The seasons are changing. It's time to figure out what to do with your outdoor pots in the winter. (Good thinking!) Before you start getting winter snow and freezing temps, it helps to: 1) Empty the dead flowers and dirt (or "soil" in garden lingo) from your outdoor...
Western Container Gardening With Flowers
Is It Better to Empty Your Flowerpots in the Spring or Fall?
I used to leave everything in my flowerpots until spring. The whole shebang. Dead flowers, old potting soil, all of it. And for a few years, everything was fine. But then, I lost a few flowerpots to cracking. (Ugh.) I also learned about some pesky insects that like to...
What to Do With Old Potting Soil (the Dirt From Your Pots)
What can you do with the dirt in your pots after your flowers have died? Good news! You have a few options for what to do with old potting soil. Let's assume, for a sec, your plants were healthy at the end of the season. If yes... Here are 4 things to do with old...
Flowerpot Clean-up Tips: What to Do With Your Flowerpots When Your Flowers Are Dead
Friends, the end of the flowerpot season is like the end of a dinner party. You've had an amazing evening of laughter, stories and delicious food. (“Oh my God, that was so good! I need that recipe!”) Your heart feels so full. And then... you walk into your kitchen....
6 Ways to Protect Your Flowers From Frosts and Freezes
You know you've entered the "joys of western gardening club" when... It feels like summer one day... and the next day you're bracing yourself for frosts, freezes and snow. (I'm not crying. I have something in my eye.) If you'd like your summer annuals — your...
“Can I Change the Flowers in My Flowerpots for Fall?”
I used to think that once you planted your flowerpots, that was it. Your flower babies were in there for the long haul. But I’ve come to appreciate that you can swap out the flowers in your pots. It's like changing your wardrobe for the seasons. If you want to change...
How to Choose Fall Flowers That Last Longer: 3 Simple Tips
When you're strolling through the garden center or dashing into the grocery store and all those pretty flowers are smiling up at you, it's hard not to choose the showiest flowers you see. "Well, helloooooo there." But if you'd like your fall flowers to last longer,...
What to Do BEFORE You Empty Your Flowerpots
It would be awesome to be named "The Perfect Gardener" after a summer of growing flowers — complete with dancing squirrels and a pitch-perfect choir of cicadas. But alas, most of us weren't born with a spade in one hand and a geranium in the other. So, the next best...
Gardening in a Heat Wave: 5 Ways to Garden Smarter, Not Harder
Many years ago, I cheered on a friend as he ran a local marathon. As my friend began running, he looked like he belonged in a Nike ad: Strong. Healthy. Determined. Just do it, baby! And he set a great pace until about mile 16 … … when heat and exhaustion caught him...