Landscaping with edibles is becoming more popular with home gardeners. Combining beauty with purpose is especially practical if you have a small yard. Instead of separating the vegetable garden from the ornamental beds, this approach weaves fruit trees, herbs, leafy greens, and flowering vegetables directly into your landscape design. Edible landscaping lets you have a garden that is both productive and picturesque. ​Start with Structure​ When planning a garden from scratch, the best place to start is with “the bones....

Paddle cacti (genus Opuntia) are recognizable for their round-to-oval shaped segments, which are called cladodes, or pads, hence the name. They are incredibly resilient, drought-tolerant, and an important host plant for dozens of species, and a reliable source of fruit and nectar. They are also very easy to propagate, so let’s get into it. Clever Adaptations Paddle cacti grow in distinct segments that are designed to detach. Each pad is a self‑contained reservoir of water and stored energy, and the joint between pads is a natural break point....

Do you have your garden plans finalized and your seeds ordered for this year? If not, now’s the time to start planning in Planter! As the seed starting season gets underway, we’re launching two handy new plant Quick Info tiles in Planter to help boost your seed starting success: Germination Temperature and Seedling ID. Looking ahead to upcoming changes in 2026, we also have a new podcast episode out where Peter gives a sneak peek of the upcoming Gardens 2....

Moon gardens are a beautiful way to attract night-active pollinators while giving you a peaceful place to enjoy them. There’s no single blueprint for designing one—what matters most is creating a space you’ll love spending time in. The principles from Parts 1 and 2 will naturally shape many of your choices, helping you build a serene pocket of nocturnal habitat. In Part 3 of this series, we’ll explore practical tips, design ideas, and simple strategies for creating your own moon garden....

Few plants fully close at night—though some familiar garden species, like daisies (Asteraceae), do. Many others respond instead to humidity, temperature, or light. Still, most daytime blooms remain at least partially open after sunset and attract nocturnal pollinators to some degree. Planting a few night-focused species can act as “anchors,” drawing moths, beetles, bats, and other nocturnal visitors across your garden. In Part 2 of this series, we’ll explore the traits that make plants attractive at night and highlight several excellent species to help you start or expand your after-dark garden....

In Part 1 of this series, we’ll provide a foundational overview: who night pollinators are, why they matter, and the basic conditions they need. Who Are Nocturnal Pollinators? Nocturnal pollinators are species that primarily visit and pollinate flowers after dusk, although it’s not uncommon to see some during the day. These include moths, bats, beetles, and certain flies that rely on night-blooming or night-scented plants. Many of them have evolved specialized ways to find flowers in low light, such as a strong sense of smell, echolocation, or heat detection, making them essential yet often overlooked contributors to healthy ecosystems....

In part 1, we went over the starting principles for hanging baskets. In part 2 (here), we’ll go through some design ideas which you can adapt with plants suited to your area, and discuss some common issues hanging baskets face. Designs Here are some design inspirations to help you create your own hanging baskets. A Trailing Paradise You can frame the edge of your hanging basket with trailing plants like lobelia and ivy geranium....

Greenspace is wonderful, but sometimes there’s, well, not enough space. Hanging baskets are a brilliant way to add pockets of color to your home and garden. Whether it’s a small patio, a pergola, or a wall-mounted bracket, most spaces can accommodate a hanging basket. In Part 1, we’ll go through different types of hanging baskets and planters, and how to choose plants for them, setting you up for a colorful, vibrant display, or a mini, delicious garden....

In the Desert Southwest, freezing temperatures tend to be rare, brief, and highly localized, but when they do occur, they can be surprisingly destructive. A single radiational freeze—characterized by clear skies, still air, and rapidly dropping nighttime temperatures—can damage buds and new growth, and kill young seedlings outright. These freezes can be sudden, often not predicted until the day before, so it’s important to watch the weather. In this article, we’ll explore how frost behaves in the Desert Southwest, how to plan your garden with frost (and even snow) in mind, and practical ways to prepare for sudden cold snaps when they occur....