Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
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Co-authored Articles (32)
How to
Plant Amaryllis
Of all flowering bulbs, amaryllis is the easiest to bring to bloom. Because of this, they're an incredibly popular choice of plant for the beginner gardener. The amaryllis comes in many beautiful colors including various...
How to
Grow Mistletoe
Many people have grown up admiring mistletoe decorations each Christmas season and even sharing kisses underneath them. With a bit of work, you can grow mistletoe in your yard to admire and use throughout the year! The g...
How to
Feed Worm Farm Worms
Once you’ve set up a worm farm, you must provide your worms with the right kind of foods to ensure they thrive and remain healthy. Worms will eat many things, including fruits, vegetables, eggshells, coffee grounds, le...
How to
Harvest Aloe
Aloe is easy to grow and harvest. Just cut an aloe leaf at the base of the plant and drain it of aloin -- the sticky, bitter sap inside. Then, using a sharp knife, strip the skin off the leaf. You’ll have a fresh, b...
How to
Plant Peonies
Peonies are a great, low-maintenance flower for gardeners who do not like to replant their gardens each spring. The plants are capable of blooming each year for decades without pause, or even for more than a century. Pla...
How to
Compost Horse Manure
Composting is the process of allowing organic materials to decompose in a more or less controlled setting, so that the resulting material can be used as a beneficial soil additive. For gardeners and farmers, composting i...
How to
Grow Pandorea
Pandorea, also known as the bower vine or ''Pandorea jasminoides'', is a native Australian climber with pretty trumpet-shaped flowers. It has tropical foliage that is beautiful even when it’s not in bloom. You can grow...
How to
Preserve Boxwood Cuttings
Boxwood is an evergreen shrub that is used as a decorative landscaping element in many countries across the globe. Boxwood leaves are often used in wreaths and floral arrangements to add a natural, attractive touch. To c...
How to
Grow Celery
Celery is a Mediterranean plant that grows best in temperate climates with temperatures between 59 and 70° Fahrenheit (15-21° Celsius). Because celery is a long-season crop, it can be difficult to grow in some areas an...
How to
Grow Chocolate Indoors
If you’re interested in having your own cacao tree (or "''theobroma cacao''"), try raising one inside your home. You’ll have the best luck creating a humid, greenhouse-like environment for the plant, which will close...
How to
Care for a Gardenia
Gardenias are beautiful plants with fragrant white flowers and shiny, dark green leaves. Their aromatic blossoms make them a desirable addition to your garden, but they can be difficult to care for. If you properly prep ...
How to
Get Rid of Clover Mites
Clover mites are tiny, long-legged arachnids that appear red when young and brown when fully grown. These creatures feed on common lawn plants and, though they are not harmful to humans or pets, they can become a major n...
How to
Grow Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a type of tree that’s native to Australia, but that can grow anywhere that the temperatures don’t drop below . There are actually many different species of eucalyptus, but they all have silvery leaves t...
How to
Grow Dahlias in Pots
Dahlias produce bright, beautiful flowers that come in a wide range of colors. Due to their height and weight, many gardeners may feel skeptical about planting them in pots. However, dahlias can thrive in large containe...
How to
Grow an Avocado Tree
Avocados are a delicious fruit and an ingredient in many dishes, including guacamole. Avocados are unique and come with a variety of health benefits, like lowering your cholesterol and improving your triglyceride levels....
How to
Germinate Tree Seeds
Seed germination is a necessary part of growing trees, but it can often be a long and tricky process. Tree seeds can be germinated naturally, or they can be “forced” by assisted germination. Assisted germination is h...
How to
Care for a Madagascar Dragon Tree
The Madagascar dragon tree, or Dracaena marginata, is a reliable and low-maintenance indoor plant. If you live in a warm area with extremely mild winters, you can also keep this colorful tree outdoors all year! Be sure t...
How to
Prepare a New Garden Bed
Preparing your new garden bed means creating a healthy growing environment for your vegetables. Mainly, preparing a new garden bed means preparing the soil. The procedure can be long and exhausting, especially if done m...
How to
Add Nitrogen to Compost
Compost is high in organic material and can help keep your lawn and plants healthy. Amazingly, you can create compost with things that you would usually just throw away like table scraps, lawn clippings, and dead leaves....
How to Rake Leaves
Looking for easier ways to rake your yard? Wondering what you can do to take that pressure off of your back when it’s time to clean those leaves up? If so, you’re in luck! You may be surprised by just how many hacks ...
