Fine Gardening – Issue 200
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FG Staff Celebrate 200th Issue | Letter from the Editor
When you start a new job, there’s a lot to think about. Will you understand the computer system? Will you get along with your co-workers? Will you be able to…
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This Handy Tool Makes Garden Maintenance a Snap
By far and away, the 20-gallon recycled tubtrug from Gardener’s Supply is one of my favorite garden tools. I have owned three of these heavy-duty tubtrugs for decades. They have…
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Do Your Plants Have Sticky Leaves? Honeydew Might Be the Problem
Most gardeners are familiar with the sugary excretion produced by some sap-feeding insects known as “honeydew.” Many might even know about the fascinating relationship between honeydew-producing aphids, mealybugs, or scale…
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Grow Native Milkweeds to Bring Pollinators to Your Garden
Monarch butterflies rely on milkweed (Asclepias spp. and cvs., Zones 3–9) as their primary host plant. As the monarchs’ western migration teeters on vanishing completely within years and the eastern…
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Growing Alocasia Indoors
While you may be familiar with the eye-catching foliage of alocasias (Alocasia spp. and cvs., Zones 9–11) in your annual garden, this versatile genus is making big waves all year…
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To Weed Your Garden Faster, Try This Simple Tool
Born in the UK, the Speedweeder is a surprisingly handy tool. It doesn’t look like much, but it is surprisingly versatile. The simple shape of the heavy-duty wire hook with…
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An English Country Garden in Summer
During his time designing and maintaining this private English country garden, Istvan Dudas has wholeheartedly embraced the cottage garden style. Being a creative plantsman, however, he still leaves room for…
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A Garden Design for Privacy and All-Year Interest
Seven years ago a couple in Carroll, Iowa, built the backyard of their dreams—or so they thought. It included an outdoor kitchen, a fireplace, a patio, and a hot tub.…
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Perennial Rebloomers for Your Region
Dan Robarts says in his article on reblooming perennials, “The criteria I generally adhere to for earning a spot in the beds at my home or botanical garden workplace center…
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A Trouble-Free Black-Eyed Susan
When I think of black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia spp. and cvs., Zones 3–9), my mind conjures up images of the gold rush of the late 1800s, with covered wagons racing across…
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This Lily Has Colorful Summer Blooms Full of Fragrance
If a flower were to bloom only once a year, shouldn’t it be unique, captivating, and groundbreaking in many ways? I would like to introduce you to an exciting breakthrough…
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Add Tropical Flair to Your Landscape With 'Pharaoh's Mask' Colocasia
Elephant’s ear is known for its big, bold foliage. Newer cultivars tend to focus on darker colors or splashy patterns to grab attention. ‘Pharaoh’s Mask’ doesn’t need any of that…
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How to Prune Garden Perennials in Summer
It’s midsummer, and you miss that fresh look of your perennial borders. What happened to the spring green foliage and neat habit of your plants? Some plants are sprawling, flopping,…
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Can I Cut This Back?
If you have never cut back a perennial during the growing season, it can be a little scary to take the pruners to it. Here is the timing for some…
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These Shears Are an Essential for Tidying Your Garden
My medium-duty bonsai thinning shears from Joshua Roth (model #133) are the best all-around snipping shears I’ve ever used and might be the most-loved and most-used gardening tool that I…
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A Garden Design with Lots of Hardscape and Plants – Plant IDs
My plant selection followed the same principles I used in selecting my hardscape materials, with an emphasis on sculptural habits and interesting textures. As a member of the American Conifer…
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10 Tasty Zucchini Varieties for Your Vegetable Garden
Summer squash is one of my favorite home garden crops because they are easy to grow, and one planting will last an entire season in most locales. The types stocked…
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Solutions for Summer Squash Pests and Diseases
Summer squash are relatively easy to grow, but there are several insect pests and diseases that can afflict the plants. Initial control of the following pests, especially cucumber beetles, is…
Featured Articles
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A Garden Design With Lots of Hardscape and Plants
Most gardeners get into gardening because they collect plants. While I am thoroughly addicted to plants—I dream about them, buy them, and plant them—I am also addicted to stone and…
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8 Ways to Create Crowd-Pleasing Containers
Containers open up a world of design possibilities for apartment dwellers, gardeners with limited time or space, and anyone who wants to add an instant focal point to their daily…
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Reliably Reblooming Perennial Plants
There are many things to consider when selecting a herbaceous perennial plant for the garden. Some slots are for sentimental plantings, like a piece of Grandma’s peony from the family…
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Garden Advice for Summer
Winning Tip: Alternative to hog wire Hog wire has become a popular fencing material for home gardeners, but I’ve found an alternative that’s better on several counts. Remesh—which is used…
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Plants with Four-Season Interest
Conifers don't have to be the only plants you rely on for year-round interest in your garden. The following are a few plants that look great in every season thanks…
Articles
Fine Gardening Magazine
