Blake Harrison
About the Author
Blake has 14 years of hands-on gardening experience and a strong interest in the tools and techniques that separate a garden that struggles from one that thrives. She focuses on garden planning and seasonal maintenance, and hier writing tends to be direct; she'd rather tell you what actually works than hedge for every possible situation. In his workshop, she builds and customizes garden tools, which has given her a specific understanding of how equipment performs under real conditions and what most off-the-shelf options get wrong.
Blogs by Blake Harrison
You have already decided you want a pyracantha hedge. The problem is finding one clear answer. Which variety should you buy? How many plants do you need? What will it
Most gardeners want a shrub that earns its keep all year, not just pretty in spring, then forgotten. It should hold color through winter, work as a barrier, and feed
Weeds usually tell you what’s going on with the soil, if you’re paying attention. Even a lawn you mow, feed, and water on schedule will sprout the odd weed. That’s
A patch of bare soil after scarifying looks worse than it usually is. In most cases, that’s normal. Scarifying rips out old thatch and moss, not healthy grass, though the
Grass-like weeds are the ones I get asked about most, probably because they’re the hardest to catch early. You mow, water, and feed the lawn, yet a few blades never quite match the rest. One
Building your own garden gate costs less than buying one, and you get to pick the exact size, style, and wood. You can build a sturdy gate in a weekend, even if it’s your first
Coffee grounds for plants work, but only for some plants and only in the right amounts. Blueberries, azaleas, and roses respond well to them. Succulents, lavender, and seedlings do not. Finished your coffee and wondering
Garden productivity comes down to a few decisions you make before the first seed ever goes in the ground. Gardens rarely fail because of bad luck or bad weather. They fail because of poor soil,
You bought a bag of compost. You mixed it in. Nothing happened. This is a common mistake, and an expensive one. Most pick the wrong type for their soil or plants. They spend money and