Usually wet soil and boggy soil poses a difficult problem for the gardener. Few plants can thrive where roots remain wet nearly all of the time. Some plants native to boggy soil or that grow at the edge of lakes and rivers can transform a sodden area of the garden into a green and colorful […] More
Groundcovers that grow in shade are especially useful to cover the ground beneath trees where grass does not grow. Shade-tolerant groundcovers can help turn barren soil into a pleasant garden scene. Most shade-tolerant groundcovers are native to woodland areas where there is full shade or dappled shade. Groundcovers do best where there is a modest […] More
Vines can be used to clothe porches, trellises, arbors, pergolas, and post. Vines can be used to clamber up old tree-trunks or cover the bare ground beneath. Vines are used for both their floral and foliage effect. Most vines are vigorous growers and are expected to remain in place for many years. Determine how high […] More
Tall trees and buildings can create shade. Planting a shady location requires plants adapted to growing without direct sunlight and tolerant of shade. Shade-tolerant vines can be used on the north side of buildings; they can also be grown on arbors, trellises, and fences under tall trees. Many shade-tolerant vines are native to woodland regions […] More
Annuals are plants that bloom in the same year that they are planted. A hardy annual is an annual plant that can tolerate frost and its seeds can tolerate a cold winter. The seeds of hardy annuals can be sown in the open garden in early spring or autumn. The seeds of hardy annuals can […] More
Growing trees and shrubs in shade can be a challenge if you choose plants that prefer sunny conditions. If you choose plants that are adapted to shady conditions, shade gardening is quite enjoyable and barely any work at all. There are many shrubs and trees that prefer shade. They are understory plants that like the […] More
Some annuals and perennials are well adapted to growing in part shade. Part shade is also sometimes described as filtered shade, dappled shade, and intermittent shade. Plants that grow and thrive in part shade are typically understory plants, that is plants found under open-branched trees. These plants are also a good choice for planting in […] More
Few garden annuals or perennials will succeed in dense shade. Where no sun penetrates, the list of plants for growing in shade is almost wholly restricted to plants native to thick woodlands. Where there are two or three hours of sun each day, or flickering shade from trees, some garden favorites will bloom satisfactorily. Get […] More
Some annuals and perennials are easier to start from seed than others. Sow all seeds with some care. Seeds sown in the open garden should be planted in well-prepared loamy soil; add plenty of aged compost to the planting area in advance. The soil surface should be light and find; this will allow roots to […] More
Annuals are plants that grow from seed, attain their mature growth, flower, and produce seed in one year or less; they then die having completed their life-cycle. Annuals can be divided into those that are hardy, meaning they can withstand a light frost, those that are half-hardy, meaning they can withstand cool temperatures but not […] More
Many plants grow well by the sea, so it is not impossible or very difficult to have a seaside garden. When native seaside vegetation is supplemented by “exotics” (in this case non-seashore native plants), a garden will lack nothing that is needed to be delightful–and unmistakably a seaside garden. At a distance of 500 feet […] More
Flowering trees are among the most popular ornamental plants. Spring flowering trees are especially valued for the bold way they signal the start of the warm time of the year. Flowering crab apples, dogwoods, hawthorns, redbuds, and cherries are harbingers of spring. Flowering trees make a tremendous impact in bloom even if many bloom only […] More
Stephen Albert