Latest articles by Mary Ellen Ellis
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Why Your Winter Squash is Rotting From the Bottom in October – and How to Save the Rest of Your HarvestEnd rot is a common challenge for winter squash in fall but once you've identified the cause, it's simple to rescue the remaining crop.
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What Dahlias Need in October: 6 Easy Tasks for Plenty More Blooms and Winter-Ready TubersDon’t get too dazzled by this season’s fabulous show of dahlia flowers because you need to start preparing tubers for winter to enjoy even bigger blooms next year.
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What to Do With Geraniums in October – 6 Easy Tasks to Extend Blooms and Save Plants for Next YearFrost may be approaching, but your favorite geraniums don’t have to be finished. Now is the time to choose an overwintering strategy.
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Your Gloomy Yard Spaces Need These 7 Shade-Friendly Superstars For Lasting Blooms and Sparkle in FallSummer may have faded, but shady corners don't have to look dull or forgotten. These sublime shade-tolerant superstars bring rich texture, luminous blooms, and lasting sparkle through to winter
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Want Your Hostas to Come Back Next Year? Do These 5 Things Before September EndsSeptember hosta care is all about supporting natural dormancy. Check off these five essential tasks to tuck yours in for the winter.
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Just as Other Plants Start to Fade, These 6 Ornamental Grasses Hit Their StrideAutumn color isn't just for trees. These stunning ornamental grasses will have your borders outshining even the brightest maples this fall.
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September is the Time to Start Fertilizing Your Cool-Season Lawn – Don’t Make These 4 Fertilizing MistakesEarly fall is a make or break time for lawn fertilizing. Don't let next spring's lawn suffer by making these fall fertilizing mistakes!
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These 6 Edible Plants Are Almost Too Pretty for the Vegetable Garden – Add Them to Your Fall Borders InsteadWhen it comes to crops that look good, fruits and berries steal the spotlight, but these vegetables and herbs are also capable of dazzling displays that look as good as they taste
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What to Do With Hellebores in Fall to Ensure Elegant Winter Blooms – 5 Easy Tasks to Check Off Your List in SeptemberMake sure you do these simple tasks before the first frost to ensure your hellebores are full of lovely late winter and early spring blooms.
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What Fuchsias Need in September – 6 Tips for a Final Flush and Gloriously Flamboyant Flowers Next YearA little attention now can prolong this year’s floral show while helping your favorite fuchsias return in fabulous form next season.
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Stop Growing These 6 Vegetables in the Ground – They Grow Better in Containers for Longer, Tastier HarvestsWhile container vegetables might often feel like the supporting act for a dedicated vegetable patch, these veg superstars thrive in pots, extend your harvest window, and give peak flavors through fall
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What to do with Peonies in September – 5 Easy Tasks That Will Ensure Beautiful, Blousy Blooms Next YearFall is a critical time for peony care. What you do now will set up your plants for success next spring.
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September is the Perfect Time to Divide These 6 Perennials – But Don’t Touch These Ones Yet!September is the perfect time to begin dividing certain perennials so you can expand your garden for free while also tidying your yard. Call that a win-win!
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I Used to Get Rid of Fallen Acorns and Pinecones – Until I Found Out How Useful They AreYour fall lawn debris is actually a valuable resource. Here are 6 clever ways to use fallen pinecones and acorns in your garden.
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Sorry Tulips, These Are the 7 Bulbs Everyone's Planting This SeptemberDon't settle for ordinary flower beds. Plant these unique bulbs now for a show-stopping garden next spring.
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6 Fast-Growing Cover Crops to Sow in September for Richer Soil by SpringDon't leave your garden beds bare this winter. These 6 easy cover crops fix nitrogen, suppress weeds, and build rich spring soil.
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Do You Know the September Stagger? This Easy Late-Season Pruning Trick Will Transform Your Fall BordersThe famous Chelsea chop works wonders in early summer – but the September stagger is a brilliant way to selectively slice fall perennials and rejuvenate your late season blooms
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Every Garden Needs One Plant That Can Handle Drought – These 7 Still Look Good in Early Fall Dry SpellsHeat and dry spells can leave many garden borders looking weary and wilted, but these 7 drought-tolerant perennials deliver crisp, vibrant fall beauty that refuses to flop or fade
