Everyone loves a peony until it’s 30ºF outside and the wind is biting. Suddenly, the joy of gardening evaporates faster than your breath in the wind. Do it anyway! Let’s get these chores finished so we can both go back inside for coffee. A Peony for My Thoughts? Actually, a lot of pennies, because if…
January turns mild-mannered homeowners into hedge-trimming zealots, yet tidiness is a trap that leaves your perennials shivering and exposed. You finally have a hall pass to stay inside and drink coffee while the yard takes care of itself. Fulfill this New Year’s resolution some other time. The Logic Behind Leafing Them Alone Hollow stalks provide…
Ignore Susan next door staring at your mismatched gardening outfit while you assault your shrubs. Your February garden may look like a slow-motion documentary about beige, but your favorite blossoms are busy beneath the surface as winter loosens its grip. They can’t wait to bounce back. And Susan doesn’t know that. Surprise her. Flowers That…
Do you dream of a perfectly sized, sweet bumper fruit crop next summer? That dream begins now. With leaves gone, the structural truth is exposed, revealing branches that steal sunlight. Postpone the gym membership! Your real New Year’s resolution starts in December as you branch out and spread the holiday shear across your dormant orchard….
How did a tiny flower from the Usambara Mountains manage to win the countless hearts (and pots) across the globe? Because it is a queen. A bit spoiled, perhaps, and undeniably demanding, but what true tropical celebrity isn’t? Winter arrives, and Violet is ready to defy the weather (g)ods. Want Saintpaulia to show you what…
Roses were my first love in the garden. Sure, they’re a bit cliché and you see them everywhere, but that’s exactly why they’re so irresistible. If your bushes never make it through winter the way you hope, your cold-season maintenance routine is probably the missing piece. Today, I’ll show you how to mulch, prune, and…