TLC for Garden Tools
To be effective and long-lasting, a gardening tool should remain clean and sharp. Even a shovel doesn’t dig as well when its bladeContinue 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.
Tomatoes and Peppers: How to Avoid Blossom End Rot
Blossom end rot is a common disease on tomatoes and peppers. It is characterized by a lesion that forms on the tipContinue Reading
How to Really Control Horsetail
If I had an easy solution for controlling common horsetail (Equisetum arvense), I’d be a rich man But unfortunately this plant isContinue Reading
Plants on Wheels
You have large pots that are difficult to move? Put them on wheels! Many garden centers offer plant dollies or plant caddies, mostContinue Reading
Homemade Pesticides: A Word of Warning
Be very careful with the homemade pesticide recipes that circulate in amateur gardening circles. Yes, they can sometimes be effective, but oftenContinue Reading
The cheapest fertilizer
Quick: which fertilizer is the least expensive? A $7 quick-release fertilizer or a $12 slow-release fertilizer? The $7 fertilizer seems cheaper: after all, youContinue Reading
Harvest Beans Early and Often
Snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris and its close relatives) are usually harvested when they are still young and tender and when they “snap”Continue Reading
Watering in Full Sun Doesn’t Burn Leaves
Among the most persistent of the numerous gardening myths is the one that insists you should never water plants, andContinue Reading
55 Groundcovers for Shade
It’s hard to create an English-style flower border in the shade. There just aren’t that many shade plants that bloomContinue Reading
The Best – and Worst – Shrubs for hedges
There is no lack of good shrubs for use in hedges. Here is a list of the better varieties forContinue Reading