There are two schools of thought on pruning Lenten rose, or Helleborus orientalis. One side says to prune off the old foliage to the very base just as the Hellebore is starting to flower. The bloom spikes start coming up in the center of the … [Continue reading]
Ever since a Buddleja gave me a six-month long sinus infection a couple years back, I've taken every possible opportunity to convince people to kill the darn things. After all, they're invasive in my county as well as in parts of Oregon and … [Continue reading]
I've been reading about this new trend of planting multiple trees in one hole, and my initial reaction was suspicion - overplanting goes against everything I know about tree health. But when I read about this technique from a few fruit tree dealers … [Continue reading]
One of my most popular posts has been a Hand Pruner Showdown in which I compared and contrasted Felcos, Coronas, and Bahcos. One of the first comments on that post was a Fiskars fan, saying essentially - "OMG! Try the Fiskars pruners - they're … [Continue reading]
Folks like the Lawn Reform Coalition have been keeping up the good work suggesting lower-care versions of lawn that require less in the way of water, gas-powered mowing, and unsustainable fertilizers. Recently they featured a post about a low-care … [Continue reading]
Even in winter, at a certain hour of the evening I feel drawn to the garden to check on things and putter about, snipping a few stems of chard and some herbs for dinner, watering this, weeding that. There's very little that could improve a peaceful … [Continue reading]
As we settle more deeply into winter, I've been really noticing the beauty of all the ferns in the landscapes I care for. They're low-care, often have great winter interest, and seem to go with just about every type of plant or style of … [Continue reading]
I'll start out with the depressing bit: Despite the fact that many gardeners have a relationship of convenience with Roundup, and an "it's not so bad" attitude about the harmful effects it has on the environment and on human health, scientists are … [Continue reading]
One of the best things about writing for this site is that occasionally, other gardeners will write in with their excellent garden tips. This was the case with Kathy Ormiston, a landscape designer and landscape gardener in the San Francisco Bay Area … [Continue reading]
This week, Jenny over at J. Petersen Garden Design blew me away with her DIY projects. First, she showed us how to create a cinderblock wall that doesn't suck. Cinderblocks can look so stark and industrial if not softened by plantings, paint, or … [Continue reading]
This sweet little groundcover looks simple and refined when not in bloom, like a larger-leaved, deeper-green version of Baby’s Tears. But once it comes into bloom, it is a serious showstopper, with red hairy bracts holding disproportionately large … [Continue reading]