O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree How lovely are thy branches O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree How lovely are thy branches… To keep your Christmas tree’s branches looking lovely all the way through the holidays, follow these five simple but important tips. 1. Make a fresh cut before putting the tree in the stand.
As it has become more popular every year to grow perennials and dwarf shrubs in containers, we are asked often about how to overwinter those plants. There are a few options to try, so choose the one that works best for your garden. Photo courtesy of Susan Martin Option 1: Plant them temporarily in the
Many of us have that one “problem” bed – the one that seems too narrow to plant in but where you desperately need to be able to grow something green. Maybe it’s the skinny bed along your fence line or sandwiched between your garage and front door. Maybe you have a shallow lot but really
The idea of not doing the work of raking leaves in the fall is certainly tempting, but will your landscape be better off if you leave the leaves? We looked to some qualified experts to find the answers. If it works in the forest, why won’t it work for my garden? If you take a
Ever wonder how professional garden designers put together color combinations and create perfect textural contrast in the landscape? By following a few basic principles, you can do it yourself! Here’s a quick visual study of how it’s done. The Color Wheel Artists, interior decorators and garden designers alike all use the same color wheel when
As someone who gardens primarily in shade, I’ve learned over the years to appreciate the value of plants with interesting foliage even more than those with pretty blossoms. Flowers are temporary in shade, but fantastic foliage lasts all season. I’ve chosen ten plants here that are grown more for their leaves than their flowers, even
Don’t let those huge blooms fool you! It is easy to grow hibiscus with dinner plate-sized flowers if you follow a few simple tips. Yours will be the envy of the neighborhood every summer if you treat them right! Hibiscus Summerific® ‘Evening Rose’ The tropical flair that perennial hibiscus exudes may fool you into thinking
Here are a few of my favorite things… #1 – Decadence® ‘Cherries Jubilee’ False Indigo (Baptisia) There are so many cool things to tell you about this plant—where do I begin? Let’s start with its historical roots. Baptisia is an ancient perennial that was once used to make dyes and was the first-ever subsidized agricultural
No matter what kind of camera you are using—your phone, tablet, or a digital camera (remember those?), there are a few key principles that always work to produce gorgeous pictures. Let’s brush up your photography skills with these simple tips. #1 – It’s all about capturing the light. Your garden may be bursting with lush
Red, white and blue is a popular color theme for gardens at summer cottages where patio containers overflow with red geraniums, white alyssum and blue lobelia. If you select your perennials and shrubs with the patriotic theme in mind, you can also have a landscape filled with red, white and blue flowers that are blooming
As the demand for healthy, accessible produce increases, more people are looking for tips on how to maximize the yields in their own vegetable gardens. Here are 20 helpful tips to use as a checklist when planning, planting, maintaining, and harvesting. 1. Nourish your soil. Nowhere is it more important to nourish your soil than
Petunias, impatiens and coleus…OH MY! All that color is a feast for our eyes after a long, grey winter and we are thrilled to be able to grow plants once again. For some people, their appetite for plants is a tad bit bigger than their budget. Let’s walk through ten sensible tips to help you