Practical ideas for every season

Gardening Tips and Plant Care Guides

Find straightforward help for growing vegetables and herbs, caring for plants, solving common garden problems and preparing your outdoor space for the next season. Start with the task you have today, then follow a detailed guide when you need the steps.

Choose a place to start

Need a specific answer?

For a small space, try growing herbs indoors or tomatoes in pots. If plants are struggling, see how to diagnose a declining plant before changing several things at once. You can also explore our garden tool comparisons when equipment is the next decision.

Frequently asked questions

Where should a beginner start?

Begin with the amount of light and space you have. Choose a few plants suited to those conditions, prepare the soil or container, and establish a watering routine before expanding.

How often should I water my garden?

There is no single schedule for every garden. Check soil moisture near the roots, recent rain, temperature and the needs of the plant. Our watering guide explains the signs in more detail.

Do I need many tools to begin gardening?

A hand trowel, gloves and a way to water cover many small jobs. Add specialized tools only when a task calls for them. Compare options in our garden tools guides.

Explore all gardening articles

The articles below include how-tos, seasonal ideas and buying guides. Use the page numbers to browse older posts.

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Gardening Tips & Reviews

How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in Containers: Slips, Grow Bags and Harvest

Exclusive Gardening / Garden Guide How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in Containers: Slips, Grow Bags and Harvest How to grow sweet potatoes in containers on a patio or deck: how to get or start sweet potato...

When Are Potatoes Ready to Harvest? Signs, Timing and Storage

Exclusive Gardening / Garden Guide When Are Potatoes Ready to Harvest? Signs, Timing and Storage When are potatoes ready to harvest? How to recognize new and mature potatoes, how to harvest potatoes...

How Much Sun Do Strawberries Need? Light, Shade and the Best Place to Plant

Exclusive Gardening / Garden Guide How Much Sun Do Strawberries Need? Light, Shade and the Best Place to Plant How much sun do strawberries need for sweet, plentiful fruit? Learn the ideal hours of...

How Often to Water Tomatoes: A Simple Schedule for Healthy, Crack-Free Fruit

Exclusive Gardening / Garden Guide How Often to Water Tomatoes: A Simple Schedule for Healthy, Crack-Free Fruit How often to water tomatoes in the garden, in raised beds and in pots: a simple schedule...

How to Keep Chickens Out of Your Garden: 10 Easy Methods That Work

Exclusive Gardening / Garden Guide How to Keep Chickens Out of Your Garden: 10 Easy Methods That Work How to keep chickens out of your garden, vegetable beds and flower beds: simple fencing, chicken...

How to Keep Animals Out of Your Garden Without a Fence

Exclusive Gardening / Garden Guide How to Keep Animals Out of Your Garden Without a Fence How to keep animals out of your garden without a fence: repellents, scare devices, plant cages, netting and...
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