Does hitting the trunk of a tree with a baseball bat or or a stick make it produce more leaves -- or maybe more flowers or fruit? It sounds crazy, but is there anything to it? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Houseplants & Humidity: Tips That Help (& Those That Do Not)

In permaculture circles, they're called dynamic accumulators -- plants that accumulate above average levels of particular nutrients in their leaves, which we can then add to compost piles, use as mulch or in other ways make the nutrients available to our plants. Do they work? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Grow Leafy Greens Indoors at Home (Simple & Fast Method)

Humidity doesn't get as much attention as temperature, light and soil moisture, but it can have a big effect on our plants. Many houseplants prefer more humidity than we give them, especially over the winter. What can we do about that? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Homemade Peanut Butter Suet for Birds (Easy Recipe)

It's one of the world's most popular houseplants. Easy to grow and easy to propagate -- and maybe even a handy source of some skincare gel.

What makes the leaves of some trees change color? Is there a benefit to the trees? And what about deciduous trees that keep leaves over the winter? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Propagate African Violets (Step-By-Step Tutorial)

Many gardeners put paper overtop of a lawn to create a new garden bed. Or add paper to their compost pile. Is it safe? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How To Bring Plants Indoors For The Winter (Best Timing & Bug-Free Tips)

You hear it suggested a lot in gardening circles as a pesticide and maybe even to prevent diseases, but what is horticultural oil and how does it work? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Creative No-Carve Pumpkin Ideas (Quick & Fun)

Blue flowers do exist in nature, but not in many of our most popular flowers. And it's even been a struggle for scientists to create them. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Great Fall Weather? Get These Garden Jobs Done

It's not for everyone, but human urine in the garden has lots of enthusiasts. Urine contains lots of nitrogen and several other essential nutrients, but it also has some things that aren't so good for plants. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How To Welcome Dragonflies To Your Garden

We've all heard that we should be planting more milkweed to help a declining number of monarchs, but some reports say they're actually doing fine without our help. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How To Keep Houseplants Watered While On Vacation

They've become poster children for the global decline in insect numbers and they face significant threats. How might we be able to help monarchs in our garden? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Easy Houseplant Tagging System To Simplify Plant Care

They're big and colorful -- powerful fliers that stand out in a crowd. And they eat mosquitoes. What can we do to attract dragonflies to our garden? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How To Grow Rosemary From Cuttings (Indoors or Outdoors)

Keeping carbon out of the air and in our garden can help the environment, but can we keep carbon sequestered and have healthy soil at the same time? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Grow an Oak Tree From an Acorn (Step By Step)

Carbon sequestration is one way our plants help the environment -- by taking carbon out of the air and holding on to it or putting it in the soil. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Soil Calculator (Mulch, Compost, & Potting Mix Too)

They aren't the world's fastest-growing trees, but you can start with an acorn and -- with some patience -- end up with a tree that supports a diverse range of wildlife in your garden. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Mid-Summer Garden Tasks: What To Do Now

Oak trees not only look great, they support a diverse range of birds, insects and other wildlife, as well as microorganisms in the soil. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How To Grow Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine (& Creative Display Ideas)

Downy mildew can spoil the appearance of many plants, reduce yields of fruits and vegetables, and sometimes even kill plants. What can we do to avoid it? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Simple Seed Guide: From Hybrids to Heirlooms

Plants can detect changes in the length of the day as seasons change. Some will only flower -- or can't flower -- when daylight reaches a certain length. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Annuals & Perennials: What's The Difference?

There are lots of plants to choose from for almost any amount of sunlight outdoors, but you have to match the right plant with the right area in your garden. MORE FROM Empress of Dirt: 25 Vegetables You Can Grow in Shade

For decades, baits have been a popular way to deal with slugs, but there are concerns about their impact on wildlife and the environment. Do any of the suggested home remedy alternatives work? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 10 Beginner Garden Tips That Avoid Bloopers (Great & Small)

Slugs can cause a lot of damage to plants like hostas and lettuce and many others. Is there anything we can do to stop them? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: How To Scarify Seeds Before Sowing For Better Germination Rates

There's been an outbreak in avian flu this year in much of North America. Do our bird feeders increase the risk of spreading the disease? MORE FROM Empress of Dirt: How to Choose the Best Birdseed

They're a common pest and one that's not easy to get rid of ... but there are things you can do to lower their numbers to a level plants can deal with. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: When Tomatoes Crack On The Vine (Now What?)

You'll find exuberant lists online with 10 or more uses for hydrogen peroxide in the garden -- is it something we should be using? NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: Spring Gardening: Is It Safe To Plant Outdoors Yet?

Physically and mentally, gardening has been shown to promote our health and well-being -- as exercise, an outlet for creativity and learning, relaxation, and more. NEW FROM Empress of Dirt: 45 Ridiculously Simple & Helpful Eco-Beneficial Garden Tips