Almost all of us will be familiar with blueberries, but fewer people are probably aware of the delights of blackcurrants, whether it's growing them or eating them. It's largely because blackcurrant cultivation was banned in most US states during the 20th century due to a fungus that had been lurking in the bushes and damaging […]
With the pots and pruners and weeders and spades hauled down to the basement, the question arises: Now or later? Cleaning, that is. Do I clean this stuff while I’m putting it away for the winter, or just jumble it all into the tool room and promise myself I’ll get around to the washing and […]
With winter now in full swing, it's only natural for gardeners to worry about the effect that frost will have on the plants and wildlife in their green space. Cold weather – and particularly frost – can lead to lots of damage to plants, as it causes the water in their cells to freeze up, […]
Don't let the cold, wet, dreary weather stand in the way of your gardening – with a bit of imagination, you'll be able to find plenty to keep you occupied during the winter months. One chore that's well worth completing when the conditions are less than ideal is checking up on your garden sundries. Every […]
While the onset of the harsh winter season is typically associated with different kinds of garden activity from new growths, there are still quite a few plants that need to be planted at this time of year. Bare-root plants are just one example of this – provided the garden is not situated in a part […]
Rambling roses are a beautiful plant that could look great allowed to grow over a greenhouse or similar garden construction. They usually flower with great freedom just once a year – and this sees them produce large sprays of small to medium-sized flowers. Their stems are very strong and can grow very tall from the […]
Cordyline is a genus of around 15 different species of woody flowering plants from the Asparagaceae family. Their name is Greek in origin, having its etymology in the word kordyle. This translates as club – and the plant is named in reference to the enlarged rhizomes that it grows underground. They are native to the […]
Gardens are clearly starting to fade to prepare for winter at this time, but there are still a few plants that are enjoying something of a last hurrah. Nerine and Camellia are just two of these. Nerine is native to South Africa – and it is the name of the genus that includes about 30 […]
Weather patterns that swing between drought and deluge are becoming more common over much of the U.S. So what’s a home gardener to do? You might think about capturing some of what here in the Pacific Northwest we call “liquid sunshine.” This month we check out one Oregon homeowners’ system that combines practicality with a […]
The leaves that have been swirling to the ground these last few weeks may be trash to some, but they are treasure to me. In our neighborhood, everybody but me rakes their leaves to the curb to be sucked up by giant vacuum vehicles and carted off to a commercial composting facility. I’m the crazy […]
With winter around the corner – and the harsh climate conditions that it typically brings with it – gardeners will need to start giving some serious thought to preparing for their plants. Whatever lies in store, protecting plants is important so as to ensure that they emerge unscathed and ready for the spring. Celebrated landscape […]
While the fall may mean that there is slightly less planting to do around the garden for green-fingered enthusiasts, that does not leave nothing to do at the colder time of the year. The season is not without charms of its own – and professional garden and landscape designer Dan Pearson has claimed that now […]
