Simply Smart Gardening - Learn How to Garden Smart, Not Hard

You want more time to enjoy your garden.

But you don’t know where to start.

And at times, you feel frustrated and overwhelmed.

Intimidated, even.

Growing your dream garden doesn’t have to be a tiring, thorny time-suck.

You can feel confident and proud of your garden…

Even if your garden is in open rebellion, with beds ruled by weedy overlords or total plant anarchy where only the hardiest survive.

The solution is to garden smart, not hard.

And it’s easier than you think!

Let’s get started »

Meet your fairy garden mother…

Hi! I’m Cheryl.

I’m a certified gardener born with a plant addiction that has no cure.

I believe you can grow your dream garden and still have time to enjoy it – no matter how busy you are.

That’s why I created Simply Smart Gardening. To help you grow a garden that’s manageable, wows your neighbors, and makes your family say, “more veggies, please!”

Read my story »

I’ve been seen on…

🌻You can grow your dream garden AND have time to enjoy it!

Here’s why gardeners love Simply Smart Gardening…

I subscribed to your newsletter because…
“You have so many great tips and a lovely, easy-to-understand way of conveying information. I look forward to learning more from you.”

Ellena busy raised-bed gardener

I’ve purchased multiple products from you because…
“You have done a great job! More than you know. I truly needed the garden journal and checklists to encourage me to follow through with my garden. I have been so afraid to start. But this gave me a new perspective that we all make mistakes, and it won’t be perfect. Just to have fun and enjoy myself.”

Nakiarraa new gardener (and mother to twins)

I’m impressed with the freebie I signed up for because…
“Wow! Your mulching comparison chart has more information than any articles I’ve read on mulching. This is quite a freebie! Now I can stop Googling for info about mulch. Thank you for all your help!”

Beckya newsletter subscriber

Growing a beautiful, productive garden is a grand adventure…

Where should we go first?

Gardening Basics

Get the help you need to start gardening like an expert. No experience required!

Get started now »

Ornamental Gardens

Discover how to grow and maintain your flowers and ornamental plants like a pro.

Get started now »

Edible Gardens

Learn how to grow vegetables, fruit, and herbs you and your family will enjoy.

Get started now »

You’ll find even more help and resources in the shop.

Garden smarter with my most popular digital products and courses.

Get the right things done at the right time.

What To Do When

Monthly Checklists for Busy Gardeners

Take the stress, overwhelm, and guesswork out of gardening with these done-for-you checklists.

Check out the checklists »

Beautifully organize and track all your gardening info.

Smart Garden Journal Pages

Quickly and easily find the important information you need to make your garden a success every year! Buy once, use forever.

I want to grow smarter! »

Grow more, work less.

Small Space, Big Harvest

The course for busy gardeners who want to grow a wildly productive vegetable garden without all the weeding, watering, or worrying.

Help me harvest more! »

Yes! I want to grow my dream garden!

Looking for answers?

These popular blog posts are a great place to start.

row of weed-free flowers and mulch - how to weed a garden

Want a Weed-Free Garden? Here’s How to Weed a Garden but Not Spend Hours Weeding

Sometimes gardening can feel like one long war against the weeds. And even though it can sap your morale, you can’t stop fighting. If you let the weeds outflank you, they’ll steal nutrients from your soil, crowd out your plants and even grow tall enough for the neighbor’s dog to get lost…

What to Plant in February 2023 [Best Plants to Sow + Grow]

It may be hard to believe, but it’s time to start planning this year’s garden! Don’t let February’s gray skies, frigid temperatures, and snow-capped gardens fool you. Spring is just around the corner… So, now’s the time to decide what you want to grow this year. Once you have your garden plan…

What You Need to Know About Your Garden Soil

Imagine if you did one thing that could prevent 80% of the problems in your garden. Understanding your soil is that one thing. Learning how your soil affects your plants will dramatically increase your odds of being a successful gardener.

seed starting equipment and supplies on a table

The Best Seed Starting Setup

Every year I get the same questions from gardeners who want to start plants from seed – What’s the best soil to use? What are the best containers for starting seed indoors? What are the best grow lights? And I’m not surprised… If you’ve never started seeds indoors before or…

How Long Do Seeds Last? Complete Viability Guide [Free Chart]

As you thumb through half-empty seed packets left over from last year, or even several years ago, you wonder if they’re still good. You shrug, plant the seeds, and cross your fingers. If they don’t germinate, you’ll buy some new ones. But here’s my prediction. By the time you notice the seeds…

21 Best Free Seed Catalogs in 2023 [Vegetable + Flower Seed]

Nothing helps cure a gardener’s cabin fever like a thick stack of seed catalogs. As you page through each one, your garden springs to life in your mind’s eye … green shoots poking up through the soil, seedlings soaking up the sun, juicy tomatoes, ripe and ready for backyard dinners….

And here are some recent gardening ideas.

gardening venn diagram of gardening happiness

Low Maintenance Gardening

You want a beautiful garden, but you don’t want to spend all your free time pulling weeds, dragging your hose around from plant to plant, or drowning Japanese beetles in soapy water to keep them off your roses. Maybe you’re busy with work, a family, and piles of laundry, or you’re…

What to Plant in July: A Helpful Growing Guide

It’s hard to believe that July is already here. It means lots of weeding, watering, and plenty of breaks in the shade with a refreshing ice-cold drink (hint: these are best garnished with homegrown herbs). If you’re anything like me you’ve wondered what you can safely plant in July. Well,…

woman watering her flower garden in July

July Gardening Tips: How to Grow Your Dream Garden This Year

It’s July, which means it’s hot outside! But it doesn’t matter because the long July days mean I get to spend more time enjoying my garden. Most everything is planted. My flower garden is overflowing with blooms and filled with the faint hum of bees. And I…