
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
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What Your ZZ Plant’s Leaves Are Trying to Tell You – and How to Fix Common ProblemsDon't let disease or care mistakes kill your ZZ plant! Yellow leaves, brown leaves, and leaf spots are signs of underlying problems that can be fixed.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
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This Easy Rhubarb Forcing Hack Gives You an Early Crop Every Year – and Costs Almost Nothing to DoRhubarb lovers are always craving that next fix, so any way of speeding up the harvesting process needs to be embraced! Here’s how to enjoy easy forced rhubarb for sweeter, scrummier stalks
By Mary Ellen Ellis
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These 8 Heaven-Scented Evergreen Plants Add Fresh Fragrance and Beauty to Winter GardensWinter can be dull, but your garden doesn't have to be! Here are 8 great evergreens that stay green AND fragrant all the way to spring.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
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Winter Is the Most Important Time to Clean Houseplant Leaves – My Homemade Spray Makes Them Shine and Also Repels PestsLeaf cleaning matters more in winter. Try my simple, homemade leaf shine spray for healthier, more attractive houseplants.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
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Want Showstopper Trees? Grow these 7 Unique Beauties for Dramatic Bark Tone and Texture to Add Some Winter WowThink bark is boring? These 7 breathtaking trees prove otherwise, offering extraordinary textures, bold color and instant character that turn even winter into a showpiece
By Mary Ellen Ellis
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How to Grow Fava Beans: Planting, Care, and Harvest Tips for a Successful CropGrowing fava beans is like four crops in one: flavorful fresh pods, both fresh and dry beans, and – surprise! – delicious greens to eat fresh or add to cooked dishes.
By Ellen Wells
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These 7 Popular Houseplants Won’t Survive Without Extra Humidity – Do You Have One? Here’s How to Help Them ThriveDry indoor air can be tough on certain tropical plants. Here are 7 high-humidity houseplants you need to protect – and how to help your indoor jungle flourish
By Mary Ellen Ellis
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I Was Losing the Battle With Houseplant Pests – Until I Started Growing These Herbs Beside ThemPlace these 10 pest repellent herbs next to your houseplants to protect them from beetles, fungus gnats and more.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
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Craving Color? There's Still Time to Plant These 10 Shade-Loving BulbsIt's not too late to add some color! These 10 shade-loving spring-flowering bulbs thrive under trees and in dark spots. Get them in the ground before it freezes.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
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The Complete Poinsettia Care Guide: Planting, Pruning & Keeping It AliveDid you get a poinsettia for the holidays? Wondering how to take care of it? Our comprehensive guide will take you through the basics and beyond.
By Liz Baessler
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Plants You Can Still Propagate in Winter (For Free Plants in Spring)Don't wait for spring to expand your plant family. Learn the key differences when propagating in winter and the 6 easiest plants to try rooting from cuttings.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
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Complete Guide to Overwintering Container Plants: Expert Tips to Help Plants Survive the Cold SeasonSave money and save your favorite pots for next summer by overwintering container plants with this easy guide. An expert walks you through exactly how to do it.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
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5 Bird-Magnet Shrubs for Containers – For Bright Native Berries and Happy Wildlife in WinterWhen the garden goes quiet, these vibrant winter berry shrubs burst with color and life. Grow these bird friendly shrubs for containers and you'll give your local wildlife a genuine winter treat
By Mary Ellen Ellis
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2 Tasks I Never Skip Before Storing Garden Tools for Winter to Keep Them in Tip-Top ShapeMake sure your gardening tools last a long time by treating them right in fall. Here's what you have to do now before you put them away for winter.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
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This Is the Easiest Way to Level Your Lawn – And It Only Takes 2 Items You Probably Already OwnGet a perfectly flat lawn with this simple guide. It only takes a couple items you probably already own to do it right.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
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How to Care for Hydrangeas in Winter So They're Bursting With Beautiful Blooms Next SummerHow you care for hydrangeas in winter can determine whether your shrubs are bursting with blooms next summer or not. Here's how to protect them from the cold.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
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Need More Privacy? These 8 Cold-Hardy, Evergreen Vines Will Shield Your Patio or Balcony Year-RoundForget bulky hedges – vines give you the privacy you want with minimal footprint. Our top 8 picks are cold-hardy evergreens, so they'll stay full even in the depths of winter.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
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Finding More Holes in Your Yard Than Usual? Here’s How to Identify Which Animal Is Making ThemAnimal holes can pop up in the least expected place in the yard and it is hard to know what animal caused them. Learn how to identify holes and stop pests.
By Mary Ellen Ellis

