Summer gardening comes with its own set of challenges. The heat is relentless, plants are growing at full speed, and the soil can dry out in hours. I’ve learned the hard way that fertilizing in summer isn’t as simple as tossing down some compost and calling it a day. One summer, I went all in…
Imagine this: It’s mid-July, and you step outside with your coffee, excited to check on your garden. The sun is already beating down, and as you get closer, you realize something’s off. Your cucumber vines are wilting, your tomato leaves look curled, and some of your once-green pepper plants now have crispy, brown edges. Panic…
April is the month when my garden starts showing off—the tomato plants are stretching taller each day, the squash vines are running wild, and the first marigolds are popping open like little bursts of sunshine. But with all this growth comes the real work of maintaining it. If you’re following the 15-Minutes-a-Day Gardening Calendar, you…
If you’ve been following along with the 15-Minutes-a-Day Gardening Calendar, you already know that this system is designed to help you build and maintain a thriving garden—without burnout. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, this approach breaks everything down into small, daily steps so that gardening feels fun, doable, and rewarding. February…
January may feel like a slow month in the garden, but don’t let that fool you—this is the foundation-building season. While the rest of the country is bundled up indoors, Zone 9 gardeners get a head start on the growing year. This is the time to plan, prep, and plant so that your garden thrives…
Summer in Zone 9 can feel like a gardener’s final exam—blazing heat, relentless pests, and soil so dry it practically turns to dust. But don’t let that scare you! I’ve learned that a little strategic planning can make summer gardening not only manageable but also rewarding. Whether you’re looking to keep things green through the…