, we discuss what the tree looks like, how to grow it, and what diseases and wildlife can affect it.
AdobeStock_320463231.0

Everything You Need to Know About Meyer Lemon Trees

Meyer lemon trees combine the best of lemons and mandarin oranges into one hybrid, fruit-bearing tree.
AdobeStock_163901930.0

Everything You Need to Know About Thuja Green Giant Trees

Thuja Green Giant trees are sturdy and adaptable evergreens, with lush green leaves year-round and impressive annual growth.
impatiens

Impatiens Walleriana Make a Colorful Comeback

Impatiens walleriana virtually disappeared from garden centers in recent years due to downy mildew disease. Luckily, this popular annual is back and available to grow this spring.
Backyard Garden

Create Your Best Yard Yet

Getting ahead of your yard work is the difference between enjoying the seasonal rituals of planting, weeding, and deadheading—and falling behind and making the whole thing feel like drudgery. Read this guide to learn what you can do to create your ideal yard.
indoor_garden
Play

How to Plant an Indoor Garden

Ask This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada installs a unique kind of indoor garden for a homeowner who wants to grow vegetables year round.
Yard_Stocksy_txpbf7b154acla200_Large_1305986.0

Creating a Better Yard

Fix up the outside on every side of the house.
clean1726_victorian
Play

How to Plant a Victorian Garden

Ask This Old House landscape designer Jenn Nawada helps a homeowner add some curb appeal using Victorian plants to match the design of his house
clean1720_bulbs
Play

How to Plan for Spring Bulbs

Ask This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook and landscape designer Jenn Nawada share some tips for planting spring bulbs
Lucifer Crocosmia

Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants

A dozen garden stunners you’ll love but those four-legged foragers won’t