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Gardening Advice
Move over, poinsettia! There are many more great flowering houseplants that can brighten your winter days. These plants are practically bulletproof and will blossom indoors for weeks. Here are a few of our favorites.KalanchoeKalanchoe are rugged succulents that will grow well on a south-facing windowsill.They come in a wide range of crayon-bright colors. If you want something…
To conserve water and save yourself some money, consider adding a rain barrel to your yard. Rain barrels are positioned to catch rainwater from your roof, which cuts down on the water bill. Plus, rainwater is great for plants!Water is a precious resource. In many areas of the country, water bans are becoming an annual occurrence as summers get hotter and drier and populations increase. This…
It’s that red berry time of year, and with bunches of fresh holly leaves or branches of winterberries going for $5 to $10 apiece, it only makes sense to try growing these winter beauties at home! Here’s what to know about these easy-to-grow shrubs.Growing WinterberryWinterberry (Ilex verticillata) is one of several native North American hollies. It grows 5 to 15 feet tall depending…
“If I only had a greenhouse, I could grow …” We’ve all thought about it! We plantaholics can never have too much space for plants. If you are planning a greenhouse project, here are ten things to consider when choosing the perfect greenhouse structure.10 Tips for Choosing a GreenhousePurpose: What do you plan to do with your greenhouse? Use it as a season extender or for year-round…
When do you prune your hydrangea? It depends. If your hydrangea blooms on “old” wood, you should NOT cut back in the fall or you will sacrifice next year’s flowers! See our handy chart on when to prune common types of hydrangea.Chart: When to Prune HydrangeasHydrangea TypeWhen to PruneWhere Flowers AppearMophead and Bigleaf (H. macrophylla)After flowering (summer)On old growthOakleaf (H…
When the weather gets cold, the inside air can get desert-dry. That’s perfect for the succulents! They are survivors. As long as they have a warm, sunny spot, they love those dry conditions. See the top succulent plants for the home!Succulents are not one plant family but rather a wide variety of plants from many families that can store water for long periods. You have probably…
Do you know your winter squash? The squash is part of American history, having started as a native vegetable grown by the Wampanoag people. Today, there are dozens of squash varieties, ranging in shape, size, and color! They’re so convenient because they will last many weeks (or months) and are easily worked into so many dishes. Here’s a quick guide to our favorite types of squash for…
Last week, I gathered some lemon verbena, dried the leaves, and steeped in a tea. This “nervine herb” has an immediately relaxing quality. Many of modern society’s drugs have come from Mother Nature, so let’s come back down to earth! Here are 5 naturally-calming herbs that reduce stress!We are living in uncertain times that can cause even the calmest person to experience some…
Peppers rarely have serious issues in the vegetable garden. However, this year, we had some pepper growing problems. I thought I’d share our experiences so that you may also benefit if your peppers have problems! We have grown 10 to 20 different types of hot peppers every spring for many years with no problem whatsoever. Our plant customers appreciate the variety ranging from mildly hot…
If you have an herbaceous peony that is overcrowded or hasn’t bloomed in years, fall is a great time to dig it up, divide it, or move it. See how to divide and transplant peonies.
I have a pair of old-fashioned ‘Festiva Maxima’ peonies planted on either side of the entrance to a small fenced-in garden. One blooms happily every year but the other one hasn’t produced any blossoms for quite a…
If you see these purple pom poms blooming in springtime, remember to plant these bulbs in the fall! Rodents and deer don’t like the smell of ornamental onions and won’t dig up the bulbs, yet pollinators adore them! Great for cutting, too. See how to plant awesome alliums in the garden!Add Alliums to Your GardenEvery fall, I am seduced into planting more bulbs. After 30 years, you would…
Summer fades away, but the asters are just getting started, adding splashes of lavender, purple, and pink to the fall garden. Also known as Michaelmas daisies, asters are a lovely addition to the autumn landscape!
A native American plant, the aster got its name from the ancient Greek and Latin words for “star,” describing its radiant blossoms. (Another of its common names is starwort…
