
Mary Ellen Ellis
Mary Ellen Ellis is an amateur gardener and freelance writer who lives in the Detroit area. She has degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry and is a former high school science teacher. She has been gardening for more than 20 years and writing professionally for 15. Mary Ellen is the proud owner of only a few houseplants because she has cats who cannot stop chewing on them. Because of this she has developed a hobby growing terrarium plants that cats can’t reach.
Latest articles by Mary Ellen Ellis
-
Grow A Shade Fern Garden: 6 Ways To A Fern-Based Sanctuary For Texture & Tranquility
Lovers of ferns can make dynamic growing spaces even in gloomy and sun-starved spaces – here’s how to create the perfect shade fern garden
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
Expert Reveals Her Top Tips for Transplanting Peonies With Ease – Plus, Why September is the Perfect Time to Move Plants
Peonies don't like being moved. But if you do it right, they can thrive in a new location. Here are my top tips for a smooth move why you should do it now.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
8 Of The Best Thriller Plants for Fall Containers – Revamp A Classic Planting Recipe With These Seasonal Showstoppers For Autumn
If you want to create dazzling autumn containers, the ‘thriller filler spiller’ combo is a great recipe for success. Here are the best thriller plants for fall pots and planters
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
Struggling to Get Rid of Moss in Your Lawn? Here's What I Learned About Growing a Moss-Free Yard That I Wish Knew Years Ago
The secret to a moss-free lawn is balance. Here's how I learned to strike the perfect equilibrium in my yard—and you can, too!
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
End-of-Summer Container Care: How to Winterize and Replant Pots for Year-Round Beauty
Give faded summer pots a second act with smart tips on cleaning or storing, or overwintering and planting to keep them looking good through the colder months.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
7 Hardy Perennials to Plant in September for Spring Borders Bursting With Color
Stunning spring gardens are made in fall. Plant these hardy perennials now and enjoy a burst of color that lasts from late winter through to the end of spring.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
Create the Ultimate Perennial Shade Garden – Gardening Expert Shares 8 Easy Insider Secrets to a Four-Season Sanctuary
Creating a shade garden relies on smart planting and landscaping schemes that look good year round. Try these perennial shade garden ideas for year-round vitality and interest
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
6 Container Gardening Habits You Need to Ditch! If These Potting Problems Apply to You, it’s Time to Make Amends
Are you guilty of any of these bad container gardening habits? Learn how to break them so you can have the best containers year after year.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
This Unlikely Kitchen Scrap Repels Slugs & Fertilizes Soil – Toss it into Your Garden Instead of the Trash
You probably throw away this one item that can repel pests and improve soil every morning. Here's why you should toss it into your garden instead of the trash.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
7 High-Maintenance Flowers You Should Never Plant if You Want an Easy-Care Garden – Plus, Low-Maintenance Blooms to Grow Instead
Just keep walking next time you see these high-maintenance flowers at the nursery. They aren't worth the time and effort, according to this longtime gardener.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
Extend The Strawberry Harvest Season into Fall – 5 Easy Ways To Bring on the Berries for Longer!
While strawberries are synonymous with summer, there are ways to make harvests last for longer. Here are 5 ideas on how to extend the strawberry harvest season into fall
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
9 Most Prolific Dahlia Varieties For Extended Color Through Summer and Fall
These long-blooming beauties will endure for months on end, filling your garden with a sea of glorious color that just keeps on coming.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
I Took Control of My Neighbor's Overgrown Hedge – and Learned the Trimming Etiquette Everyone Should Know
When her neighbor began to neglect their boundary hedge, gardening writer Mary Ellen Ellis took matters into her own hands and learned a lot along the way.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
How To Prune Lavender For Even More Heavenly-Scented Blooms – Just Follow These 5 Simple Tips
Pruning lavender at the right way is essential for promoting robust growth and prolific flowering. Here's how and when to do it for the best results.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
8 Easiest Plants To Propagate From Cuttings Before Summer Ends – Expand Your Garden For Free Before It's Too Late!
Don't let summer pass without propagating cuttings from these 8 easy-to-grow plants. Here's how to make the cut for more of your favorite varieties for free.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
Choose These Vegetables To Plant In August – Enjoy Quick Fall Harvests And Get The Jump On Cool-Weather Crops
Late summer can feel tight in terms of knowing what to grow next. To guarantee you enjoy tasty crops both in fall and in cooler weather, these are the 8 vegetables to plant in August
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
Prune These 7 Plants In August To Prepare Them For Fall – And Get Another Flush Of Flowers Before Summer Ends
Grab your pruners! August is the ideal time to cut back these 7 types of plants so they're ready for fall. Plus, they may give your another round of blooms.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
Plant These 8 Flowers In August For Dazzling Displays Of Late Summer & Fall Color
You might not think there are any flowers to plant in August that could bloom this year, but think again! Sow these 8 gorgeous ornamentals for late season splendor
By Mary Ellen Ellis