A no-dig, no-till garden bed can be made by laying down layer-upon-layer of organic materials that will decompose themselves into a nutrient-rich planting bed for flowers, shrubs, herbs, and vegetables. This no-dig, no-till method has been the basis of Chinese gardening for thousands of years; it is known as sheet composting and more recently has […] More
Ferns are valued in the garden for the great beauty of their leaves, the endless variety of forms, and the range of subtle shades of green. A well-grown fern is always pleasing and does not depend upon a special season for its chief appeal, as flowering plants do. Ferns are comparatively easy to grow. They […] More
Transplanting is the process of removing plants from one place and resetting them in another. Small plants such as seedlings and large plants such as trees can be transplanted. Transplanting seedlings When small seedlings are lifted from the rows in seed flats, cell packs, or pots, separated and replaced in other pots, the term “pricking […] More
Flowering bulbs are divided into two categories: spring-blooming bulbs and summer-blooming bulbs. Spring-blooming bulbs are planted in autumn. Spring-blooming bulbs include tulips, daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, scilla, and grape hyacinths. Summer-blooming bulbs are planted in late winter and early spring. Summer-blooming bulbs include cannas, dahlias, gladioli, and lilies. Bulbs are seasonal; you must purchase them near […] More
Vines include a large and varied group of plants. Vines include all kinds of climbing plants and also certain shrubs with long flexible shoots that may be trained to serve as vines. Outdoors vines are used to clothe porches, trellises, arbors, pergolas, and posts, to clamber up old tree trunks or cover the bare ground […] More
Perennial plants offer an immense variety of shape, form, color, texture, and scent. There are perennials suitable for nearly every garden. Perennials are herbaceous plants–meaning they are not woody. A perennial commonly lives for 3 to 5 years, some much longer. Whereas trees and shrubs give structure to garden design, perennials contribute a great deal […] More
Roses are not difficult to grow. To grow roses in your garden all you need to do is meet their basic needs: choose a suitable site, prepare the soil, and select the right roses for the location. Roses are long-lived—most roses will be in the garden for 20 years or more. In exchange for the […] More
Shrubs add shape and structure to a garden. Most are also decorative—colorful or evergreen foliage, colorful and often fragrant flowers, fruits, and shapely stems. Shrubs stay a long time in the garden so it’s important to choose shrubs that have the form and size needed when mature. Know the eventual height and spread of a […] More
Planting a tree is not difficult. More difficult is the time it takes to decide where to plant a tree and which tree to plant. Trees more than any other plants lend a sense of permanence to a garden or landscape. A tree will be where you plant it for decades and some for centuries. […] More
Woodland gardens are gardens or landscapes dominated by native or non-native trees and large shrubs. Woodland gardens often feature small shade-loving shrubs, herbaceous perennials, bulbs, and annuals below the tree canopy. As well, small clearings or glades can be created in woodland gardens. Shade-loving native plants are an excellent choice for a woodland garden. Non-natives […] More
Wildflower and meadow gardens are very nearly the same. A wildflower garden is wholly planted with wildflowers. A meadow garden is planted with wildflowers and meadow grasses. Wildflower and meadow gardens continue to gain popularity because they are relatively easy to establish and require very little maintenance. Both are mostly comprised of native plants that […] More
Native plants are plants that are native to your region; that means they naturally thrive in your climate. Gardening with native plants is an easy solution to growing a garden; the plants in the garden want to grow where you live. Native plants are adapted to year-round high and low temperatures; they are adapted to […] More
Stephen Albert