New to composting? Discover what not to compost and why certain items can ruin your compost pile and harm your garden.
Gardening
Looking to start a garden or grow more of your own food? You’re in the right place!
This gardening section of The Free Range Life is filled with practical, real-life tips for growing vegetables, fruits, and herbs—no matter your experience level.
Whether you’re new to gardening or looking to improve your harvests, you’ll find guides on seed starting, soil health, companion planting, pest control, and more.
These articles are designed to help you grow a thriving garden and take one more step toward food self-sufficiency. Browse below to explore all things gardening!
Gardening for Beginners: 11 Tips for a Successful Start
Gardening can sometimes seem like an overwhelming venture for those just starting out. So if this is your first year gardening- or if you are a beginner who was seriously overwhelmed last year- here are 11 tips for beginning gardeners to reduce wasted time, energy and resources as well as prevent getting in over your head.
Gardening For Beginners
Gardening for Beginners: 11 Gardening Mistakes to Avoid
5 Tips for Starting Seeds Successfully Indoors
Garden Spacing: How Far Apart Should Plants Be in Your Garden
23 Tomato Growing Mistakes Made by Beginning Gardeners
How to Grow Guides By Crop
Quick Start Guide to Growing Peppers in Your Garden
Everything You Need to Know About Growing Tomatoes
How to Grow Broccoli from Seed
How to Grow Lettuce from Seed in Your Vegetable Garden
How to Grow Watermelon in Your Garden
Growing Basil in Your Backyard Garden
The Ultimate Guide for Growing Squash in Your Garden
How to Grow Carrots from Seed
Companion Planting Guides by Crop
The Best & Worst Companion Plants for Cucumbers
The Best & Worst Companion Plants for Tomatoes
The Best & Worst Companion Plants for Squash
The Best & Worst Companion Plants for Cabbage
The Best & Worst Companion Plants for Garlic
The Best & Worst Companion Plants for Peppers
The Best & Worst Companion Plants for Potatoes
The Best & Worst Companion Plants for Basil
How to Control Pests Naturally
How to Control Cucumber Beetles Organically
7 Ways to Get Rid of Squash Bugs in Your Garden- Naturally!
How to Get Rid of Tomato Hornworms Naturally
How to Use Trap Crops to Deter Pests in the Vegetable Garden
Disease, Deficiencies, and Other Problems
How to Prevent Late Blight in Your Garden
Soil Nutrient Deficiencies and How to Fix Them
8 Simple Ways to Improve Your Garden Soil for Free
Most Common Seed Starting Problems- and How to Fix Them
All Gardening Articles
Hard-to-Kill Vegetables for Garden Newbies
New to gardening? These hard-to-kill vegetables are perfect for beginners. Start with forgiving crops that grow even when mistakes happen.
Don’t Make These 12 Watering Mistakes in Your Vegetable Garden!
Avoid the most common garden watering mistakes beginners make. Learn when, how, and how often to water so your plants stay healthy and strong.
How to Prevent Damping Off in Seedlings
Learn how to prevent damping off in seedlings and avoid losing young plants to sudden collapse. Simple steps to protect your starts.
How to Save Lettuce Seeds- Step by Step
Wondering what to do when your lettuce bolts? This beginner-friendly guide on how to save lettuce seeds walks you through exactly what to do to save and collect your own lettuce seeds.
7 Tips for Faster Seed Germination (Without Wasting Seeds)
Seeds not sprouting? Learn 7 simple tips for faster seed germination that save time, prevent wasted seeds, and help beginners grow with confidence.
How to Collect Foxglove Seeds
Do you love planting foxgloves in your flower garden every year? Learn how to collect foxglove seeds so you can plant more every year!
How to Collect Snapdragon Seeds
Do you love planting snapdragons in your flower garden every year? Learn how to collect snapdragon seeds so you can plant more every year!
How to Collect Petunia Seeds
Do you love planting petunias in your flower garden every year? Learn how to collect petunia seeds so you can plant more every year!
Vego Garden Bed Review
Have you seen modular metal raised garden beds and wonder if they live up to the hype? Read my Vego Garden Bed review and see what these garden beds are really like!
10 Expert Ways to Keep Ants Out of Your Hummingbird Feeder
Do you love having hummingbird feeders, but hate the ants that come with them? Try these 10 ways to keep ants out of your hummingbird feeder today!
23 Tomato Growing Mistakes Made by Beginning Gardeners
Are you having trouble growing tomatoes? Learn about the most common tomato growing mistakes made by new (and seasoned!) gardeners.