Plant Spring Moss Containers with Garden Answer Laura

Healthy soil is the foundation of successful gardening, and compost is one of the best ways to enrich and maintain it. Whether you’re a beginner gardener or someone interested in nurturing plants, understanding composting and its impact on soil health is essential.

Container Gardening for Patios: Elevate Your Outdoor Space with Stylish Planters

Container gardening is one of the easiest and most versatile ways to add beauty and bring color, texture, and personality to your patio and other outdoor living spaces.

Hanging Baskets: Effortless Beauty with Trailing Flowers

Whether you want a cascade of vibrant flowers, lush greenery, or a mix of both, hanging baskets bring elegance, texture, and life to your outdoor space.

How Much? What Kind? Your Mulch Questions Answered

How much mulch do I need? What is the best kind of mulch to use? What kinds of mulch are there? We have answers to your mulching questions!

Container Scaping to Create an Immersive Outdoor Experience

Turn your patios, balconies, and entryways into dynamic landscapes bursting with color, texture, and architectural drama with container scaping!

Living Fences: A Beautiful and Practical Alternative to Traditional Choices

Living fences, composed of trees, shrubs and plants, offer a lush, eco-friendly, and visually appealing alternative to traditional fences. See what shrubs might work best for you and tips for taking care of them...

Gardening Basics: What You Need to Know for Successful Gardening

When you know the six basics of gardening, including how plants grow, what they need to thrive, and how to care for them, you can get more confident and enhance your enjoyment of plants!

Grow Your Own Veggies From Seed: Planting Guide for Zones 7a & 7b

Growing your own vegetables from seed can be rewarding and cost-saving! Get our easy-reference Vegetable Seed-Planting Guide.

The Power of Pollination: Why It Matters and How You Can Help

Did you know that pollinators are responsible for bringing us one out of every three bites of food? It’s their critical participation in pollinating flowering plants that make this possible. In addition to the food we eat, pollinators support healthy ecosystems that clean the air, stabilize soils, protect from severe weather, and support other wildlife.

Let’s Make Some Sweet & Crunchy Honeycomb Brittle

Try making this fun candy concoction using our locally-sourced honey, and your mouth will thank you. Honeycomb Brittle, also known as Honeycomb Toffee and Hokey Pokey, is a treat your family will love.

Turn Your Winter Blues into Garden To-do’s

Waiting for spring to arrive? There are plenty of things we can do now to plan for a new, a better, a more fruitful season in our gardens. It's time to start planning!

Are Native Plants a Good Choice for Your Home Garden & Landscape?

If you're on the fence about all this "going native" talk, and not sure its worth the effort to choose native plants, this is the read for you!

Plan Your Garden Around the Color Wheel

When designing your garden's color pallette, use color-wheel theories for a stronger, more focused theme. Check out these inspirational gardens.

How to Choose the Perfect Christmas Tree

Garden Guides

The Garden Market is here to help you if you should need it; we have a lovely selection of trees, and we offer delivery and set up services!

How to Build an Easy and Safe Fire Pit

Fire pits are not too difficult to build and you don’t need any fancy equipment. We’ll walk you through the steps to do it yourself…

Autumn Garden Beauties You’ll Fall For

In our zone 7 area here in Reston, Virginia area, we are crazy about these show-off plans for fall garden beauty. Mums, violas, pansies, flowering kale and croton are a few of our favorites. See how these can liven up your fall garden.

Fall Cocktails Filled with Fall Flavors are More Fun!

Grab jars of Reston Farm Garden Market's own Bonita's Apple Butter and Big White's Apple Cider for the makings of two delicious signature cocktails: Harvest Mule & How 'bout Them Apples. Yum!

Fall is the Best Time to Plant Perennials for a Strong Spring Showing

As our planet faces the challenges of changing weather patterns and warming temperatures, it's becoming increasingly important to adapt our gardening practices to ensure sustainability. One of the most effective ways to create a resilient and beautiful outdoor space is through xeriscaping.

Fall is the Best Time to Plant Trees and Shrubs

Planting trees and shrubs in the fall gives your new trees and shrubs a better chance for good root development before winter.

Fall in Love with These Autumn Garden Container Ideas

Dive into our curated collection of seasonal designs and plant combo ideas to transform your space with autumn's rich colors and textures.

August and September is Time to Plant Your Fall Veggies

Reston Farm Garden Market is here with all the things you need to help you successfully grow and harvest your food, from plants to soils to amendments.

Garden Trends: Get Back to Nature and Go Wild!

The trend of “rewilding” is gaining momentum. If you haven’t heard of this, it’s essentially what it sounds like: returning your garden to a more “wild” state, and managing it in a way that allows nature to play a bigger role in your landscape design.

Creating Drought-Tolerant Yards and Gardens: The Case for Xeriscaping in the Mid-Atlantic

The Perfect Match: Plants and Their Pollinators

Have you ever wondered why particular plants attract particular pollinators? 🌸 It’s like nature’s very own matchmaking service, ensuring that each plant and their pollinator partner thrives. Take a look at some of these plant-pollinator pairings so you can cultivate your garden so it becomes a buzzing, fluttering paradise.

How to Create a Pollinator Paradise in Zone 7

Are you ready to transform your yard into a buzzing haven for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators? Our zone 7 offers a fabulous climate for a wide variety of plants that attract and support our vital pollinator friends. 🌼 Let’s dive into the delightful world of pollinator gardening and discover how to create a vibrant, valuable garden that’s brimming with life.

Public Gardens You’ll Want to Visit in Maryland

Maryland offers some really nice and diverse public-access gardens you'll want to check out. From expansive spaces, arboretums and conservatories. And if you're in or heading to the Eastern Shore, there's one you really don't want to miss if you're into native plants and conservation.

Public Gardens You’ll Want to Visit in Virginia

From northern Virginia, to the coast and west towards the mountains, Virginia has a wealth of amazing public gardens to visit! There's something for all tastes in our home state, and inspiration about for every season. We've curated a list of our faves along with photos we just want to dive into.

Public Gardens You’ll Want to Visit in Washington, DC

When you're looking for inspiration for your garden design, plant selections, companion plantings and landscape design, don't miss checking out our local botanical gardens, arboretums and other public-garden spaces. We've gathered a comprehensive list of great places to visit in Washington, DC where you'll find plenty of inspiration and good vibes. Best of all, many are free and open year-round!

Coreopsis: Perennial with Plenty to Offer

Plant Spotlights

Coreopsis is a no-fuss flowering friend, forgiving to beginners, and a colorful companion throughout the growing season with over 100 species.

How To Start Your Own Rain Garden

So you want a rain garden! Where should you start digging? How deep should your rain garden be? What should you plant in your garden? We give you all the steps to follow to create your own smart and beautiful rain garden!

What Are The Benefits of Rain Gardening?

Rain gardening has SO many benefits. It can absorb runoff pollutants, save you money on water and lawn maintenance, and provide a place for native wildlife to thrive. Here's how to get started.

A Downspout Garden can be Downright Beautiful

You can improve rainwater absorption (fewer puddles in your yard!) AND have a beautiful and beneficial space by creating a lovely downspout garden.

Hosta: Proven Winners’ Shadowland® Coast to Coast

This striking shade perennial has bold, gold-colored leaves, which really pop and shine, helping it stand out in a shady location. And bonus, that gold coloring will become even brighter in the morning sun. Even more, the leaves are a bit puckered, adding nice textural interest.

Roses: Proven Winners’ Oso Easy Double Red®

Lawn & Garden, Proven Winners

Not only does this beauty have creds (she was the National Rose of the Year in 2020), the Oso Easy Double Red® Rose is a hard worker, putting out double petals for a lush, luxurious look. She also blooms all summer and is disease resistant.

Proven Winners Eco+ Pots for the Win!

When you’re out shopping for flowers at Reston Farm Garden Market, you’ll notice a large selection of our Proven Winners plants are now packaged in Eco+ Grande® and Eco+ Quart® pots.

Russian Sage: Proven Winners’ Denim ‘n Lace

The Denim ‘n Lace Russian Sage is an award-winner and one of “Garden Answer” Laura’s personal favorites. Their lacy-like, bright, sky-blue flowers bloom an exceptionally long time, and are a favorite of hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Plus... both flowers and leaves are quite fragrant!

Rose Mallow: Proven Winners’ Summerific® “Holy Grail”

The Summerific® “Holy Grail” Rose Mallow, a hibiscus hybrid, has incredibly large flowers that are stunning not only because of their size, but also because of their rich, deep-red color. And then there's the foliage...

Rose of Sharon: Proven Winners’ Blue Chiffon®

When it comes to flowers, blue is always a harder color to find. Which is just one reason why the Blue Chiffon® Rose of Sharon is such a spectacular plant. Plus, they just cover the plant when they start to bloom about mid-summer usually lasting right through our first hard frost.

Smooth Hydrangea: Perennial Shrub with Easy-Care Nature

Plant Spotlights

If you’re looking to add a touch of serene beauty to your landscape, you need to meet the smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), a delightful shrub that promises to transform your garden into a lush haven.

Cinnamon Fern: Easy Perennial with Seasonal Interest

Plant Spotlights

A great addition for beginner and seasoned gardeners alike, the low-maintenance beauty known as the cinnamon fern adds seasonal interest to your landscape. Great for shade or sunny, wet locations in your yard and garden.

Have you Introduced Zook’s Homemade Pot Pies to Your Mouth?

Look for Zook's Homemade Chicken, Sausage and Beef Pies in the refrigerated section of our market.

What are USDA Plant Hardiness Zones and Why Are They Important?

Garden Guides

When we say a particular plant is suited for zone 7b, do you know what we’re referring to? The United States Department of ...

Bonita’s Apple Butter Oatmeal Bars Recipe

Come on over the Garden Market and stock up on Bonita’s Apple Butter so you can make your own delicious apple butter oatmeal bars!

Deer-Resistant Plantings: Proven Winners® EZ Scapes™ Plant Combo

Oh, deer… If you have deer nibbling on your precious plants, we have an EZ Scape™ easy recipe to share from our friends at Proven ...

Foliage for Shade: Proven Winners® EZ Scapes™ Plant Combo

Our friends at Proven Winners® have created easy recipes — called EZ Scapes™ — that consist of combinations of three to four ...

Your Guide to Pruning Hydrangeas in the Fall

Knowing when to prune is critical to strengthening flowering on the different hydragea varieties; some bloom on new wood and some bloom on old wood.

Colorful & Fragrant Shrubs to Plant in the Fall

Gardening is a wonderful journey, especially when you're just starting out. The fall season offers an exciting opportunity to plant shrubs that will flourish in the upcoming year. We’ll introduce you to some amazing shrubs to plant in the fall, the how-tos of planting them, and why fall is the ideal time for your gardening activities.

7 Things to Do in Your Zone 7 Garden in August

Here's your essential list of August garden activities you'll want to finish or at least get started before fall arrives.

Are Bad Bugs a Growing Problem in Your Garden?

Know the difference between the good bugs and the bad bugs in your garden. Learn how to attract the good bugs, and how to safely treat for bad bugs.

How to Identify and Address Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a common fungus that affects a wide variety of plants. The good news is it can be easily identified. Know how to spot it and treat it!

How to Get Berry Good at Raising Healthy Blueberry Bushes

Check out how easy it is to have dwarf bushes developed by Bushel & Berry®, created especially for the home gardener. Grow them in containers or in your garden.

Quenching Your Plants’ Thirst: How to Properly Water Your Plants

Overwatering plants is one of the most common ways plants die. If you're not sure what to do, read on for the proper ways to water your garden and your plants.

Layer Gardening: When You Can’t See the Forest For the Food

A “food forest” is a fully enclosed ecosystem designed so it can take care of almost everything on its own. In other words, little to no maintenance. Learn how to implement your own food forest.

Things are Looking Up With Vertical Gardening

Use a vertical garden to define a particular space, say a wall, a screen, or a length of fence. Creating a vertical garden can be as simple as you want.

Herb Gardening: How to have a Scratch-and-Sniff Garden

Check out our top picks for your herb gardening. Herbs have the power to transform your stroll through your garden, reaching out to you with their fresh, delightful aroma, whether you brush by them or you pick a leaf and rub it between your finger and thumb.

Are You Ready to Rock Garden?

Whether you have natural rock formations in your garden or not, you can create a beautiful rock garden. And the best part: Rock gardens can be low-maintenance.

Get the Low-Down on Low-Maintenance Shrubs & Plants

Looking for garden and landscaping options that don't take a lot of care? Consider these low-maintenance shrubs and plants for stress-free landscaping.

AquaPots® Keep Your Plants Happy and Healthy

With an AquaPot, you don't have to worry about under- or overwatering your plants. Get the best of both worlds: the convenience of a self-watering pot with the beauty of high-quality, glazed ceramics.

Organic Lawn Care Tips (Thanks, Espoma!)

Organic lawn care focuses on growing a healthy lawn, which helps defend it against insects and diseases. Healthy lawns begin with healthy soil. Learn how...

Design Your Garden for Year-Round Blooms & Interest

Your garden is constantly changing with plants cycling in and out of bloom. Synchronize blooms and growth for year-round interest with a little planning.

Happy Gardens Love Espoma’s Line of Organic Fertilizers

As plant lovers, we know that making sure we put our plants in soil that's healthy and filled with the right nutrients is one of the most important things we can do. That’s why we love Espoma’s line of organic fertilizers, compost and soils.

Yummy Baked Apple Recipe

Apples have been called nature’s perfect snack. We especially love ‘em baked with brown sugar and cinnamon, served with vanilla ice cream.

Easy Raised Beds and Container Gardening with Root Pouch

Root Pouches offer so many benefits for your raised bed and container gardening! Made from recycled material. Allows plant roots to breath. Moisture and temperature control. See why you should use these!

Make Your Yard Stay-cation Worthy With Tropicals

Add these tropicals to your northern Virginia garden and you'll have a garden worthy of a staycation retreat. Three of our faves are crotons, caladiums and palms.

Do you want more peace and tranquility in your garden? Just say “Zen.”

If you’re interested in creating your very peaceful, very relaxing, very beautiful Zen garden space, we can help you.

Reston Farm Garden Market Contributes to “Plant a Better Tomorrow” Program

At the Garden Market

The “Plant a Better Tomorrow” program raised $14,500 in 2021. "We are so excited to be a contributing part of this effort. There are so many families in need of help, that we want to contribute in the most profound way possible."

Ideas for Using Dark Foliage Plants in Zone 7

At the Garden Market, Food

Looking for ways to help your vibrant and colorful plants stand out in the garden? The trick is pairing them with dark foliage counterparts. We have four stunners that will help your garden sing.

Reston Farm Garden Market Carries Raw Honey from Golden Angels Apiary, VA

Golden Angels Apiary specializes in raw honey and is one of the most well-regarded apiaries in Virginia.

Say “Welcome” With a Beautiful Fall Porch

Autumn is one of our favorite seasons! We love decorating our front porches with the textures and colors of fall. Check out these ideas and inspiration for YOUR porch and home entrance.

Perennials Offer Style and Convenience

Perennials are perfect for those gardeners who like consistency and/or have limited time to spend in the garden. Usually having a shorter blooming cycles compared to annuals, different kinds of perennials can be mixed to establish a blooming pattern. Get zone 7 perennial suggestions...

Proven Winners Supertunia Mini Vista® Pink Star Petunia

Our Supertunia petunias are stunning annuals that make excellent container and landscape flowering plants. They're super easy to care for, are heat tolerant and drought resistant. Listen to Garden Answer Laura explain why you need these lovelies!

Reston Diggs Local Business Spotlight on Reston Farm Garden Market

At the Garden Market

Rob Chavez from Reston Diggs interviews Bonita Weinstein to get the dirt on the evolution of this family-owned and operated Reston, Virginia business. Around this garden center, we're growing joy every day.

Salmon Paninis Need This Secret Ingredient

Try our tangy Sweet Pepper Relish and Apple Cider Mustard to your sandwich creations and you'll never go back to mayo and plain ol' mustard.

The secret ingredient behind Berry Delicious Razzle Sauce is….