It’s starting to cool down here in south Minneapolis, and you might be thinking about houseplants to provide some indoor greenery all year. Most houseplants are native to tropical climates and can …

We’ve had a lot of hot, sticky weather lately, and it’s probably affecting your plants! When the air stays warm and humid for days at a time, you might start noticing a white, powdery coating on …

Every spring, gardeners across Minneapolis plant their seeds and hope for a productive growing season. Some gardens thrive, but others limp along despite careful watering and fertilizing. If you’ve …

Every spring, Minnesotans step outside to perform the same ritual: rake the lawn, plan the garden, and grab a bag of fertilizer to help the yard wake up from winter. What most people don’t realize …

Every spring, as temperatures start to rise, Twin Cities gardeners face the same question: “Is it finally safe to plant?” This can be a complicated decision! Read on to demystify hardiness zones, …

Happy spring, south Minneapolis! Welcome to another growing season and another season of the City Gardener. As I’m writing this column, it’s 75 degrees out. By the time you read this, it will …

The word sustainable means different things to different people. Michaela Ayim, manager of the Sustainable Landcare Training program for Metro Blooms, said, “For me, at the center of the word …

As the growing season winds down in the Twin Cities, many gardeners focus on pulling plants, raking leaves, and putting beds to rest. But instead of leaving garden soil bare, planting cover crops in …

An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) can provide flexible and affordable housing options. They can be used to keep aging family members close, but in their own space. Or, the homeowner can downsize and …

As fall arrives, our gardens here in Minneapolis are full of late-season bounty. Tomatoes ripen all at once, zucchini seems endless, and cucumbers pile up faster than you can eat them fresh. …

As fall begins to arrive in Minnesota, it’s a great time to harvest and save seeds to use next year. Saving seeds is a great way to preserve unique plant species, deepen your connection with …

Creeping bellflower, or Campanula rapunculoides, is a deceptively charming perennial that has become notorious in south Minneapolis. With its bell-shaped, bluish-purple flowers and tall, leafy stems, …

City gardening is a unique blend of nurturing plants while coexisting with a surprising variety of urban wildlife. From playful squirrels to curious raccoons, and even baby bunnies nestled among your …

Welcome back to a new gardening season, and a new season of City Gardener columns! As our gardens begin to wake up from their winter rest, it's a great time to think about an often-neglected …

Faux hedges If your outdoor patio or side yard is hemmed in by something like a chain-link or cinder block wall or planter box, consider installing a faux green hedge. This is the perfect …

Spring is calling; It’s time to think about gardening! The neighborhood volunteer-run organization, Chard Your Yard, has the garden resources to make it happen. The gardens are provided at-cost …

Whale gray, dry sage and french press are some of the popular names of interior paint colors right now at Benjamin Moore, a paint company.  Sid Triantafilou, a local painter and owner of …

Residents along six blocks of 29th Ave. S have banded together to save 40 ash trees. “These are public trees that the whole community benefits from,” observed Loey Colebeck. “Many …

The weather here in Minneapolis has been extreme recently, and drought is something we’ve experienced every year. Although the 2024 drought was not as severe as previous years, rainfall …

If you’ve been following this column the past few years, you will know that I’m a Master Gardener Volunteer through the University of Minnesota Extension. It’s a wonderful program …