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Pets & Preen

Enjoying a weed-free garden is easy with Preen weed preventers. But what about the pets who share the garden with us? Here's what you need to know about Preen and outdoor pets.Watch video

Organic Weed Prevention

If you grow vegetables or garden organically, you'll want to learn how organic Preen Vegetable Garden Weed Preventer can keep your garden free of weeds for up to four weeks per application.Watch video

The FAQs About Preen Weed Preventers

This video addresses some of the most common questions about dealing with garden weeds, including:  What's the difference between killing garden weeds and preventing them? What's the best way to get rid of existing weeds? And more.Watch video

Common mallow: Hollyhock look-alikes spread by seed

Learn how to fight common mallow, the hollyhock look-alike that can quickly spread by seed.  Preen can help you  prevent those undesired weed outbreaks.Continue reading

Common chickweed: Spreading mats crowd out turf grass in lawns

Learn how to control this low-lying, fast-spreading, matty weed in your garden lawn.Continue reading

Poison oak: This cousin is just as irritating as Poison Ivy

One of the 'big three' urushiol oil-containing plants, poison oak can be identified and removed. Learn how to use Preen weed preventers and other ways to keep this skin irritant out of your garden.Continue reading

Preen Battery Powered Spreader

Preen's Battery-Powered Spreader distributes Preen granules very evenly and makes preventing weeds easier than ever.Watch video

Better bulbing

Best bulb practices and tips for planting, care, weed control and where to plant your bulbs.Continue reading

Pots for fall and winter

How to prepare your plants and pots for the Fall and Winter seasons with the right container and plants.Continue reading

Commendable conifers

Two of the best known and possibly the most over-used conifers for landscapes are arborvitae and yews. Take a look at some of these commendable alternatives.Continue reading

Growing great garlic

Unlike most vegetables, garlic is planted in fall and is one of the most rewarding, easiest, and least troublesome edibles to grow in a home vegetable garden. Here is how to select and grow the right kind for your garden.Continue reading

Keep deer from eating the landscape

Few animal pests do more landscape damage than the common deer. In a deer’s eye, that patch of hosta and grouping of foundation azaleas you just planted are a dinner buffet. How can deer and gardeners co-exist? Here are a few ideas.Continue reading

Fly problem? Sanitation, standing water could be the culprit

Few 'bugs' bug people more than flies. There are at least 16,000 species of true flies in North America. And, just one pair of flies can produce as many as 1 million offspring over a 6- to 8-week period. Sanitation is the leading strategy to cut down fly populations.Continue reading

Saving tomato seeds? Save the best breed

Tomatoes are America’s favorite veggie to grow, and the right varieties are easy to start from saved seeds year after year. It’s important to first know whether the variety you plan to save is hybrid, fruiting unreliably, or open-pollinated, fruiting reliably. Here are a few tips to get you started.Continue reading

Japanese beetles: Double trouble for gardeners

Assorted beetles account for 40% of the world’s insect population, but of the 350,000 known beetle species, it is the Japanese beetle that irks American gardeners most. Here's what you need to know to keep Japanese beetles under control.Continue reading

Trim the water bill with rain barrels

Designed to capture roof runoff of stormwater, rain barrels are a popular, cost-saving alternative to gardening with public water.  These 50 to 60 gallon barrels can be purchased or, with some handiness, built with relatively little investment.Continue reading

Impact ideas: 8 ways to add “wow” to the landscape

A picturesque landscape doesn’t have to be an investment involving landscapers, contractors and a wholesale overhaul. It’s possible to breathe new life into a sad landscape with just a few high-impact, modestly-priced changes. Consider these eight possibilities.Continue reading

Preen on Fix This Yard

Preen makes an appearance on A&E's 'Fix This Yard.' As part of a total garden makeover, Preen was applied to prevent weeds before they start.Watch video

Plant “crime scene” investigation: Scouting for problems

So much can go wrong in a garden. The tough part for many gardeners is figuring out what’s causing, or nearly causing, a plant to fail. Because plants can’t point to where it hurts, you’ll need to diagnose differently: Instead of playing doctor, play detective.Continue reading

Cool that burn with your own Aloe

Besides being useful for burns, studies have shown Aloe vera sap to aid the healing of minor wounds and mild skin infections. It is the most common of the aloes in U.S. garden centers and makes an easy-to-grow houseplant. Here are some tips to get some Aloe of your own going.Continue reading

The many faces of daisies

Much of the flower world is called a daisy. But what is a daisy, really? Daisies include a dozen or more different genera, many with numerous species and cultivars.Continue reading

Avoid aches with proper gardening technique, gear

Gardening provides great exercise in the fresh air, but it is wise, even for young people, to take a few precautions before spending several hours working outdoors. Here are a few tips to minimize trouble.Continue reading

Freshen up the garden with fragrant plants

New plant varieties are usually bred for longer bloom time, new colors, compact size, pest and disease resistance, or improved cold hardiness. These are attractive qualities many gardeners gravitate toward during plant selection. An often overlooked trait, however, is fragrance.Continue reading

Ward Off Weeds with the Preen Routine

In this video, we show you how easy it is to have a weed free garden.  We’ll show you how to prevent weeds from growing in the first place.  That’s dealing with weeds the easy way, the Preen way.Watch video

Applying Preen Weed Preventer

Why pull or kill weeds when you can prevent weeds with Preen? Preen garden weed preventers stop weeds when they're seeds. Here's the short course on getting the jump on weeds.Watch video

How Preen Prevents Weeds

See how easy it is to prevent weeds in your garden. Preen garden weed preventers stop weed seeds from sprouting. No roots. No weeds. No weeding. Why pull or kill weeds when you can prevent weeds with Preen?Watch video

Mulch 101 — Prevent Weeds

Mulch is a first line of defense against weeds. Together, mulch and Preen provide a one-two punch against weeds. Learn how to combine mulch and Preen to stop weeds when they're seeds.Watch video

Proper pruning spurs blooms, won't harm plants

Pruning is an important and necessary task both for the health and appearance of most woody plants. Many gardeners are reluctant to cut into a healthy tree or shrub, fearful that improper technique will harm or even kill it. Neglect, though, can be worse than incorrect pruning.Continue reading

Right plant, right place

Many plants have preferences about where they make their home. Before you venture to the garden center, weigh your ideas against the space you expect to plant in. The successful plant will suit the environment your home and landscape offer.Continue reading

Crabgrass: A seedy invader of thin lawns

Crabgrass plagues lawns throughout the United States and beyond, usually elbowing its way into weak, thin lawns that are struggling to grow in poor or compacted soil. Identify crabgrass by its long, wiry stems and ground-hugging habit.Continue reading

Pace yourself with spring garden clean-up

At winter's end, gardening can seem more like a sprint than a marathon. There’s much to be done as the days lengthen and temperatures rise. But by separating the 'must-do ASAP' chores from those that can wait until later in the season, you can enjoy your garden now.Continue reading

Growing potatoes in five steps

Potatoes are among the world’s oldest and most widely grown edibles, dating back in cultivation as early as 5000 B.C. in its native South America. Follow these simple tips and guidelines to savor fresh-from-the-ground potatoes at their best.Continue reading

New 2011 shrubs boast blooms, pest resistance

One way to cut work in the garden is to plant low-maintenance, pest-resistant shrubs that need little to no pruning. Three excellent new flowering shrubs are debuting in spring 2011 that fill all three of those bills. Check out these at the garden center.Continue reading

Spring fever? Start seeds outdoors early

Most gardeners know about the two main ways to start seeds: either plant them directly into the soil, or start them early indoors to and transplant later. Much less familiar is “winter sowing” – starting seeds early outdoors with just enough protection to allow germination.Continue reading

Dandelion: America’s toughest, most invasive weed

The dandelion is a nuisance in lawns and garden beds, and is North America’s toughest, most invasive and most familiar weed. Learn how to keep dandelion weeds out of your garden and landscape.Continue reading

Broadleaf plantain: North America's second-most common lawn weed

Broadleaf plantain weeds grow well in compacted soil, so they're particularly common in high-traffic lawns, along paths and in gardens. Learn how to keep broadleaf plantain weeds out of your garden and landscape.Continue reading

White clover: A common weed that outcompetes lawns

White clover survives mowing by growing just lower than turfgrass. Learn how to keep white clover weeds out of your garden and landscape.Continue reading

Poison ivy: A vining, rash-causing weed

Poison ivy spreads by seed and isn't picky about growing sites. Learn how to keep poison ivy weeds out of your garden and landscape.Continue reading

Autumn's berried treasures

Plants with colorful fall fruits are often underused. Fall-fruiting plants offer more than just color, though.Continue reading

Best indoor plants thrive with low light and less water

As you begin spending more time indoors, houseplants are a great way to purify the air and add a touch of hominess to the atmosphere. It takes a tough plant to survive indoors.Continue reading

Avoid pruning shrubs before they're dormant

With fall clean up comes a natural urge to prune the shrubs. But cutting back shrubs this of year might do more harm than good.Continue reading

Water plants well in fall to prepare them for winter

At the end of summer, we give little thought to keeping the plants watered. Yet several deep soakings in fall will help trees, shrubs and perennials survive winter and flourish next spring.Continue reading

Ten ways to let nature nurture your landscape

Some gardening habits can be wasteful. Here are ten tips to keep your landscape looking great with the help from mother nature.Continue reading

How to reduce watering duties in the veggie garden

Tips for efficient water use to maximize food production in vegetable gardens.Continue reading

Keep rabbits from eating the landscape

Protect your food and ornamentals from those pesky (but cute!) cottontails with these helpful tips.Continue reading

Wilting plants? Could be heat, not drought

Wilting isn't always a sign that a plant isn't getting enough water. It could be flat-out hot temperatures.Continue reading

Mulching landscape plants

Mulched trees, shrubs and beds of annuals and perennials have an eye-pleasing, finished look, but the benefits go much deeper than the surface. Continue reading

Landscaping for wildlife

Ready to walk on the wild side in your garden? All you need are plants that provide food and shelter and a source of water. Continue reading

Gardening on a dime

Gardening doesn't have to be a costly endeavor. Share with neighbors, shop yard sales and get creative with recycling. Continue reading

Trading grass for gardens

Spring is planting time, and for those expanding their gardening horizones, that means a date with the shovel or rototiller. Learn helpful tips for converting lawns into beautiful gardens and landscapes. Continue reading

Organic weed preventer or organic weed killer: Which is best?

The most desirable method for controlling weeds organically is with a weed preventer to keep them from sprouting in the first place.Continue reading

Garden weed killers are tedious – prevent weeds instead

Instead of applying a garden weed killer to your flowers and vegetables, use a garden weed preventer such as Preen Garden Weed Preventer.Continue reading

Wondering how to kill weeds for good? Think prevention instead

The best way to relieve your flowers and shrubs from weeds is by preventing them from happening in the first place.Continue reading

Weed preventers take less time than weed killer products

Weed preventers require the least amount of work for weed control options compared to weed killer products.Continue reading

Remove invasive plants from the landscape

All over the United States, invasive plants have rooted in natural areas, disrupting native species and the environment. Some are even growing in our backyard. Do you know what they are? Continue reading

Heirloom tomatoes: Ready for taste tests

If you are looking for some good tasting tomatoes from the summer garden, start with heirlooms. Continue reading

Cheap and easy seed starting

Save a bundle on plants this season by taking a crack at starting your own seeds inside Continue reading

Houseplants: Gardening's double agents

If you don't mind some repotting and moving plants inside and out, then 'houseplants' you buy now can double as pot centerpeices this summer -and maybe for years to come. Continue reading

Perennials perform in winter, too

As long as your perennials have not been bothered by insect or disease infestation, many of them can stay upright through the winter to serve as a food source for birds. Others hold their own to provide winter interest. Continue reading

Cold tolerant annuals carry color into fall

You don't have to give up color in the landscape just because the temperatures start to drop. Here are three annuals that are tolerant of cooler weather and will keep going into winter. Continue reading

Fall clean up 1-2-3

There are three things you should do in the landscape this fall, even if you don't do anything else. Continue reading

Clean the air, get a house plant

Fifiteen to 18 six- to eight-inch diameter pots will improve the air quality in a 1,800 sq ft home. Here are five tips for growing houseplants successfully. Continue reading

Tips to extend the fall harvest

Northern gardeners can extend the fall vegetable garden with a few blankets or sheets. In the south, gardeners can continue planting seeds for lettuce, spinach, snow peas and cole crops, such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Continue reading

Safety tops list for mowers

Each year, emergency rooms treat tens of thousands of injuries caused by power mowers. More than 9,000 involve children under 18. Here are some tips and information about landscape safety. Continue reading

Rejuvenate annuals and perennials

Summer heat can take a toll on annuals and perennials, especially if we've been conserving water or forgot to fertilize. Here are some tips to rejuvenate your plants. Continue reading

Small, tough shrubs perfect for containers or landscapes

Shrubs add size and mass to the container collection and, in large pots, will likely survive two or three years in cold climates. Continue reading

1-2-3 of watering techniques

In the heat of summer, supplemental watering may be needed for vegetable and flower beds or the lawn. Here are some landscaping ideas and conservation tips. Continue reading

Prevent field bindweed from germinating and taking root

All weeds are obnoxious, but field bindweed can actually strangle a plant. Continue reading

Keep weeds from robbing plants of valuable nutrients

A weed is like a thief in the night, robbing vegetable and flowering plants of the nutrients and water they need for good production. Continue reading

Vegetable gardening on the rise

Concerns about contaminated produce and the desire for good-tasting, locally grown food has prompted more of us to grow our own vegetables. Continue reading

Plant annuals for easy summer color

Annuals are about the least expensive way to try something new in the summer garden. Many annuals are easy to grow from seed, or for instant good looks you can buy transplants at garden centers. Continue reading

Tough plants for rock gardens

Rock gardens and other landscape spots with shallow, sandy or fast-draining soil need plants that can tolerate those challenging conditions. Continue reading

Broaden your plant and seed selections with online, mail-order retailers

Many gardeners look for plants that are rare, hard to find or more unusual than average garden-center fare. This is where online and mail-order catalog retailers come in. And early spring is the time to order. Here are some tips. Continue reading

Colorful house plants brighten indoor scene

House plants are an easy way to add color to dreary days. Here's a sampler... Continue reading

Check houseplants for creepy crawlers

If your house plants have yellow leaves, scraggily growth or other unhealthy symptoms, you might inspect for mealy bugs or fungus gnats. These are two common house plant pests, and here’s what you can do to control them. Continue reading

2007 Perennial of the Year has scent and long-lasting flowers

Catmint, an aromatice plant with gray-green foliage and beautiful lavender blue flowers, was named Perennial of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association. Catmint is low maintenance, long-blooming and disease and insect resistent. Continue reading

Preen mulches prevent weeds for up to six months

Preen has developed a new product that mulches and prevents weeds for up to six months in one timesaving step. Continue reading

Stinging nettle—perennial weed & rampant grower

You'll never forget stinging nettle if you grab it while weeding the garden. It literally stings your hand with tiny, hair-like needles that are barely visible to the naked eye. Continue reading

Three easy-to-grow peppers

Try growing these super simple, tasty peppers - inside or outside. Continue reading

Peppers' colorful flavors spice up summer meals

Whether we call them mango peppers, sweet peppers, jalapenos or habaneros, these colorful, easy-to-grow, tasty - and sometimes spicy - vegetables perk up the summer menu. Continue reading

Best way to control carpetweed

Carpetweed is an annual that can quickly cover bare soil and can be especially annoying in new garden beds. Continue reading

Five common mistakes to avoid in the garden

No matter how long people have been gardeners, they all make mistakes - from providing too much of a good thing to thinking any plant can go anywhere. Continue reading

Three plants that can take the heat without a lot of water

Hot, dry summers can be hard on plants. Be a water-wise gardener with these three heat-tolerant plants. Continue reading

Water conservation tips

In many areas of the upper Midwest, West and Eastern U.S., gardeners have been struggling with drier than normal summers. Continue reading

Savory herbs flavor summer fare

Summer herbs offer the perfect seasoning for garden-fresh tomatoes, green beans, salads and other favorite summer fare. Continue reading

Fall clean-up reduces insects and diseases in the garden

Fall is the ideal time to clean-up the beds and prep them for winter. Removing plant debris exposes the soil surface to sun and cold terperatures, which help destroy any insects or diseases that may spend the winter harbored in leaves or fallen fruit. Continue reading

Plant bulbs in the fall for beautiful spring flowers

Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and many other spring flowers get their start as bulbs planted in the fall - for enjoyment next year. Continue reading

Treat dandelions in the fall for best control

Although they show up in the spring lawn, dandelions and several other perennial broadleaf weeds are best treated in the fall. Continue reading

Easy-to-grow indoor blooms to beat the winter blues

There are houseplants that produce beautiful flowers with very little care. Continue reading

How to care for houseplants and troubleshoot problems

Houseplants brighten indoor living while they purify the air, but they need to stay healthy to work their magic. Continue reading

The best houseplants for clearing the air

Breathe a little easier indoors this winter by using houseplants to clean the air. Continue reading

Care needed when using deicers in the landscape

Ice melt products make the sidewalk, driveway and porch steps safe in bad weather, but some may be deadly to landscape plants or damaging to concrete. Continue reading

Improved Preen formula prevents weeds longer, fertilizes in one step

One application of Preen Weed Preventer with Brilliant Blooms Fertilizer keeps the garden beautiful for three months. Continue reading

Best way to get rid of weeds: preventing or killing?

Weeds are opportunistic. They tend to germinate, grow and propogate faster than most desirable plants. Weeds deprive desirable plants of needed water, light and soil nutrients. If left untreated, weeds can quickly take over your garden. Continue reading

Tasty spring lettuce mix easy to grow and nutritious

Those yummy high-priced spring greens are as easy to grow as they are colorful and nutritious. Continue reading

Weed-preventing Preen Mulch Plus — Colored Mulches

Preen Mulch Plus, the only line of mulches guaranteed to prevent weeds from sprouting for up to six months with one application, is available in four colors: Midnight Black, Chestnut Brown, Russet Red and Premium Hardwood. Continue reading

Top performer Geranium 'Rozanne' 2008 Perennial of the Year

A hardy geranium named 'Rozanne' has been named the 2008 Perennial of the Year and has won dozens of rave reviews from professional landscapers, gardeners and plant groups. Continue reading

Garden tips for vacationers

Getting ready to hit the road? Here are some simple steps to take to make sure you don't come home to a jungle of plants and a garden of weeds. Continue reading

Aromatic rosemary perfect for a pot

Rosemary is a heat loving, aromatic and delicious herb that is easy to grow in a pot. Continue reading

Fast growing lamb's quarters—weeds that like garden beds

Lamb's quarters is a fast growing annual weed that seems to thrive in the rich soil of garden beds. The leaves are blue-green and shaped like a goosefoot, another common name for this plant. Continue reading

Three no fail annuals to take the heat

As temperatures rise, some plants flag, requiring more water to keep blooming or they go dormant. Not so with three sun-loving annuals that take the heat and keep on blooming all summer long long with very little work. Continue reading

Aphids zap nutrients from plants

Some of the most common insects to attack plants in the landscape or indoors are aphids, tiny insects that suck juices from leaves, flowers, stems and fruit. A garden hose is your first weapon against these critters. Continue reading

Fall leaves make a great start to compost

Each fall, Mother Nature provides us with the perfect ingredient for compost, a.k.a. a gardener's black gold. Continue reading

Divide now to conquer desire for more perennials

One of the easiest ways to get new plants is to divide the ones you already have. Continue reading

Prevent purslane from taking hold in the garden

Red-edged succulent leaves and stems may sound like an attractive plant, but purslane is one of those weeds that can take over if not kept in check. Continue reading

Evergreen perennials — color all year long

Most of us think of evergreens as trees and shrubs, but there also are evergreen perennials to brighten the winter landscape. Continue reading

Last task of the season

If you don't have any bulbs to plant, perennials to divide or new beds to landscape, the only chore left is fall cleanup. Continue reading

Tips for better weed management

Helpful tips to stop weeds from invading your lawn and garden and achieve a beautiful, weed-free lawn and garden.Continue reading

Types of weed control

Types of lawn and garden weed control and the difference between pre- and post- emergence herbicides.Continue reading

Facts about weeds

Facts about different types of weeds and how and why you need to control them.Continue reading