Melanie Griffiths
Melanie has worked in homes and gardens media for two decades. Having previously served as Editor on Period Living magazine, and worked on Homes & Gardens, Gardening Etc, Real Homes, and Homebuilding & Renovating, she is now focusing on her passion for gardening as a Senior Editor at Gardening Know How.
In her spare time, Melanie loves to explore inspiring gardens and historic properties. Based in England, in a village just outside the Cotswolds, she is spoiled for choice as there are so many beautiful cottage gardens and Arts and Crafts schemes in the area.
As a keen home grower, Melanie has experimented with pretty much every type of vegetable at some point – with mixed results. Often it is the simplest things that elude you, which may explain why she just can't seem to master zucchinis.
Thankfully she has more luck with flowers, and has spent the last few years evolving her garden – adding beds and borders, and planting up too many containers.
Though she has more roses than anything else (at least 20 varieties), her favorite flowers are dahlias, and she adores the variety of colors and textures they bring to her garden.
In addition to her gardening expertise, Melanie has also studied interior design, and has a BA in English and IT.
Latest articles by Melanie Griffiths
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Electric Composter Guide: Are Countertop Food Recyclers The Future Of Sustainability?
Discover how electric composters work, their benefits and limitations – and whether they're worth the investment as a sustainable easy win.
By Melanie Griffiths
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Best Gifts For Gardeners: 25 Thoughtful Ideas To Delight Green Thumbs For Christmas 2024
Treat that special gardener in your life to a gift they'll cherish over the holiday season and for many years to come, with our expertly curated selection.
By Melanie Griffiths
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8 Best Fruit Trees To Plant As Bare Roots In Fall – For The Fastest, Sweetest Harvest
Get a head start on home harvests by planting bare-root fruit trees this fall. Find the best varieties and learn tips for planting and caring for new trees.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
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Christmas Cactus Vs Thanksgiving Cactus: The Different Types Of Holiday Cactus Explained
Learn how to identify Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter cactus plants, and understand their slightly different care needs.
By Melanie Griffiths
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Preparing Your Garden For Winter: 9 Vital Tasks For Stronger Plants And An Easy Start In Spring
These essential fall tasks will help your garden endure winter’s challenges, and enable you to get a headstart on the next growing season.
By Melanie Griffiths
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8 Flower Seeds To Sow In Fall That Are Butterfly Magnets: Plant A Beautiful Pollinator Oasis
Create a vibrant butterfly sanctuary by planting fall seeds that attract and support precious pollinators.
By Melanie Griffiths
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Should You Cut Back Perennials In The Fall? – When To Tidy Up And When To Leave Plants Alone
It's tempting to prune plants during the fall garden cleanup, but is it the right thing to do? Discover whether to make the cut – or embrace the mess.
By Amy Grant
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8 Plants You Need To Winterize In Fall: Protect Perennials Now Or Risk Losing Them To Frost
Take action to protect these popular plant groups in the fall before temperatures plummet – and they will return healthy and strong in spring.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
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Propagating A Thanksgiving Cactus: How To Grow More Plants For Free
Effortlessly propagate your Thanksgiving cactus with simple stem cuttings or root division, to create healthy new plants that burst with vibrant blooms year after year.
By Melanie Griffiths
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6 Fruit Tree Care Mistakes To Avoid This Fall – Expert Issues Winterizing Warning
Prepare your fruit trees for winter, and get ready for a thriving growing season next year, with these top fall care mistakes to avoid.
By Melanie Griffiths
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How To Compost At Home: The Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide
Composting is an affordable, sustainable solution for creating the best possible soil improver. Discover your ideal method, steps for success, and how to get the most out of your homemade black gold.
By Melanie Griffiths
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Thanksgiving Cactus Care Guide: Grow Healthy Plants That Bloom Over The Holidays
Grow thriving Thanksgiving cactus plants that reliably rebloom, with this expert guide to creating the ideal growing conditions and solving common problems.
By Melanie Griffiths
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Repotting A Thanksgiving Cactus: Your Expert Guide For Thriving Plants
Learn how to repot your Thanksgiving cactus to ensure a happy, healthy houseplant filled with glorious blooms for the holiday season.
By Tonya Barnett
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Planting Perennials In Fall: How To Ensure New Shrubs And Flowers Thrive
Fall is the perfect time to get a head start on your garden goals by planting many perennial varieties. Come spring time, they will be raring to go.
By Tonya Barnett
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8 Flower Seeds To Sow In October For A Spectacular Garden Next Year
Sow the seeds of spring and summer flowers in fall, and enjoy months of beautiful vibrant blooms.
By Melanie Griffiths
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10 Sensational Black-Eyed Susan Varieties – For Months Of Magnificant Fall Color
Black-eyed Susan – or Rudbeckia hirta – flowers for months on end, from the hazy days of summer until the end of fall. Discover the most stunning varieties to fill pots, beds, and borders in your garden.
By Tonya Barnett
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How To Deadhead Dahlias The Right Way – To Enjoy An Abundance Of Fall Flowers
Learn how to deadhead and pinch out dahlias to encourage as many flowers as possible, and extend the bloom season right through fall.
By Tonya Barnett
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8 Fall-Blooming Flowers For Front Yards – Maximum Curb Appeal Guaranteed
Create a vibrant, inviting front yard that glows with fall color and lasts well into the cooler months.
By Mary Ellen Ellis