Latest articles by Mary Ellen Ellis
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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.
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9 Must-Do Garden Tasks You Need to Tick Off Before August Ends – Make Sure You Tackle These Jobs Before Summer’s Up!
Flowers and crops may reach their peak in high summer, but there are plenty of cultivation tasks that demand attention. Make sure you sort these August gardening jobs
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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8 Ingenious Ways To Use Buckets In The Garden That You’ve Probably Never Thought Of, But Should Definitely Try
Give that old bucket in your garage a second life with one of these clever tips. We've rounded up the best uses for buckets in the garden to save space and cash.
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Can This Common Fruit Be the Answer to Deterring Ants? Learn About Lemons for Natural Ant Control
Lemon is a helpful natural tool that can keep ants out of the home when used with other strategies. Learn the best way to naturally repel pesky ants.
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How to Make a DIY Moss Pole for Houseplants – It's the Best Way to Support Monstera, Pothos & More
Making a moss pole is a quick and easy way to create an attractive support for popular climbing houseplants such as monstera, pothos, and philodendron.
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Best Full Sun Hydrangeas For Light-Soaked Landscapes – These 4 Shrubs Shine In Sunny Yards & Gardens
Find the perfect full sun hydrangea for your bright, sunny landscape. Plus, follow these tips to make sure shrubs shine in even the most light-filled locations.
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Trailblazing Trailing Plants That Really Pop! Try These 8 Cascading Plants For Spillers, Containers, Walls, Rockeries and Balconies
After a memorable trailing plant for a hanging basket or large container display or something to spill over a rockery or garden bed? Try these dynamic cascading plants
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Stop Wasting Tomato Leaves! Try These 5 Smart Ways to Use Them in the Garden and Kitchen
This summer, don’t just throw away your pruned tomato leaves – give them a second life in the garden or kitchen with these clever ideas.
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I Shrunk My Lawn To Grow These 6 Must-Have Ground Covers – They're Low Maintenance & So Much Prettier Than Grass
A longtime gardener reveals the 6 ground cover plants she used to shrink her lawn. Find out why these low-growers are absolute must-haves.
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Endless Summer Bloomstruck Hydrangea: A Reblooming Beauty For Sensational Summer Color
Endless Summer Bloomstruck hydrangeas will add vibrant color to your garden all summer long. Explore how to care for these beauties.
