Deer-resistant plants are plants deer tend to not eat. If deer are hungry enough they will eat practically any kind of plant. This list includes annuals, perennials, and bulbs that deer have turned away from in many gardens; there is no guarantee they will not eat them in your garden. As a general rule, deer […] More
Songbirds are attracted to the garden by plants that provide food–seeds, fruit, and nectar. Fruit-bearing shrubs attract songbirds. Seed and nectar-bearing flowers attract songbirds. Drifts of flowers are attractive to almost all birds because they are home to insects and spiders as well as nectar and seed. Shrubs, hedgerows, and trees are attractive to birds […] More
Hummingbirds are attracted to bright colored flowers, especially red and orange. The hummingbird’s primary diet is flower nectar. They can hover like bees in front of tubular or trumpet-shaped blossoms, probing with their long needle-like beaks to extract nectar. Hummingbirds are very territorial, so plant several patches of their favorite flowers if you want to […] More
Fragrant annuals and perennials bring delight to the garden. In planting fragrant annuals and perennials consider first the place and circumstance. Choose annuals and perennials that will grow in your climate, then consider whether the plant will thrive in the sun or shade in the spot you have in mind, then consider the flower color […] More
Long-blooming perennials are perennial plants that will hold blossoms for weeks on end–sometimes as long as 5 to 8 weeks for each flower. Long-blooming perennials are also plants that produce successions of blooms over a long season. They bloom and then they bloom again. Perennials are often referred to as the “busy gardener’s favorites” because […] More
Drought tolerant annuals and perennials are plants that can withstand dry soil after their roots are established. No plant is drought-resistant until it become established. All plants require a steady supply of moisture when first planted. Once a plant is established and has a deep root system, it requires less water. Annuals and perennials started […] 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
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
Begonia is a large and diverse group. There are more than 1,000 species of begonias. Begonias are prized for their texture, multicolored foliage, and colorful flowers. Most houseplant begonias are fibrous-rooted or rhizomatous, but there are some tuberous varieties. There are begonias that flower year-round; there are shrubby begonias that bloom seasonally, and there are […] More
Growing plants in clay soil can be a chore. Clay soil particles are small and flat; they pack so closely that water has trouble draining between them. Clay soil particles are so dense that plant roots have a hard time growing around or between them. Clayey soil is sticky and heavy when wet and hard […] More
Stephen Albert