Patio Plants Need “Shorts and Sandals” Weather
A novice gardener placed her palm outside for the summerback in frosty April. Why is it not growing? By LarryContinue 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.
A Guide on How to Start a School Garden
By Natalie Mae Mitchell Are you thinking about starting a school garden? If so, you’re in for a treat. NotContinue Reading
Keep Your Lilac Young: Remove Its Oldest Branch Each Year
Selectively remove the oldest branch each year will help keep your lilac young and vigorous. By Larry Hodgson Lilac seasonContinue Reading
I Killed My Rosemary: A True Tale of Crime and Confession
The Laidback Gardener reveals his dark side in this sad tale about how inattentiveness and neglect led to the tragicContinue Reading
How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn?
A handy overall view of lawn mowing, covering a wide range of climates, from cold temperate to subtropical. By AndyContinue Reading
Is My Rhododendron Dead?
When the leaves of a broadleaf evergreen are killed by the cold, don’t despair! It will often grow back fromContinue Reading
7 Amazingly Simple Compost Substitutes at Home and How to Make Them
By Glenn Anderson Finding compost substitutes at home may sound tricky if you’re new to gardening. However, it’s the opposite,Continue Reading
2022: Year of the Verbena
Verbena can rock any spot in the garden during the hottest days of summer! From the National Garden Bureau EveryContinue Reading
Can You Use Conifer Wood Chips as Mulch?
You can use almost any anything left over from woodworking as a mulch, and that includes conifer shavings. By LarryContinue Reading
My Space for Life Garden
I noticed the following information about the My Space for Life Garden program at the Montréal Botanical Garden. I feltContinue Reading