Gardening How-to Articles

City gardens are usually in partial or deep shade, so plants that thrive on the forest floor and in the shade of taller trees can be planted here to model a natural woodland ecosystem. Read › Woodland Garden Plants and Design Ideas for Your Shady, Urban Garden

If you’ve got access to an outdoor space with some direct sunlight you can create a small herb garden. Here's how to start one from scratch or expand from established plants Read › Starting an Herb Garden in a Small Outdoor Space

Learn how to use mulch as a soil covering that is applied to protect and improve soil and plants. Common materials used for mulch are wood chips, autumn leaves, and stone or gravel. Read › How to Use Mulch

Native plants are highly recommended for rain gardens because they are more pest resistant than nonnatives, require no fertilizer, and provide habitat for birds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Read › Native Plants for New York City Rain Gardens

High demand and current safety protocols have added a week to 10 days to many online seed orders. If you have unused seeds from last year or even earlier, they very well might be viable. Read › Germination Test: Are Your Old Seeds Still Good?

Your garden or building can help keep sewage out of the Gowanus and other waterways. Read › Guide to Rainwater Harvest

Mosquitoes and ticks are part of the ecosystem in New York City gardens, parks and other outdoor spaces. Learn how to keep them at bay and protect yourself from the diseases they carry without giving up precious time outside this summer. Read › Keep Mosquitoes and Ticks Out of Your Garden and Off Yourself

A Williamsburg backyard was designed to capture excess storm water. In a twist on the traditional rain garden, its charming stream and small pond hold water that flows from the yard and green roof. Read › A Brooklyn Backyard Rain Garden and Green Roof

Cold-hardy Asian greens like mizuna, komatsuna, and pak choi are easy to grow in spring. They're also healthy and delicious! Read › Grow Mizuna and Other Greens in a Container, Window Box, or Garden

Dye cotton cloth with indigo using shibori techniques. Read › DIY Shibori with Indigo