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Pruning & Deadheading

How to Grow & Care for Clematis Vines

Published on May 3, 2023 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

White and red clematis flowers.

Use these clematis tips to grow beautiful, perennial flowering vines in your garden. Tips include planting, care, and propagation, along with answers to frequently asked questions. Find out what … [Read more...]

Fall Pruning Tips: What to Remove Now

Published on October 4, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Hand holding plant pruners in the fall garden.

What should you prune in fall and what should wait? With leaves gone, fall is the perfect time to examine your trees, shrubs, and vines and come up with a pruning plan. It's the time to remove dead, … [Read more...]

How to Grow Tomatoes From Cuttings (Including Suckers)

Published on June 27, 2021Last updated October 3, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Tomato plant cuttings for propagation.

You can grow more tomato plants faster by rooting cuttings including suckers. The cuttings will grow roots and become new, fruit-producing plants faster than it takes to grow from seed. This is … [Read more...]

What to Prune in Winter (Trees, Shrubs, & Vines)

Published on January 4, 2021Last updated November 18, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Hand holding tree lopper pruners in a snowy winter garden.

There are many trees and shrubs to prune in late winter while the plants are still dormant and before the warmer weather returns. I’ve included a plant checklist to save for future … [Read more...]

How to Deadhead Flowers & Make Way for More Blooms

Published on July 27, 2020Last updated October 5, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Using pruners to snip off an old flower head.

To "deadhead" means to remove old flower blooms. This helps tidy up plants we don't want to produce seeds and makes room for second blooms. Many of our favorite plants can bloom repeatedly including … [Read more...]

How to Identify Types of Hydrangeas (& Know When To Prune)

Published on June 15, 2020Last updated November 18, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Large blue hydrangea flowers.

Use these tips to identify your hydrangea and know when or if it should be pruned. With six main varieties available, these photos will help determine what you are growing. If you want to … [Read more...]

Hydrangea Pruning Chart For Beginner Gardeners

Published on April 5, 2020Last updated October 6, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Pruning a hydrangea in the garden.

Not all hydrangeas benefit from pruning and many will not flower if you do. Use our pruning chart to know which species can be cut back and those that should be left alone to ensure a good flowering … [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).
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