gardening

I love a garden-ripe tomato, but my gardening goals also include avoiding a run to the grocery store. I want to always be able to pull fresh herbs out of the garden, and I wouldn’t turn my nose up at a radish or eggplant. Some of those herbs and tender annual vegetables cannot survive the…

Deadheading–the practice of chopping off a spent flowerhead from the plant— has long been considered the way to keep plants blooming longer. It’s based on the science that plants have a finite amount of energy, and spend it on one of three resources: growing, flowering or producing seeds. If you leave spent flowers on the…

Your hellstrip probably sucks. That strip of land that lies between your front sidewalk and the street is likely not your property, but still your responsibility. Hence the name: hellstrip.The name “hellstrip” is well deserved—but the patch of grass that lives between your sidewalk and the curb is also called a “verge,” “devil strip,” or…

Gardening and landscaping sometimes require expensive tools and equipment. If you have some summer projects to check off your list, you can find some good deals on gardening tools and materials to save you time and money. Here’s where to find some of the best deals available ahead of the main Prime Day sales.Cordless chainsawFor…

Rain may be a welcome sight after a long dry spell, but when it comes to your garden, getting hit with a lot of water all at once isn’t an instant fix. In fact, any prolonged and/or heavy rainfall could actually harm some of your plants.For this reason, it’s a good idea to check on…

Image: NatureIDThe NatureID Plant Identification app can help you take care of your plants with curated gardening tips and plant care reminders. Now through June 25, a lifetime subscription to NatureID is only $14.99 (reg. $59). An app that helps you take care of your plants NatureID can identify, diagnose, and give care suggestions for…

Even if you prefer washing your hands and body with soap in gel or liquid form, there are still plenty of reasons to have a few bars of soap on hand at home. As we’ve discussed in previous Lifehacker articles, a simple bar of soap has many different household uses, including making drawers easier to…

Modern gardening often involves weeding, turning the soil, fertilization, and pest control. But permaculture is the practice of growing a garden with the least amount of intervention possible, relying on companion planting, native insects, and adding cover crops to control weeds. In a permaculture food forest, fruit trees are combined with other plants to produce…

Hydroponics used to be a nerdy hobby for homesteaders and home pot growers. What was once required a complicated setup that resulted in absurd-looking home laboratories has now been commoditized into sleek, modern towers of plastic for your home. But are commercially produced hydroponic gardening towers actually a good way to grow your own food?…

Gardening season is finally upon us, which is reason for celebration—even though the first time you head out to work in your yard or garden, you’ll quickly be reminded how physically demanding it can be. Tending the soil involves a variety of movements and body positions—a lot of bending, lifting, and carrying heavy loads—which can leave…