Latest articles by Mary Ellen Ellis
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8 Of The Best Thriller Plants for Fall Containers – Revamp A Classic Planting Recipe With These Seasonal Showstoppers For AutumnIf 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
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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 AgoThe 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!
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End-of-Summer Container Care: How to Winterize and Replant Pots for Year-Round BeautyGive 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.
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7 Hardy Perennials to Plant in September for Spring Borders Bursting With ColorStunning 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.
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Create the Ultimate Perennial Shade Garden – Gardening Expert Shares 8 Easy Insider Secrets to a Four-Season SanctuaryCreating 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
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6 Container Gardening Habits You Need to Ditch! If These Potting Problems Apply to You, it’s Time to Make AmendsAre 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.
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This Unlikely Kitchen Scrap Repels Slugs & Fertilizes Soil – Toss it into Your Garden Instead of the TrashYou 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 InsteadJust 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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9 Most Prolific Dahlia Varieties For Extended Color Through Summer and FallThese 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 KnowWhen 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 TipsPruning 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 CropsLate 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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Prune These 7 Plants In August To Prepare Them For Fall – And Get Another Flush Of Flowers Before Summer EndsGrab 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.
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Plant These 8 Flowers In August For Dazzling Displays Of Late Summer & Fall ColorYou 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 TryGive 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 ControlLemon 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.
