Plant Growth
What a Seed Uses Before Its First Leaf
What a seed uses before its first leaf depends on stored food, moisture and warmth; learn what to watch during…
The full collection
All stories
Browse stories on plant growth, garden conditions, design, seasonal work and garden history. Each starts with a question worth noticing.
Soil and Water
Mulch or Bare Soil for Growing Plants
Mulch or bare soil affects sowing, seedling care and soil conditions. Choose a surface that suits each crop’s growth…
Garden Design
Garden Paths That Give Planting Room to Grow
Garden paths shape how planting grows and is seen. Learn to spot cramped borders, test a route with a hose and choose…
Seasonal Work
The Pruning Calendar Myth
The pruning calendar myth gives way to a clearer choice: time each cut around flowering, fruiting, plant structure and…
Garden History
How Garden Paintings Reveal Ideas About Cultivated Nature
See how garden paintings frame cultivated nature, and use their paths, boundaries and planting patterns to read design…
Our point of view
Growth starts with paying attention
Gardening gets easier to understand when you notice what a plant needs and what a place can offer. We look closely, keep the advice grounded and leave room for different gardens to grow differently.