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Plant Growing Tips

Tips and tutorials for growing a variety of plants including annuals and perennials including flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs, and vines.

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How to Care for Christmas Cactus Year-Round

Top Strawberry Growing Tips

7 Best Tips for Growing Dahlias (Year After Year)

What is “Days to Maturity” on Seed Packets?

Published on March 14, 2025 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Vintage seed packets

Learn what "days to maturity" means in gardening, how it's calculated, and why it matters—especially for cold-climate gardeners planning their growing season. If you are new to gardening, learning … [Read more...]

What Every Gardener Should Know About Their Growing Space

Published on February 27, 2025 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Bee flying over Echinacea flower

Knowing your garden’s growing conditions helps you select the right plants, plan for seasonal changes, and make sustainable choices. Use these tips to create your own garden profile, covering … [Read more...]

Seed Viability Chart: How Long Seeds Last in Storage

Published on April 27, 2024 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Collage showing various plants and their seed viability years.

This seed viability chart shows how long garden seeds stay viable. Each type has a different shelf life, so labeling packets with “sow by” dates helps. Seed Storage: Top Tips For Storing Seeds at … [Read more...]

How to Grow Peonies & Get Blooms

Published on April 5, 2024 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Dark and light pink peony flowers.

Use these tips to grow peonies for a yearly show of gorgeous blooms. We’ve answered common questions for the care of these favorite, long-living perennials. We also have 6 Tips for Growing … [Read more...]

Buying Soil For Your Garden? Read This First

Published on March 14, 2024 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Garden plants and soil with stone border.

Whether marketed as topsoil, black soil, black earth, or some other catchy phrase, it’s not easy to know what’s in the bag. Use these tips to help guide your soil shopping decisions. If you need … [Read more...]

What to Know Before Reusing Old Potting Mix

Published on February 23, 2024 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Garden trowel, potting mix, and potted flowers.

While reusing potting mix is common, it can harbor disease and impact plant health. Use our tips to determine when it's time for a refresh. We also have this handy soil calculator to figure out … [Read more...]

How to Get Delphiniums to Bloom Twice in One Season

Published on December 1, 2023 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Delphiniums and other flowers in the garden.

If you want a second set of blooms after your delphiniums have flowered, use this simple method to encourage additional blooms. For more delphinium growing tips, also see Delphiniums: Growing … [Read more...]

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Melissa J. Will - Empress of DirtWelcome!
I’m Melissa J. Will a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt (Ontario, Canada).
Join me as I share creative + frugal home & garden ideas with a dash of humor.
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