Heidi Almond

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Garden Guides uses a knowledgeable team of editors, writers, and experts to create all our content. We dive deep into the ever-evolving conversations surrounding gardening and landscaping, striving to deliver the most current and helpful tips, strengthened by expert insight and tutorials from our talented team.

As we cover many fields of expertise, we make it a priority to ensure every beat remains fresh and comprehensive. Additional information on our editorial process available here.

Stories By Heidi Almond

  • Produce
    Produce By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022

    How To Collect Lupine Seeds

    How to Collect Lupine Seeds. Lupine (Lupinus perennis) are beautiful wildflowers that are found across North America. They have upright clusters of pink, purple or white flowers, and they are part of the Fabaceae family, related to beans, peas and clover. Lupine prefer full sun and do well in poor soils, and they are a rich nectar source for butterflies, bees and other pollinators. You can easily collect seeds from lupine growing in the wild to propagate in your own garden.

    By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022

    What Eats Vinca Plants?

    What Eats Vinca Plants?. Vinca, also known as periwinkle or Catharanthus, is a hardy garden flower that produces pretty pink or white flowers. It is a perennial in hot climates but most gardeners grow it as an annual. Deer and rabbits do not like to eat vinca and the plant isn't bothered by too many insects or diseases, but there are a few pests gardeners should look out for when growing this flower.

    By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022

    How To Water Older Pine Trees

    How to Water Older Pine Trees. Mature pine trees are a stately addition to any landscape, and the green needles provide winter interest, as well as shelter for songbirds and other wildlife year round. Pine trees, along with spruce and other conifers, tend to be pretty low-maintenance plants, and they need little attention once they have become established. However, older pine trees will benefit from deep watering during very dry conditions, and watering in the late fall will help the trees get through the winter.

    By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022

    How To Grow Sunflowers Indoors With Fluorescent Light

    How to Grow Sunflowers Indoors With Fluorescent Light. The wide, cheerful, yellow blooms of sunflowers on towering green stalks are a welcome site in many summer gardens. If you don't have access to outside gardening space, or if you want to grow flowers in the wintertime, you can grow sunflowers indoors with fluorescent lights. You'll be limited to dwarf or miniature sunflowers, which produce shorter plants with smaller blooms, but the flowers are just as lovely, and they add a little bit of happy color to your home. Sunflowers are hardy, low-maintenance plants that are fairly easy to grow, even indoors.

    By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022

    The Best Tomatoes To Grow In North Carolina

    The Best Tomatoes to Grow in North Carolina. A lot of people look forward to fresh, juicy, vine-ripened tomatoes in the summertime. The warm climate of North Carolina suits many tomato varieties quite well, but the high humidity can lead to disease, wilt, fungal infection and nematodes. Gardeners in North Carolina should seek out disease-resistant tomato varieties. Tomatoes need rich, fertile soil. Soil that is heavy in clay or sand should be amended with compost, composted manure or peat moss. Use a layer of mulch, such as dried leaves or shredded bark around your tomato plants to keep down weeds.

    By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022

    How To Winterize Grapevines

    How to Winterize Grapevines. In warm climates, where the winter temperature rarely dips below freezing, grape vines require no special winter protection. However, if you're trying to grow grapes in Minnesota or Maine, you'll need to winterize the grape vines to protect them against the biting cold and heavy snow. Grow cold hardy varieties of grapes to have a better chance of success. Beta, Kay Gray, St. Croix, Valiant or Worden are all juice or table grapes to consider. Wine grapes tend to be more sensitive to cold, but the University of Minnesota Extension Office says that Foch, St. Pepin, Edelweiss and Elvira grapes can be grown in cold climates with adequate winter protection.

    By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022

    How To Ship Real Flowers

    How to Ship Real Flowers. A backyard cutting garden can produce large amounts of beautiful flowers every year, and proud gardeners may want to share blooms with family and friends--even if they live far away. You can ship fresh flowers by mail and have them arrive intact on the other side of the country--if you package them well and provide a way to keep them moist.

    By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022

    How To Grow Soft White Wheat Berry Seeds

    How to Grow Soft White Wheat Berry Seeds. If you like fresh-baked whole wheat bread, wait until you try it with wheat that you grew and ground into flour yourself. Wheat comes in two varieties: hard red wheat, which is heartier and produces a coarser flour, and soft white wheat, which is milder and makes fine, fluffy flour. White wheat berries are sown in the fall for a harvest in the spring or summer, or you may sow them in the spring for a harvest in the fall. Wheat seeds are known as "wheat berries."

    By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022

    How To Dry Statice Flowers

    How to Dry Statice Flowers. Statice flowers' clusters of small, colorful blossoms look nice in dried floral arrangements, wreaths or other craft projects. You can grow statice in your own garden or purchase it fresh at your local farmer's market. When preparing to dry statice flowers, pick or buy more than you think you'll need, since the flowers will shrink a little as they dry, and some flowers may get damaged.

    By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022

    How To Store Lupine Seeds

    How to Store Lupine Seeds. Lupine (Lupine perennis) are a nice addition to butterfly gardens, native wildflower plantings and old-fashioned country gardens. Lupine prefer sunny locations and do well in poor quality soil. In fact, they often grow well in locations that may not support very many other flowers. You can find lupine growing wild across North America, and you can collect the seeds to propagate lupine in your own garden. Proper storage of lupine seeds will help ensure their successful germination.

    By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022

    How To Propagate A Bay Tree From A Cutting

    How to Propagate a Bay Tree From a Cutting. Bay trees, also called bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), are the source of bay leaves used in the kitchen to flavor soups, stews and sauces. The trees can grow as tall as 40 feet or more, although normally they are pruned to be much shorter and more compact. The easiest way to propagate a bay tree is by layering, or partially burying an attached stem until it develops roots. If that's not practical, you can also propagate a bay laurel by taking a cutting and rooting it in soil, although you may only have marginal success.

    By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022

    How To Grow Blackberries In Saskatchewan

    How to Grow Blackberries in Saskatchewan. The short growing season and cold climate of Saskatchewan make gardening a challenge. Many fruit trees and bushes require long, hot, sunny days, and the fruit simply won't mature in Saskatchewan. Blackberries generally prefer warmer climates, but when in a suitable site and with the proper care, gardeners in Saskatchewan can grow enough blackberries to eat fresh, plus have some left over to make into blackberry jam.

    By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022

    Planting Instructions For Birch Trees

    Planting Instructions for Birch Trees. Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) has stunning white bark, while river birch (Betula nigra) has bark that is reddish black, and the foliage of both turns a vibrant golden yellow in the fall. There are other species of birch available, too. Birch trees can make a decorative addition to your home landscape, but they do require some special attention. Choosing a good location for your birch tree will help ensure success.

    By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022

    Parts Of A Moss Plant

    Parts of a Moss Plant. Most moss species are just a few inches tall, are often soft, hairy or fuzzy; they are an appealing shade of deep, saturated green. Although they superficially resemble small plants, mosses lack a vascular system for water or nutrient distribution, and they reproduce in unique ways. Botanically, mosses are classified as bryophytes, and are closely related to liverworts and hornworts. Mosses grow on soil, rocks and trees, often in moist habitats; some even grow underwater. Different species of mosses can be found all over the world, from the Arctic Circle to tropical jungles.

    By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022

    Harvesting Burdock Root

    Harvesting Burdock Root. Burdock, also known as gobo or Arctium lappa, is a edible plant native to Asia, although it now grows wild over much of North America and Europe and is considered a weed by many gardeners. Cooked burdock root is crunchy and has a mild flavor similar to potatoes or artichokes, and it can be used in soups and stir fries. Burdock root tea has traditionally been used as a detoxifier to treat acne, infections and liver problems.

    By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022

    When & How To Transplant Blueberry Bushes?

    When & How to Transplant Blueberry Bushes?. Sweet blueberries are a delicious addition to any landscape. The bushes produce pretty white or pink flowers in the spring, followed by luscious fruit in the summer or fall. Blueberries can be made into jams, jellies, pies and more. They can also be frozen or dried. Because of their shallow root system, blueberry bushes are relatively easy to transplant. Choose a location for your blueberries that gets plenty of sun and has the proper soil pH.

    By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022

    How To Grow Blueberry Plants In Containers

    How to Grow Blueberry Plants in Containers. Blueberries are notoriously fussy about soil pH. While most garden plants prefer a neutral or slightly alkaline soil, blueberries like acidic soil. One way around this is to grow your blueberries in containers. You can build the soil from scratch to provide good drainage and the proper pH. Blueberries grown in containers will need special winter protection. Blueberries are high in vitamins and antioxidants, and can be made into delicious jams, jellies, pies and more.

    By Heidi Almond November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Heidi Almond November 3rd, 2022

    How To Grow Mushrooms Outdoors

    How to Grow Mushrooms Outdoors. Wouldn't it be nice if you could sow a row of mushrooms in your garden, just like you do with carrots or spinach? Well, it's not quite that simple, but you can grow your own mushrooms. Mushrooms grown inside mature more quickly, but they require a lot of fussing with humidity levels and fresh substrate. Outdoor mushroom plots grow more slowly and may only produce edible mushrooms during one time of the year, but once established they will continue to produce for years, with little to no input from the gardener.

    By Heidi Almond November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Heidi Almond September 6th, 2022

    How To Kill Siberian Elm Trees

    How to Kill Siberian Elm Trees. Siberian elm trees (Ulmus pumila) were originally brought to North America in the nineteenth century because they are fast-growing and hardy, and they continue to be grown and planted because they are resistant to Dutch elm disease. However, Siberian elm trees produce large amounts of seeds that grow aggressively, crowding out native plants in prairies and along waterways. Girdling it the most effective way to kill a Siberian elm tree, since the trunk will resprout for several years if you simply cut it down. Girdling trees prevents water and nutrients from moving from the roots to the limbs of the tree.

    By Heidi Almond September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Heidi Almond September 6th, 2022

    Plants To Grow Around Oak Trees

    Plants to Grow Around Oak Trees. Oak trees provide ample shade, and their large silhouette is a dramatic presence in the landscape. The acorns also provide food for wildlife. All that shade is nice for cooling off your yard or house in the summer, but it challenges the gardener trying to grow flowers, shrubs or other plants under oak trees. Look to nature to find plants that naturally grow under oak trees, and create a native woodland garden with edible berry bushes and pretty wildflowers. For the health of the oak tree, avoid planting anything within about 10 feet of the trunk, and be careful when digging to avoid damaging the oak tree's roots.

    By Heidi Almond September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Heidi Almond September 6th, 2022

    Wisconsin Wild Blueberry Plants

    Wisconsin Wild Blueberry Plants. Wisconsin is home to five species of wild blueberry plants (Vaccinium spp.), although only one is common. Wild blueberries grow across the state, and they generally prefer rocky or sandy soil with dappled sunlight in clearings in pine forests. A variety of wildlife, from tiny songbirds to black bears, depend on wild blueberries for food, and the small, tart-sweet fruit is a favorite of human berry-pickers, too. Many species of wild blueberry bushes can grow in a garden setting. Blueberries are related to bilberries, huckleberries and cranberries.

    By Heidi Almond September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Heidi Almond September 6th, 2022

    How To Grow Avocados In Canada

    How to Grow Avocados in Canada. The next time you make guacamole, save the pits from your avocados. You can use them to grow a small avocado tree. Although some avocado varieties can handle light frosts, gardeners usually cannot grow avocados outdoors in Canada. Indoor avocado trees rarely produce fruit, but they still make for an interesting house plant, and sprouting avocado pits is a fun garden activity for children. Avocado trees need plenty of sun and regular water.

    By Heidi Almond September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Heidi Almond September 6th, 2022

    The Best Tomato Varieties For Ohio

    The Best Tomato Varieties for Ohio. Fresh, juicy, vine-ripened tomatoes are among the sweetest pleasures of summer. Gardeners in Ohio face a shorter growing season than other parts of the country, but there's still plenty of heat and sunlight to produce enough tomatoes for fresh eating, sauce and sharing with your neighbors. Tomatoes should not be planted outside until after the danger of frost has passed; for most of Ohio that means about the end of May. Ohio gardeners can start tomato seeds indoors to get a head start on the season or purchase transplants. Tomatoes need fertile soil and benefit from an application of compost or composted manure. Tomatoes may need a bit more water than the rest of your garden to produce big, juicy fruit. Use a thick layer of mulch to retain moisture, keep weeds down and to help warm the soil during the cool spring and fall of Ohio. Tomato plants are bushy and reach about 2 to 3 feet tall; they should be spaced 18 to 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart.

    By Heidi Almond September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Heidi Almond September 6th, 2022

    The Best Grapes To Grow In Wisconsin For Wine

    The Best Grapes to Grow in Wisconsin for Wine. The Midwest generally isn't known for its fine wines and while there are several varieties of table grapes and juice grapes that grow in Wisconsin, most wine grapes require long, hot summers. It's tough to find high quality, hardy, cold-weather wine grapes, but viticulturalists in Wisconsin do have a few options, and some grape growers are even turning winemaking into a successful commercial venture. According to Wine Trail Traveler, in 2010, there were over 700 acres of wine grapes growing in Wisconsin.

    By Heidi Almond September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Heidi Almond September 6th, 2022

    How To Get Rid Of Wild Grape Vines

    How to Get Rid of Wild Grape Vines. Wild grape vines are aggressive growers and can quickly become unmanageable in a garden setting. They are also a nuisance in orchards or in commercial tree farms where they interfere with the growth and harvest of the timber crop. Grape vines may also grow thickly enough to smother out saplings, flowers and other small plants, and wild grape vines steal sunlight and nutrients from nearby trees. Getting rid of wild grape vines requires patience and determination.

    By Heidi Almond September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Heidi Almond September 6th, 2022

    How To Mulch Around Grape Vines

    How to Mulch Around Grape Vines. Grapes vines are generally hardy and tenacious garden plants, and the fruit can be used for fresh eating, juice, jelly and wine. While most grapes prefer hot climates, there are some varieties of grapes that can be grown as far north as Minnesota or Canada, although grapes in cold regions usually need winter protection like mulch. Mulch also helps keep down weeds and regulates soil moisture. Grape vines should be trained up a trellis to keep them off the ground.

    By Heidi Almond September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Heidi Almond September 6th, 2022

    How To Water Grape Vines

    How to Water Grape Vines. Grape vines look elegant trailing up a trellis in your garden, and the fruit is good for jelly, wine or just eating fresh off the vine. Fruits like grapes require a good amount of water to make them plump and juicy, but too much water can cause the roots to rot. Many growers of wine grapes in Europe practice "dry farming" and do not water their grapes at all, while grape farmers in California water their grapes regularly. Finding the right balance of water for your grapes will help ensure a good grape harvest.

    By Heidi Almond September 6th, 2022 Read More