Although not much is going on in the garden when winter approaches, there are a few tasks that can help protect your garden and get it ready for healthy growth next season. The unexpected time you'll ...

There are three things you can do to eliminate 95 percent of your gardening challenge — put the right plant in the right place; improve the soil by adding plenty of compost and organic matter; and add ...

When it comes to covers for your garden soil, pine straw may be right. You'll only know for sure once you've compared it to ...

Avoid fine-textured or waxy mulch and mulching fabrics, as they can actually repel water and prevent it from seeping into the soil. Apply an even, 2- to 3-inch layer that covers the root zone around ...

Question: I am ready to add a new layer of mulch around the shrubs. Do I remove the old mulch when applying the new pine bark? Answer: Leave the old mulch in place and add a new layer of pine bark.

Applying mulch is one of the easiest and best ways to help your trees and other plants, but doing it the wrong way can lead to trouble. “Mulch should be a flat, even layer over the soil,” said Spencer ...

Fall is an excellent time to spread mulch over the roots of trees, shrubs and perennials. “It will benefit plants at any time of the year,” said Julie Janoski, Plant Clinic manager at The Morton ...

This summer’s extended period of extreme heat and drought has wreaked havoc on all plants great and small. One gardening practice that can make a considerable difference in combating extreme ...

Mulching is one of the most basic and essential tasks of gardening. Most of us mulch because it helps reduce the amount of time we spend pulling weeds. Mulch provides many other benefits, however. It ...

I'm glad to see fewer and fewer homeowners in my neighborhood bagging and discarding leaves; unlike previous years, I know they're focused on sustainable alternatives. Whether their efforts are guided ...