Any gardener who has spent a hot, dry summer married to the hose knows how critical water is to plants – and to people and the planet, for that matter. That’s why this year’s Philadelphia Flower Show “Wonders of Water” theme is such a worthy, important one. It also happens to lend itself […]
The desert doesn’t come to mind first (or usually second, third or 10th) when you think of settings for beautiful plants. Most people probably think of fat, green, spiny barrel cactuses and tumbleweed, and that’s about it. I was never that enamored with the whole concept of desert plants either – that […]
Here’s a primer on how to get poinsettias to color back up for a repeat holiday show the next year.
Gardening is good for burning off calories, but I’ve found I have to lug compost for three solid hours to counteract the effect of a half of a piece of cherry pie.
One way I like to “shorten” winter is by getting out of the snow-laden North and spending at least a few weeks somewhere in the South where it’s green instead of white (or dreary brown). This coming winter, you’ll be able to join me on a 10-day escape to New Orleans and gardens […]
Now that winters aren’t always snow-covered from wire to wire like they so often used to be, I’m finding more people are interested in having their yard look good in this fourth season. You have a variety of tools at your disposal to add interest to the winter landscape, such as good structural […]
Gardeners are generally pretty easy-going, kinder-than-average people. But we’re also not immune to whining about life’s little “challenges” that can make this outdoor passion less than jubilant. From what I’ve seen and experienced in more than 35 years of gardening, here’s what I’d rank as the eight top things that annoy gardeners. […]
Hydroponics – growing plants by trickling nutrient-rich water over their exposed roots instead of in soil – is a hot technique lately. It’s gaining steam both among intrepid home gardeners (especially younger ones) and as a cutting-edge way to grow food in urban commercial settings. Although it’s trendy, hydroponics isn’t new. If you’ve ever been […]
So we were sailing along almost into mid-November with blooming annuals, ripening peppers and very pleasant 60- and 70-degree days. Then, wham! Instant winter. Crunchy ground. Forecasts of snow squalls and sleet. Friday night’s nosedive into record-setting, low-20s territory put a sudden and definite end to the growing season. Some areas had […]
After 18 years of yard brainstorming and more than 1,000 home-garden plans, I’m hanging up the measuring tape. This fall is my last for Garden House-Calls, a service I started in 1999 to help do-it-yourselfers with landscape ideas, trouble-shooting, plant suggestions and designs. I’ve found I’m getting a little old to crawl […]