Melissa King

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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 Melissa King

  • Flowers
    Flowers By Melissa King November 4th, 2022

    How To Apply Canola Oil As A Pesticide

    How to Apply Canola Oil As a Pesticide. Even if you garden organically, you might be tempted to douse your plants with pesticides when hungry insects drop by for a visit. If you'd rather avoid chemicals, try canola oil as a natural pesticide. Canola, like other vegetable oils, is safe for most plants and won't harm humans or pets. The effects of canola oil differ, depending on the pest. For example, canola oil may poison some bugs or blocks insects' air holes, causing them to suffocate.

    By Melissa King November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Structures
    Structures By Melissa King November 4th, 2022

    How To Keep Your Swingset From Tipping Over

    How to Keep Your Swingset From Tipping Over. Swing set manufacturers design their product with a child's safety in mind, but even the safest playground equipment still has the potential to injure a child. A swing set can tip over if you place it on a sloped surface or if a child abuses the equipment. To prevent injury, it is safest to anchor your swing set to the ground with concrete and then surround the play area with a shock-absorbing material.

    By Melissa King November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Structures
    Structures By Melissa King November 4th, 2022

    How To Divide A Driveway

    How to Divide a Driveway. Most homes come with their own driveway, but occasionally, builders place a driveway between two homes. Driveways shared by two neighbors are a common source of frustration. Some neighbors block parts of the driveway, restricting access and preventing you from using it. If you have legal ownership of part of the driveway, you have the right to divide the driveway evenly. Placing a physical boundary on the driveway is a fair way to divide the property.

    By Melissa King November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Melissa King September 6th, 2022

    How To Get Rid Of Paulownia Tomentosa

    How to Get Rid of Paulownia Tomentosa. Paulownia tomentosa, commonly called the princess tree, royal paulownia and empress tree, has a growth habit that makes it a pest to many gardeners. The princess tree originates in Asia and is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 8. The tree produces pecan-shaped fruits that upon bursting release thousands of seeds. The seeds germinate readily almost anywhere they land, including roadsides and riverbanks. Manual removal of princess trees works if you manage to destroy all of the roots, but an herbicide application is the most reliable way to kill the trees.

    By Melissa King September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Melissa King September 6th, 2022

    How To Get Rid Of Snails & Slugs In Outdoor Potted Plants

    How to Get Rid of Snails & Slugs in Outdoor Potted Plants. Potted plants sometimes look fine at night but are full of holes in the morning. Such plants are likely victims of slugs and snails, soft-bodied pests that can destroy an entire plant in a single evening. These nuisances sneak into your container garden at night, so catching them eating your plants is often tricky. If slugs and snails brutalize your plants, try a combination of traps, tricks and methods to eliminate these pests.

    By Melissa King September 6th, 2022 Read More