Gardening Simplified - Easy Gardening Tips for Real Life
Deer in the Garden — What I’ve Learned, What’s Changed, and What Actually Works
Sep 17, 2026
I wrote about dealing with deer when we lived in our home in the woods. A lot
has changed since then — including my address. But deer pressure is just as real
for suburban gardeners as it was for me in the country. And September is when
they’re most aggressive.
Here’s the honest update on what did and didn't work for me.
Are Organic Weed Killers Really Safe for Your Garden?
Sep 03, 2026
Organic weed killers may sound like a gentler choice, but natural ingredients can still damage desirable plants, affect soil life, and have negative effects on beneficial insects if they are exposed to them.
Here’s what to know before you spray, plus why preventing weeds may still be the safest and easiest approach.
Is Vinegar Really a Good Natural Weed Killer?
Aug 20, 2026
Vinegar can kill weeds, but its not the right choice for every weed or every garden. Learn how vinegar works, when it can be useful, where to use caution, and why I would skip the popular vinegar, salt and dish soap mixture.
When It’s Too Hot to Garden – What Relaxed Gardeners Do Instead
Aug 04, 2026
There are weeks in July when the smartest thing a gardener can do is put down the
trowel and walk away.
Not because the garden doesn’t need attention — but because
there’s genuinely very little planting or major work worth doing in peak summer heat.
So what do relaxed gardeners do instead?
Read on to find out a few of my favorite gardening adjacent things to do when it's too hot to work in the garden.
From the Garden to the Grill — How to Make the Most of Summer’s Best Produce
Jul 30, 2026
In midsummer, the farmers' market makes meal planning easy — buy what looks
extraordinary and figure out dinner from there. The grill is the relaxed gardener’s
best tool for all of it.
Read on to find out how to make the most of summer’s abundance,
from simple prep to the specific produce that shines over an open flame.
What’s Actually Happening to Your Plants in Summer Heat — And What to Do About It
Jul 16, 2026
If your garden is looking a little rough in July, you’re in good company. Every summer, gardeners across the country watch their plants wilt, stop ...
Why Your Hanging Baskets Are Struggling in July — And the Simple Fixes That Actually Work
Jul 09, 2026
Your hanging baskets aren't failing — July is just the hardest month. By midsummer
plants shift from growth mode into reproduction mode.
Read on for the two things that redirect their energy back into blooming — including the weekly step most gardeners don't know about.
How to Set the Scene for a Beautiful Summer Evening Outside — Atmosphere, Ambiance, and the Art of Actually Enjoying It
Jun 18, 2026
There's a moment that happens at every good outdoor gathering. The sun drops,
someone lights the candles, and something shifts. People settle in. Nobody wants
to leave. That moment doesn't happen by accident.
Here's how to create it.
Summer Watering — How Much Is Too Much, How Little Is Too Little, and How to Get It Right
Jun 11, 2026
Most watering problems aren't about effort — they're about rhythm. Get the rhythm
right and your plants become more resilient, more beautiful, and far less dependent
on your daily attention.
Here's how to water smarter this summer.
10 Things Worth Growing in Pots This Summer That Aren't Flowers
Jun 04, 2026
When most people think about container gardening they think flowers. But some of the
most interesting, useful, and beautiful things you can grow in a pot this summer have
nothing to do with flowers at all.
Here are ten of them — plus the one thing to know
before you plant anything anywhere.
10 Little Summer Garden Moments Worth Slowing Down For
May 28, 2026
We spend a lot of time tending our gardens. Not nearly enough time enjoying them.
Here are ten small, ordinary summer moments — including one involving fresh basil
and a tomato mozzarella salad — that are worth actually slowing down for.
Read on for inspiration!
How to Keep Your Garden Going Strong All Summer — Without Spending Your Weekends on Chores
May 21, 2026
For most of my gardening life I was an all-or-nothing gardener. Big sessions or
nothing at all. What changed everything wasn't a new technique — it was a shift to
short daily tours and quick spruce-ups.
Read on to find out how a little bit, done regularly,keeps your garden going all summer long.
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