7 Great Garden Bloggers You Should Subscribe To

Julie Christensen

So what’s so great about garden blogs? Unlike most gardening magazines, which tend to be homogenized, commercial ventures filled with photos and ads, every gardening blog has a unique personality. Some blogs feature one writer, possibly a published author, with gardening wisdom to share. Other blogs are a collaboration of several creative green thumbs. You can find just about any type of blog you want — blogs on specific types of plants, container garden ideas and even blogs tailored to your particular climate zone. Whether you’re struggling with the dry climate and poor soil of the Rocky Mountains or the bugs and humidity of the South, you’ll find someone else you can relate to and learn from.

Here, you’ll find entertainment, inspiration and education from people who know what they’re talking about. These bloggers have kids, dogs and weeds, and they’re not afraid to share their less-than-perfect gardening sides. Their mistakes are your gains. Whether you have a rooftop garden in New York City or several acres in rural America, you’re bound to find a blog that’s just right.

Kitchen Gardeners International.  Kitchen Gardeners International is a non-profit group dedicated to encouraging a sustainable lifestyle through vegetable gardening. Their blog offers encouragement and tips for the novice to experienced vegetable gardener, as well as ideas for activism in your community. The group offers grants to those wanting to start community gardens. You’ll come away with plenty of ideas and inspiration.

A Way to Garden. When Margaret Roach walked away from her swanky job as Editorial Director of Martha Stewart, she knew two things: she wanted to garden in peace and she wanted to finally write a book. She moved to upstate New York and bought a farm near a village with a population of 300. She wrote her first book, A Way to Garden, and started the blog by the same name. You’ve got to add this one to your list. First of all, Margaret is immensely likable. Her writing is witty, warm and accessible. But, that’s not enough to sustain those truly passionate about gardening. Margaret offers more. The website is full of funny, informative insights about the gardening life. You’ll find everything from seed starting to composting, plus recipes, slide shows and a gardener’s FAQ. Bookmark it and return often!

Cold Climate Gardening.  If you live north of zone 5, this site is for you. Several hardy, knowledgeable gardeners share their advice on gardening in the “cold zone.” Find resources for cold climate gardening, including floating row covers and adapted seeds and find loads of advice on the hardiest varieties for your garden. The blog mostly discusses flowers, although you’ll find a little bit of everything here.

Little Green Fingers. Blog owner, Dawn Isaac, worked in public relations for seven years before discovering that her true passion was gardening. She left the fast-paced life to start her own garden design business. Three kids later, she’s combined mothering with garden design. She runs a gardening club for preschoolers and offers tons of insight, and even lesson plans and activities, for gardening with kids.

Brooklyn Farm. If you’re an urban gardener (and even if you’re not), you’ll love this blog, filled with quirky, humorous insights into what it means to garden in the city. One post details the misery of cleaning out raised beds filled with tokens left behind by the neighborhood cats. But, you’ll also find plenty of practical advice on using space wisely and choosing plants for small spaces.

The Happy Homesteader. Head over to the Happy Homesteader blog at Mother Earth News if you’re serious about gardening self-reliance, or just a wannabe homesteader. Here you’ll find information on starting an orchard, sheet mulching, hoop tunnels and much more.

Garden Therapy. If DIY crafts are your thing, be sure to check out Garden Therapy. With tons of neat gardening projects, recipes and more, it will definitely inspire the crafty gardener in all of us.

So there you have it: seven fun blogs. Did we miss any? Let us know what your favorite garden blog is in the comments.

 When she’s not writing about gardening, food and canning, Julie Christensen enjoys spending time in her gardens, which includes perennials, vegetables and fruit trees. She’s written hundreds of gardening articles for the Gardening Channel, Garden Guides and San Francisco Gate, as well as several e-books.