If you’ve been trying to root avocado seeds by suspending them over a glass of water with toothpicks, there is an easier way. Make use of all those avocado pits and grow free houseplants.| Empress of Dirt
Creative + Frugal Garden Ideas is a free ebook with lots of ideas for your garden. I’ve got easy instructions if you are new to saving files to your device.| Empress of Dirt
Garden zones or plant hardiness zones are frequently mentioned in gardening. But, do you know what your zone is? Or, how to find it—and—most importantly—what it means for your garden? Let's look how this information helps but why it does not give the full picture for gardeners.| Empress of Dirt
How can you tell which garden vegetables or fruits require pollination to produce crops? Use these tips to know which crops require exposure to pollinators like bees or birds and those that can produce a harvest without them.| Empress of Dirt
Lots of gardeners are trying no-dig gardening but what exactly is it and what are the benefits? Let's have a look at this approach and why it might be a good option.| Empress of Dirt
Neem oil, often suggested for pest control, has big drawbacks: it is not selective and can harm beneficial insects and Lepidoptera including butterflies and moths. For these reasons (and more), it is not a harmless solution.| Empress of Dirt
Discover creative ways to repurpose an old birdbath into a charming garden planter. Ideas include planting with annuals or succulents, and crafting mini rock and fairy gardens.| Empress of Dirt
The end of the warm season shouldn't stop you from keeping compost. You can save those fruit and vegetable scraps for your garden all winter long. It's easy in a cold climate.| Empress of Dirt
Need a rat-proof compost bin or a way to keep rodents including mice out? This tumbler compost bin keeps your food scraps away from pests and makes good compost for the garden.| Empress of Dirt
Want to grow houseplants from kitchen scraps? Learn how to grow avocado, mango, orange, lemon, lime, ginger, pineapple, tomato and more using seeds and cuttings.| Empress of Dirt
Get a bundle of garden-related digital products from Empress of Dirt. If you would like a sweet deal on our most popular items, this is for you.| Empress of Dirt
Take the stress out of vegetable gardening with this weekly plan for sowing seeds indoors and outdoors from spring to fall to time everything just right.| Empress of Dirt
Just about any fruit tree or soft fruit including berries can grow in containers if you start with the right plants and growing conditions. Browse the suggestions and see what's best for your growing space.| Empress of Dirt
Whether marketed as topsoil, black soil, black earth, or some other catchy phrase, it’s not easy to know what’s in the bag. Use these tips to help guide your soil shopping decisions.| Empress of Dirt
Most plants prefer neutral soil, but many thrive in acidic conditions too. Explore this list of trees, shrubs, perennials, fruits, and more for low-pH gardens.| Empress of Dirt
Is wood ash good for the garden? For centuries, people tossed fireplace ashes in their yards, but its impact on plants and soil depends on various factors.| Empress of Dirt
A smelly compost pile is a sign something's wrong. Learn why compost can smells like rotten eggs or ammonia and how to fix it with these simple steps.| Empress of Dirt
Create a secluded space with this combination raised bed and privacy fence. Using standard lumber sizes, it’s an easy-to-assemble DIY project.| Empress of Dirt
What is the best way to fill a tall raised bed or large planter without spending a lot of money? The secret is to put your best soil where you need it and fill the rest of the container with other harmless materials. There are plenty of natural, organic, and synthetic options.| Empress of Dirt
Back and knee pain can limit garden time as we age. These accessible ideas make gardening easier and more comfortable so you can keep doing what you love.| Empress of Dirt
We hear a lot about ways to alter our soil pH to suit certain plants, but what is soil pH and we should be messing with it? Dive in to learn the basics and find out how your soil pH level can help guide your plant decisions.| Empress of Dirt
No matter what, you win. By keeping kitchen scraps and turning them into compost, we divert food waste from landfills and offer essential nutrients to our garden plants. Learn how to make compost quickly, plus the slower way for those who do not have the time.| Empress of Dirt
Animal manures are an excellent source of nutrients for our gardens and help improve soil structure. But which ones are best? Cattle? Sheep? Horse? Also, find out why manure should be composted before use and what to know before you buy.| Empress of Dirt
This printable garden planner comes as a digital file you download to your device and print out. With its simple forms and lists, it is intended for gardeners who like to do their garden planning and journaling by hand with a pen on paper. This is not a gardening guide but instead a simple framework to assist with garden planning and note-taking.| Empress of Dirt
Knowing your garden’s growing conditions helps you select the right plants, plan for seasonal changes, and make sustainable choices. Use these tips to create your own garden profile, covering everything from frost dates to soil health, for better planning and long-term success.| Empress of Dirt
If you need basic plant name labels to help organize your seeds or track seedling containers, these ready-to-print files are helpful. This digital product includes four popular layouts to suit a variety of uses.| Empress of Dirt
Is there anything worth buying for the garden at the dollar store? We scoured the aisles to look for items that are useful and long-lasting—not single-use or disposable—and discovered some good finds.| Empress of Dirt
Want to know if seeds will germinate without going to the trouble of sowing them? This easy paper towel test shows which seeds will sprout and along with the expected germination rates.| Empress of Dirt
Indoor Seed Starting for Beginners | Sow Indoors Grow Outdoors is a complete, easy-to-follow guide for new gardeners who want to start seeds indoors to grow outdoor plants.| Empress of Dirt
Get your seeds organized with these easy container systems. Managing seeds is a breeze when you have a system that works for you.| Empress of Dirt
This simple system shares how to organize your garden seeds in a manner that is logical, easy to use, and easy to maintain. Gather up your seeds, follow along, and let's get everything in order.| Empress of Dirt
Hummingbirds and bees love bee balm (Monarda). Use these tips to grow it and attract them to your garden.| Empress of Dirt
This beginner’s guide to botanical names shares the basics for gardeners wanting to get comfortable using the scientific names for plants. Once you understand the conventions for how the names are formed and written, you will know a lot more about the plants.| Empress of Dirt
If you need cheap, easy-to-use tags for tracking your indoor seedlings, there are several options. We've tested several common materials along with the writing tools gardeners like best.| Empress of Dirt
There are all sorts of creative, low-cost ways to make your own plant tags, markers, and labels for the garden. Grab some art supplies and repurposed household items and get crafty.| Empress of Dirt
Use this tip while your flowers are blooming to guarantee you save top-quality seeds for next year’s planting. The healthiest flowers, fruits, and vegetables have superior genetics, so be sure to mark your best for later.| Empress of Dirt
If you started seeds indoors and they are not germinating, or they have sprouted but they are failing to thrive, this should help you troubleshoot the problem.| Empress of Dirt
