I have good news. Free plants are all around you, ready for the taking. All you need to do is divide them. To divide a plant means to dig it […]
Articles on Flower Gardening
Fall is the Start of Next Year’s Gardening Season
Fall is an exciting time to be in the garden. Yes, it is the end of the current growing season but it’s the start of next year’s garden as well. […]
Shopping for Healthy Plants
Spring fever will strike at any moment. Are you ready for it? You can be if you follow a few simple guidelines as you head out to the nursery for […]
Annuals
We frequently hear the terms “annuals” and “perennials” in reference to gardening, and particularly flower gardening. These terms refer to the lifespan of the plant. Annuals complete their entire lifecycle […]
Growing French Hydrangeas
Walk into a garden with a hydrangea in bloom and your attention will be captured immediately. The big, bold, colorful blooms of Hydrangea macrophylla (literally, Bigleaf hydrangea) make a statement that […]
Growing Roses May be Easier than you Think
Over the last several weeks, as I’ve toured several gardens around the country, I’m reminded that in spite of the beauty of roses in a garden, they are one of […]
Types of Perennials
Here is a questions I fielded recently: I finally know what a perennial is, but now I’m hearing terms like ‘Herbaceous” and “Woody” perennials. Now I’m starting to get […]
Turning Poinsettias Red Again
Restoring a healthy green Poinsettia plant from last year back to its original red color is no problem if you follow a few simple rules. Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) need total […]
Forcing bulbs indoors
Forcing bulbs indoors is a fun and satisfying winter project. However, many bulbs require a chilling period in order to root; usually between 12-15 weeks. Then you’d need an additional […]
Annuals and Perennials Defined
When I go to a nursery or garden center, what always draws me in is the sea of beautiful flowers, calling my name from the parking lot. Most of what […]
Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac; Three Plants you Never want to Grow
Rhododendron, Philodendron, Toxicodendron; I’ll gladly take the first two, but something about that last one sounds a bit ominous, don’t you think? That’s because Toxicodendron is the plant genus to […]
Deadheading
Midsummer is often a time in the garden where annual flowerbeds start to look a bit tired. That is unless you take the time to deadhead your plants. Deadheading is […]
Store-bought Soil Types, What’s the difference?
Every time I go to the garden center or nursery, I’m amazed at the number of soil products available. There are bags for seeding, bags for potting, bags for containers, […]
Tips for Buying Annuals
The allure of those beautiful annuals calling our name as we drive by the nursery, or pull into the home improvement store can be too much. We probably didn’t even […]
Butterfly Habitat Essentials
In the warm summer months it’s easy to tell the gardens that are the serious butterfly attractors. Where butterflies abound, it’s usually not by chance. They’re attracted by specific elements, […]
Perennials in the Landscape
Wasn’t it Anita Bryant who said, “A day without orange juice is like a day without sunshine”? Is anyone else old enough to remember that one? Well, this is the […]
Add Color and Fragrance with Lilies
You’ve eaten all the eggs and chocolate bunnies you can handle and the only thing left is that Easter Lily you received as a gift. You begin to wonder, “Now […]
Starting Plants from Seed Adds to the Pleasure
Starting flowers and vegetables from seed is a great activity, especially when you just can’t wait any longer to get your hands dirty before spring. It’s an inexpensive project, lots […]
Community Gardening Offers Many Benefits
I find gardening to be the ideal activity to pass the hours away, completely lost in the solitude and pleasure of time alone—just me and my plants. Honestly, I revere […]
SunPatiens-Dallas Arboretum Trial Program
By Jimmy Turner, Director of Horticulture Research, Dallas Arboretum If you have ever read any of my writing, you know I’m critical of what “northern” test sites, plant tags and […]
Amaryllis and Christmas Cactus: Coaxing Repeat Performances
The robust, colorful blooms of an amaryllis or a Christmas cactus, dripping with red, pink, salmon or white blossoms, enhance the holiday season with cheer and beauty. With appropriate care, […]
