All articles tagged with #perennials
Gardening expert Dave Epstein answers readers’ questions on tackling critters and selecting spring plants, noting mid-April is prime for planting perennials, trees and shrubs while avoiding warm-season crops. He highlights rabbit-resistant options like echinacea, goldenrod and New England asters, and suggests measures such as fencing around vegetable beds to deter critters, plus tips that support pollinators during the season.
The author describes transforming a sad lawn into a thriving native plant garden over three years, leading to increased butterfly activity and a deeper connection with neighbors, illustrating the rewarding process of gardening and ecological restoration.
August is an ideal time to take semi-ripe cuttings of popular shrubs and perennials like rosemary, lantana, potentilla, Ribes, lavender, forsythia, and sage, using proper techniques such as snipping below leaf nodes, stripping lower leaves, and using well-draining soil. Proper care and timing can help gardeners propagate new plants at home, saving money and expanding their garden.
The article highlights seven flowers—snapdragons, cosmos, celosia, zinnias, coneflowers, dahlias, and globe amaranth—that bloom repeatedly throughout summer, making them ideal for continuous cutting and creating vibrant garden bouquets.
This step-by-step guide provides tips for creating a beautiful summer border with perennials in a small garden, emphasizing easy-to-grow plants that attract beneficial insects. It includes advice on soil preparation, planting, maintenance, propagation through division and cuttings, and growing from seeds, offering a comprehensive approach to creating and maintaining a stunning display of flowers throughout the summer months.
Daylilies and hostas make a great pair in the garden due to their complementary features and similar soil and light requirements. Planting them together can create a stunning display with minimal maintenance. Both plants benefit from moist, well-draining soil and acidic conditions, and they can thrive in partial shade. While hostas require little maintenance and are pest-resistant, daylilies need regular watering and annual fertilization. By pairing these two plants, gardeners can enjoy beautiful blooms and lush foliage for years to come.
Lilyturf, also known as Liriope, is a colorful and low-maintenance ground cover option for lawns, offering dense mat-like growth and vibrant blooms in purple, pink, or white. It spreads well and can be divided to increase coverage, but the variety chosen should be considered carefully to avoid invasive growth. Lilyturf is tolerant of various conditions, making it a versatile and attractive option for landscaping, although it requires some maintenance and is susceptible to certain pests and diseases.