Latest articles by Mary Ellen Ellis
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August Is Your Last Chance to Prune These 6 Plants Before It's Too Late for Next YearIf you want these plants at their best next year, don't miss their final summer pruning window. Timing now can make all the difference.
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Mosquitoes Love Hiding in These 6 Types of Plants During Summer Heat – How to Keep Your Yard Bug-Free If You Already Grow ThemYou don't have to tear out every type of plant that attracts mosquitoes that's growing in your garden. Just follow these simple tips if you grow some of them.
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Wildlife Lovers, Here are the 3 Reasons Why You Should Leave a Patch of Bare Soil in Your BackyardThat patch of unused earth might seem to be going to waste, but it’s actually providing a vital service. Here’s why leaving this gap is the ultimate summer favor for wildlife
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USDA Planting Zones Explained: Find Your Growing ZoneLearn how to find your USDA planting zone on the hardiness map and use it to choose the right plants and plan your garden with confidence.
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What to Do With Your Pothos in July – 5 Quick Tasks for Longer Vines, Fuller Growth, and Glossier LeavesYour pothos plant will hopefully be pushing out new growth, but if you want to boost those vines and promote plenty of strong growth, these tasks will help you give your houseplant a glossy makeover
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4 Heatwave-Proof Plants That Bounce Back Fast – and 4 That Need Immediate Help to Survive Soaring TemperaturesWhen a heatwave hits, it's important to know which plants can survive on their own and which ones need special care. Learn which ones are which with this list.
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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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4 Easy Ways to Turn Raised Beds Into Self-Watering Gardens That Thrive in Summer Heat & Drought – Even When You Leave TownSpend less time watering and more time enjoying your garden. Here's how to turn raised beds into self-watering systems you can practically ignore.
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Keep Pollinators Fed with These 6 Vital Flowers – They Are a Lifeline from Summer Through to First FrostsSummer brings bees and butterflies in abundance, but late-season food can run short. Plant these nectar-rich lifeline blooms to feed hungry pollinators for months
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Why You Should Never Plant These 5 Shrubs in July – and the Gorgeous Alternatives You Need to Try InsteadThey may look lovely, but planting certain shrubs right now is a ticket to heartbreak. Discover the safer options you can plant in summer for massive color and zero hassles
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7 Fast-Growing Vegetables That Thrive on Neglect, Even if You Forget to Water – Sow Them in July For the Easiest Fall Harvest, EverSow these forgiving heat-tolerant veggies now for speedy, stress-free crops.
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Make These 7 So-Called One-And-Done Flowers Bloom Again – This Simple Snip Creates a Gorgeous Second FlushYou might hear that certain classic flowers only produce one show a year, but a midsummer snip can prompt a gorgeous second flush in these ornamentals
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July Is the Last Chance to Plant These 8 Perennials – They'll Keep Your Garden Colorful Until FallDon't miss the final planting window for these stunning, heat-tolerant perennials! They'll fill your landscape with vibrant blooms now until the first frost.
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Pollinator Plants: The Best Flowers to Attract Bees, Butterflies, and MoreWant a garden buzzing with life? These are the best pollinator-friendly plants for supporting bees, butterflies, and birds.
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July Is the Perfect Time to Start Fall Crops – Sow These 7 Vegetable Seeds Now to Keep the Harvests ComingIt's hard to think about fall crops when we're baking under extreme heat, but planning and planting these veggies should be done in July.
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8 Herbs Every Keen Cook Should Grow For Vibrant Flavor – Even if You've Never Gardened BeforeThese herbs are all so easy to raise in a pot, and just wait till you taste how intensely flavorful homegrown harvests are.
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What Lemon Trees Need in July – 5 Essential Tasks to Enjoy the Juiciest Sun-Ripened LemonsLemons are ripening now so it's vital to keep your tree happy and healthy for a rich reward of plump, flavorful fruit.
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These 8 Flowers Stay Covered in Blooms Through July and August – Without DeadheadingThese long-flowering favorites keep borders, beds, and containers looking colorful through the hottest weeks of summer with minimal maintenance.
