LATEST RANTS
You don’t need “no mow” to help pollinators
Now that “No Mow May” is half over, I want to support Susan in her recent critique of the “no mow” movement. I totally agree with her that if you’re going to have a lawn, you may as well follow [...]
Groundcovers that Prevent Weeding and Mulching, Eventually
My new car (in 2013) on its maiden mulch run. It's MUCH filthier now. Weed Prevention with Green Mulch a/k/a Groundcovers I SO agree with Elizabeth's "Ode to Mulch," especially this quote from an expert: “Mulch contributes to [...]
Louisville Celebrates FLO’s 200th Birthday and Feels the Love
There have been FLO parties in Buffalo, New York City, Boston, Baltimore, Atlanta, and more the past few weeks. My hometown joined the fun. Louisville celebrated Frederick Law Olmsted’s (FLO) bicentennial on April 26th. Olmsted, in 1891, visited a [...]
An ode to mulch
It was serendipitous. For a few weeks in mid-spring, my garden is the tidiest it has ever looked, thanks to an application of mulch/compost that gets put down at the beginning of every gardening season. All the winter detritus magically [...]

“One of my favorites: A blend of gossip, news, crusade and, yes, raw rant, it blows the cobwebs out of gardening’s mustier corners.”
– Washington Post gardening editor Adrian Higgins
Human-produced fertilizer—why not?
Guest post by Natalie Levin Composted manure, blood meal, bone meal, and fish emulsion are popular soil amendments. We routinely use these materials in our gardens. But consider adding your own menstrual blood or urine to your watering [...]
Round the Back
This is the time of year to enjoy the back of your flowers. Partly because they are very low down at the moment. It was years before I realised when I was thinking about planting things [...]
Gardeners make terrariums; plants laugh
Then (left) and now The wonderful terrarium I had planted by a local shop last year is still wonderful; it’s just different. The large fishbowl had been the home of 2 previous terrariums, part of [...]
GardenRant Voices
GardenRant is the work of these highly opinionated gardeners:
GUEST RANTS
GardenRant welcomes “guest ranters” who want to take over our little piece of cyberspace for the day. Whether you’re in the plant industry or just an ordinary gardener with an axe to grind, you’re invited. Find out more here.