Fine Gardening – Issue 212
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Pruning Conundrums | Letter from the Editor
Well, it turns out that I’ve been pruning my hydrangeas wrong this whole time. Not my bigleafs (Hydrangea macrophylla)—I have only a couple of those left in my beds, since…
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A Step-by-Step Guide to Pruning Viburnums
Viburnums (Viburnum spp. and cvs., Zones 2–9) are a genus of approximately 150 woody shrubs prized for their delicate, early-season flowers and bright fall fruit. Some, like smooth witherod (V.…
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Basic Pruning Terms and Tools
Assemble a Pruning Tool Kit Having the right equipment will help to ensure pruning success. Here are the basic tools to get the job done right. Tools for your kit…
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Which Smooth Hydrangeas Are Best for Pollinators? Mophead or Lacecap?
Wild hydrangea inflorescences, technically called corymbs, are typically flat to dome-shaped clusters containing hundreds of individual flowers, some fertile, some sterile. The mix of sterile and fertile flowers determines the…
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The Best Native Hydrangeas: Plant Trial Results
Everyone loves hydrangeas, but nobody wants to see a year’s worth of blooms wiped out by a deep winter freeze or a badly timed pruning session. Fortunately, there are a…
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How to Grow and Care for Philodendrons
Philodendrons (Philodendron spp. and cvs., Zones 9–11) are some of the most popular and versatile plants grown indoors. Most of these fantastic houseplants grow very quickly, have beautiful foliage, and…
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Peak-Season Perennials for the South
While we would all ideally have gardens that look at their peak in every season, the reality is often far from that ideal. Very few of us have all the…
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Peak-Season Perennials for the Midwest
While we would all ideally have gardens that look at their peak in every season, the reality is often far from that ideal. Very few of us have all the…
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Peak-Season Perennials for the Northwest
While we would all ideally have gardens that look at their peak in every season, the reality is often far from that ideal. Very few of us have all the…
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Peak-Season Perennials for the Northeast
While we would all ideally have gardens that look at their peak in every season, the reality is often far from that ideal. Very few of us have all the…
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Peak-Season Perennials for Your Region
While we would all ideally have gardens that look at their peak in every season, the reality is often far from that ideal. Very few of us have all the…
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Water Smarter: Find the Best Watering Method for Your Situation
Besides impacting the volume of water needed, the types of plants you have and where they are sited will also determine which water delivery method is best. For example, the…
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A Guide to Garden Watering Systems and Strategies
The crisis in water availability continues to make international headlines and has always been a topic of discussion for farmers and gardeners alike. However, increasing and prolonged droughts, heat waves,…
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Smart Watering Tools the Garden Pros Use
There are a lot of watering gadgets, tools, and products out there. It’s always great to learn from another gardener’s experience, so we asked some gardening experts about their favorite…
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Peak-Season Perennials for the Northern Plains
While we would all ideally have gardens that look at their peak in every season, the reality is often far from that ideal. Very few of us have all the…
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Peak-Season Perennials for the Southern Plains
While we would all ideally have gardens that look at their peak in every season, the reality is often far from that ideal. Very few of us have all the…
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Peak-Season Perennials for the Southwest
While we would all ideally have gardens that look at their peak in every season, the reality is often far from that ideal. Very few of us have all the…
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A Stunning Modern Landscape Design for a Contemporary Home
This modern Seattle home was built on a bluff overlooking Puget Sound in Zone 8b. When I first took on the project, the steel-and-glass house stood on a dirt-and-gravel work…
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Textured Plants That Steal the Show
While color and form were important factors in choosing the plants, a mix of bold and fine textures makes the backbone of the design. Here are some of the most…
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Planting Plan for a Bold, Modern Garden
When Robin Parsons took on the job of designing this Zone 8b garden overlooking Puget Sound in Seattle, she had a challenge on her hands. The steel-and-glass home was situated…
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Enjoy Cheery Late-Summer Blooms from ‘Happy Days’ Sunflower
Adding a splash of sunflower sunshine is a whole lot easier with this dwarf hybrid. It is a perfect fit mixed into large borders or showcased in tight spaces. A…
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Gorgeous Drought-Tolerant Garden Plans and Ideas
We watch The Weather Channel a lot in my household. There’s even a family joke that my husband missed his calling by not becoming a meteorologist. Nearly every morning starts…
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Tips for Creating a Drought-Tolerant Landscape
Drought-tolerant landscapes come in all shapes and sizes. From a large, expansive bed that runs the entire length of a property line to a small nook that bakes all day…
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How to Identify a Drought-Tolerant Plant
Characteristics such as size, color, and texture can help you determine whether a plant might be a good candidate for a dry garden. There are exceptions to every rule, however,…
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A Better Way to Prune Smooth Hydrangeas
All of the hydrangeas in the native hydrangea plant trial done at Mt. Cuba Center bloom on new wood, which means that the flower buds develop when the shrub starts…
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Over-the-Top Tropical Container Ideas
It is one thing to create beautiful containers with your go-to plants, but why stop there? Bold textures, unusual forms, and unexpected colors can turn up the volume on any…
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How to Keep Tropical Plants Happy
Most tropical plants are pretty easygoing if they have their preferred levels of light and moisture. Following just a few key pointers will help you get the most out of…
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A Rose of Sharon That Doesn’t Produce Unwanted Seedlings
What comes to mind when you think of “old school” or “classic” plants? You might think of your grandmother’s bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla and cvs., Zones 5–9), common lilac (Syringa…
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Preventing and Fighting Webworms in the Garden
Fans of the 1998 remake of the movie The Parent Trap with Dennis Quaid and Lindsay Lohan probably remember this signature line: “Meredith, do you want the 411, the information,…
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A Versatile Silver Plant That Is a Unique Alternative to Dusty Miller
I finally made the trek last spring to search for annuals at a small, out-of-the-way greenhouse in upstate New York that I had heard about for years but had never…
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Tough Garden Hoses That Will Last
For a traditional hose, try this flexible workhorse Tested by Susan Calhoun If you are a gardener, you have a hose. If you’ve been gardening for a while, you might…
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The Best Hot Pepper Varieties to Grow
Who doesn’t want a little more spice in their life? When it comes to growing edibles, hot peppers are among the easiest and most savory options to put on the…
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Tips for Growing Hot Peppers
Peppers are native to the tropics, which explains why they thrive in warm weather. As tempting as it is to get a jump-start on the gardening season, do not plant…
Fine Gardening Magazine
