Two Minutes in the Garden: Gardening Tips, Science, Myths

What does scientific research tell us about the effectiveness of Epsom salt in the garden? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Grow Mums From Cuttings

It's a divisive issue in gardening circles. Will Epsom salt do wonderful things for your plants, or it is a load of unscientific hooey? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 7 Unique Garden Art Easel Ideas

Variegation is very highly sought after, both in houseplants and for the garden. What is variegation and what challenges can it create for gardeners? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 17 Flower Seeds to Sow Mid-Summer

Maybe the best-known attribute of sunflowers is that they follow the sun as it moves across the sky during the day. But do they? Or is it just a popular misconception? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Make a Birdcage Flower Planter

Their flowers aren't exactly flowers and their seeds aren't actually seeds, but sunflowers are one of the world's most recognizable and loved garden plants. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Free Raised Bed Building Plans

Sunflowers are very easy to grow and pretty low-maintenance. You just need to get a few things right -- and make sure you buy the right seeds. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 10 Surprisingly Good Dollar Store Finds for Gardeners

All those extra petals provide a dense bundle of color, so gardeners love them. But pollinators and other garden wildlife may take a different view. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 24 Clever Garden Problem-Solvers Using Household Items

Extended periods of hot temperatures can create stress for your plants and cause damage -- some that you can see and some you can't. What can you can do about it? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: DIY Raised Garden Bed with Built-in Privacy Wall

Bolting can ruin your vegetables in a blink of an eye. You can sometimes avoid it, but it's really just part of the natural lifecycle of plants. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: When to Take Plant Cuttings (Season By Season)

Why would we ever want to wound our plants? Can we really get more growth by cutting parts off? And what about more blooms? READ MORE at Empress of Dirt: How to Deadhead Flowers for More Blooms

It's one of the most common garden diseases and one that gardeners quickly learn to identify. What is it and can we do anything about it? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Create a Dream Garden on a Low Budget

It's a popular organic insecticide touted for being effective on caterpillars and harmless to people. How does it work? And does it live up to its billing? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Tips & Tools for Sowing Tiny Seeds

Some plants have developed flowers that send a message to pollinators -- hey come check this out, you won't be disappointed. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 14 Birdbath Planter Ideas for Your Garden

Concluding our look at moon gardening. Is there reason to believe we'd get better results in the garden if we planted by moon phases and the zodiac? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Forget the Epsom Salts -- It's a Garden Myth

Lots of people love to do it, others have a hard time taking it seriously. Much of the growth in popularity in moon gardening over the last century is due to the influence of Rudolf Steiner. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Plant Patents and Home Gardens: What You Need to Know

Lots of people love to do it ... many others think it's wacky. Is there any basis for gardening by the phase of the moon? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 5 Smart Garden Uses for This Dollar Store Waste Basket

It's been riding a wave of popularity since Joel Karsten's book came out in 2013. What is straw bale gardening, and why might you want to try it? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Clematis 101 Easy Care Guide

Millions of people have bought the book over the last 40 years. Is square foot gardening something you might want to try in your garden? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 12 Creative Crafty Uses for Slow Cookers

You name it, and milk is suggested as a solution in the garden -- a fungicide, insecticide, bactericide, fertilizer, biostimulant, disinfectant, hand sanitizer and more. Is there actually something to it? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 25 Vegetable Garden Ideas for Any Size Space

They're not always the most welcome plant in the garden, although many people like to have dandelions -- for themselves and ... maybe for bees too? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Make Fossil Imprint Stepping-Stones

Most of us would probably call ourselves organic gardeners to some degree -- and maybe entirely. But what is organic gardening, exactly? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: The History of Seed & Nursery Catalogs for Gardeners

You buy a plant from the garden center, bring it home, love it, and decide to divide it or take some cuttings so you can have even more. But in some cases you're actually breaking the law. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 50 Creative Garden Shed Ideas

It's widely touted as a safe, organic alternative to synthetic pesticides, and it will kill a long list of pests. But neem oil isn't for everyone. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Transplant Raspberries and Grow More Fruit

They drain the energy out of your plants and inject them with viruses. What can we do to stop aphids? What about ladybugs? Diatomaceous earth? Sticky traps? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: What is Soil pH and How to Work With It

They're tiny insects that can sap plants of their energy, give them viruses, and coat them with black mold. They're also born pregnant and can quickly multiply on your plants. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 14 Creative and Functional Potting Bench Ideas