Gardening Tips

Too much compost in raised beds can mean soggy soil, sinking beds, leafy plants with no fruit or salt burn. Sort the cause and fix it one step at a time.

Compacted garden soil causes puddles, crusts and shallow roots. Learn how to confirm it in moist soil, rule out pests, and loosen beds without harm.

Fertilizer numbers explained: what N-P-K percentages mean, how to turn them into a weighed dose for your bed, and when a soil test beats guessing.

Compost versus fertilizer: compost fixes soil structure and water, fertilizer feeds plants fast. Run a 3-pot trial to see which one your garden needs.

Fix compost problems step by step: what a sour smell, ammonia, flies, a cold pile or slow breakdown mean, what to check first and one correction at a time.

Grow oregano from planting to harvest: picking a flavorful variety, sun, drainage, pot size, spacing, watering, pruning and how to keep it from spreading.

Grow thyme from planting to harvest: sun and drainage needs, pot sizes, spacing, watering, trimming, winter care by zone and when to cut for the best flavor.

Grow dill from seed to harvest: when to sow around your frost dates, how deep a pot it needs, spacing, staking, watering and when to cut leaves or seed.

Grow green onions in pots or beds: sow 4 to 6 weeks before last frost, space 1 to 2 inches apart, water evenly and harvest at pencil thickness.

Grow zucchini in a small garden with one compact plant, a 10 to 20 gallon pot or 3 feet of space, sowing after frost and picking at 6 to 8 inches long.