Schefflera: The August 2022 Houseplant of the Month
The schefflera or common schefflera, now Heptapleurum actinophyllum, was until recently known to plant hobbyists as Schefflera actinophylla. It’s aContinue 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.
World’s Largest Water Lily Discovered … in a Herbarium Drawer at Kew Gardens
Yes, 177 years after the first specimen was dried and brought to Kew Gardens in London, where it remained inContinue Reading
Air Rooting For Difficult Succulent Cuttings
Taking stem cuttings of coleus and philodendrons is simple. Just insert the stems into a pot of moist potting mix,Continue Reading
Bye-Bye Blues! Beware of horticultural oils and insecticidal soap
Warning: horticultural oils (dormant oil, summer oil, etc.) and soaps (insecticidal soap, dishwashing soap used as a pesticide, etc.) will meltContinue Reading
Pinch and Prune for Better Bloom
Mother Nature originally planned for each plant to have a precise flowering period. But you can outsmart nature… at least,Continue Reading
40 years of Garden Writting: My First Article… Ever
The article below is truly a blast from the past! It’s the very first plant article I ever wrote. ItContinue Reading
This Is What a Plant Order Looks Like
I’ve been ordering plants by mail for almost nearly 60 years. I started ordering seeds from my father’s seed catalogsContinue Reading
Drought Prevention
Drought is common in July and August … and so are municipal or state watering restrictions! The best way to avoid problemsContinue Reading
Confessions of a Laidback Gardener: I Don’t Fertilize My Lawn
I know. It’s a horrific revelation. And I’m so ashamed! Well, actually I’m not. In fact, I’m kinda proud ofContinue Reading
Earwigs: Friend or Foe?
Ennemies in North America, But Friends in Europe Here’s the answer I gave to a reader of my newspaper gardenContinue Reading