Articles for the Outdoor Enthusiast

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Gardening & Plant Care

Practical guides to help you grow with confidence. From seed starting to seasonal care, learn what works — and why.

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Outdoor Design & Sustainability

Smart ideas for beautiful, lasting outdoor spaces. Built with natural materials and responsible choices in mind.

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Tomatoes and a yellow pepper on a plant with 'Recipes from the Garden' text.

Garden to Table

Simple ways to enjoy what you grow. Recipes, preserving tips, and ideas that carry your harvest from garden to plate.

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Companion Planting: Simple Pairings for a Healthier Garden

Growing the Right Plants Together Companion planting is the practice of growing certain plants near each other to support growth, improve flavor, or help reduce common garden challenges. While it’s not a strict formula, thoughtful pairings can encourage a more balanced and productive garden. Why Companion Planting Works Different plants offer different benefits. Some attract pollinators, others may help deter insects, and some simply grow well without competing for nutrients. When plants are thoughtfully arranged, your garden can feel fuller and more naturally supported. Easy Companion Plant Pairings If you’re just getting started, these simple combinations are easy to try: Tomatoes + BasilA classic pairing. Basil fits neatly around tomato plants and adds variety to the bed. Carrots + OnionsThese grow well side by side and make efficient use of space. Lettuce + RadishesRadishes grow quickly and can be harvested before lettuce fully matures. Cucumbers + NasturtiumsNasturtiums add color and can help draw attention away from vegetables. Mixing Heights and Growth Styles Companion planting also works visually. Combining upright plants with leafy greens or trailing varieties creates layers in your garden bed. This not only supports plant health but adds dimension and interest. Elevated planters make it especially easy to organize pairings and keep combinations contained. Keep It Simple Companion planting doesn’t require memorizing complex charts. Starting with just one or two pairings can help you observe what works well in your space. Pro Tip: Try adding herbs throughout your garden beds. Many blend easily with vegetables and support pollinator activity. Companion planting is about thoughtful combinations, not rigid rules. With a little experimentation, you can create a garden that feels balanced, productive, and naturally vibrant.

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How Elevated Planters Help Reduce Garden Pests

How raised planters can help reduce common garden pests.

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How Often Should You Water a Garden Bed?

Keep your garden bed healthy with proper watering.

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Using Planters to Define Outdoor Spaces

How planters can shape and organize your outdoor space.

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Add Shade and Comfort to your Outdoor Space

Simple and intentional design ideas to add shade to your backyard.

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Small Backyard? Simple Ways to Add a Garden

Easy ways to add a garden to small backyards.

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Creamy Cashew Pesto

There’s something about fresh basil that feels like summer in a bowl. Bright. Fragrant. Just a little wild. This creamy cashew pesto is rich, smooth, and surprisingly versatile. It’s not just for pasta (though it’s excellent there). Spread it on grilled vegetables, swirl it into soups, spoon it over chicken, or use it as a sandwich spread. Why Cashews? Traditional pesto uses pine nuts, but roasted cashews bring: · A naturally creamy texture · A slightly sweet, buttery flavor · A more budget-friendly option · Easy substitutions (almonds, walnuts, or pecans work well) The result is a silky pesto that blends beautifully and feels almost luxurious. Ingredients · 3 cups fresh basil leaves (packed) · 1 ¼ cups roasted cashews (or any nut you prefer) · 1 ½ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese · 1 tablespoon sugar · 4–6 cloves garlic (depending on your love of garlic) · ¼ cup fresh lemon juice · ⅛ cup balsamic vinegar · ⅛ cup water · ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil · Salt and pepper to taste Instructions 1. Add all ingredients to a food processor. 2. Blend for 6–8 minutes (or longer if needed) until completely smooth and creamy. 3. Scrape down the sides as needed to ensure no chunks remain. 4. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, lemon, or garlic to your preference. 5. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Tips for the Creamiest Texture · Blend longer than you think you need to. Cashews take a few extra minutes to become silky smooth. · If it feels too thick, add a tablespoon of water or olive oil at a time until it reaches your desired consistency. · For ultra-smooth pesto, soak cashews in warm water for 15–20 minutes before blending. Storage Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To help preserve the vibrant green color, drizzle a thin layer of olive oil over the top before sealing. Freezes well for up to 2 months.If you make this, don’t be surprised if half of it “disappears” during the tasting phase. That’s just quality control.

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BBQ Spice Rub

This bold BBQ spice rub builds a savory crust on brisket, ribs, pork, and vegetables—especially when paired with a True Fire Cedar Grill Plank for subtle smoky sweetness.

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Pesto-Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

The real magic happens when creamy pesto meets tender pork and a hint of cedar smoke. This simple, budget-friendly cut transforms into a feast with just a few ingredients and the unmistakable aroma of grilling on a cedar plank. Ingredients · 1 pork tenderloin · 1 cup creamy cashew pesto (see recipe) · 1 cup crumbled feta (or mozzarella) · Optional: fresh spinach or other vegetables · Salt and pepper to taste Instructions 1. Soak the plank: Submerge a True Fire Cedar Grill Plank in water for at least 2 hours. For added flavor, try soaking it in apple cider vinegar or wine. 2. Prep the pork: Butterfly the tenderloin by cutting lengthwise down one side (not all the way through), then the other side, until it opens flat. 3. Fill it up: Spread pesto inside, sprinkle with cheese, and add spinach if desired. Roll it back up and secure with toothpicks. Season the outside with salt and pepper. 4. Grill: Place the tenderloin on the soaked grill plank, set it on the grill, and close the lid. Cook 15–20 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 140°F (pork safe temperature is 145°F, so remove it 5 degrees early). 5. Rest and serve: Let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve warm and enjoy. The Backyard Payoff The True Fire Cedar Grill Plank keeps the pork moist, adds a subtle sweetness, and fills the backyard with that irresistible cedar aroma. Kids devour it. Dogs beg shamelessly under the table. And the scent alone might have the neighbors wondering where that herby, garlicky, smoky goodness is coming from. Here’s to backyard feasts on a budget and the simple joy of cooking outdoors.

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What Keeps a Garden Growing: Simple Care That Makes a Big Difference (Part 6 of 7)

By now, your garden is planted. Seedlings have been transplanted. Roots are settling in. And things are finally starting to grow. And if you’re anything like me, this is the point where you walk outside, look around… and think: Okay… now what? Because the work hasn’t stopped — it’s just changed.This Is Where Gardening Gets Quieter Earlier in the season, everything feels active — planning, planting, moving things around.Now, the pace shifts.This stage isn’t about doing more. It’s about paying attention to what’s already growing. Small, steady care makes the biggest difference here. This is where feeding, pruning, supporting growth, and preventing small problems come into play — not all at once, but a little at a time. Watering: Pay Attention, Not Just “On Schedule”Watering sounds simple — but it’s one of the easiest things to get wrong.Instead of sticking to a strict schedule, start noticing what your plants actually need. Check the soil, not just the calendar. Pay attention to heat, wind, and rain — all of which can change how quickly your soil dries out.Rain, especially, can be a bit misleading. A light shower might not reach the roots, while a heavy rain can leave soil overly saturated — depending on how your garden is set up. Most plants prefer deep, consistent watering, not frequent, light watering. This is one of the reasons I rely so much on self-watering elevated planters. They help take some of the guesswork out of watering by keeping moisture levels more consistent at the roots — which is exactly where it matters most.With CedarCraft self-watering planters, rain becomes part of the system instead of a problem. Excess water drains into the reservoir rather than sitting in the soil, helping prevent overwatering while still giving plants access to moisture as they need it.Everything feels more… steady. I’m not constantly wondering if I watered too much one day or forgot the next. The soil stays balanced, and the plants respond to that consistency. If you’re watering by hand, early morning is best, and your goal is simple: moist soil, not soggy soil. Consistency matters more than perfection.Pruning: Helping Plants Grow Better, Not Bigger Pruning can feel intimidating, but it’s one of the simplest ways to improve plant health once you understand what each plant needs. And that’s the key — every plant is a little different.A quick online or AI search can guide you on how a specific plant prefers to be pruned. Some thrive with regular trimming, while others need a lighter touch. Basil is one of the easiest examples. Pinching basil just above a set of leaves encourages the plant to branch out instead of growing tall and leggy. The more you pinch, the fuller the plant becomes — which means more leaves and a healthier plant overall. I didn’t always do this. There was a season I let my basil grow however it wanted. I assumed more leaves would mean more pesto. Instead, it grew tall, a little thin, and not nearly as productive as I expected. Once I started pruning it regularly, everything changed — fuller plants, stronger growth, and a lot more basil.Other plants follow similar patterns: Tomatoes benefit from removing lower leaves for better airflow Peppers may need light pruning to direct energy Herbs often respond well to regular harvesting and trimming If something looks crowded or shaded, it’s usually okay to trim. You’re not taking away from the plant. You’re helping it grow more intentionally. Supporting Growth Before It Becomes a ProblemSome plants grow faster than we expect. Tomatoes, peppers, and even some herbs benefit from early support — stakes, cages, or trellises that help guide their growth as they get taller.It’s much easier to support a plant early than to fix it after it bends or breaks. I learned this in a different way years ago when my kids were little — around two and three. We grew tomatoes, and they would run outside and pick them straight off the vine like fruit. I never even made it inside with a single tomato. To this day, they still eat tomatoes the same way. Those plants needed support early — not just to keep them upright, but to keep everything accessible, growing well, and able to handle a little attention from small hands grabbing, pulling, and reaching in. When plants are supported properly, everything from growth to harvest becomes easier — even when little helpers are involved.And just like watering, having the right setup from the beginning makes a difference. When your growing space is stable — whether that’s through structured planters or built-in support systems — plants are able to grow more naturally without constant correction.Preventing Problems Before They GrowAt this stage, you’ll start noticing little things — a yellow leaf, a small hole, a plant that looks slightly off. Not every change is a problem. But patterns matter.I’ve learned that small problems rarely stay small if you ignore them. A few yellow leaves or a bit of damage can spread if you’re not paying attention. Now I don’t panic — I just notice sooner and adjust when needed. Here are a few of the most common issues — and simple ways to handle them: Yellowing leaves (especially lower leaves):Often a sign of overwatering or natural aging. Check soil moisture before watering again and remove older leaves if needed. Holes in leaves:Usually insects. Inspect plants closely and remove affected leaves or gently rinse the plant to manage early damage. Wilting plants (despite watering):Could be inconsistent watering or heat stress. Check moisture below the surface and adjust your watering approach. Crowded or damp leaves:Limited airflow can lead to disease. Light pruning improves circulation and helps prevent larger issues. The goal isn’t to catch everything perfectly. It’s to notice early and respond simply. A small adjustment now is almost always easier than fixing something later.A Note on Feeding Plants don’t need constant feeding — but they do benefit from support during active growth. Simple is best: Healthy soil Light fertilizing Occasional nutrients More isn’t better. Consistency matters more than quantity.Where the Planner Still HelpsThis is where your Garden Planner becomes less about planning… and more about noticing. Use it to jot down what’s growing well, what seems slow, when you prune or adjust, and anything that surprises you along the way. These small notes become incredibly helpful next season. Because next year, you won’t be starting from scratch — you’ll be building on what you’ve already learned. Coming Up in Blog 7In our final post for this series, we’ll talk about harvesting, reflecting, and preparing for next season — because a good garden doesn’t end when the season does. It carries forward. Mischelle is the voice behind The Backyard Hopeful, sharing real-life lessons from her Texas garden — from seed starting to pesto-worthy basil harvests — so everyday gardeners can grow with a little more confidence.

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From Seed Tray to Garden Bed: Helping Young Plants Grow Strong (Part 5 of 7)

Your seedlings are growing fast — maybe faster than expected. Learn when to pot up, how to transplant properly, and how to give young plants the space and time they need to grow strong.

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From Seed to Strong: What Starting Indoors Really Teaches You (Blog 4 of 7)

Starting seeds indoors is one of the most rewarding — and misunderstood — parts of gardening. In Part 4 of our Garden Planning Series, we walk through when to start seeds, how to use grow lights effectively, why seed-starting mix matters, and how to avoid common mistakes — all grounded in one memorable basil story.

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