While we know it’s of benefit to attract certain insects like pollinators to the garden, it can be challenging to distinguish helpful insects from devouring pests. We join Meg from the Epic Gardening team as she breaks down the nuances between garden friends and foes. Knowing what to promote and what to deter is half the battle in preserving healthy crops and ornamentals.

The post Garden Mimics: These Bad Bugs Look Like Good Bugs is by Katherine Rowe and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.

Containers are superb for adding charm around the yard! Stuff them with plants, care for them, and move them as you see fit. Using a simple design called a thriller-filler-spiller trio, we’ll select three plants from the following 15 to make a lush, ornamental container that looks good through fall.

The post 15 Beautiful Container Ideas That Will Look Good Through Fall is by Jerad Bryant and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.

If your garden is looking a little languid by August, it may be time to give certain plants a nutrient boost leading up to the cool season. Gardening expert Katherine Rowe looks at select garden plants to fertilize as we head into late summer.

The post It’s Your Last Chance to Fertilize These 7 Garden Plants is by Katherine Rowe and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.

As the summer comes to an end, pollinators search for sources to provide nourishment for migration and hibernation. By planting these late summer bloomers, we can create a refuge for them in our gardens. Join beekeeper and pollinator enthusiast Melissa Strauss to learn about August bloomers that support pollinators.

The post 15 Essential Pollinator Plants That Boom in August is by Melissa Strauss and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.

Late summer is prime for some perennials to get a refresh. With August cutback, we may get another round of flowers, manage for shape, keep the look fresh, and limit the spread of diseases. Gardening expert Katherine Rowe looks at certain perennials that benefit from a light touch this month.

The post 11 Perennials to Cut Back in August is by Katherine Rowe and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.

The Midwestern U.S. is a hotbed for native perennials that offer ecological services and multi-season appeal with high color, texture, and the energetic buzz of pollinators. Gardening expert Katherine Rowe explores superlative native perennials to incorporate into Midwest gardens for a well-rounded garden system.

The post 13 Beautiful Native Perennials for the Midwest is by Katherine Rowe and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.

It's time to start thinking about those fall container arrangements. Gardening expert Melissa Strauss has some ideas for your containers that you can grow from seeds if you start soon!

The post 9 Fall Container Ideas to Start From Seed in Late Summer is by Melissa Strauss and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.

Licorice mint, botanically Agastache rupestris, is a U.S. native perennial plant that thrives in the garden. Hummingbirds love the blooms, and pollinating insects visit them, too! Cultivate this shrubby plant in your yard to enjoy its flowers and the wildlife they attract.

The post How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Licorice Mint (Agastache rupestris) is by Jerad Bryant and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.

North American Native grasses have multiple functions and benefits. In the home garden, they support habitat and control erosion. On the range, they’re essential for maintaining ecosystemic balance. Learn to grow native sideoats grama in this guide written by master naturalist Sarah Jay.

The post How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Sideoats Grama Grass is by Sarah Jay and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.

The time to garden is not over! Late summer is a perfect season to start fall crops, and turnips are one of the best fall crops there is. They’re easy to grow, delicious to eat, and they have a wide range of uses in the kitchen. Try one of these 11 unique turnip varieties, as recommended by gardening expert Jerad Bryant.

The post 11 Turnip Varieties to Plant in Late Summer is by Jerad Bryant and appeared first on Epic Gardening, the best urban gardening, hydroponic gardening, and aquaponic gardening blog.