Also known as Fraser (or Fraser’s) photinia or red top photinia, its leaves start off red, then turn a deep green over a period of several weeks. It is prized as an ornamental hedge shrub in southern regions of the United States. Hardy in Zones 7-9, it is a vigorous grower that can tolerate just about any kind of soil as long as it is well-draining. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....
And every time I do pluck a leaf from my tree to toss in a recipe, I think to myself, “I wish I had more of these in my garden.” I bought a second tree, but I’ll admit it, I still wanted more. I got greedy for bays galore, but they’re not cheap, since producing healthy plants that are ready for transplanting is a labor-intensive process. That’s when I decided to propagate more of my own bay trees from cuttings....
If you like bright colors, they’ve got that covered. Or if you prefer pastels, snapdragons can bring it. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Bees – especially bumblebees – like them too, so you can check “attracts pollinators” off your list. If you’re already growing some, or a friend has them growing in the garden, you don’t need to head to the nursery to get more....
For many of us, growing season opens with a long-awaited visit to a local garden center, to elbow our way through the crowd to a seasonal array of peppers and tomatoes, basil and parsley, impatiens and marigolds. This is where we stock up on annual plants that will provide us with a season’s worth of blossoms and bounty. This year, why not take a different approach? We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....
There are several things that can cause this, and one of the most serious is stem end blight. This fungal disease is caused by Botryosphaeria ribis (sometimes called B. dothidea) and is spread by insects feeding on your trees. Unless you leap into action, this will not end well. And it still may not end well due to the severity of this disease. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....
Good news! They can speak! Unfortunately, they only speak plant and most of us aren’t fluent… When the foliage on your snake plant starts to curl, it is trying to tell you that something is wrong. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. In this guide, we’ll interpret the message when those leaves start to curl, and translate it so proactive gardeners can make the necessary fixes....
Just because it’s turned crisp and cool outside doesn’t mean you need to stop enjoying fresh garden greens. While it is true that many annual crops don’t do well in freezing conditions, there are several cold-hardy greens that can be grown well into those chilly winter months, and even last until spring in more mild climates. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....
These classy perennials might hold multi-season interest, but it’s often their companions that deserve the accolades. Every partner the hellebore has in the garden is a stud after all, let’s be honest. Although a mass planting of hellebores can be stunning, they’re almost always at their best when planted with some friends in the garden. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....
Generally speaking, the broadest definition of a weed is something that’s growing someplace where you don’t want it. You can recognize this type of plant after you pull it because it often either won’t come out without major work, or it breaks off easily and leaves its roots intact. If you pull something that you think might be a weed and it comes out easily, roots and all, you probably spent a small fortune on it....
It’s the unexpected surprise and joy upon spotting those splashes of intense and wild color that feeds this affection. With few exceptions, winter pansies are numero uno on my spring flowers list. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Be sure to check out our guide to growing pansies for complete cultivation instructions, but here I’ll share my tips for growing V....
Of course not! And there’s no better reward for the work involved in planting and growing this tasty melon. Maybe your melons are looking more and more mature every day, and you’re not sure when to harvest them. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Here’s what I’ll cover: When to Harvest Cantaloupe This sun-loving fruit takes about 65-90 days from germination to reach maturity – depending on the variety – and when you consider the size and complexity of a melon, that’s impressive....
Well, there’s no better way to do it than with season extension! Season extension may sound like a fancy term. But all it really consists of is using certain techniques, hacks, and tips to make your growing season last longer than what nature’s parameters would typically allow. It’s All About Structure To have the biggest impact on maximizing your season, most gardeners – and even vegetable farmers in their businesses – turn to the help of certain structures....
So, let me tell about all those times when I bought a cheap one off the shelf at my local big box garden center. When, about the third time I turned it on, it split and soaked me, or started to leak like a sieve when I was in the midst of a big project, so I had to take my muddy, wet, dirty self back to the garden center to buy a new one....
I love fall decor. I think about decorating the table with an Instagram-worthy rustic centerpiece of flickering candles, and festooning the deck with my pumpkin harvest, lit up with carefully placed fairy lights. Carved jack-o’-lanterns and mulled wine, bronze-gold tones adorning my porch, and bringing in the last of the summer harvest – I love autumn! We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....
You can always tell when someone close to you has recently enjoyed fresh garlic. And while some may find that scent a bit overpowering, I happen to love the smell of this pungent bulb. And if you think it doesn’t smell when it’s growing in the ground, think again. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....
They prefer organically rich, well-drained soil and full sun to part shade locations. Bloom times vary by species. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. In our guide to growing clematis, we discuss all you need to know to grow these plants at home. This article suggests nine reasons why foliage may turn yellow to guide you in taking appropriate actions in your garden....
Of course, you immediately rush into action and try to discover what’s wrong. You notice that chunks are missing out of your peace lily plant (Spathiphyllum spp.). Uhoh. Is this truly a crisis? We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Even so, call your vet immediately! Your kitty is very uncomfortable, but she should survive the ordeal....
Meat bone waste from slaughterhouses undergoes a steaming process before being pulverized into granules or powder for use as a soil amendment. Rich in phosphorus (P), it also contains calcium and a trace of nitrogen. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Soil Sense Fertilizers occupy a lot of shelf space in garden centers....
Vitamins and minerals are found in all of them. But which ones are the best sources of vitamin E? This essential nutrient serves many functions in our bodies. Luckily, you can easily boost your daily dose by growing plant-based sources in your own backyard, and enjoying the harvest. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....
Maybe you’re nervous, too. How, exactly, does one prune a pear tree? We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. In this article, we’ll point out exactly why pruning Pyrus trees is important, and walk you through the steps you need to take. Here’s everything we’ll cover: Why Should You Trim Pear Trees? If you’re wondering why you should bother to cut branches off your pear, you’re not alone....
