Articles

The Prettiest Garden Lavenders

Hedge lavender in a patio garden
Sweeps of hedge lavender add color and fragrance to a patio garden.

Wands of fragrant purple blooms dance in the wind, feeding bees, and shining cheerfully on even the hottest summer days. These are the flowers of lavender, a plant beloved for its aroma and ability to grow well in tough Mediterranean climates. This aromatic evergreen perennial has been used in perfumes, poultices and potpourris for centuries, giving it high value in the herb garden. And, many diverse varieties exist, so there’s lavender to satisfy almost every gardener.
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Patio Peaches

Bonfire patio peach
Bonfire is the most popular patio peach with its maroon-purple leaves, small size, and sweet little peaches.

Do you want to grow your own peaches, but lack a place for a full-sized peach tree? This is not a problem, thanks to a slew of recently introduced peach tree varieties that mature at a shrubby 4- to 6-feet in height.  Ideal for containers, urban gardens, and patios, these dwarf peaches bring big possibilities to the small (or large) garden.  They’re available from a number of specialty growers, both in their natural shrubby form and as short-trunked, grafted mini-trees. Continue reading “Patio Peaches”

Flowers for Coastal Gardens

Rugosa rose bush by a coastal house and sea
Rugosa rose is one of the classic hardy garden plants for coastal gardening.

The phrase “coastal gardens” evokes a host of memorable images, billowing daisies flanking gray-shingled cottages, bright “dune roses” blooming against an ocean background, or pots of brilliant red geraniums on a wooden pier.  North America has an abundance of coastal areas that are home to a wide array of coastal gardens.
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Managing the Six Worst Garden Animal Pests

Hungry dear chewing on plant
Hungry deer will eat practically any garden plant, especially in scarce winters.

Gardeners beware, the enemy is among us.  Operating by stealth, they wait for opportunities to transform our gardens from points of pride to scenes of devastation.  They eat our cabbages and sweet corn, destroy our hostas, and root up our tulips.  They are ravenously hungry and untroubled by human scruples. Continue reading “Managing the Six Worst Garden Animal Pests”