LANDSCAPING WITH AWARD-WINNING WATER-WISE SHRUBS

Natalie Carmoli, Proven Winners® ColorChoice®

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor map published by the National Drought Mitigation Center, most states, from the Midwest to the West, will continue to experience severe to extreme drought conditions with no end in sight. This could be bad news for many gardens and landscapes.

REVITALIZING YOUR ROSES: THE ART OF DEADHEADING

Heirloom Roses

Nurturing roses requires attention to detail, and deadheading is an easy practice that can make a world of difference. By simply removing spent or withered blooms, you can encourage a profusion of new flowers, breathing life into your rose garden.

5 FALL GARDENING TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SPRING BLOOM

Power Planter

The transition from summer to fall does not mean the end of the gardening season. Thanks to cooler temperatures, it’s an excellent time to plant hydrangeas, bulbs, and other flowering shrubs and trees. Here are five fall gardening tips for what, when, and how to plant this autumn.

MINT

Therese Ciesinski, GardenSMART

Ah, mint. Brush by one in the garden on a hot, sunny afternoon, and inhale deeply. That invigorating herbal scent is the essence of summer. Every garden needs a mint. And every garden can have one, because mint is so easy to grow.

TOP 10 MOST COLORFUL HEUCHERAS FOR INSTANT IMPACT

Monrovia Nursery Company

Gardeners across the country are embracing Heuchera as a favorite addition to their gardens and containers. These easy-to-grow perennials boast remarkable adaptability, making them an ideal choice for various garden settings. Vibrant varieties are a perfect fit for gardeners seeking low-maintenance plants that add instant color to their garden beds and containers.

CREATING A WATER-WISE GARDEN

Ashleigh Smith, True Leaf Market

With several years of drought leaving people with dry lawns and reduced harvests, water-wise gardening has become a hot topic. However, it is often misunderstood. Water-wise gardening does not mean covering landscapes in rock or sagebrush. Water-wise gardening is a combination of practices that minimize water loss and demand from a landscape. 

WINDOW BOXES ADD FLAIR TO YOUR HOME’S EXTERIOR 

Joe Rabione, Belgard

Does your home’s exterior need a refresh? Incorporating more plants and greenery is a great way to boost curb appeal. One simple way to add more plants is to install window boxes around your home. With a variety of options available, you can choose the one that best suits your style and installation abilities.

NO MORE MOWING AND OTHER BENEFITS OF REPLACING LAWNS

Park Seed

In recent years, there has been a growing movement to replace traditional lawns with more water-wise and low-maintenance alternatives. These can provide the same benefits, while using a fraction of the water. Let’s discuss the merits of replacing a traditional lawn with water-wise grass alternatives.

FIVE HEAT-LOVING POWERHOUSES TO SUPPORT LATE SUMMER POLLINATORS

Heather Blackmore, Proven Winners

By the time August rolls in, some plants’ best days are long gone, which means your pollinators could be too. With several months left in the growing season and plenty of pollinators still to please, your garden needs heat-loving plants that can go the distance. Meet these five flowering powerhouses that shine in late summer.

HUMMINGBIRDS PREPARE TO HEAD SOUTH IN LATE SUMMER

Wild Birds Unlimited

Beginning in August, millions of hummingbirds will travel to Mexico and Central America as part of an instinctive migration pattern. For many, this trip is a non-stop flight that takes approximately 18–22 hours and covers 500 to 600 miles. Bird enthusiasts can expect to see waves of hummingbirds visiting their feeders during this time.

THREE SPECTACULAR PERENNIALS!

Dan Heims, Terra Nova Nurseries

The powers that be asked Dan to pick three. “Three of the best!” they cried. Colorado State University has one of the best perennial trial gardens in the country. Every year they select a plant or two that is “Too good to hold back.” In other words, they choose to skip the three year trial to laud a spectacular plant. Terra Nova is proud to have won this laurel several times. Today’s selections are Dan’s.

5 FAVORITE POTHOS VARIETIES

Justin Hancock, Costa Farms

These fresh and fun houseplants are perfect for beginners and plant collectors alike! Pothos has almost universal appeal because it’s so easy to grow. It’s also decidedly versatile. You can grow it trailing from a hanging basket, horizontal along a mantle, or let it climb. 

THE 10 MOST COMMON TOMATO PLANT PROBLEMS

GrowJoy

Tomatoes are the most widely grown vegetable in home gardens. Thriving in warmth, tomatoes are happy both in garden plots and in pots. But what happens when you run into tomato plant problems? Arm yourself by learning about the most common problems (and the solutions).

AIR-DRYING HERBS

Therese Ciesinski, GardenSMART

We all enjoy growing fresh herbs to use in summertime meals and drinks. Another flavorful–and economical– benefit is how easily they dry for use in fall and winter cooking. Late summer is the time to start drying them.

VINING TOMATO ON TRELLIS

Pamela Crawford

I planted this tomato in July with temperatures usually above 90 degrees each day. Most tomatoes stop setting fruit at these high temperatures, but ‘Heatwave’ continues to bear fruit until temperatures hit the 100-degree mark. ‘Heatwave’ is a vining tomato that needs a support to grow well. Learn more...

SUMMER BOUQUETS FROM THE GARDEN

Melinda Myers

Make every day and summer gatherings special with the help of garden-fresh flower arrangements. You are sure to generate smiles from family members and guests when including fresh flowers on the dinner table and other spaces in your home. Try these tips for creating vibrant and long-lasting bouquets.

GARDENS CATS ARE GUARDIANS, AMBASSADORS AT GIBBS GARDENS

Barbara Schneider, Gibbs Gardens

Every garden needs a garden cat. Just ask Jim Gibbs, owner, designer, and developer of Gibbs Gardens. “Cats help keep down moles, voles, and other pests. They save treasured garden plants from becoming some critter’s dinner,” said Gibbs. Click for more...

THE ART OF GROWING UP: THE VINES HAVE IT

Home Garden Seed Association

They shimmy up poles and curlicue around strings. They twist and turn. Go away for a week and come back to a glorious, melon-laden trellis, a wall of heavenly blue—or a pole bean gone wild! Want vertical interest? Color? Elegance? Whimsy? The vines have it! 

DIVIDING IRISES

Therese Ciesinski, GardenSMART

Mid- to late summer is the time to divide irises. Irises should be divided every three to five years, or when flowering decreases or the clumps start crowding each other. Dividing and replanting at least six weeks before the first frost gives the plants time to put down new roots before winter.

HOW DID THAT POISON IVY GET IN MY GARDEN?

Dan Boelman, Zanfel Laboratories

Poison ivy is a woody shrub or vine (ground vine or climbing vine) that sometimes seems to appear, almost magically, in our yards and gardens. Poison ivy seeds are spread almost exclusively by birds.

NASTY BLACK CRACK ON THE BOTTOM OF TOMATOES

One of the biggest problems with tomatoes is that nasty black crack that sometimes appears on the bottom.That's blossom end rot and it's caused by a calcium deficiency. Watch the video...

A COMMUNITY GARDEN DESIGNED WITH SUSTAINABILITY IN MIND

With each successive generation kids are becoming more detached from where their food comes from. In this episode we look at a program that's getting kids and adults alike back in the garden. Learn more...