JESSICA DAMIANO

The 1997 image provided by Forestry Images shows young asparagus spears emerging in Imperial County, Calif. (Gerald Holmes/Strawberry Center/Cal Poly San Luis Obispo/Forestry Images via AP

Asparagus in the garden takes its time but is worth the wait

Asparagus isn’t the most common vegetable among home gardeners, probably because growing it is an exercise in patience. But three years of waiting is a small price to pay for up to 20 years of relatively effortless tender green stalks.

This April 9, 2007, image provided by Bugwood.org shows a Northern red oak in Hinsdale, Ill. (Richard Webb/Bugwood.org via AP)

Oaks, asters and 6 other ‘keystone’ native species to plant for biodiversity

Doug Tallamy is an entomologist, author and arguably the father of the modern native plants movement. His decades-long research has identified dozens of “keystone” species that are a basis of many local ecosystems in the U.S.

This May 2015, image provided by Doug Tallamy shows the University of Delaware entomologist and father of the modern native plants movement taking photos of warblers in Oxford, Pa. (Cindy Tallamy via AP)

Every yard makes a difference. Native-plant champion Doug Tallamy’s got a new book explaining how

“How Can I Help?” is the latest book and call to action from native-plants champion Doug Tallamy. The University of Delaware entomologist urges everyone to make their yard or even patio more ecofriendly by planting plants that provide food for insects.

This July 12, 2005, image provided by Bugwood.org shows dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria). (Joseph OBrien/USDA Forest Service/Bugwood.org via AP)

Blink and you could miss them. 10 native spring ephemerals that bring early color to the garden

Spring brings the return of color to the garden. Bulbs bloom, perennials re-emerge, and new annuals settle in. But there’s a less common category of plants that’s also worth knowing — native spring ephemerals.

This Aug. 31, 2022, image provided by Jessica Damiano shows houseplants vacationing outdoors over summer. They will need to undergo a gradual transition back into the home to avoid shock. (Jessica Damiano via AP)

After a long winter, send your houseplants on a summer vacation

Most houseplants are tropical plants that require the warm, somewhat humid conditions of their natural habitat. Inside, they can become tired-looking over winter. So why not send houseplants on a summer vacation to re-energize them?

This Aug. 20, 2024, image provided by Marvin Makofsky shows a Plant a Row for the Hungry, Port Washington garden in Port Washington, N.Y. The local organization brings residents together to plant, tend, harvest and donate crops to help alleviate hunger in their community. The national Plant a Row campaign encourages individuals and groups everywhere to plant and donate extra produce for neighbors in need of fresh food. (Marvin Makofsky via AP)

Consider planting an extra row for the hungry in your garden this spring

If you’re going to plant fruits, vegetables or herbs this spring, why not grow some extra for your local soup kitchen or pantry?

This May 2, 2023, image provided by Jessica Damiano shows a pansy-filled planter hanging on a fence on Long Island, N.Y. (Jessica Damiano via AP)

Spring’s official start is nearly here and there’s work to do in the garden. A checklist

There’s about a week to go before the official start of spring and there’s already gardening work to do. First, test your soil’s pH level so you know which plants will thrive where. You can amend the soil as needed.

This combination of photos taken on March 2, 2025, show the steps in making a DIY seed pot from a sheet of newspaper. (Jessica Damiano via AP)

Upcycle small food containers or even newspaper for starting seeds indoors

If you’re planning to start seeds indoors this season, you probably know you’ll need seed-starting mix and, of course, seeds. But have you thought about containers?

This April 23, 2019, image provided by Jessica Damiano shows Maddie, a pitbull mix, standing in a vacant spot between plants in a Long Island, N.Y, garden. Dense garden-bed designs that don't allow for such unplanted patches discourage entry by plant-trampling dogs who enjoy running laps. (Jessica Damiano via AP)

They dig, they pee, they trample. How to garden when you love both dogs and plants

They dig, they pee, they trample. Every gardener who has a dog knows it’s hard for them to coexist with garden plants. How can you keep each safe from the other? Protect your dog by avoiding any plants that are toxic to pets. Avoid using chemicals.

This undated image provided by All-America Selections shows Petunia Dekko™ Maxx™ Pink, an AAS-winning plant for 2025. (All-America Selections via AP)(All-America Selections via AP)

A durable dahlia. A vigorous vinca. Here are 20 new garden plants to watch for this year

Gardeners tend to have favorite plants that they grow for years. But it’s fun to try new ones. Each year, the non-profit All-America Selections organization enlists more than 80 volunteer horticulture professionals to serve as plant-trial judges.

Milk jugs are repurposed as mini greenhouses for winter seed sowing in Westchester County, New York. (AP/Julia Rubin)

Winter sowing in upcycled containers creates stronger seedlings in spring

Many people start seeds indoors in late winter to have seedlings ready to plant in spring. But what about starting them outdoors, despite the cold? Winter sowing is an easy, low-maintenance way to plant seeds.

This image provided by Jessica Damiano shows a ginseng ficus bonsai tree on display at Hicks Nurseries in Jericho, New York. (Jessica Damiano via AP)

Be patient and don’t be intimidated by growing a bonsai

Growing a bonsai is more than just caring for a miniature tree. It’s an art, a craft and an ancient meditative practice.

This June 25, 2023, image provided by Jessica Damiano shows a potted pothos plant in Hawley, Pa. Pothos plants make good office plants because they can thrive under fluorescent lighting in windowless spaces. (Jessica Damiano via AP)

Office plants add warmth to the workplace. Only some will thrive

Lush, green plants have the power to transform a space, imparting character, warmth and charm. And there are few places that could benefit more from that than your average office cubicle.

This May, 2, 2023, image provided by Jessica Damiano shows a fence-mounted planting box brimming with colorful pansies on Long Island, N.Y. Damiano recommends that first-time gardeners start small by planting in such containers or in small beds and borders to avoid overwhelm. (Jessica Damiano via AP)

A healthy resolution for 2025? Start a garden. Tips for beginners

During this month of New Year’s resolutions, consider gardening. A few hours each week spent outdoors nurturing fruits, flowers and vegetables can provide exercise, stress reduction, vitamin D and a better diet – all without a membership fee.

This March 17, 2022, image provided by Jessica Damiano shows a collection of old seed packages spread out on a table on Long Island, N.Y. Seeds may sprout past their expiration dates, so it's a good idea to test them for viability before disposing of (or planting) them. (Jessica Damiano via AP)

Too early to prep the garden for spring? Nope

Is it too early to start prepping the garden for spring? Nope. Fixing and cleaning equipment now will be doing yourself a big favor come spring. If you have seed packets, sort through them and test them for viability.

This image provided by Drift in Air Plants shows a Tillandsia xerographica air plant in Bakersfield, California. (Jennifer Tuttle/Drift in Air Plants via AP)

Houseplants that don’t require soil and can be displayed any which way? Look to air plants

If you’re looking for a houseplant that’s as unique as it is low-maintenance, consider air plants. These quirky little curiosities are native to tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America.

This image provided by Homestead Gardens shows attendees participating in a foraging workshop at the garden center's Davidsonville, M.D., location on June 8, 2024. (Megan McMullen/Homestead Gardens via AP)

Living fences. Leaves with holes. A lived-in vibe. And other likely garden trends for 2025

What are the trends ahead for gardening in 2025? Experts have some predictions. The Garden Media Group, for instance, releases a garden trend report every year. This year they say one trend is likely to be living fences.

In this Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 photo, Dan Stevens loads the wood stove at his home in Gardiner, Maine. The number of households using wood as a heating source nearly doubled in Maine from 2000 to 2010, while growing by a third nationwide, according to U.S. Census figures. (AP Photo/Pat Wellenbach, File)

Find out where your firewood comes from to prevent the spread of invasive pests

Crackling fires have long been an idyllic gathering place where chestnuts are roasted, stories shared and souls warmed. Some folks cut their own wood and let it season, but most buy their wood without much thought about where it came from.

This May 2023 image provided by Jessica Damiano shows a neglected, overgrown property on Long Island, New York. A step-by-step approach is the best strategy for reigning in such gardens. (Jessica Damiano via AP)

A step-by-step guide to renovating a neglected garden

When you look out your window this winter, does your garden look neglected? Don’t despair. Devising a game plan now can set you up for a much better view by next winter.

This undated image provided by Lena Monaco shows several birds visiting suet and seed feeders in her Garden City, New York, garden. Homeowners in cold climates are encouraged to provide such food, as well as water, to help sustain birds over winter, when flower seeds, fruits, nuts and nectar are typically unavailable. (Lena Monaco via AP)

Gardening can be a four-season labor of love. Here’s a look at some winter tasks and projects

If you’re a gardener, you might think you can rest on your laurels now that there’s a break in the mowing, weeding, sowing and planting action. But fall and winter are the best times to tend to garden maintenance and prepare for next season.

This image provided by Jessica Damiano demonstrates the use of bypass pruners to take a hardwood cutting from a redtwig dogwood shrub on Long Island, New York. (Jessica Damaino via AP)

Want more shrubs? How to make new ones with hardwood cuttings

Our gardens may be preparing for their winter slumbers, but that doesn’t mean we have to rest. It’s time to make free shrubs.

FILE - An American robin feeds a worm to her hungry nestlings on a front porch in Cheverly, Md., Sunday, May 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Views on garden insects are changing. Why many former ‘pests’ are now valued

If you’ve got an insect infestation in the garden, take a beat before reaching for the spray can. First, consider whether the insects really pose any harm. We all know about beneficial insects like dragonflies and bees.

This image provided by FinaMill shows the FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder Set. The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. (FinaMill via AP)

These holiday gifts change the game when building fires, printing photos, watching birds and more

Finding the perfect gift can be daunting. Especially if you’re looking for something this year that’s truly innovative, practical, fun, even game-changing. The AP has done some of the legwork.

This 2009 image provided by Bugwood.org shows two Amelanchier canadensis Canadian serviceberry trees. (Richard Webb/Bugwood.org via AP)

Serviceberry is a sadly underused native tree that helps wildlife and is worth planting

The serviceberry tree is a North American native tree that AP gardening columnist Jessica Damiano thinks is sadly underused. Serviceberry’s white flowers are some of the earliest spring bloomers.

This Nov. 3, 2024, image provided by Jessica Damiano shows tiny purple flowers blooming along the gangly stems of a coleus plant on Long Island, New York. The plant's blooming stage often surprises its gardeners, who typically plant it for its stunning foliage. (Jessica Damiano via AP)

There are flowers too? Some plants prized for foliage surprise gardeners with late-season blooms

Now that the weather is cooling, you might notice that some of the plants we encounter look nothing like their mid-summer selves. We’re talking about the flowering of plants that are typically valued mostly, if not solely, for their foliage.

This 2024 image provided by Chris Petersen shows a Canna 'Pink Sunburst' plant in bloom in Asharoken, N.Y. (Chris Petersen via AP)

How to help your tropical plants survive the winter blues

Nothing conjures up the feeling of the tropics like giant, lush-leaved plants, and if you live in the tropics or subtropics, you get to enjoy them year-round.

This Oct. 19, 2024, image provided by Jessica Damiano shows garlic bulbs in planting holes in a Long Island, N.Y., garden. (Jessica Damiano via AP)

Planting bulbs? Here’s how to protect them from critters and the cold

Planting garlic is easy but protecting them from freezing temperatures and stealth animals that dig them up every year is a little harder.

This October 2014 image provided by The Morton Arboretum shows the colorful foliage of a sugar maple tree at the arboretum in Lisle, Ill. As the season progress, the tree's leaves progress from green to yellow to orange and, ultimately, brilliant red before dropping. (The Morton Arboretum via AP)

For brilliant foliage, look no further than native trees

If you’re in the market for new trees, consider planting natives. They’re generally lower maintenance than exotic species, require less water, fertilizers and pesticides, and often cost less too.

This Oct. 13, 2024 image provided by Jessica Damiano shows a container-grown Japanese maple tree on display at Giordano's Garden & Gifts in Sea Cliff, N.Y. (Jessica Damiano via AP)

Fall’s a perfect time to plant a tree. Some tips on doing it right

If you’ve been wanting to plant a tree, fall is a great time. The cooling temperatures and still-warm soil mean less stress on newly planted trees.

A bloom of snowdrops appear in winter in Westchester County, N.Y., on Feb. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Julia Rubin)

Consider the ‘minor bulbs’ — crocuses, snowdrops and more — when planting for spring

As the summer garden winds down, it’s time to think about spring flowers. And the best way to ramp them up would be to plant bulbs now. We’re all familiar with the popular tulips, daffodils and hyacinths.