tree - Page 3 of 4 - Fine Gardening

  • Man standing next to a potted tree on a hand truck, examining the label
    How-To

    How to Buy a Tree

    Trees are generally the priciest and most permanent plants gardeners will buy in their lifetime, so most of us want to ensure that the one we select at the nursery…

  • How-To

    Two Ways to Prune New Fruit Trees

    Pruning is an art and a science. And with fruit trees, it is essential for health and robust harvests. Mature fruit trees are pruned annually to maintain their size and…

  • Kitchen Gardening

    Double-Duty Edibles

    An edible garden can conjure up visions of overflowing vines of summer tomatoes, oodles of green beans, fresh basil—and lots of work. If your goal is to be eating from…

  • Article

    Designing with Conifers

      There are some good reasons (beyond disease resistance and low maintenance) why I decided to plant my 1-acre garden with more than 100 conifers. They have vibrant colors and…

  • Article

    Regional Picks: Uncommon & Unfussy Plants – Northwest

    Three-leaved bittercress Name: Cardamine trifolia USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8 Size: 4 to 6 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide Conditions: Light to dappled shade; well-drained soil…

  • Article

    Uncommon and Unfussy Plants

    The descriptions “rare” and “unusual” are too often synonymous with “delicate” and “fussy”—a warning to any gardener that a plant might take more effort than it’s worth. And yet, there…

  • How-To

    A Better Fix for Root-Bound Plants

    We’ve all experienced the disappointment of sliding a newly purchased tree or shrub out of its container only to find a tightly woven mosaic of circling roots. For years, experts…

  • Design

    Small Trees That Like Shade

    A tiny shady spot in need of year-round structure: This is a scenario that gives even the most seasoned gardener nightmares. But areas like this are in every landscape—whether it’s…

  • Article

    Regional Picks: Plant This, Not That– Southern Plains

    1. Overused: Smoke tree  Alternative: American smoke tree  Name: Cotinus coggygria and cvs.  Name: Cotinus obovatus American smoke tree  Name: Cotinus obovatus Zones: 4 to 8 Size: 30 feet tall and 25 feet wide…

  • Design

    Plants to Build a Bed Around

    Not every plant in a garden can take center stage. A landscape needs an assortment of trees, shrubs, and grasses that will fade into the background during the growing season…