Growing Wisterias in a Cold Climate
Wisterias (Wisteria spp.), with their dripping spikes of scented lavender blooms, are probably the most desirable of all climbing plantsContinue Reading
Author: Larry Hodgson
Garden writer and blogger, author of 65 gardening books, lecturer and communicator, the Laidback Gardener, Larry Hodgson, passed away in October 2022. Known for his great generosity, his thoroughness and his sense of humor, he reached several generations of amateur and professional gardeners over his 40-year career.
Thanks to his son, Mathieu Hodgson, and a team of contributors, laidbackgardener.blog will continue its mission of demystifying gardening and making it more accessible to all.
Vines For Inexpensive Air Conditioning
Climbing plants can greatly help moderate temperatures. When grown on the walls of a home or building, they keep itContinue Reading
Garden Myth: Weeds that Indicate pH
Many gardeners claim that you can tell the pH of your garden’s soil (its acidity or alkalinity) just looking atContinue Reading
Trees that Won’t Make You Sneeze
Seasonal allergy (hay fever) season is about to begin if indeed it hasn’t already started. In the spring, trees areContinue Reading
What Not to Put in the Compost
With the active composting season beginning in many climates, it may be worthwhile going over what you should not put inContinue Reading
A Temporary Greenhouse for Seedlings and Cuttings
Are your seedlings and cuttings starting to take up too much space in your home? Maybe it’s time for youContinue Reading
No Flowers, No Bees
I get all sorts of questions from readers who want to know how to attract bees to their gardens, which isContinue Reading
Give Hard Seeds a Shake, Shake, Shake
Some seeds have a very hard outer coat and are difficult to germinate. They tend to sprout irregularly or only afterContinue Reading
Less Fertilizer = Tastier Herbs
The more plants are “fed”, especially with a fertilizer rich in nitrogen, the more quickly they grow. However, in theContinue Reading
Can Aspirin Prevent Plant Viruses?
It hardly seems credible, but in fact there are several studies showing that aspirin (yes, good ol’ acetylsalicylic acid!) can helpContinue Reading