Latest articles by Ellen Wells
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Stop These 4 Southern Lawn Mistakes This Spring – Your Grass Will Look Lusher by SummerMake these errors with your lawn this spring, and your summer garden will suffer
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You've Probably Never Heard of the Tuna Can Test, But it Will Stop You from Killing Your Lawn This SpringLawn experts swear by this easy, low-tech method for healthy grass
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This Old-School, Non-Toxic Garden Oil Stops Aphids from Destroying Plants – But Hardly Anyone Knows About ItYou can use this non-toxic pest control method on all kinds of plants
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Garden Designers Say These 7 Front Yard Features Will Date Your Home in 2026 – Here's How to Refresh ThemSigns that say your front yard needs a future-facing refresh
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The January Porch Reset – Designers Share 4 Natural, Soothing Décor Ideas to Ease Into the New YearAll the inspo you need for creating a fresh and natural winter greeting in the New Year
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We Asked 3 Landscape Designers How They Prep Their Gardens in Late December – Here’s What They Always Do For a Stress-Free Yard in 2026You can get ahead now too for a beautiful spring yard
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9 Designer-Approved Trees and Shrubs That Don't Have an Off-Season – Bringing Color and Beauty to Your Yard, Even in WinterBark, berries, foliage and texture hold the eye long after blooms fade
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The 9 Sculptural Plants Designers Rely On to Add Instant, Low-Effort Drama to Warm-Climate GardensUse bodacious architectural plants to create living drama in warm-weather gardens
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How to help your yard and plants recover from the effects of wildfire smoke – expert garden advice to heal your bordersIt’s not just fire that can damage your plants – smoke, ash and the particulates they contain can impact plant health, too
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If you live in a fire-prone area, experts say these are the 7 potentially devastating firescaping mistakes to always avoidIt's vital to know about the potential pitfalls when planning your fire-smart landscaping
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Best edimentals to grow on the West Coast – whether artichokes or pomegranates, these crops will thrive in a myriad of microclimates from Washington to southern CaliforniaDiscover what other edibles can beautify your West Coast garden
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Best edimentals to grow in eastern states – crops that can handle the range of temperatures and humidity that are ever-present along the East CoastThese ornamental edibles are perfect for East Coast gardens
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How to grow blue lobelia – expert tips for incorporating this vivid annual into yards and containersLobelia erinus shimmers in shades of blue; a rare color in the garden.
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How to grow cape honeysuckle – experts suggest ways to add this shrubby vine to a hot, dry landscapeTecomaria capensis blooms profusely with hot colors in unforgiving terrain
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Plants you should never let grow too tall to avoid HOA fines – and the best dwarf alternativesYou could incur an HOA fine if tall plants and trees are not kept under a certain height
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Plants never to grow in a front yard to avoid HOA fines – these are the species that risk financial penalties, plus what to grow insteadThere are planting restrictions in front yards that all homeowners should be aware of
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How to grow borage – experts explain the many perks of this low-fuss annual herbBorage is a triple threat in the garden as a pollinator companion plant, a healing herb and a culinary flavor addition
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How to grow calibrachoa – expert tips for this sun-loving container garden stapleCalibrachoa can’t be beat when it comes to color choices to enliven baskets, window boxes and porch pots
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How to grow angelica – expert advice on cultivating this medicinal and culinary herbThis towering, low-maintenance herb has a rich history of healing across multiple cultures
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How to grow scabiosa – for dancing, detailed flower heads that will add a whimsical touch to any design schemeWith their curvaceous, dancing stems, pincushion flowers play a vital role in garden beds and borders
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How to grow Shasta daisy – an expert grower say this luminous perennial will provide a wildflower look with minimal effortLeave the wild daisies for the meadows and opt for Shasta daisies, which is bred for garden beds and borders
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How to grow lupine – expert advice on growing this dramatic and vibrant cottage garden flowerVibrantly colored flower stalks make swathes of lupines a sight to see in meadows and cut flower gardens alike
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How to grow impatiens – garden experts reveal the secrets to growing this shade-tolerant, sparkling summer plantBoth 'Busy Lizzie' and 'New Guinea' impatiens can thrive in shady yards
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How to grow astilbe – expert advice on cultivating this shade-tolerant flowering perennialShade-tolerant and pest-resistant - astilbe are hardy and tough perennials that can thrive in many settings
