Garden & Outdoors

Guides for growing, landscaping, and enjoying your outdoor spaces.

Before You Plant Anything: An Outdoor Space Assessment Checklist
Garden & Outdoors

Before You Plant Anything: An Outdoor Space Assessment Checklist

Sun exposure, soil drainage, frost dates, and water access all shape what will grow well. Use this checklist to evaluate your yard before buying a single plant.

By Home Editorial Team · 6 min · Sep 17, 2024
Composting at Home: Turning Kitchen Scraps Into Garden Gold
Garden & Outdoors

Composting at Home: Turning Kitchen Scraps Into Garden Gold

Learn how composting works, what to add (and skip), and how to keep a backyard bin from smelling — even in a small space.

By Home Editorial Team · 6 min · Apr 15, 2025
Drought-Tolerant Landscaping: Principles Behind Water-Wise Yards
Garden & Outdoors

Drought-Tolerant Landscaping: Principles Behind Water-Wise Yards

Xeriscaping and drought-tolerant design aren't just for dry climates. Explore the core ideas that reduce water use without sacrificing beauty.

By Home Editorial Team · 8 min · Nov 18, 2024
Everything Gardeners Get Wrong About Watering
Garden & Outdoors

Everything Gardeners Get Wrong About Watering

From watering at night to the daily watering habit — several popular beliefs about irrigation are flat-out wrong. Here's what the evidence says.

By Home Editorial Team · 6 min · May 6, 2026
Growing a Native Plant Garden: What It Means and Why It Matters
Garden & Outdoors

Growing a Native Plant Garden: What It Means and Why It Matters

Native plants are adapted to local conditions and support local wildlife — but choosing the right ones takes some know-how. Here's where to start.

By Home Editorial Team · 8 min · Apr 19, 2025
Mulching Done Right: Coverage, Depth, and What Not to Do Around Tree Bases
Garden & Outdoors

Mulching Done Right: Coverage, Depth, and What Not to Do Around Tree Bases

Mulch protects soil moisture and suppresses weeds — but piling it against tree trunks causes real damage. Here's how to apply it correctly.

By Home Editorial Team · 7 min · Aug 4, 2024
Organic Fertilizer vs. Synthetic Fertilizer: A Practical Comparison for Home Gardens
Garden & Outdoors

Organic Fertilizer vs. Synthetic Fertilizer: A Practical Comparison for Home Gardens

Both organic and synthetic fertilizers feed plants, but they work differently. Compare their trade-offs before choosing an approach for your garden.

By Home Editorial Team · 5 min · Sep 29, 2023
Raised Beds vs. In-Ground Gardens: Which Setup Actually Works Better?
Garden & Outdoors

Raised Beds vs. In-Ground Gardens: Which Setup Actually Works Better?

Raised beds offer drainage and control; in-ground plots offer scale and economy. Here's how to decide which suits your yard and goals.

By Home Editorial Team · 6 min · Jun 25, 2023
Soil Health 101: What's Actually Happening Underground in Your Garden
Garden & Outdoors

Soil Health 101: What's Actually Happening Underground in Your Garden

Discover how soil structure, microbes, and nutrients work together — and why healthy soil is the foundation of any thriving garden.

By Home Editorial Team · 8 min · Jan 14, 2026
Starting a Vegetable Garden From Zero
Garden & Outdoors

Starting a Vegetable Garden From Zero

Never grown food before? This beginner-friendly guide walks you through plot selection, soil prep, planting, and your first harvest.

By Home Editorial Team · 8 min · Mar 29, 2024
The Seasonal Garden Maintenance Calendar
Garden & Outdoors

The Seasonal Garden Maintenance Calendar

A month-by-month reference covering what to plant, prune, fertilize, and protect — organized by season for U.S. home gardeners.

By Home Editorial Team · 5 min · Jan 4, 2025
The Trade-Offs of a Lawn-Free Yard
Garden & Outdoors

The Trade-Offs of a Lawn-Free Yard

Replacing grass with ground cover, gravel, or garden beds has real advantages — and real drawbacks. Here's an honest look at both sides.

By Home Editorial Team · 6 min · Oct 25, 2023
Why Your Tomatoes Keep Cracking Before You Can Pick Them
Garden & Outdoors

Why Your Tomatoes Keep Cracking Before You Can Pick Them

Fruit cracking is one of the most common tomato frustrations. Learn the real causes — and the watering and mulching habits that prevent it.

By Home Editorial Team · 5 min · Aug 16, 2023