Simply Smart Gardening – 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 make gardening easier »

Meet Cheryl Spencer, 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!”

Cheryl Spencer, certified gardener
Read my story »

I’ve been seen on…

msn logo
porch website logo
gardening channel logo
trees.com logo
lifehacker logo
msn logo
porch website logo
gardening channel logo
lifehacker logo
trees.com logo

🌻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?

seedling icon takes you to articles about gardening basics

Gardening Basics

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

Get started now »
trees and shrubs icon takes you to articles about ornamental gardens

Ornamental Gardens

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

Get started now »
apple and carrot icon takes you to articles about edible gardens

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.

what to do when checklists

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 »
smart garden journal

Beautifully organize and track all your gardening info.

Smart Garden Journal Pages

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

I want to grow smarter! »
small space, big harvest gardening course logo

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 gardening answers?

These popular blog posts are a great place to start.

corn gluten meal

Corn Gluten Meal for Weeds: Is it an Effective Weed Killer?

Looking for natural or organic ways to control pesky weeds in your garden? If so, you may be wondering if corn gluten can help. Companies that sell organic weedkillers market corn gluten meal as a natural and safe pre-emergent herbicide. Some gardeners swear by it. While others say it doesn’t work at all. So,…
woman holding fertilizer in her hands in the garden to explain what is NPK?

What is NPK Fertilizer? And What Does N-P-K Do for Plants?

Has this ever happened to you? You’re standing in the fertilizer aisle of your local garden center, looking at all the packages, and your eyes glaze over. There are too many choices. And you’re not sure which one to buy. When you pick up the first package and glance at the label,…
garden soil on a white background

Soil Preparation: How to Create Healthy 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.
lettuce under a grow light

Easy Seed Starting Shelves DIY: Make a Grow Light Stand Fast

You want to start plants from seed, and you want it to be easy. So, you get out some pots, fill them with potting soil, pop your seeds in, and water them. As you place the pots next to your sunniest window, you nod your head and think, “that was…
a close-up of a woman holding a bunch of radishes, wearing a green shirt

Gardening 101: This is How to Grow an Amazing Garden

Could this happen to you? You get home after a long day. You step into your backyard and harvest herbs and vegetables for tonight’s dinner. On your way back inside you pick a few flowers, and put them in a vase that brightens up your dinner table. You and your…
spinach growing in a square foot garden

How to Grow Tons of Fresh Spinach [Even If You Don’t Have Much Space]

Thanks to the popularity of square foot gardening, the idea of growing food in a small and efficient space has taken hold. And spinach is one of the best vegetables to get you started with square foot gardening. Spinach is an easy-to-grow salad green that produces large yields of vitamin-rich,…

And here are some recent gardening ideas…

lupines growing in a weed-free garden surrounded by mulch

The Best Mulch to Prevent Weeds

After years of gardening, I thought I had it all figured out. But then came what I call “The Summer of the Weeds.” If growing weeds was an Olympic sport, my garden would’ve taken home the gold! It was a humbling reality check. And it led me straight to my new best friend… The best…
a gardener succession planting lettuce

Succession Planting: The Best Way to Grow a Continuous Harvest

Ever wished you could hit the “pause” button on the rollercoaster ride of veggie harvests? I get it – the struggle is real when everything ripens at the same time! In. One. Big. Harvest. There’s got to be a better way. Right? Imagine enjoying a steady supply of your favorite…
Scroll to Top