Think Twice Before Using Landscape Fabric – 3 Headache-Free Alternatives
Walk into any garden center, and you’ll invariably find rolls of brown and black landscape fabric. It’s cheap, it’s easy to get your hands on, and it definitely does a …
Walk into any garden center, and you’ll invariably find rolls of brown and black landscape fabric. It’s cheap, it’s easy to get your hands on, and it definitely does a …

Aside from pumpkins, there’s no more popular fall décor than potted hardy chrysanthemums. Their gorgeous colors shout autumn is here with every jewel- or fire-colored bloom. And with retailers stocking …
Quick pickles are incredibly popular these days. No fussing with canning in a hot kitchen, they take mere minutes to make, and they’re perfect for those who don’t have the …
I know very few gardeners who don’t grow tomatoes. Actually, now that I stop and think of it, I can’t think of anyone I know who gardens, but doesn’t grow …
Many of my articles are inspired by real-life conversations I have with gardeners, and this one is no different. I found myself in a … ahem … let’s call it …
Pickle season is here! And whether you plan on going all out and canning pickles to enjoy even in the winter months, or you’re a fan of quick and easy …
Few things are as infuriating as eagerly awaiting your first tomatoes of the season, watching them color up and ripen, only to find the tell-tale dark blotch of blossom end …
We love our hydrangeas around here. And judging by the popularity of our articles on this topic, we think you might be just as infatuated with these magnificent shrubs as …
We’ve all heard the jokes about zucchini and how productive they are. Goodness knows I’ve made quite a few right here on Rural Sprout. So, it can be a real …
As we’re burrowing deeper into the thick of this crazy summer weather, I can’t help but feel that this is the true test of the garden. Everything I’ve been working …
The inspiration for this article on hydrangea plant pairings came to me courtesy of golden hour. I was sitting on a bench next to a pink mountain hydrangea that looked …
Even if you’ve been growing tomatoes for years, you may have never heard about trusses or a ‘king fruit.’ That’s because it’s the lingo commercial greenhouse gardeners use to describe …
Bush beans are an easy-to-grow favorite of many gardeners. However, if you garden in a small space, then you know they can eat up garden real estate quickly, especially if …
With extreme heat warnings becoming a regular part of the summer landscape, it’s important to understand how intense temperatures affect the most important thing growing in your garden – pollen. …
Aside from being prolific, zucchini should also get an award for Best Garden Colonizer. They always start as a tidy little seedling, politely existing in its spot in the garden. …
Whether you’re working in your perennial beds or pruning your tomatoes, gardening can be really tough on your hands. Chipped or torn nails, hands stained black from tomato leaves, knuckles …
A bank of beautiful, deep jade green cucumber leaves dotted with lively spots of summery yellow makes for a lovely garden backdrop. But if all you’re finding among those leaves …
I like big berries, and I cannot lie. You other brothers can’t deny. And that’s about as far as I can go with the blueberry-Sir Mix-a-Lot crossover. But yes, I’m …
I got a message from a friend this week saying, “My cucumbers are covered in flowers. I’m so excited! I’ve never grown cucumbers before. I have no idea what to …
I’ve been making switchel for decades. Quite a few years ago, I introduced this summertime drink to the Rural Sprout community, and our readers loved it. As we head into …
Everyone loves a warm summer day, but if the temperatures climb too high, that summer heat can become miserable, or in some cases, dangerous. Here are fast and simple ways …
I’m a huge advocate for planting flowers among your vegetable garden. They add a lovely pop of color and attract pollinators, which means more vegetables. But when you tell me …
I’m trying out the new GreenStalk vertical growing tower that I keep seeing everywhere. Let’s put it together and give it a grow, shall we? I love vertical gardening systems. …
When the temperature spikes, few vegetables can throw a temper tantrum about it the way tomatoes can. Dropped blossoms, slow growth, suspended ripening. When your tomatoes aren’t happy, ain’t nobody …
Excuse me! Yeah, you, standing next to the tomatoes. Please, put down the hose and step away from the plant. (At least for now, anyway. You might do more harm …