The Cancer of Plums and Cherries
No, black knot disease is not really a cancer, but it certainly acts like a cancer… and a cancer thatContinue 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.
Yes, Blight-Free Tomatoes are Possible!
New strains of late blight of the tomato (Phytophthora infestans) appeared out of nowhere a few years ago, taking both seedContinue Reading
Dressing to Kill
Whiteflies (whiteflies) can’t resist the color yellow: this color represents a plant in difficulty and there is nothing they likeContinue Reading
Toilet Paper Pots for Seedlings
Did you know that you can recycle toilet paper rolls for use as pots for your seedlings? Simply place themContinue Reading
Using Alcohol to Control Pests
One homemade insecticide that can really do the job is 70% rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol). Mix 1 part rubbing alcoholContinue Reading
Time to Wake Up Dormant Plants
In March and early April, it’s time to wake up most of the plants that you put into dormancy inContinue Reading
Seeds to Sow Indoors in Early March
It is truly in March that the seed sowing season begins. Of course, I’ve seen many enthusiastic gardeners gushing overContinue Reading
2016: the Year of the Allium
Each year the National Garden Bureau declares a “year of” that features four plants: one vegetable, one perennial, one annual, andContinue Reading
If Your Tap Water is Hard…
If your tap water is very hard, with a pH of 7.5 or higher (your municipality will be able toContinue Reading
A Silver Fountain for the Garden
If I had a prize to offer for Best New Annual of 2016, it would have to go to stachysContinue Reading