Planting a mixed border with light shade

You’ve heard the saying “just like two peas in a pod.” Well, the nature of companion planting with peas is akin to that idiom. Companion plants for peas are simply plants that grow well with peas. That is, they are mutually beneficial to one another. Perhaps they ward off pea pests, or maybe these pea plant companions add nutrients to the soil. So just which plants make good garden pea companions? Companion Planting with Peas Companion planting is a form of polyculture a

Plants that grow well with pumpkins are good pumpkin companion plants. Planting a pumpkin with companion plants isn’t intended to combat vegetable loneliness, but rather to help it grow better, either because companions meet the pumpkin plant’s needs in some way, or because the companions keep pumpkin pests away. If you are planting pumpkins in your garden, it pays to learn something about companion planting with pumpkins. Read on for more information about plants that g

The multi-hued assortment of lights illuminating nightclubs, injecting life into jumbotrons and topping off Christmas trees could potentially serve a larger purpose in the world of agriculture.  European biologists have shown for the first time that plants’ behavior can be controlled using colored lights. In their study, published this week in the journal Nature Methods, researchers used different colored LED lights to activate genes in plants that influence behavior. When

When it comes to gardening in a shaded location, many of us turn to classic fallback options like hostas and foxgloves. Astilbe is a perennial that blooms for up to three weeks, producing elegant spikes or clusters of flowers. Find the perfect cultivars for your shady areas with this guide. Multiple varieties of astilbe are available for you to choose from, with flowers covering a broad spectrum of colors. The foliage varies too, ranging from a deep green to a darker brown ton