Every guide here was updated within the last few months. We revise articles when new Extension publications drop, when seasonal timing shifts, or when a reader points out a gap. No publish-and-forget.
41 pages added and 38 rewritten in October 2026 · Browse everything on the full guide index.
October 2026
- Agave plant: outdoor care, cold hardy species, and what happens after it flowers — Plant guide · added Oct 15, 2026
Agave plant guide for outdoor gardens: cold hardy species by zone, planting for drainage, watering, why agave dies after flowering, pups, and pests. - Aspen tree guide: quaking aspen identification, clonal groves, roots and care — Plant guide · added Oct 15, 2026
Aspen tree guide: identify quaking and bigtooth aspen, how clonal groves and Pando work, where aspens thrive, root suckers in lawns, and when to plant one. - Banana tree: how to grow it outdoors, which zones get fruit, and how to overwinter it — Plant guide · added Oct 15, 2026
Grow a banana tree outdoors: which zones get fruit, cold hardy Musa basjoo, planting, feeding, sucker pruning, and 3 ways to overwinter banana plants. - Beech Tree Guide: American vs. European Beech, Identification, and Beech Leaf Disease — Plant guide · added Oct 15, 2026
How to identify a beech tree, American vs. European beech compared, zones and care, and the latest Extension advice on beech leaf and beech bark disease. - Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus): Identification, Invasive Status, and Native Alternatives — Plant guide · added Oct 15, 2026
Burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is invasive and banned from sale in Massachusetts. ID tips, state rules, removal, and native shrubs with red fall color. - Cottonwood tree guide: identification, cotton, cottonless cultivars and siting — Plant guide · added Oct 15, 2026
Cottonwood tree guide: identify eastern, plains, Fremont and narrowleaf cottonwood, what the cotton is (and isn't), cottonless males, roots and limb risks. - Cypress Tree Guide: Types of Cypress (Bald, Leyland, Italian, Arizona) and How to Grow Them — Plant guide · added Oct 15, 2026
Types of cypress trees compared: bald, Leyland, Italian, Arizona and false cypress. How to identify each, zones, size, which to plant, and common problems. - Ginkgo Tree (Ginkgo biloba): Identification, Male vs. Female, Fall Color, and Care — Plant guide · added Oct 15, 2026
Ginkgo biloba guide: how to spot the tree, why female ginkgos smell, which male cultivars to buy, zones 3–9, size, growth rate, and its gold fall color. - Ground cover plants: how to choose for shade, sun, and slopes (and which to avoid) — How-to · added Oct 15, 2026
Choose ground cover plants by site: shade, sun, slopes, lawn swaps. Evergreen and native picks, invasives to avoid, and a plants-per-area spacing chart. - How to grow tomatoes in pots: pot sizes, planting dates by zone, and a watering plan — Vegetable guide · added Oct 15, 2026
How to grow tomatoes in pots: pot size by tomato type, potting mix volume, sun hours, planting dates by zone, watering and feeding, staking, and fixes. - Linden tree guide: American basswood, littleleaf linden and how to grow them — Plant guide · added Oct 15, 2026
Linden tree guide: identify Tilia, compare American basswood, littleleaf and silver linden, where they grow, aphid honeydew, bees and how to site one well. - Poplar tree guide: types, identification, roots and where to plant one — Plant guide · added Oct 15, 2026
Poplar tree guide: how to identify Populus, the main types (aspen, cottonwood, hybrid, white, Lombardy), root and sewer-line risks, and where they belong. - Sweet gum tree guide: identification, gumballs, fruitless cultivars and care — Plant guide · added Oct 15, 2026
Sweet gum tree guide: identify Liquidambar, tell it from maple, manage the spiky gumballs, choose fruitless 'Rotundiloba', and site it away from paving. - Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima): Identification, Look-Alikes, and Removal — Problem · added Oct 15, 2026
Identify tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) vs. sumac and black walnut, see why it's invasive, and use the July–September control timing Extension backs. - Yucca plant: growing Adam's needle and other outdoor yuccas, and how to remove one — Plant guide · added Oct 15, 2026
Outdoor yucca plant guide: Adam's needle and hardy species by region, planting for drainage, trimming, flowering, pet safety, and how to remove yucca. - Almond tree: identification, where it grows and how to care for one — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Almond tree guide: how to identify Prunus dulcis, where almonds grow outside California, zones, pollination, watering, pruning, harvest and problems. - Annual vs Perennial Plants: What's the Difference (and Where Biennials Fit) — How-to · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Annual vs perennial: annuals live one season, perennials return for years, biennials take two. How your USDA zone decides which a plant is in your yard. - Apple Tree Guide: How to Choose, Plant and Care for Apple Trees — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
How to grow an apple tree: picking cultivars and rootstocks, pollination partners, planting, pruning, thinning, disease-resistant varieties and harvest. - Azalea bush: planting, care, and exactly when to prune — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Azalea bush care: acidic soil (pH 4.5-6), filtered sun, planting high, when to prune and fertilize, bloom time, yellow leaves, lace bugs and root rot. - Birch tree: how to identify the main types, where each grows, and how to keep one healthy — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Identify a birch tree by bark, leaves and catkins; compare paper, river, yellow and gray birch; zones, planting, pruning timing and bronze birch borer. - Black walnut tree: identification, juglone toxicity, growing and harvest — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Black walnut tree guide: how to identify Juglans nigra, juglone toxicity and what not to plant nearby, growing from seed, nut harvest, timber value, pests. - Blueberry Bush Guide: How to Plant and Grow Blueberries — Vegetable guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Blueberry bush guide: which type fits your zone, soil pH 4.5–5.5 and how to get there, planting depth and spacing, watering, feeding, netting and harvest. - Butterfly bush (buddleia): how to grow it, when to prune it, and where it is invasive — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Butterfly bush care: zones 5-9, full sun, late-winter pruning and overwintering, where Buddleja davidii is invasive, sterile cultivars and native swaps. - Chestnut tree: American vs Chinese chestnut, identification and how to grow one — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Chestnut tree guide: American vs Chinese chestnut, how to tell chestnut from horse chestnut, what happened to the American chestnut, planting and harvest. - Clover Lawn: Pros and Cons, and How to Plant One — Lawn · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Clover lawn pros and cons: less fertilizer, green in summer, food for bees, but weaker under traffic and no broadleaf weed killers. How to plant one. - Crabgrass: What It Looks Like, When to Apply Pre-Emergent, and How to Get Rid of It — Lawn · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Crabgrass is a summer annual weed grass that dies at frost. How to identify it, when to apply pre-emergent by region, and how to kill it once it's up. - Elm tree: how to identify one, the main types, and what Dutch elm disease looks like — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
How to identify an elm tree by leaf, bark, seed and shape; the main types of elm; Dutch elm disease symptoms; and the resistant elms worth planting today. - Fig Tree: How to Grow, Prune and Protect Figs in Any Zone — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
How to grow a fig tree: cold-hardy varieties, zones, planting, pruning, winter protection in zones 6-7, and how to tell when figs are ripe, from Extension. - Hickory tree: how to identify the main species, which nuts are edible, and where hickories grow — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Identify a hickory tree by leaflets, bark, buds and nuts; compare shagbark, shellbark, pignut, mockernut and bitternut; which hickory nuts are edible. - How to Grow Cilantro (Without It Bolting in Two Weeks) — Vegetable guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
How to grow cilantro from seed: when to sow by zone, depth and spacing, succession sowing to beat bolting, harvesting so it regrows, and saving coriander. - How to Grow Potatoes: Planting, Hilling and Harvest Timing — Vegetable guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
How to grow potatoes: when to plant by zone, seed potato prep, depth and spacing, hilling, watering, containers, and how to tell when they're ready to dig. - How to Grow Strawberries: When and How to Plant, Care and Harvest — Vegetable guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
How to grow strawberries: when to plant by zone, crown depth, spacing for June-bearing vs everbearing, runners, watering, renovation and harvest timing. - How to Plant Garlic: Fall Timing by Zone, Depth, Care and Harvest — Vegetable guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
How to plant garlic in fall: cloves 2 inches deep, 6 inches apart, 4–6 weeks before the ground freezes. Zone timing, mulch, scapes and harvest signs. - How to Plant Lavender (and Keep It Coming Back Every Year) — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
How to plant lavender so it survives: when to plant by zone, drainage and pH, spacing, crown depth, pots, pruning, and which species are perennial where. - How to Plant Tulip Bulbs: When, How Deep, and Whether They Come Back — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
How to plant tulip bulbs: plant in fall when soil drops below 60°F, 6–8 inches deep and 4–6 inches apart. Zone-by-zone timing and why tulips fade. - How to Prune Hydrangeas: When and How to Cut Each Type — How-to · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
How to prune hydrangeas by type: prune bigleaf and oakleaf right after bloom, panicle and smooth in late winter. ID table, cut-by-cut steps and timing. - Japanese maple tree: zones, sun, planting and care for a small tree that lasts — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Grow a Japanese maple tree: zones 5-8, how much sun, soil and drainage, planting, watering, pruning, leaf scorch, frost damage and mature size by type. - Lemon Grass: What It Is, How to Grow It, and Keeping It Through Winter — Vegetable guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus): is it perennial in your zone, how to grow it from stalks, when to harvest, overwintering indoors, and pet safety. - Lilac bush: how to grow, prune and get reliable spring bloom — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Grow a lilac bush that blooms every spring: zones 3-7, full sun, neutral soil, when lilacs bloom, when and how to prune, and why a lilac stops flowering. - Low maintenance perennials: 23 that need almost no work, sorted by height and light — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
23 low maintenance perennials sorted by height and light, with zones, the one chore each needs, and what low maintenance really means after planting. - Marigold care: how to grow French, African, and signet marigolds — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Marigold care for all three types: when to sow, spacing, sun and water, deadheading, nematode control that works, and fixes for botrytis and spider mites. - Mulberry Tree: How to Identify, Grow and Harvest Mulberries — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Mulberry tree guide: tell red from white mulberry, why white mulberry is invasive, fruitless mulberry pollen rules, planting, pruning and fruit harvest. - Native plants for the Northeast: a regional guide to trees, shrubs, perennials, and grasses — How-to · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Native plants for the Northeast by layer and site: keystone trees, shrubs, sun and shade perennials, grasses, and how to confirm a plant is truly local. - Pawpaw tree (Asimina triloba): native range, fruit and how to grow it — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Pawpaw tree guide: native range, identification, pawpaw fruit season and taste, growing from seed, cross-pollination, cultivars, planting and harvest. - Peach Tree Guide: How to Grow, Prune and Harvest Peaches — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
How to grow a peach tree: chill hours and zones, picking cultivars, planting, open-center pruning, thinning, leaf curl and borers, and when to harvest. - Pear Tree Guide: Choosing, Pollinating, Growing and Picking Pears — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
How to grow a pear tree: European vs Asian pears, pollination partners, resistant cultivars, pruning, when to pick, and why to skip Bradford pear. - Pecan Tree: Identification, Planting, Pollination and Care — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Pecan tree guide: how to identify one, Type I and Type II pollination, scab-resistant cultivars, planting, zinc and water needs, and how long until nuts. - Persimmon Tree: American vs Asian, Identification and Care — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Persimmon tree guide: identify wild American persimmon, compare American and Asian types, astringent vs non-astringent fruit, planting, pruning, harvest. - Pomegranate tree: how to grow, prune and harvest it (including cold-hardy types) — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
How to grow a pomegranate tree: USDA zones, cold-hardy cultivars for zone 7, planting, watering, pruning, fruit set, harvest timing and common problems. - Serviceberry tree (juneberry, Amelanchier): types, fruit and care — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Serviceberry tree guide: Amelanchier species and sizes, how to identify it, edible juneberry fruit, where and when to plant, pruning, birds and diseases. - Weeping willow tree: growth rate, roots, where to plant it and how to care for it — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Weeping willow tree guide: size and growth rate, how far roots spread and where not to plant one, planting, rooting cuttings, pruning, pests and lifespan. - Winter interest plants: 17 trees, shrubs, and perennials that carry the garden through February — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
17 winter interest plants grouped by bark, berries, seedheads, and winter bloom, with zones, pollination needs, cutback timing, and a layout that works. - Wisteria: American vs Asian Species, How to Grow It, and When It's Invasive — Plant guide · rewritten Oct 15, 2026
Wisteria guide: American vs Chinese vs Japanese, where Asian species are invasive, wisteria trees, planting, why it won't bloom, pruning and pet safety. - Best broadcast spreader for fertilizer, seed and crabgrass preventer — Buying guide · added Oct 12, 2026
Scotts EdgeGuard DLX, Scotts Elite, EarthWay 2150 and LESCO 80 lb broadcast spreaders compared, plus calibration, edge guards and cleaning. - Best crabgrass preventer: pre-emergents that work, and when to apply — Buying guide · added Oct 12, 2026
Prodiamine, dithiopyr, pendimethalin and mesotrione crabgrass preventers compared, with Extension timing, watering-in and spring seeding rules. - Best grub killer for lawns: preventive, curative and biological picks — Buying guide · added Oct 12, 2026
Grub control products Extension guidance supports: a chlorantraniliprole preventive, a fast curative for late summer, and the truth on biologicals. - Best lawn fungicide for brown patch, dollar spot and more — Buying guide · added Oct 12, 2026
Which homeowner lawn fungicides actually fit brown patch in tall fescue, how FRAC groups and rotation work, and when cultural fixes beat spraying. - Bobbex vs Liquid Fence: which deer repellent works better — Buying guide · added Oct 12, 2026
Bobbex vs Liquid Fence compared on ingredients, how long each lasts, rain, smell and edibles, using University of Maryland trial data. Plus Plantskydd. - Plantskydd vs Liquid Fence: blood or egg for deer — Buying guide · added Oct 12, 2026
Plantskydd (dried blood) vs Liquid Fence (egg and garlic): how long each lasts, rain, smell, OMRI status, edibles and winter use. Bobbex included too. - December garden tasks: Midwest — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
December in the Midwest: prune oaks while dormant, protect shrubs from snow, salt and rabbits, keep the Christmas tree and holiday plants fresh, and plan. - December garden tasks: Northeast and Long Island — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
December in the Northeast: finish winter mulching, protect evergreens, keep holiday plants and the cut tree fresh, and know what you can prune yet. - December garden tasks: Pacific Northwest — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
December Pacific Northwest garden tasks: protecting plants from east-wind freezes and snow, winter harvests, holiday tree care, and pruning to delay. - December garden tasks: Southeast — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
December Southeast garden tasks: freeze protection for citrus and tender plants, winter vegetables, holiday plant care, and what not to prune yet. - February garden tasks: Midwest — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
February in the Midwest: start onions, leeks and peppers on schedule, begin late-winter pruning of fruit trees and grapes, and plan dormant oil sprays. - February garden tasks: Northeast and Long Island — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
February in the Northeast: prune fruit trees and blueberries, start peppers and onions indoors on schedule, plan dormant oil sprays and stay off wet soil. - February garden tasks: Pacific Northwest — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
February Pacific Northwest garden tasks: dormant oil before bud break, rose and cane berry pruning, seed starting, first peas, slugs and crane fly checks. - February garden tasks: Southeast — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
February Southeast garden tasks: potatoes, peas and onions, last indoor tomato starts, rose and crape myrtle pruning, dormant oil, and crabgrass timing. - January garden tasks: Midwest — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
January in the Midwest: test and order seeds, plan seed starting from your last frost date, check stored bulbs, and watch for rabbit and salt damage. - January garden tasks: Northeast and Long Island — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
January in the Northeast: test and order seeds, build a seed-starting calendar from your last frost date, start onions and leeks, and check stored bulbs. - January garden tasks: Pacific Northwest — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
January Pacific Northwest garden tasks: seed ordering and start dates by last frost, dormant pruning of apples and blueberries, and the leaf curl spray. - January garden tasks: Southeast — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
January Southeast garden tasks: seed-starting dates by last frost, early cool-season planting, crape myrtle pruning without topping, and cold damage. - November garden tasks: Midwest — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
November in the Midwest: mulch perennials, roses and strawberries after the ground freezes, guard trees from rabbits, water evergreens and winterize tools. - November garden tasks: Northeast and Long Island — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
November in the Northeast: water evergreens before freeze-up, mulch after the ground freezes, guard shrubs from deer and road salt, and put tools away. - November garden tasks: Pacific Northwest — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
November Pacific Northwest garden tasks: peach leaf curl spray at leaf drop, orchard cleanup, rain-soaked soil, leaf compost, and winter crop protection. - November garden tasks: Southeast — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
November Southeast garden tasks: first-freeze protection, winter vegetables, leaf composting, dormant warm-season lawns, and planting trees and bulbs. - October garden tasks: Midwest — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
October in the Midwest: plant garlic and spring bulbs before the ground freezes, feed and mow the lawn, mulch leaves, dig tender bulbs and test soil. - October garden tasks: Northeast and Long Island — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
October in the Northeast: plant garlic and spring bulbs, make the last lawn feeding before fertilizer cutoffs, mulch leaves, test soil and prep for frost. - October garden tasks: Pacific Northwest — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
October Pacific Northwest garden tasks: garlic and bulbs, fall slug control before egg-laying, protecting soil from winter rain, moss, and east-side prep. - October garden tasks: Southeast — Monthly tasks · added Oct 12, 2026
October Southeast garden tasks by zone: cool-season vegetables, garlic, pansies and bulbs, winter weed control, and no fertilizer for warm-season lawns.