Two Minutes in the Garden

Phenology is the seasonal timing of events in plants and animals -- when things bloom, leaf out, set seed, fruit, and so on. We can't make plans in the garden without it, and it's steadily changing with warmer temperatures.

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: August Garden Checklist: Tasks & DIY Projects

Fireflies are a summertime icon for many people, especially in North America. What are they and what can we do to attract fireflies and support them in our garden?

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: July Garden Checklist: Tasks & DIY Projects

Half the world now depends on synthetic fertilizers for food. But do we need them in the garden? And are they really derived from fossil fuels?

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Root Pothos Cuttings

Peat has been a gardening staple for decades -- but at what cost? With growing concerns over climate and ecosystems, is it time we rethink our use of peat?

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Why Hummingbirds Are Avoiding Your Feeders

Is overpotting just an old gardening myth we're still clinging to? Is potting up no longer needed? Some research suggests bigger pots might be better -- but it may not be that simple.

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Why Your Compost Pile Stinks & How to Fix It

You may already be a wildlife gardener, but might you be interested in taking the next step in developing your curiosity about garden wildlife and becoming a naturalist? Inspired by Menno Schilthuizen's new book, The Urban Naturalist.

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Tips for Creating a Wildlife Pond & Garden

It's been a hotly debated issue for years: does it improve drainage in your containers if you first add a layer of gravel or some other course material to the bottom? Some new research puts it to the test.

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 10 Surprisingly Simple Garden Tips You Might Be Overlooking

Are the weeds in our garden trying to tell us something about our soil? Is it reliable? And should we be taking action based on what they're saying?

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Control Weeds Without Herbicides

It's been a controversial suggestion for orchids for many years. It also gets recommended for houseplants in general. But is watering plants with ice cubes a good idea?

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Propagate Orchids at Home

Is it true that pests won't attack healthy plants? Can you really determine the health of your plant through one simple measurement? And where did these ideas come from?

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: DIY Bee House Using Scrap Lumber

We don't want them in the house, but can we trust ants around our plants? Do we need to step in and do something, or might they be beneficial in the garden?

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 2024 Fall Hummingbird Migration (Canada & United States)

An overview of vermicomposting -- worm composting. It provides very similar benefits to the garden as composting, but can be done indoors and stay active year-round, even in colder areas.

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Save Seeds: Collecting Seeds From Your Garden Plants

Over the last 200 years, earthworms have gone from being despised by gardeners to being loved as signs of healthy soil. Many gardeners now even raise worms in their houses to create vermicompost. But it's not all rosy.

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Simple Trick to Save the Best Seeds from Your Garden

Are today's fruits and vegetables -- the ones you buy at the store -- less nutritious than they used to be? You hear that a lot, but you'll also hear that it's a myth.

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Outdoor Plant Tags & Markers that Last a Lifetime (Really)

We always used to be able to say that there were no GMO garden seeds. That's still true in most of the world but, in the U.S., gardeners can now buy seeds for the genetically engineered, high-antioxidant Purple Tomato.

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: What to Know Before Reusing Old Potting Mix

A recent study claimed that urban-grown fruits and vegetables had a carbon footprint six times that of those from conventional farms. Rants ensued.

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Monarch Butterflies: How Gardeners Can Truly Help

For the last 15 years, gardeners have been told that soil acts like an antidepressant, thanks to a particular bacterium. Is there anything to it?

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Winter Sowing: Two Reliable Methods for Outdoor Seed Starting

It can do great things on farms, but does crop rotation make sense in a garden? What are the benefits claimed for crop rotation, and can we get those same benefits in easier ways?

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How To Compost In The Winter (Easy Method)

Do nutrients really specialize in one aspect of plant growth, like roots or shoots? Why adding more of one nutrient to your soil, like phosphorus-heavy bloom boosters, often don't provide any benefit.

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Growing Poinsettias: Year-Round Care & Reblooming Guide