Emily Cordo 
Few things are more annoying than a persistent mosquito, but it’s easy to forget they are also dangerous. Humans are vulnerable to several potentially fatal mosquito-borne diseases, including malaria, Zika, West Nile, Chikungunya, and dengue fever. A severe allergic reaction, “Skeeter Syndrome,” can also be life-threatening. Popular synthetic chemical sprays like Deet can deter mosquitoes. … Read more
Growing a perfect lawn is never easy, but it is possible as long as you choose the right type of grass and understand its maintenance requirements. So, what is the best grass seed for Ohio? Cool-season grass varieties like the Kentucky Bluegrass and Perennial Ryegrass are suitable for Ohio’s soil and weather conditions. Of course, … Read more
Unless you live in the tropics, there’s no way to grow tomatoes outdoors in the winter. In some areas, you may be able to start plants in early spring or keep your plants fruiting into the fall, but generally, tomatoes won’t survive the first frost. If you can’t survive another winter without fresh tomatoes, and … Read more
There is no more frustrating time of year for gardeners than late winter and early spring. Luckily, starting seeds in a greenhouse can give you a head start on the growing season and scratch your itch to get your fingers in the soil. With so many different plants you can start in the greenhouse, it … Read more
The first time I saw a cold frame, just for a moment, I thought I was looking at a magical portal to the center of the earth. Then my father lifted the frame and its heavy pane of steamy glass, revealing a treasure trove of early spring lettuces and herbs inside. Cold frames aren’t portals … Read more
If you’ve ever wanted to grow a bonsai tree, but aren’t sure if you have the discipline, you should try an elephant bush. Also known as dwarf jade, porkbush, and spekboom, the elephant bush is a popular semi-perennial succulent shrub. Elephant bush has a reddish-brown stem and small glossy green leaves. There are several variants, … Read more
Zebra plant is a term commonly used to describe a pair of succulent doppelgängers: Haworthiopsis fasciata and Haworthiopsis attenuata. Both are like tiny aloes, with dark green spiky leaves decorated with thin, bumpy, white stripes. There’s a lot of controversy over the classification of Zebra plants. It is common for garden centers to sell H. … Read more
If you are looking for a pretty, easy-to-care-for plant — a perfect gift for your sweetheart — you’ll fall in love with the variegated string of hearts. Its tiny, heart-shaped leaves are mottled sage-green and silver. The leaves of the variegated variety of these plants are edged in an eye-catching pink. The string of hearts … Read more
If your sunny windowsill needs a little more magic, consider adopting a fairy castle cactus. This columnar cactus got its name because the multiple clumping stems grow up in a formation reminiscent of the turrets of a medieval castle. Each stem of the fairy castle cactus is a five-sided fleshy branch with wooly spines on … Read more
The rhaphidophora tetrasperma needs a better nickname. Otherwise known as a “mini monstera” (it is not a monstera) or a “ginny philodendron” (it is not a philodendron), the rhaphidophora tetrasperma is a distinct species in the Araceae family. It is cousins with both the philodendron and the peace lily. The nickname confusion is understandable. Like … Read more
For gardeners, winter is pure torture. No fresh vegetables. No Vitamin D from working in the sun. No dirt under your nails. Even people who aren’t big vegetable fans dream about salad in the winter. You shouldn’t expect to grow tomatoes in winter unless you have a hothouse. That said, you can grow a wide … Read more
For people who love to garden, the most frustrating time of year is late winter. After months of being housebound, all you want is to dig your hands into warm soil. The bright and shiny packets of seeds you bought the moment they hit the stores are calling to you, begging to be planted, but … Read more
Compost is a valuable addition to any garden, but an unbalanced and untended compost pile is like a stew left simmering on low heat. It takes a long time to finish, and even with patience, the texture will still be pretty chunky. While you can make compost slowly — throwing yard waste and kitchen waste in a … Read more
