Fine Gardening – Issue 213
-
Reaching New Gardening Heights | Letter from the Editor
“Can bees even fly that high?” This was a comment made by one of our editors during a planning session for this issue of Fine Gardening. She was referring to…
-
Learn to Spot and Treat Summer Plant Diseases
Gardeners are observant, and when a favorite plant is struggling, we tend to take notice. Knowing how to respond, however, is another matter entirely. Some folks head to the garden…
-
4 Ways to Get More Compost
My grandmother taught me that you cannot just take from a garden; you must always give back and care for the soil. This is a lesson I apply to any…
-
Unique Plants to Fill the Native Niche in Your Garden
Is there something missing in your garden? There's a native plant for that!
-
7 Tough Pollinator Plants That Thrive in Punishing Conditions
These seven tough pollinator plants can take wind, heat, full sun, and extremely well-drained soil without much supplemental water. In An Urban Rooftop Garden for Pollinators, Hayden Regina writes: Standouts…
-
What Are the Differences Between Synthetic and Organic Pest and Disease Products?
How you manage garden pests and diseases is a personal choice, and there are many management philosophies. Two of the most common methodologies are integrated pest management (IPM) and organic…
-
Purple Roscoea Will Bring a Touch of the Exotic to Your Garden
We love plants—nearly all of them, truth be told—but it is without the slightest bit of hyperbole when we say that Roscoea is one of our favorite genera. Part of…
-
‘Blue Glimmer’ Sea Holly Adds a Sparkle to the Garden
Like many people, I periodically enjoy scrolling through social media to admire gardens. It’s a wonderful way to get a quick dose of beauty and to discover new plants. During…
-
‘Traveler’ Hemlock Is Resistant to Wooly Adelgid
If you’ve been heartbroken by the loss of a hemlock tree (Tsuga spp. and cvs., Zones 3–8) to woolly adelgid, you’re not alone. Researchers at the U.S. National Arboretum have…
-
How to Treat Verticillium Wilt
On your morning commute this spring, did you notice a magnolia tree (Magnolia spp. and cvs., Zones 3–9) that only had the left half of its canopy flush out? Did…
-
How to Choose a Garden Color Palette
Because color is so personal, it’s often one of the easiest design elements to nail down; people immediately know which colors they like and dislike. However, when choosing your garden…
-
9 of the Most Beautiful Berry-Producing Plants to Feed the Birds
Flowers are usually the first things that grab our attention when we are selecting plants to add to our landscapes. However, most plants only flower for a short period of…
-
Pollinator Plants for Your Region
As digital content editor Christine Alexander explains, pollinators play a vital role in our ecosystem and we should all be doing our part to support their populations: "Pollinators play an…
-
Plants That Are Easy to Grow Even in Challenging Conditions
I am often asked to recommend plants for problematic garden areas during my call-in radio program or after public-speaking engagements. As a result, over the years I have developed a…
-
Planting Plan for a Landscape with Challenging Conditions
Living and working in northwestern Oregon, garden designer Wesley Younie is no stranger to dealing with challenging environments. When presented with this garden’s elevation changes, drainage management, and extreme climate…
-
3 Gorgeous Planting Plans for a Late-Summer Show
There's a reason they call these the dog days of summer. Much like our overworked air conditioners, our gardens are now looking rather exhausted. Soaring temps might be good for…
-
How to Help Birds Survive in Winter
Our gardens can be valuable habitats for birds, providing nutritious food, nesting sites, and life-saving shelter, especially during the coldest months when overwintering birds are challenged. If we are mindful…
-
A Guide to Growing Reed Grasses: Best-Performing Varieties and Care
As native grasses such as little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium and cvs., Zones 3–9) and prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis and cvs., Zones 3–9) increasingly gain traction in gardens, exotics such as…
-
Growing Peace Lilies: Care and Unique Cultivars
Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum spp. and cvs., Zones 11–12) are evergreen perennials native to much of Central America and Southeast Asia. But their glossy leaves and tan, spiky flowers surrounded by…
-
An Urban Rooftop Garden for Pollinators
Each morning my partner, Steve, and I head up to our rooftop to greet the bees as they begin their days’ work. After all, time is honey. While I sometimes…
-
Tips on Cleaning a Water Feature, Defending Plants From Hungry Rabbits, and More
Winning Tip: I’m gonna wash that algae right outa my water feature A quick way to clean the algae out of a garden water feature after a long, dark, and…
-
A Landscape Plan for a Challenging Area and Conditions
Despite our best efforts, we humans can’t do it all. Life in the 21st century often moves at a busy pace and is jam-packed with responsibilities and wonderfully abundant ways…
Fine Gardening Magazine
