Welcome! I'm Melissa J. Will a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt (Ontario, Canada). I've got creative and frugal ideas for your home and garden. New to this site? Start here.
Want nice full zinnia plants with lots of flowers? The secret is pinching. By cutting back some stems while the plant is young, zinnias respond by creating more stems and that means more buds and bloo ... [Read More...]
If you want to make a fence taller for privacy, these fence extension ideas will help. There are several ways to add height to an existing fence and block your neighbors from peering into your yard. ... [Read More...]
Hummingbirds are sweet, curious, and fiesty visitors in the garden but did you know you can unknowingly poison or kill them by providing the wrong nectar or neglecting the feeder? Learn how to make hu ... [Read More...]
Peat has long been a staple in commercial potting mixes, but growing environmental concerns are prompting gardeners to seek more sustainable, peat-free alternatives. We also have guides on … [Read more...]
In cold climates, July is peak garden season with flowers blooming, food crops thriving, and pollinators busy. Here are some garden tasks to do this month. For more, see garden task lists for … [Read more...]
This simple tutorial shows how to take cuttings from your pothos houseplant (Epipremnum aureum) and root them for new plants. There are also practical tips for How to Grow African Violets From … [Read more...]
A beginner-friendly guide to growing delicious tomatoes from seed to harvest. Discover everything you need to grow healthy plants and sweet, juicy fruit. If you want to grow tomatoes from seed, … [Read more...]
June is a busy time for cold-climate gardeners. Summer is here and it’s time to plant, create, and visit other gardens for inspiration. Have a look at the ideas for this month. June Garden … [Read more...]
Learn how to identify, manage, and prevent mealybug infestations on your houseplants with practical tips for spotting signs early and keeping plants healthy. If you've got little jumping bugs, see … [Read more...]
Learn which flowering bulbs come back each year, which don’t, and how to care for perennial varieties after blooming to give them the best chance of flowering again. If you're new to this, see How … [Read more...]
