Blog

The Impatient Gardener blog was started in 2009 and its library of posts includes practical how-tos, plant guides, favorite garden gear, successes and failures and much more. If you’re looking for something specific, the search function at the top of the page can help.

  • All
  • Containers
  • Cottage
  • DIY
  • Edibles
  • Friday Finds
  • Garden
  • Garden design
  • Latest
  • Other
  • Plants
Garden

MY FAVORITE TOOLS (PART 3: WEEDING, EDGING, WATERING, WHEELBARROWS)

We started with my four most used tools and yesterday I covered pruning and raking tools. Today I’m going to hit you with all the rest, so hang onto your hats. Just to review, these are my favorite tools that I use for specific jobs in the garden. My entire tool collection numbers far more than the tools I actually …

Read More
Garden

MY FAVORITE TOOLS (PART 2: PRUNING & RAKES)

Yesterday, in the first part of My Favorite Tools, I covered what I consider to be my four essential tools; the ones I reach for almost every time I garden. Today I’m going to get a bit more specific and show you what I use for specific jobs. The first is pruning and cutting. Yesterday I showed you the most …

Read More
Garden

MY FAVORITE TOOLS (PART 1)

I love tools and gadgets and I’m always searching for the next great thing. There is such satisfaction that comes from having the right tool for that job. In my quest to have the right tool for every job, I have accumulated a shed full of tools, about half of which I ever use and maybe 10% of which I …

Read More
Garden

FIVE WAYS TO DEAL WITH WEEDS (WITHOUT CHEMICALS)

Even though we are in that sort of sweet spot of summer when there isn’t much to be done in the garden other than enjoy all the hard work, there is still one job that must be done: weeding. I have a lot of weeds in my garden. Honestly, this year I never really got out in front of them. …

Read More
GardenPlants

A ROSE IS A ROSE (EXCEPT WHEN IT’S DEAD)

Can anyone explain to what it is about roses that makes gardeners go nutty? OK, maybe some of you may have been able to resist the siren song of this queen of all flowers, but I have not, despite the fact that they torment me. I kill roses. I can think  of at least five that have met their fate …

Read More
ContainersGarden

CHECKING IN ON THIS SUMMER’S CONTAINERS

Somewhere along the line it became August. I have no idea how that happened and I’m none too happy about it, but that means I better check in with the containers like I promised I would back in June. The deck planters are doing surprisingly well. I feel like the pink mandevilla is a bit more vigorous than the red …

Read More
GardenPlants

FIVE PERENNIALS I’D NEVER BE WITHOUT

I have had a lot of favorite/top posts in the works and was planning to run them over the course of a week, but this is my 600th post on this blog so I thought it should be something a bit meatier, and today I’m bringing you five perennials I wouldn’t be without. These are plants that are complete no-brainers …

Read More
Garden

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED (aka CAN I BRING FREE PLANTS BACK TO LIFE?)

After returning from about a week away from the garden, I looked around last week and noticed two things: Overall, I’m pretty happy with how the garden is looking this year. I tend to think my garden is always in shambles, but a bit of time away made my heart grow a little fonder for my little piece of dirt. …

Read More