by Bethany Hayes (revised and updated) The 30-second version: Most of the water a garden wastes is lost to evaporation, runoff, and overwatering — not to thirsty plants. The biggest wins are free or cheap: water early in the morning, mulch every bit of bare soil, build up … [Read more...]
7 Easy Ways to Add Nitrogen to Your Garden Soil
by Bethany Cihon (revised and updated) The 30-second version: Before you add any nitrogen, test your soil — piling on nitrogen that isn’t needed burns plants, throws off fruiting, and pollutes runoff. If a test confirms a deficiency, the steady, hard-to-overdo options are … [Read more...]
14 Cucumber Companion Plants (and 5 to Keep Apart)
by Bethany Hayes (revised and updated) The 30-second version: Cucumbers are pest-prone and pollinator-dependent, so the companions worth your time mostly do one of three jobs: pull beetles and aphids away (nasturtium, marigolds, radishes), bring in the bees and beneficial … [Read more...]
9 Green Bean Companion Plants (and 4 to Keep Away)
by Bethany Hayes (revised and updated) The 30-second version: Green beans are easygoing neighbors, and the best companions for them mostly earn their place by repelling or distracting the pests that bother beans — flea beetles, Mexican bean beetles, and the like. Good picks … [Read more...]
9 Things to Put at the Bottom of a Raised Garden Bed
by Bethany Hayes (revised and updated) The 30-second version: First, get clear on why you're lining the bottom, because the right material depends entirely on the job. If you're putting a bed on grass or weeds and want to smother them, plain cardboard or a thick layer of … [Read more...]