Basics Archives

The formal garden design features tall Arborvitaes creating a verdant backdrop, meticulously trimmed Common box hedges outlining elegant pathways, an old concrete ornate fountain adorned with various thriving plants, and a harmonious mix of other trees and bushes, all contributing to a refined and structured aesthetic.

25 Elegant Garden Design Ideas For Formal Gardens

When it comes to gardens, there are nearly as many styles as there are gardeners, from traditional to avant-garde and everything in between. If you love formal gardens but aren't sure exactly how to build one, don't worry! Gardening expert Melissa Strauss has some great ideas to share.

Vibrant purple turtlehead flowers bloom gracefully against a backdrop of rich green foliage, creating a picturesque scene of natural beauty in a garden.

Gardening Tips

21 Plants that Thrive in Wet Soil

Wet, boggy, poorly drained gardens or pots missing adequate drainage are conditions that many gardeners consider problems, but for these plants, sopping wet soil is a positive, not a negative. Garden expert Christina Conner wades through 21 plants for rain gardens and swampy soils.

Close-up of a hori hori knife stuck into a raised garden bed, with a wooden fence in the background.

Basics

7 Uses for Hori Hori Knives in the Garden

It sometimes seems we need a million tools for different garden tasks, but the Hori-Hori is a tool that could replace them all. Garden expert Christina Conner shares her favorite uses for this multifunctional Japanese tool.

peas raised beds. Close-up of a pea plant growing in a wooden raised bed, with vibrant green, compound leaves arranged along slender, climbing vines, bearing clusters of crisp, elongated pods filled with tender, sweet peas.

Raised Bed Gardening

5 Tips for Growing Peas in Raised Beds

Peas are reliable crops for growing in cool weather. Raised beds offer the perfect home for peas, as they are easier to tend, manage, and maintain. Use these five tips from gardener Jerad Bryant and give your peas a boost this season!

A dense cluster of vibrant green leafy vegetables thrives in rich brown soil within an elevated wooden planter, situated on a sunlit wooden deck.

Raised Bed Gardening

9 Benefits of Gardening in Elevated Planters

Elevate your raised bed garden with an accessible and aesthetic elevated planter that brings your plants up to you. These raised beds on stilts are perfect for small spaces and patios. Garden expert Logan Hailey explains all the benefits for both plants and people.

A beautiful garden pathway curves through the landscape.

Gardening Inspiration

7 Garden Design Ideas for Different Home Styles

Looking for garden design inspiration? Your home's style is a great place to start. In this article, master gardener Liz Jaros looks at seven different home styles and offers tips for selecting the perfect plants.

Oregon growing zones. A close-up of a large Berberis aquifolium bush that showcases glossy, holly-like leaves and clusters of small, bright blue berries, adding a splash of color to its dense foliage.

Gardening Tips

Which Growing Zones are in Oregon?

Known for its lush Pacific Northwest forests and abundant agricultural valleys, Oregon is a highly diverse region for gardening. Former organic farmer and Oregon State University extension specialist Logan Hailey outlines everything you need to know about the Beaver State’s growing zones.

vegetables raised beds.Close-up of a wooden raised bed with onion and carrot plants growing.

Raised Bed Gardening

21 Best Vegetables to Grow in Raised Beds

Whether you just built a new raised bed or are looking to bring new life into an old bed, you have lots of crops to choose from! Join farmer Briana Yablonski to learn 21 of the best veggies to grow in raised beds.

A wooden raised bed adorned with an array of red and green lettuce leaves, their delicate fronds swaying gently in the breeze, surrounded by a tapestry of diverse plants.

Raised Bed Gardening

13 Raised Bed Garden Design Ideas

Ready to get into raised bed gardening and looking for design inspiration? Wondering how you can style your garden beds in unique and useful ways? In this article, certified master gardener Liz Jaros offers 13 ideas for designing a beautiful and productive raised bed garden.