Ben Barkan
Garden & Landscape Designer
Education
- Associate Degree in Sustainable Food and Farming, Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Professional Achievements
- He has over 15 years experience leading HomeHarvest LLC
Certifications & Organizations
- General Contractor's License
- Permaculture Design Certificate
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Co-authored Articles (521)
How to
Revive a Dying Poinsettia
All too often, people throw their poinsettias away once the holiday season is over, not realizing that the plant still has plenty of life in it. With a little time and attention, you can keep a poinsettia alive to flouri...
How to
Care for Peace Lilies
Peace lilies are one of the most popular varieties of houseplants. They're easy to maintain, and they can make a lovely addition to your home. By properly caring for your peace lilies, you'll have beautiful houseplants f...
How to
Grow an Oak Tree from an Acorn
It’s hard to imagine that a mighty oak tree can come from a tiny acorn, but with enough patience, you can grow one yourself! Look for an acorn to plant in early autumn, germinate it, and start it in a container. Then, ...
How to Make Your Lucky Bamboo Houseplant Thrive
A guide to growing your lucky bamboo indoors in soil or in standing waterCaring for a lucky bamboo plant is a relaxing pastime that's great for reducing stress. This houseplant is simple to take care of, and it's believe...
How to Kill a Tree with or without Chemicals
Fast and easy ways to remove a problematic tree Trees are great as long as they aren’t in the way, but they can become a nuisance if they’re at risk of damaging your property. While you can always pay a professional ...
How to
Propagate Bamboo
Bamboo is a thick, woody grass used in furniture and flooring. In your garden, they can be used as large ornamental plants or as a dense privacy barrier. If you already have bamboo, you can easily propagate with cuttings...
How to Replace Your Weed Eater String
A no-nonsense guide on restringing a weed wacker If your weed wacker keeps getting caught on thick overgrowth or the string on your trimmer keeps getting tangled up, it may be time to replace the wire. Rest assured that ...
6 Ways to Water Your Plants While You're on Vacation
Keep your plants lush and green while you're out of town You’re all packed and ready for your vacation—but what about your plants? We’ll help you leave all your worries behind with simple ways to water plants while...
When and How to Trim Marijuana Plants
Expert gardeners explain wet vs. dry trimming, when to prune your weed, and more Trimming cannabis plants is something of an art. With all the right cuts, you’ll have a compact, high-yield crop, with extra trimmings le...
How to
Prune a Schefflera Plant
Schefflera, or Umbrella plants, are common houseplants that are easy to grow because they can thrive in artificial or moderately bright light conditions and are susceptible to few pests. However, they may require pruning...
How to Start a Bonsai Tree from Seed or by Transplant
Top tips for starting your very first bonsai tree The ancient art of growing Bonsai trees is well over a thousand years old. Many individuals are not aware that a simple potted plant is literally the meaning of Bonsai, "...
Chia Pet Instructions: Getting Started & Care Guide
Follow these tried-and-true techniques to sprout the perfect, as-seen-on-TV Chia Pet Ah, Chia Pets—the gift that grows! If the image of a clay dog or President sprouting wild green hair fills you with warm, 90s-infomer...
How to
Grow Lotus Flower
Sacred to Hindus and Buddhists, the Lotus is the national flower of India. This hardy aquatic plant is native to southern Asia and Australia, but they can be grown in nearly any temperate climate under the right conditio...
How to
Prune Kalanchoe
The kalanchoe is a genus of plants with 125 species. This vibrant flowering plant requires minimal maintenance and can be grown indoors or out. Indoor kalanchoes may need a little extra care to keep them from growing too...
How to
Measure the Height of a Tree
At a secret location somewhere in northern California, a tree named Hyperion has been measured at a world record height of 379.3 feet (115.61m)! Believe it or not, the measurement was made with an extra-long tape measure...
How to Get an Amaryllis to Bloom Again & How Long It Lasts
Caring for a dormant amaryllis so it blossoms againAmaryllis flowers usually appear in winter or spring and last several weeks before fading. Compared to most flowers, amaryllis bulbs easily bloom more than once, but for...
6 Ways to Make a DIY, Natural Rooting Hormone
Effective, safe rooting tonics for healthy growth and propagation If you’re worried about the synthetic chemicals in commercial rooting hormones or just want to take your green thumb to the next level and make your own...
How to
Prune Dracaena
There are over 40 types of dracaena species, and you can easily prune all of them with a pair of garden shears and a few snips! While pruning is not required, it is fun and gives you control over the shape of the plant. ...
How to
Propagate Lucky Bamboo
Lucky bamboo is a popular houseplant that people love to give as a housewarming gift. Despite the name, lucky bamboo isn't really bamboo, and is instead a species of Dracaena. The easiest and fastest way to propagate new...
The Complete Guide to Pruning Ficus Trees
Learn how to keep your ficus healthy with proper trimmingWhether growing indoors or outdoors, ficus trees are beautiful, low maintenance plants. Routine pruning is a great way to keep your tree strong and robust. By thin...
