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

Current evidence may be skimpy, but there's reason to think that there could be something to companion planting. POPULAR THIS WEEK on Empress of Dirt: How To Grow Fairy Carrots In Jars

It's a gardening practice that has won a lot of supporters over the years -- and plenty of skeptics too. What is companion planting and how might it help in the garden? POPULAR THIS WEEK on Empress of Dirt: How to Grow Mango from Seed

When your prevention efforts fail -- and they will -- then what? It helps to know a few things about the weeds you're trying to remove. POPULAR THIS WEEK on Empress of Dirt: How to Make Decorative Garden Art Balls

Weed seeds can sneak into your garden with anything you put in or on your soil. Also: one easy way to get rid of many weeds. POPULAR THIS WEEK on Empress of Dirt: 20 Beautiful Backyard Pond Ideas For All Budgets

You'll never prevent weeds from getting to your garden, but there are things you can do to reduce the number you get. NEW THIS WEEK on Empress of Dirt: Do Oils, Candles, and Certain Plants Keep Mosquitoes Away?

Botanically, there's no such thing as weeds, but even the most upbeat gardener can get a little down in the dumps thinking about weeds they've done battle with. POPULAR THIS WEEK on Empress of Dirt: How to Clean Gross Murky Pond Water Fast - Without Chemicals

It gets very impassioned recommendations as a way to help your garden and the earth. So what is biochar and should we be using it in our garden? POPULAR THIS WEEK on Empress of Dirt: 10 Best Vegetables for Clay Soils

The two most important points for gardeners to know about plant nutrition and fertilizer. POPULAR THIS WEEK on Empress of Dirt: How to Grow Clematis from Cuttings

When we want to add nutrients to our soil we can choose between organic fertilizer and synthetic fertilizer. So, what's the difference? READ THE LATEST from Empress of Dirt: Make a Chickadee Nesting Box (Free Plans)

For growing plants in soil, you cannot know what nutrients to add -- if any -- without knowing what's already there. READ THE LATEST from Empress of Dirt: 25 Planter Ideas for Porches and Front Gardens

If a particular nutrient is essential to plants and delivers great benefits, it may seem like you should be adding it to your soil. But there's a flaw in that thinking. READ THE LATEST from Empress of Dirt: Lavender Growing Tips and Easy Mistakes to Avoid

There are about 20 nutrients plants need, but only a handful that gardeners have to spend much time thinking about. POPULAR on Empress of Dirt: How to Grow an Avocado from Seed (Easy Method)

You want to know what your garden soil pH is, but -- as with soil texture -- it's not because you're going to change it. READ THE LATEST from Empress of Dirt: How to Choose a Bird Feeder

You can't get far in understanding what's happening to your plants without a rudimentary understanding of ions ... which brings back some high school science. READ THE LATEST from Empress of Dirt: How to Create a Dream Garden on a Low Budget

Annual awards come back every year. Annual plants don't. Gardeners soon learn the difference between annual and perennial, but it can be confusing. READ THE LATEST from Empress of Dirt: How to Grow Sunflowers and What to Avoid

Reports say the sales of strawberry seeds are way up this year -- even though it takes some patience to start strawberries from seed. READ MORE at Empress of Dirt: 4 Tips for Growing the Best Strawberries

The move outdoors can be rough on seedlings. You need to help ease them into the harsher conditions of their new life outside. READ MORE at Empress of Dirt: How to Prepare Indoor Seedlings for Transplanting

Somebody must like those mulch piles at the base of trees -- you see them everywhere -- but gardening experts have a different opinion. READ THE LATEST from Empress of Dirt: Phenology: Using Nature's Signs & Signals

From reducing weeds to keeping moisture in your soil, mulching provides a lot of advantages to your garden. READ THE LATEST from Empress of Dirt: Make a Bluebird Nesting Box (Free Plans)

Mulch can seem like the parsley of gardening -- a nice garnish to add to the top. But it delivers some significant benefits. READ THE LATEST from Empress of Dirt: 1-2-3 Seed Starting Plan for Vegetable Gardens

Lots of mentions of "victory gardens" in the news lately -- created in turbulent times when people in large numbers turned to vegetable gardening. READ THE LATEST at Empress of Dirt: How to Grow Vegetables in Containers (Start Here)

They're a source of information you don't want to overlook. Many of the questions you'll have about growing from seeds are answered right on the packets. READ MORE at Empress of Dirt: How To Read Seed Packets (Tips for Beginners)

As daytime temperatures starting getting pretty nice, we start thinking about sowing seeds outdoors. But when is the time right? READ MORE at Empress of Dirt: Best Soil Temperatures for Sowing Seeds

Many plants die every year from overwatering. It's one of the easiest ways to harm your plants -- as you're trying to help them. READ THE LATEST at Empress of Dirt: Gardening With Kids: 35 Playful & Practical Ideas

Something seems to be going on around walnut trees, but is it poison in the soil or something else? READ THE LATEST at Empress of Dirt: Gardening With Kids: 35 Playful & Practical Ideas