Calendula is more than a pretty face — it’s a common ingredient in herbal teas, home remedies, and skincare products. The sun-loving “pot marigold” is beautiful and edible, and its ability to attract pollinators makes it a beneficial garden plant,...
Are you the neighborhood brown thumb? The wannabee master gardener who has mastered only plant destruction? There may be a problem with your gardening technique (duh!) that undermines the health of your plants. In this blog, we list the most common gardening mistakes...
The gardenia comes from tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. The plant adapts well to Southern California’s Mediterranean climate and rewards the attentive gardener with fragrant, creamy white blossoms from late spring...
A head of commercial lettuce receives 4–6 applications of insecticide, 3–4 applications of fungicide, and 1 application of herbicide before it reaches your plate. Yep, that lettuce in your crisp lunch salad is loaded with vitamin K, vitamin A, and chemicals. Going...
Who’s a gardener’s BFF? A beneficial nematode, of course. Nematodes are tiny, worm-like organisms that live in soil and water. There are 25,000 species, some of which are harmful and others highly beneficial. In your garden, they can control grubs, root...