Lacy Phacelia: Possibly the Best Plant for Pollinators!
By Larry Hodgson If you grow fruit-bearing vegetables like squash, cucumbers, eggplant, okra or melons, you always need insect visitorsContinue 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.
Love-Lies-Bleeding: the Oh-So Edible Annual!
By Larry Hodgson Botanical name: Amaranthus caudatus.Common Names: Love-lies-bleeding, foxtail amaranth, pendant amaranth, pendant flower, kiwichaHeight: 3–8 feet (90–240 cm).Spacing: 18 to 24 inchesContinue Reading
Garden Myth: You Shouldn’t Compost Rhubarb Leaves
By Larry Hodgson As you harvest your rhubarb (Rheum × hybridum) stalks this spring, you’ll find many websites warning youContinue Reading
Rameal Chipped Wood (RCW) as a Mulch and Soil Amendment
by Edith Smeesters, biologist, author and speakerwww.edithsmeesters.org A few decades ago, I was given a book by Ida and JeanContinue Reading
COVID Confinement Leads to Passion for Gardening
Here’s a charming message I received from a reader after she read the article Top 10 Reasons to Garden that appeared inContinue Reading
How Many Herb Seeds Should I Sow per Pot?
Par Larry Hodgson Question: When I sow chives, parsley, sage and other herbs with multiple stems, how many seeds should IContinue Reading
Swiss Chard: The Easy Leafy Green
By Larry Hodgson Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris cicla) is a selection of the wild beet or sea beet (Beta vulgarisContinue Reading
Nature Conservancy of Canada suggests leaving lawns alone in May
Abandoning Springtime Chore Can Help Nature Caring for and spending time in the green spaces around our homes has beenContinue Reading
Beyond Traditional Mother’s Day Flowers
By Larry Hodgson Throughout much of the world, the second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day and florists everywhere areContinue Reading
A Vegetable Bed from Scratch … the Laidback Way
By Larry Hodgson Here’s a gardening tip I’ve been sharing with home gardeners for almost 40 years. I first discoveredContinue Reading