HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just a beginner with a green thumb, the 2026 Almanack has a few tips and tricks to help you in the yard.
Potted plant tips
Not all plants are found in the garden. Even household plants can use some of these great tips.
“To save potting mix and improve the drainage of container plants, fill the bottom one-quarter to one-third of pots with dried leaves or hardwood mulch. This also cuts down on the weight, which is an issue with large planters. For plants with deep roots, like purple coneflower, use less filler material than for plants with shallow roots, such as hydrangeas.”
Creativity is key
Sometimes it just takes a little creativity with regular household items to make gardening a little easier. Here are a few good ideas.
“Lopping off the bottom of a plastic bottle and inverting it makes a very nice funnel that can be used to fill your farm machinery with oil or diesel fuel. Simple and ingenious!”
“To prevent the line on your string trimmer from jamming or breaking, treat it with a spray vegetable oil before installing it in the trimmer.”
Tree planting tips
Trees come in all shapes and sizes. Each one is unique and needs to be treated with the right touch to make it grow.
“After planting a tree or a shrub, place three large, heavy rocks around the base, about two inches from the trunk. Make sure the rocks don’t touch the trunk. The weight of the rocks stabilizes the roots, so they won’t get dislodged when the tree sways in the wind. Leave the rocks in place for at least two growing seasons to give the root system enough time to get established.”
Make your garden grow
Like anything in life, the more attention it gets, the better it will grow. So be sure to use these tips from the Almanack to get the most out of your garden:
“Pay attention to fertilizing and watering. Spread a balanced organic fertilizer over the ground in late winter at the rate suggested on the container. Or, if existing vegetation is growing well, use soybean meal at two pounds per 100 square feet. Or apply an inch depth of compost. Set out a straight-sided can to measure water, and turn on the sprinkler once a week so a combination of rain and sprinkling equal an inch depth of water in that can.”
“To prevent some plants from taking over the garden, such as mint, leave them in their container and bury them fully in the ground. If you want to prevent plant roots from growing in a certain direction, like away from a wall or a foundation, bury them in the container as described but cut the container open on the side where root growth will not pose a problem.”
Get the most out of your garden this year with a little help from the 2026 Almanack. To get a copy, click on this link: localnews1.org/almanack-order.
LocalNews1 has partnered with The Almanack to bring you a story every Monday taken from current or past editions.
First published in 1797, it’s the second oldest almanac in the United States and has been in continuous publication for 230 years and is the only almanac in the United States still published by the founders’ direct descendants.
