Susan Albert
It all began with a sunroom that looked out onto a yard of dirt and weeds. No shrubs, flowers, birds, or butterflies. Whoever heard of a sunroom with nothing to watch outside? Susan immediately went to the library (Internet was not in use yet) to look up how to attract butterflies. That was 25 years ago and she’s progressed into an all-out gardening fanatic, obsessed with annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs. A plant “collector” and garden photographer, she can always find room for one more flower in her garden, especially if it attracts wildlife.Before writing articles for Gardening Know How, Susan held a career in communications and, as a freelancer, wrote garden articles for magazines and authored a newspaper gardening column for many years. She also contributed South-Central regional gardening columns for four years to Lowes.com. While living in Oklahoma She served as a master gardener for 17 years. She now lives in Gardner, Kansas, where she’s semi-retired, establishing new garden roots.
Latest articles by Susan Albert
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How To Kill Weeds In Fall To Prevent Them In Next Year’s Garden
Practicing fall weed control in the garden will help prevent the pesky invaders from cropping up next spring when they are vigorous and harder to deal with.
By Susan Albert
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How To Store Okra After Picking
Learn how to store fresh okra for up to a year by canning or freezing the harvest. For short-term storage it can go in the refrigerator for two or three days.
By Susan Albert
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The Secret To Growing Jalapeños Indoors
Growing jalapeños indoors is a fun and yummy idea for all kinds of cooking. Pluck your spicy peppers all year, right at your fingertips.
By Susan Albert
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Drying Hydrangeas in Water - A Cheap And Easy Way To Preserve Hydrangea Blossoms
Believe it or not, hydrangeas left in a vase of water will dry out naturally with time. Here's how to make sure it works.
By Susan Albert
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Better Greenhouse Cooling: 5 Ways To Keep Plants Happy in the Height Of Summer
Is your greenhouse or glasshouse feeling the heat? We round up the best greenhouse cooling methods you can apply to keep your plants happy as they grow
By Susan Albert
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Essential Cottage Garden Ideas: 5 Ways To Dive Into The Cottage Garden Trend
If you’re after easy cottage garden ideas for old fashioned beauty in any garden, read on! These five thematic selections will help fill your plot with old world charm and elegance
By Susan Albert
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Fertilizing In Hot Weather Can Actually Harm Plants
Fertilizing your plants in hot weather might seem like a good idea, but it can actually cause more harm than good. Learn how to keep your garden thriving without the risk of fertilizer burn or nutrient overload.
By Susan Albert
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Can You Kill Grass With Cardboard?
Try killing grass with cardboard, or sheet mulching. Killing grass with cardboard is an easy way to ditch the lawn.
By Susan Albert
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7 Best Dwarf Tomato Plants
Have a tiny growing space? Look for dwarf tomato seeds so you don’t miss out on summer’s juicy bounty.
By Susan Albert
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How To Propagate Pothos: A Simple Step-By-Step Guide
Learning how to propagate pothos is a fun and easy way to expand your plant collection. Follow our simple step-by-step guide to discover how to do it yourself.
By Susan Albert
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Shrub Diseases And Pests To Watch Out For
Shrub diseases and pests can be challenging. Learn how to recognize and eradicate them before they can present a danger to your plants.
By Susan Albert
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10 Hot Weather Vegetables That Thrive In Sweltering Summer Heat
These hot weather vegetables, fruits, and flowers can handle the heat! A Georgia Master Gardener shares his top picks for hot and humid summer gardens.
By Laura Walters
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Dark Home Exterior? Choose The Right Plants With Our Expert Dark House Landscaping Tips
If the front or back of your house is very dark, what are the implications for the plants you grow? We reveal how understanding dark house landscaping can help you pick the right plants
By Susan Albert
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Full Sun Plants For Rain Gardens
Dear Earth hero: Go ahead and build a full sun rain garden. There are plenty of rain garden plants that will help capture and filter pollutants.
By Susan Albert
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Holes In The Leaves Of Your Plants? Common Causes & Fixes
Holes in the leaves of plants can be a bit distressing. From tiny holes to giant ones, “What is eating my plants?” is a gardening question heard around the world in spring and summer. Learning to diagnose and address leaf damage can help.
By Liz Baessler
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Common Comfrey: Plant Care And Characteristics
The comfrey plant, or symphytum officinale is an old-fashioned perennial herb used in the garden to attract pollinators and as a liquified fertilizer. It has pretty flowers and makes a nice poultice for soothing wounds, but is generally considered poisonous if ingested.
By Amy Grant
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Southern Maidenhair Fern: Complete Care And Growing Guide
The delicate adiantum capillus-veneris, or maidenhair fern is a great addition to a woodland garden or indoor plant collection.
By Susan Albert
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Do Bird Baths Attract Other Animals? How To Deter Pests
Keeping a bird bath in pristine condition is only half the battle for bird lovers. Does your bird bath attract other animals you’d rather it didn’t? We show you how to keep bird baths for the birds.
By Susan Albert