Featured Articles

  • Dahlias Don’t Ask Much | Letter from the Editor

    Sometimes I don’t notice things until someone points them out. Then I can’t stop noticing. I used to love Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising” until a friend mentioned that…

  • Battery Power 101

    The biggest disruption to a garden’s peace and serenity typically is the exhaust-laden cacophony of power equipment. Happily, today’s new battery-powered outdoor power equipment offers a quieter, more convenient, more…

  • A True Blue Beauty for Shade

    It’s a bit of a mouthful to pronounce, but this little charmer will soon have you calling it “Wulfy, my little Liebchen.” The genus Wulfenia is in the Plantaginaceae family,…

  • Fall Fragrance From a Little-Known Shrub

    I wouldn’t say I’m a full-on curmudgeon. However, a plant with spikes that can hold its own against rowdy neighborhood kids will always pique my interest. Enter ‘Sasaba’ holly tea…

  • Indoor Foliage Plants with Pizzazz

    So you’ve seen the light on houseplants and you’re definitely on board. However, your house isn’t all that bright. In fact, it’s downright unilluminated as far as south-facing windows are…

  • Ideas to Spruce Up Your Shade

    Two of the ways gardens often come together are by trial and error and by chance. If you ask Barbara Weissman about the garden she and her husband, Fred, have…

  • Out-of-the-Ordinary Dahlias

    Dahlias are easy to grow whether you’re an experienced or beginning gardener, which is perhaps why they are universally loved. They come in so many different bloom styles and plant…

  • Pests and Diseases to Watch Out for in Dahlias

    As beautiful as they are, dahlias are not without their problems. Here are some issues that might plague your plants.   Dahlia mosaic virus Mosaic virus appears as yellow veining…

  • A Few Dahlia Quirks to Keep in Mind

    From the time you plant your dahlia tubers to the time they start to bloom can be more than three months. But they are worth the wait. Be sure to…

  • Texture Never Quits: Plant IDs

    The garden of Joann Currier and Sebastian Hamilton in North Carolina is a study in textures. At every turn you see another plant—be it a perennial, conifer, or even cactus—that…

  • Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Midwest

    See regional picks for tough pretty plants, and read the article by Julie Lane Gray for even more ideas. It’s important to define first what I mean by a “tough”…

  • Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Mountain West

    See regional picks for tough pretty plants, and read the article by Julie Lane Gray for even more ideas. It’s important to define first what I mean by a “tough”…

  • Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Northeast

    See regional picks for tough pretty plants, and read the article by Julie Lane Gray for even more ideas. It’s important to define first what I mean by a “tough”…

  • Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Northwest

    See regional picks for tough pretty plants, and read the article by Julie Lane Gray for even more ideas. It’s important to define first what I mean by a “tough”…

  • Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Southeast

    See regional picks for tough pretty plants, and read the article by Julie Lane Gray for even more ideas. It’s important to define first what I mean by a “tough”…

  • Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Southern Plains

    See regional picks for tough pretty plants, and read the article by Julie Lane Gray for even more ideas. It’s important to define first what I mean by a “tough”…

  • Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Southwest

    See regional picks for tough pretty plants, and read the article by Julie Lane Gray for even more ideas. It’s important to define first what I mean by a “tough”…

  • Learn How to Support Soil Life

    The vitality and resiliency of every garden depends on plants interacting with a vast array of insects, fungi, and microorganisms, especially those that make their homes in the soil. Through…

    Articles

  • Exciting Plant Selections to Add Softness in the Shade

    It’s great to have some suggestions of plants that can take a beating, but unless you pair them with ideal partners, your garden could still fall flat. Here are a…

  • Sturdy Spring Plant Options to Lean On

    With the addition of a couple of four-season evergreens and a few long-blooming perennials, these spring options could be just the ticket for a corner of the landscape that’s lacking…

  • fall veggie garden clean up

    End-of-Season Veggie Garden Tasks

    More gardeners these days see the value of holding off on fall cleanup in ornamental beds, choosing instead to leave stems and seed heads for winter beauty and for providing…

  • Bridge the Summer-to-Fall Gap With This Beauty

    If you’re searching for that perfect transitional plant from the purples of summer to the oranges of fall, look no further than this new perennial. ‘Bleeding Hearts’ looks nothing like…

  • Pretty Plants That Are Tougher Than They Look

    Next time you’re at Disneyland, study the plants. Their connection with the adjacent rides is simply astounding; the thistlelike Miss Wilmot’s Ghost (Eryngium giganteum, Zones 3–9) surrounding the Haunted House…

  • Summer Stalwarts to Carry Things Through to Season’s End

    Dwarf panicle hydrangeas and a few masses of some dependable perennials add instant interest to this collection of summer stunners. The water feature could be replaced by a piece of…

  • Texture Never Quits

    Texture is often referred to as the third element of garden design. We all tend to get overly focused on color and form, but texture is that hard-to-explain “little something…

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