Pruning flowering shrubs can feel confusing—especially in spring, when plants are waking up and buds are forming. Prune at the wrong time, and you risk cutting off flowers. Prune at the right time, and you’ll encourage healthier growth, better shape, and more blooms down the road. This guide focuses only on shrubs that should be…
Interplanting isn’t limited to annual vegetables. Perennials, shrubs, and small trees can be strategically planted in or around the vegetable garden to create a diverse, resilient ecosystem. These plants provide habitat, nectar, and pollen for beneficial insects such as ladybugs, lacewings, bees, and parasitic wasps, which in turn help control pests and improve pollination. Why…
Evergreen shrubs are particularly susceptible to winter burn, a type of desiccation damage caused by cold temperatures, wind, and sun. Even though these plants keep their leaves during winter, moisture loss can exceed root absorption, leading to browning, needle drop, and dieback. After decades of gardening in both Sonoma Valley and Iowa Zone 5, I’ve…
Winter is a critical time for fruit trees and shrubs. Even though growth slows or stops, roots continue to respire, and soil conditions affect plant survival and spring growth. Proper winter watering and soil care prevent desiccation, root damage, and nutrient loss. Drawing on decades of experience gardening in both mild Sonoma Valley and cold…
Snow and ice can weigh heavily on shrubs and trees, bending branches, breaking stems, and causing long-term structural damage. After more than 30 winters gardening in Sonoma Valley—and dealing with everything from wet snow to freezing rain—I’ve learned that the way you handle winter storms can make the difference between a spring full of healthy…
Newly planted shrubs and trees face their first winter with undeveloped root systems and little natural resilience. Cold temperatures, wind, frost, and fluctuating moisture levels can stress or even kill young plants. After decades of gardening in Sonoma Valley and Iowa Zone 5, I’ve developed practical techniques to help newly planted shrubs and trees survive…
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