Garden Plants for Moist Soil
Many garden plants sold for typical well-drained flowerbeds are actually very tolerant of wet soils. In fact, if given a choice,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.
Yes, You Can Compost Diseased Leaves
This is a repeat… but I’ve had 2 questions on the subject over the last week, so obviously there’s aContinue Reading
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
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
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
Oriental Poppy: Dormant but not Dead
The superb Oriental poppy (Papaver oriental), with its huge red, orange, pink or purple flowers, is spectacular when it blooms in late spring/earlyContinue Reading