Posts By

Emily Estep

Emily Estep has a master’s degree in Environmental and Plant Biology from Ohio University, where she studied sustainable agriculture and conducted research on alternatives to synthetic fertilizer at the OHIO Student Farm. Recently, she has contributed to The Spruce and Better Homes & Gardens as a fact checker and an editor.

Marigold plants in a raised bed have feathery, dark green leaves and produce bright, rounded flower heads in vibrant hues of orange, yellow, and red, with a ruffled texture.

Raised Bed Gardening

19 Best Raised Bed Garden Plants for Hot Climates

Not sure which raised bed plants can beat the heat? Whether you’re in a hot climate zone or just notice that your area is subject to more and more heat waves each year, planning raised beds around high temps is a good idea. Plant biologist Emily Estep will walk you through some solid choices for raised bed garden plants in hot climates.

Gardening Tips

The Right Way to Use Hydrogen Peroxide in the Garden

Have you been hearing about various ways to use hydrogen peroxide in the garden? You may be surprised to learn that, more often than not, it’s not actually that effective or affordable. There are better, cheaper DIY methods. Plant biologist Emily Estep will explain the right way to use hydrogen peroxide in the garden, revealing superior techniques.

Many flowers of showy plants for bees butterflies, serving as the flower's pollinators

Ornamental Gardens

23 Showy Plants That Feed Bees and Butterflies

Whether you want to encourage healthy bee populations or just simply love watching the butterflies, you’ll want to plant an array of showy plants that feed these fragile pollinators. These plants can add color and texture to your garden. Plant biologist Emily Estep walks you through a list of bold, flowering plants that bees and butterflies adore.

The American Beech Tree has smooth, gray bark with toothed, glossy, dark green leaves.

Trees

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for American Beech Trees

Do you have an American beech tree on your land that you’d like to preserve and maintain for many years to come? Perhaps you’re thinking about transplanting a young, container-grown American beech somewhere near your home? These U.S. natives can become massive, living for hundreds of years if healthy. Plant biologist Emily Estep will tell you everything you need to know about the great American beech.

Wisteria showcases long, cascading clusters of fragrant, pea-like flowers in shades of purple with pinnate leaves.

Ornamental Gardens

23 Native Plants for Clay Soils

Unsure what to plant in your clay soil? You could spend a lot of time aerating and amending the earth, or you could just choose species that naturally thrive in clay. Better yet, there are lots of native species for you to choose from that won’t compete with the local ecosystem. Plant biologist Emily Estep lists 23 native plants for clay soils that you can grow.

A close-up of an Araucaria araucana branch showing vibrant green, spiky leaves with a dense forest in the background.

Trees

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Monkey Puzzle Trees

Are you looking for an unusual conifer to add to the landscape? Monkey puzzle trees have been around for hundreds of millions of years, with odd branches covered in spiraling leaves. They’re surprisingly easy to grow in mild climates throughout the United States. Plant biologist Emily Estep walks you through everything you need to know about this South American native.

Delicate purple blossoms amidst a cluster of green foliage, showcasing the blooming stage of the plant.

Herbs

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Patchouli

Did you know that patchouli is actually a member of the mint family? This tropical herb is as low-maintenance as its temperate mint cousins, though it won’t survive a hard frost. If you’re a patchouli fan, you’ve got to try growing the plant for yourself. You can create your own incense, smudge sticks, and herbal tea. Plant biologist Emily Estep will tell you what you need to know to grow and care for patchouli

In the gardener's hand, rice hulls appear as a handful of light, straw-colored flakes with a rough, chaffy texture, ready to be scattered across the garden soil.

Soil Improvement

How and Why to Use Rice Hulls in the Garden

If you’re always on the lookout for a more sustainable soil amendment or mulch, then you need to know more about rice hulls. They’re a food-safe byproduct that comes from processing rice, and they offer numerous benefits as both an amendment and as mulch. While other materials like perlite and peat are non-renewable or potentially harmful, this option is an environmentally-friendly choice. Plant biologist Emily Estep will explain the basics to get you started.

Two tall wooden raised beds filled with a variety of salad crops, including cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, and radishes, thriving in a sunny garden.

Raised Bed Gardening

How to Grow a Salad Garden in Raised Beds

How would you like to step outside and harvest everything you need for a fresh, nutritious salad? Growing your own salad garden is easy, especially if you set it up in a raised bed. You can grow greens, tomatoes, garnishes, and more. Gardening enthusiast Emily Estep will walk you through each step of the process, from selecting a site to harvesting your bounty.

Gardening tools, including a watering hose, terracotta pot, watering can, shovel, trowel, rake, green gloves, and a potted lavender plant, are arranged in a garden surrounded by blooming bright yellow marigolds and pink vinca.

Gardening Inspiration

15 Gardening Supplies and Tools To Stock Up on This Labor Day

Late summer or early fall is a surprisingly good time to restore your now-depleted stock of garden supplies. If your shed is full of empty seed packets, rusty tools, and cracked planters, Labor Day is a convenient time to replace your garden staples and explore new products. Gardening enthusiast Emily Estep recommends you check out these supplies and tools.

Peppermint, a popular mint variety, has dark green, smooth, lance-shaped leaves with serrated edges on square, reddish stems.

Herbs

19 Mint Varieties For Your Edible Garden

Did you know that there are nearly 20 varieties of mint? Classics like spearmint, fruity herbs like banana mint, and flowering plants that you never knew were actually mint, like pennyroyal, are just a few on the list. Gardening enthusiast Emily Estep will explain the subtle difference between these many Mentha species.

A garden with wooden raised beds filled with a variety of growing vegetables, herbs and other plants, including onions, strawberries, and lettuce.

Raised Bed Gardening

15 Plants You Should Be Growing in Raised Beds

Raised beds are quickly becoming a preferred method for many gardeners. This versatile technique has a laundry list of benefits. Are you new to raised bed gardening and wondering which plants to choose? Gardening enthusiast Emily Estep names and explains 15 plants you should be growing in raised beds.