Fine Gardening – Issue 219
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All Gardens Have Teachable Moments | Letter from the Editor
Garden shows are crowded. That’s what I remember most about the first time I met Susan Calhoun. It was nearly 18 years ago at the Northwest Flower and Garden Festival…
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How to Divide Large Overgrown Ornamental Grasses
Happy ornamental grasses need to be divided every three to four years. Smaller species (those less than 2 feet wide or so) are easy to cut in half with a…
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Build a Four-Season, Grass-Forward Garden: Plant IDs
Susan Calhoun’s garden in Poulsbo, Washington started out as an ugly patch of lawn that stretched along a property line. It was close to the shoreline and extremely close to…
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The Best Ornamental Grasses for Every Season
There are countless ornamental grasses to choose from, so narrowing down a list of my favorites is tough. However, the following assortment—categorized by their best season of interest—is a good…
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The Best Tropical Plants to Add Jungle Vibes to Your Garden
There’s nothing quite like the summery and exotic look that tropical plants give your garden. Characterized by large, colorful, wide leaves and vibrant flowers, these plants can push a design…
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Building a Rock Garden 101
Rock gardens are ideally suited for experimentation. The pockets and crevices between rocks are like a horticultural laboratory, providing microclimates where specialized plants produce a kaleidoscope of interest throughout the…
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Rock Gardening Basics with Panayoti Kelaidis
Panayoti Kelaidis is the senior curator and director of outreach at Denver Botanic Gardens , a founding member and collaborator with the Plant Select plant introduction program, and an active…
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Great Rock Garden Plants for Beginners
If you are just starting out, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the variety of rock-garden plants available. However, many classic rock-garden plants are available in choice garden centers…
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A Guide to Growing and Caring for Elephant's Ears
A little excitement may be the very thing that your garden is missing. Whether beautifying northern or southern landscapes, installing tropical glasshouse plantings, or creating blockbuster horticultural exhibitions, I have…
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How to Overwinter Elephant's Ears
If you live in a cold region, you might think it would be a waste of money to purchase a beautiful tropical plant only to discard it at the end…
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The Best Plants for Areas with Extreme Heat
From temperature extremes to shifting rainfall patterns, communities coast to coast are experiencing the increasing impacts of climate change. In many areas summers are hotter and drier, making gardeners more…
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How to Read and Use the AHS Heat Zone Map for Gardening
Most gardeners are familiar with the USDA plant hardiness zone map, which represents cold hardiness. But cold hardiness only indicates one aspect of a plant’s preferred conditions. Its ability to…
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Tips for Keeping Plants Alive Through a Heat Wave
The plants recommended in this article are very heat tolerant, but even the best-adapted plants need a little extra care when extreme heat strikes. Since heat can stress plants, and…
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Budget-Friendly Garden Hacks and Tips to Keep Things Organized
Winning tip: Handy garden tool tote Several years ago while shopping at a big-box store, I spotted this tote in the household-cleaning section. In addition to carrying cleaning supplies, it can…
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Mardi Gras Sneezeweed is a Native that has No Problem with Intense Heat or Drought
While traveling in England in July a few years ago—which happened to be during a scorching heat wave—I kept noticing one plant; it stood out proudly despite the steamy conditions.…
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Midnight Express® Eastern Redbud Is a Tree with Four-Season Appeal
Although redbuds usually get the most attention in spring when a plethora of magenta-pink blooms burst out of every stem before the leaves emerge, this new cultivar has more to…
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'White flame' is a Hardy Salvia with Serious Flower Power
In 2020, as part of the annual trials at the University of Tennessee Gardens in Jackson, we grew ‘White Flame’ salvia, which was sent to us as a sample plant.…
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Native Plants for Summer Interest in Your Region
Welcome to our curated collection celebrating the vibrant world of native plants that thrive in summer. As the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, our gardens transform into…
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Accessorizing the Landscape with Seasonal Containers
Howard Nemeroff began his career in horticulture as a sales manager for a commercial greenhouse. When it was time to break out and build a plant business for himself, his…
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What's Wrong with My Hydrangea? Learn to Recognize and Treat Common Diseases
Hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp. and cvs., Zones 3–9) are timeless favorites of gardeners everywhere, but these beloved shrubs are also favored by a wide variety of pathogens. Fortunately, there are many…
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Get Four-Season Interest Using Ornamental Grasses in the Landscape
"Ornamental grasses only look good in fall.” If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard this from my clients—or even fellow garden designers—I’d be able to retire. Even…
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How to Create an Urban Oasis with Containers: Expert Tips and Ideas
For those of us who garden in small spaces, container gardening strikes an ideal balance between structure and flexibility. Potted plants can be rearranged as often as necessary, which makes…
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The Best Gardening Gloves for Every Task
Garden gloves for dexterity in everyday tasks Tested by Jason Reeves I like the feel of soil and plants on my bare skin, so I have never been one to…
Fine Gardening Magazine
