Interplanting isn’t limited to annual vegetables. Perennials, shrubs, and small trees can be strategically planted in or around the vegetable garden to create a diverse, resilient ecosystem. These plants provide habitat, nectar, and pollen for beneficial insects such as ladybugs, lacewings, bees, and parasitic wasps, which in turn help control pests and improve pollination. Why…
Tender perennials—plants that grow year after year in warm climates but can’t survive freezing temperatures—require extra care to make it through winter. After gardening in both mild Sonoma Valley winters and harsh Iowa Zone 5 winters, I’ve learned that overwintering these plants is completely manageable with the right approach. Whether you dig and store them…
Perennials are some of the toughest plants in the garden, but winter brings challenges in every climate. In mild zones, plants face heavy rain, cool soil, and short cold snaps; in colder regions, they must withstand deep freezes, snow cover, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles. After more than 30 years growing perennials in both warm zones…
Shifting from an annual-based vegetable garden to one dominated by perennials is a key strategy in regenerative gardening. Perennial vegetables, herbs, and fruits reduce labor, improve soil structure, and build long-term resilience. Over years of hands-on experience, I’ve found that a thoughtful transition—layered with cover crops, mulch, and soil preparation—creates a productive, low-maintenance garden ecosystem….
Dividing perennials in fall is one of the most effective ways to rejuvenate overcrowded plants, improve flowering, and maintain a healthy, productive garden. After decades of gardening in Sonoma Valley and cold-climate zones like Iowa Zone 5, I’ve found that fall is often ideal for dividing many perennials because the soil is still workable, plants…
Overwintering perennial herbs allows you to enjoy fresh flavors well into winter and early spring. From my experience gardening in Iowa’s Zone 5 winters to year-round growing in Sonoma, hardy herbs like parsley, chives, and sage can survive cold temperatures with proper preparation and protection. Visit the Winter Garden and Season Extension Learning Hub Here’s…
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