Every time I go to Europe for a week with just one carry on (and a purse as my personal item) I get asked for a detailed rundown of how that’s possible. (There have been two times. That made it sound like I go every month.) But I’ve definitely worked out a packing method that allows me to travel lightly and have lots of outfit options that I love wearing.
Laura from Garden Answer brings a burst of fresh autumn color to the garden!She shares an update on her sunflowers, plants new boxwoods with Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus to help the roots establish naturally, and refreshes her fall containers with vibrant ornamental kale, rudbeckia, and pansies. Using Espoma Organic Potting Mix, Laura ensures every plant has the rich, healthy soil it needs to thrive this season.
I love an iced something for my daily coffee. And most days that’s a cold brew I make at home. For over 2 years now, I’ve relied on this cold brew maker to keep a delicious batch at the ready in my fridge. I’m going to show you exactly how I make homemade cold brew and why it’s my method of choice. Sherry and I aren’t expert baristas or even persnickety coffee connoisseurs. We prioritize simple & straightforward brewing methods that can be successful without treating coffee like an intricate science. No shade if you have time & energy for it, but this guide is for the average home coffee drinker who wants good, reliable cold brew without stressing over the details.
We get a surprising number of questions about how we make our pour over coffee (and even requests for a video tutorial). We aren’t baristas by any means, but we love an easy, affordable, and delicious cup every day. So we’re sharing how our system checks all of those boxes – without ever tasting bitter or burned. Pour over is known to make better tasting coffee with less equipment & waste than electric coffee makers, but the process can sound intimidating – especially for beginners! Honestly, pour over is only as complicated as you want it to be. So we’ll show you just how easy it us for us to make. I do it every morning in just a few minutes. And I truly think it tastes better than many fancy coffee shops – so it saves me money!
Watch as Summer Rayne Oakes@flockfingerlakes tours a small, shrub-forward garden that’s brimming with enthusiasm—thanks to a few “thuggish” growers that love to spread. She shows how her garden beds were built with cardboard, compost, and Espoma Organic soils, and how planting densely with Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus helped everything establish beautifully. The result: a thriving space that just needs smart, seasonal management.
Summer’s Tips!
1) Decide the goal, then manage to match
Before you pull a single plant from your wild garden, define your vision. If shrubs are meant to be the stars, reduce anything blocking sightlines or competing for height. A clear goal makes every adjustment easier.
2) Build living soil from day one
Build a garden bed using organic soil like Espoma Organic Potting Mix, Raised Bed Mix, or All-Purpose Garden soil to create a rich rooting zone. Healthy soil grows resilient plants. Plan for light, regular maintenance.
3) Plant with a quality Starter Fertilizer for confident establishment
At planting, mix in Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus. Its slow-release nutrition, beneficial microbes, and mycorrhizal fungi help roots colonize quickly, reduce transplant stress, and set plants up for long-term success.
4) Manage early and often
Make quick passes a habit. Trim seed heads after bloom, thin young growth before it crowds, and lift runners that wander into paths. Small, frequent efforts prevent big overhauls later.
5) Read the site and group accordingly
Let the garden tell you what it wants. Moisture-loving plants often reveal wetter spots; cluster them there and relocate dry-site growers to sunnier, leaner areas. Use edging and pathways to reinforce boundaries.
6) Give energetic growers a job
Channel that vigor. Move fast spreaders to meadows, back corners, or containers where they can thrive freely. Use groundcovers as living mulch in designated zones, but keep stepping stones and entries clear for structure and flow.
Healthy soil and thoughtful plant management help any garden strike the right balance between wild and intentional. With organic soil building and mindful upkeep, you can enjoy a garden that’s full of life—and still beautifully under control.
Laura from Garden Answer is back in the garden with three beautiful new plants—hydrangeas, calycanthus, and stokes’ asters—giving them a strong start using Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus.
Then it’s husband Aaron’s turn to step in with lawn care. He’s using Espoma Organic All Season Lawn Food to keep their grass lush and green. His tip? Fertilize monthly to keep the lawn healthy and thriving!
Anyone who knows me is typically shocked when they learn that I now have – and sleep next to! – an actual real-life cat. Even I can’t believe it most days. But if you follow me on Instagram, you know my cat obsession is currently cranked to 11 and my cat possession currently stands at 1. So today I’ll share my personal experience about managing and essentially eliminating my cat allergy – including the products that have (and haven’t) helped.
with Garden Answer
with Garden Answer