Are the weeds in our garden trying to tell us something about our soil? Is it reliable? And should we be taking action based on what they're saying?

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Control Weeds Without Herbicides

It's been a controversial suggestion for orchids for many years. It also gets recommended for houseplants in general. But is watering plants with ice cubes a good idea?

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Propagate Orchids at Home

Is it true that pests won't attack healthy plants? Can you really determine the health of your plant through one simple measurement? And where did these ideas come from?

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: DIY Bee House Using Scrap Lumber

We don't want them in the house, but can we trust ants around our plants? Do we need to step in and do something, or might they be beneficial in the garden?

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 2024 Fall Hummingbird Migration (Canada & United States)

An overview of vermicomposting -- worm composting. It provides very similar benefits to the garden as composting, but can be done indoors and stay active year-round, even in colder areas.

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Save Seeds: Collecting Seeds From Your Garden Plants

Over the last 200 years, earthworms have gone from being despised by gardeners to being loved as signs of healthy soil. Many gardeners now even raise worms in their houses to create vermicompost. But it's not all rosy.

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Simple Trick to Save the Best Seeds from Your Garden

Are today's fruits and vegetables -- the ones you buy at the store -- less nutritious than they used to be? You hear that a lot, but you'll also hear that it's a myth.

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Outdoor Plant Tags & Markers that Last a Lifetime (Really)

We always used to be able to say that there were no GMO garden seeds. That's still true in most of the world but, in the U.S., gardeners can now buy seeds for the genetically engineered, high-antioxidant Purple Tomato.

NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: What to Know Before Reusing Old Potting Mix