Sterilizing Pruning Tools: Don’t Use Bleach
By Larry Hodgson Most gardeners know that it’s important to disinfect pruning tools (pruning shears, saws, loppers, etc.) before movingContinue 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.
Home Gardening Remedies: Pros and Cons
By Larry Hodgson Hardly a day goes by when someone doesn’t send me a message up about some sort ofContinue Reading
Solomon’s Seal: An Old-Fashioned Perennial Worth Rediscovering
Smooth Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum). Photo: haraldmuc, depositphotos With its gracefully arching stems and its ability to tolerate even the darkestContinue Reading
Neglect Your Desert Cacti for Good Bloom
The less care you give a cactus, the better it will flower!
Starting Houseplants from Tropical Fruit
Lemon tree seedlings. Photo: depositphotos By Larry Hodgson You can fill your house with beautiful foliage plants for next to nothingContinue Reading
Madagascar Palm: The December 2021 Houseplant of the Month
Par Larry Hodgson This popular indoor succulent (Pachypodium lamerei) isn’t a palm (Arecaceae), of course, and I personally don’t thinkContinue Reading
Epsom Salts: No Serious Garden Use
Epsom salts are often offered as a sort of cure-all for the garden. If only it were true! By LarryContinue Reading
Warning: Ready-to-use Products Are Often Expensive
By Larry Hodgson A bit of economic advice today. When you need to buy a fertilizer or pesticide (hopefully anContinue Reading
How to Create a Garden Journal
Photo: depositphotos By Emily Henry If you love gardening, then you may be able to benefit from keeping a gardenContinue Reading
7 Houseplants for Beginners
By Larry Hodgson It’s your first experience with houseplants. So, you choose a flowering plant of extraordinary beauty and bringContinue Reading