It’s easy to get caught up in the splash and flash of annuals. They’re usually in bloom when you go to the nursery. And their siren’s song of color, form, and fragrance has a mighty appeal for the garden junkie. But for enduring performance and outstanding value, perennials are where it’s at. Somewhat more reserved in character, they don’t always have the same immediate visual impact that the strutting annuals do....
After carefully inspecting your plant both above ground and below to rule out disease, infestation, or poor environmental conditions – such as lack of space to branch and spread, or root impaction – the next step will be to focus on fertilizing for plant health and productivity. Most gardeners who choose to grow passionflower do so with the hope of enjoying gorgeous blooms swaying in the summer sun, followed by an abundant crop of juicy, flavorful fruits....
Many years ago I had something of an indoor jungle – my home was filled with houseplants. I loved being surrounded by all that lush greenery when I was indoors. Tradescantia spp. Beautifully variegated or in soothing shades of solid green, spiderworts are easy-care houseplants that will give you masses of vines to beautify your indoor space. These tropical species are fast growers, so if you want to add a lot of vegetation to your home fast, without too much fuss, these houseplants will make excellent plant companions....
Before we dive in, however, a note of caution: it’s vital to understand how toxic these shrubs are. If you love the bright splash of color that azaleas can bring to your yard, but don’t have much room in your garden, why not grow them in containers instead? Since these shrubs thrive in a partially shady environment, they make ideal patio or porch plants and can liven up apartment balconies too....
Trap cropping is an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy where gardeners or farmers use decoys to lure nuisance insects away from their crops. Once congregated in one spot, they’re more easily dealt with. Have you ever noticed that you just can’t keep the bugs off certain types of plants in your garden? In the same way that Goldfish crackers look more appealing than broccoli to most kids (and many adults!), some garden favorites are more attractive to insects than others....
Weeds are a really challenging problem. I spend considerable time pulling them, digging, them, and sorting them. Generally speaking, the broadest definition of a weed is something that’s growing someplace where you don’t want it. You can recognize this type of plant after you pull it because it often either won’t come out without major work, or it breaks off easily and leaves its roots intact. If you pull something that you think might be a weed and it comes out easily, roots and all, you probably spent a small fortune on it....
There are plenty of fantastic options to choose from. The long, hot days of summer always seem to evoke a bit of childhood nostalgia – like memories of gently swinging in the shade to catch a cool breeze. A throwback to simpler times, rocking on a swing is a great way to relax. The soothing motion is ideal for reading or an afternoon nap, and the easy comfort of this simple piece of outdoor furniture provides the perfect spot for a leisurely chat with friends, family, and neighbors....
Spring blossoms enrich the landscape with often fragrant cream, pink, and white hues. In the fall, the leaves turn vibrant shades of orange, purple, red, and yellow. Viburnum spp. The Viburnum genus contains more than 150 different ornamental woody shrub species. These are members of the Adoxaceae family, which also includes elderberries. There are species suited to cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones ranging from 2 to 8. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....
There are a few things to keep in mind if you want to grow it inside, though. Without proper care, your plant might struggle. The evergreen perennial that we call rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a popular kitchen garden plant. And why not grow it indoors? With its spicy-sweet flavor, pungent aroma, and pretty, needle-like leaves, this shrub in the mint family, Lamiaceae, can bring good cheer to your home as an herbaceous houseplant that keeps on giving....
Hydrangea arborescens With a diverse selection of growing habits and flower structures, hydrangeas are some of the most iconic flora in North America. With snow-white pom-pom inflorescence and exfoliating, textured bark, Hydrangea arborescens in particular is a festive garden staple. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Also known as smooth or wild hydrangea, H....
Preparing your plants for winter is quick and easy, and even offers a couple of different options to suit your gardening style. In the world of perennials we have few options better than blanket flowers, Gaillardia, for easy, carefree gardening. These native wildflowers in the Asteraceae family provide season-long sprays of red, orange, and yellow bicolored flowers, reseed themselves generously, and don’t ask for much of anything in between. But what about winter care?...
So I was in the market for a new one, or two. Here are five of the best hori hori knives I’ve come across. The “hori hori” is a Japanese garden knife with a unique blend of digging and cutting features. Thanks to its shape and size, with it you can dig, transplant, saw, cut, and even measure soil depth for planting bulbs. Wonderfully versatile, it’s easy to use and will quickly become one of those “must have” tools for your kit bag....
I absolutely love thin chocolate mints. I mean, I love sweet things in general, but those cool mint patties coated in thin layers of dark chocolate are on a whole new level of deliciousness. Mentha × piperita f. citrata ‘Chocolate’ Easy to grow and propagate, chocolate mint is a fragrant plant that can add extra layers of flavor to drinks like tea and mojitos, sweet desserts, and even salads and savory dishes....
But most are deciduous, rewarding gardeners year after year with fresh blades in solid or variegated green, red, and coppery colors, as well as prolific and attractive plumes and seed heads. Ornamental grasses are increasingly being used in our landscapes as an alternative to shrubs. In any region of the country, you can find native grasses that do quite well, and add textural variety and a soft, flowing aspect to the garden....
Read on to find out why heads may crack, learn preventative measures, and pick up the best tips to keep in mind so you’ll know what to do when it happens. Have you ever had a head of cabbage in your garden that seemed to be growing healthy and large, only to notice one day that it had started to split open? What causes this to happen? And what can home gardeners do to avoid damage to their crop?...
In this article, we will discuss why white cauliflower heads sometimes turn purplish, how to avoid the phenomenon, and what it means for flavor and quality. Cauliflower, Brassica oleracea var. botrytis, is one of the more challenging cool-weather crops to grow. Sometimes, heads that should be snowy white take on a purplish hue. A member of the Brassicaceae family, cauliflower can suffer a number of difficulties when grown in home garden, such as not forming heads....
If you’re making plans to add something new to the veggie patch this year, whip out your gardening journal and start taking notes – kohlrabi is not to be missed, and we’ve rounded up a selection of our favorites to make planning easier. Are you familiar with the crisp, sweet, and succulent treat that is homegrown kohlrabi? Whether you’re an old hand at growing and feasting on this vegetal delicacy already, or the idea of batter-dipped and deep-fried cubes, stewed strips, or crispy raw slices of the stuff is entirely new to you, this is one vegetable that you don’t want to miss out on!...
If you are anything like me, you love to garden but also know that sometimes it can be difficult to know how to start out. This is especially true if you live in an apartment or don’t really have the space to start a garden, and if money is tight. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to garden in a small space, all while sticking to your budget and not breaking the bank....
Pitcher plants also become dormant during winter – so if you’re lucky enough to have these guys growing in your garden or home, there are some things you can do to make this time as comfortable for them as possible. Winter is a time to chill – both literally and figuratively. Besides the decreasing temperatures, wintertime is when everything slows down, so to speak. Many animals go into hibernation, while nearly all plants stop growing and greatly reduce their metabolic activity....
What’s a gardener to do with these cute little pests? I read “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” just like everyone else, and loved the drawings, the live action movie, and the series of stuffed animals that came out many decades later. While reading the book, I sympathize with Peter and Flopsy and Mopsy. But when it comes to cottontails making free with my home garden, I am strictly Team Mr. McGregor....
