Latest articles by Amy Draiss
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Forget Mums! These 5 Low Maintenance Container Combos Bring Fresh Curbside Color that Lasts Through FallWhy go for the predictable potted options? If you want easy fall wins for pots, these gorgeous drought-tolerant combinations will dazzle all season long. Move over, mums!
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Garden Mythbusters: Does the Pointy End of a Bulb Really Need to Face Up When You Plant It?The "pointy end up" rule has dominated fall bulb planting for generations, but what really happens when it goes in differently? If you don’t know which way is best, this will put you right…
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Former Garden Center Manager Reveals 5 Plants You Should Always Buy on Clearance – and 3 Plants to SkipIn the first installment of Garden Center Secrets, Amy Draiss, a former garden center manager shares which plants you should (and shouldn't) buy on clearance.
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Is Your Hydrangea a Lazy Bloomer? 6 Easy September Fixes to Unlock a Gorgeous Comeback Next YearIf you’ve been underwhelmed by a lack of blooms on your favorite shrub this season, these fixes will help turn things around for a glorious, flower-packed show next year
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Cut Back These 8 Tired Perennials Before August Ends – And You’ll Get An Extra Flush of Blooms This YearBeds and borders looking weary? Don't let them go to seed. Cutting back these key perennials before the end of August can trigger one more vibrant bloom display before winter
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8 Houseplants You Can Count On When Everything Outside is Wilting – For Luxe Appeal That Lasts All Year RoundWhile your backyard transitions through late-summer heat, these indoor knockouts deliver instant lush, low-maintenance greenery and season-defying beauty – and never lose their luxe appeal
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What Your Lavender Needs in August – These 5 Easy Tasks Keep Your Plants Lush and Multiply Your BloomsLate-summer lavender care directly determines future flowering potential and can even triple next year’s display. Here’s how to keep your plants lush, woody-free, and fragrant year after year
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Easy Lawn Mower Maintenance – 7 Quick Checks to Help Your Machine Cut Like New and Save on Costly RepairsHow To Avoid expensive repair bills and costly replacements and keep your grass looking first class. This essential lawn mower maintenance checklist ensures your machine cuts like new all season long
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What Your Dahlias Need in August – 5 Easy Wins for Massive Blooms That Keep Dazzling Until First FrostYou can supercharge your dahlia display this August with a few quick, high-impact tasks, designed to trigger a fresh wave of vibrant flowers that keep going strong through fall
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Plant These 6 Ornamental Grasses in August – For Effortless Movement, Texture and Lush Fall DramaHigh summer is a chance for a fresh wave of color, but it isn’t just flowers promising showstopping new displays. These 6 ornamental grasses promise a long, vibrant season of interest
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How to Use a Chainsaw – Easy Beginner’s Guide for Safe Handling, Clean Cuts, and Great ResultsHOW TO A beginner’s guide to how to cut with a chainsaw
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These 5 Fast-Growing Plants Hide AC Units Beautifully and Reduce Sound – Without Blocking AirflowAC units may work hard to keep us cool, but these lush evergreens work harder, concealing ugly utility eyesores and muffling sound without blocking vital airflow
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Is Too Much Color Killing Your Curb Appeal? Try This 2-Color Plant Trick for Easy Style PointsIt’s easy to go overboard with summer displays and use every color you love, but the results can look jarring. This trick calms the chaos and boosts your street cred with high impact color
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Why You Shouldn’t Plant Purple in the Shade – And Why You Need to Grow These 5 High Impact Plants InsteadPlanting purple flowers in the shade seems like an easy way to add rich color, but in low light those lush tones can often disappear. Here’s why purple fails in the shade, and the plants you should try instead
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What Your Clematis Needs in July – 5 Vital Tasks to Fit in Before the Month Ends for Lush Growth and Masses of BloomsJuly is a make-or-break month for clematis, so give your queen of climbers the right care to help unlock the most impressive displays of blooms
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Take Cuttings From These 6 Plants in July and Get Dozens More for Free – Fill Out Your Garden Without Spending a Penny!July is a great time to take cuttings from these wonderful plants and get them rooting well before the fall. Expand your garden in the most budget-friendly way!
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These 5 Cottage Garden Flowers May Look Delicate – But They Thrive in Extreme Summer ConditionsDon’t let their pretty looks fool you: these deceptively dainty blooms thrive through drought, heat and poor soil, proving you can have breathtaking, old-world charm without the high maintenance
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A Heatwave Can Spoil Bird Bath Water Fast – This Simple Copper Trick Keeps It Fresher for LongerIf algae, cloudy water, and constant cleaning have become frustrating, this budget-friendly copper disc may be worth trying.
