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Although insect pests and plant diseases are generally easy to control in the flower garden, animal pests are not. For one, much of our wildlife is protected by law and can’t be indiscriminately eliminated. You may have variable success with repellents, depending on your location or timing. If the animals are not very hungry or population pressures are not too […]
The plants offered to gardeners or non-gardeners at nurseries, garden centers and the corner store vary immensely. They may be culinary herbs suitable for all sorts of savory dishes, or valued for their blooms or can be used medicinally. In this article, we look at all three distinctions in all the plants listed. As the plants are used for these […]
Since confession is good for the soul, I feel compelled to say that I always order too many seeds. And since making excuses is one of the hallmarks of the human condition, I will also say that my seed surplus is not entirely my fault. Seed companies and garden magazines and charities send me all kinds of small seed packets […]
A few weeks ago, I went to the garden center to buy some pansies to put in decorative pots by my front porch. In my experience, pansies hold up even after the mums bite the dust, and they provide color just about as long as anyone has a right to expect color from a garden plant. I arrived and found […]
One of the most enjoyable aspects of landscaping is reviving the gardens of older properties, where generations have pottered and pruned. The Cottage Garden Challenge We had been asked to restore the charm of a cottage garden. The clients knew that the garden looked rather tired and dated. The lawns were bare, and the concrete paths and driveway were crumbling. […]
Before planting a garden, considerable thought must be taken to ensure important features are correct. There are many factors to consider when considering a garden surface. The light availability, soil structure, and PH level, water availability, and buildings or other structures around all contribute to the location of the proposed garden. Other things to contemplate are the different garden styles […]
When you go to the Philadelphia Flower Show, it helps to take along the right attitude. If seeing gorgeous, high concept gardens full of the most fashionable flowers makes you feel insecure, then take yourself elsewhere. If you need a massive dose of color, fragrance, humidity, and horticultural inspiration, then the Philadelphia Flower Show will be perfect for you. On […]
Iris can be seen growing in early spring and throughout the summer months. Its appearance can be very different from one another with various heights, characteristics, and blossom/leaf color. There are two kinds of iris that can flourish in this area. Some are formed by bulbs planted deeply in the soil, others growing from rhizomes, which are horizontally half buried. […]
African violet is perhaps the only full-blown paradox that can survive on a windowsill. On one hand, it is a celebrated show plant, with new cultivars eagerly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts. It has its own organization, the African Violet Society of America, and its own magazine, African Violet. A quick Internet search reveals that there are almost as […]
Every gardener is familiar with the extraordinary effectiveness of vines in a proper setting, but most of us become discouraged after bad luck. The daintier vines have a habit of developing some unknown illness and dying back unexpectedly, while those which thrive usually do too good a job of it. Many a porch has collapsed under the weight of a […]