Grow Your Own Shamrock Indoors
It is said that on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, everybody is Irish. Okay, but are you an Irish gardener?Continue 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.
Pronouncing Botanical Names
Impressed when a guest speaker rolls off a complicated botanical name as if it were the easiest thing in theContinue Reading
Seeds to Sow: Mid-March
The choice of seeds to sow indoors explodes in mid-March! This really is the time to start so many seeds… butContinue Reading
Starting Cuttings in Water: Not Such a Good Idea
For generations, gardeners have been rooting cuttings in a glass of water placed on the windowsill. And it works… sometimes.Continue Reading
Ready-to-use liquid fertilizers: Pretty Much a Scam
When you’re shopping for fertilizer, beware of ready-to-use liquids, also called “pour and feeds”. They’re designed to be poured directlyContinue Reading
It’s Time to Repot your Houseplant When…
It’s Time to Repot your Houseplant When… …The plant begins to wilt only 2 or 3 days after you lastContinue Reading
Fascinated by Fasciation
The fasciated coneflowers that appeared in Yvon Veilleux’s garden. Question: A mutated coneflower (Rudbeckia hirta) appeared in our garden lastContinue Reading
Shade Can be Your Friend
I often hear gardeners complain about their shade gardens: how nothing will grow there and how trees roots make plantingContinue Reading
Marigolds Versus Nematodes
It is commonly said in companion planting circles that you can plant marigolds as companion plants to vegetables in orderContinue Reading
Drowning in Yellow
One way to catch fungus gnats, these annoying tiny black flies that flit around your home and bother your guests,Continue Reading