Archive for the ‘Container garden’ Category

Fall Anemones

Japanese anemones (Anemone x hybrida) are popularly called “fall anemones”. These late summer-fall blooming perennials are long-lived and make fine additions to flower borders and open woodland areas (USDA hardiness zones 4 to 7). Many colorful varieties are available and their flowers are great additions to cut floral arrangements. Showy 2-4 inch wide flowers stand […]

Smart Water Use In The Summer Garden

When the heat of the summer settles in, water is in high demand. Here is some practices to implement when planting a water-wise garden, irrigating lawngrass, and better mulching practices to improve soil moisture levels: Lawn grass species vary in their water needs. Cool season grasses like fescues and bluegrasses are moderately drought tolerant, turn […]

12 Plants With Silver Foliage

Silver King Artemisia (Artemisia ludoviciana ‘Silver King’) is an aggressive form with bushy, upright patch of fragrant silvery foliage and loose sprays of grey flowers in midsummer. Prune back hard after flowering to rejuvenate foliage. Deer and drought resistant. (z 3-7). Silver Mound Artemisia (Artemisia schmidtiana ‘Silver Mound’) – soft feathery leaves grow into compact, […]

Elephant Ears In Motion

Elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta) and their aroid cousins have become commonplace in not only hot, humid southern gardens, as well in temperate landscapes. Gardeners grow them in large containers and overwinter them indoors in a non-freezing environ. Also, my neighbors in zone 6 blanket in-ground plantings with several inches of loosely packed leaves overwinter. Colocasia […]

Mallow Plant Breeders Developing Resistance To Hibiscus Sawfly

Mallows, hardy hibiscus, and perennial hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) are vigorous shrub-like growers on sturdy 4-5 feet tall (and 2-4 feet wide) stems. The species is native to wetland areas from Ontario and Massachusetts south to Ohio, Indiana, Alabama and Florida. Huge colorful 4-6(9) inch wide flowers have five overlapping petals with reddish-purple to dark crimson […]

Growing Shasta Daisies

Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum) is a European native that has naturalized in most areas of North America (zones 5-9). Truly low care perennials, Shasta daisies come back every spring and bloom reliably from early summer into early fall (if deadheaded). Some varieties, ‘Becky’ for example, are multi-year top performers. Shasta daisies tend to form clumps, […]

Seven Picks For Your Summer Shade Garden

1. Coleus (Solenostemon) are known for their colorful foliage in containers around trees or shrubs. For shady areas select the Kong Mosaic™ or Wizard™ series. 2. Begonias, as a group, represent lots of variety series. Most garden begonia varieties should do well in beds, planters and pots. Begonia types like the Rex and Angel Wing are grown […]

Shorter Version Of Six Landscape Shrubs

Sugar Shack™ Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis Sugar Shack™) – Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours). 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. cut the size in half and added colorful red fruit and glossy foliage. Add in cool looking, fragrant white flowers and you’ve got a delightful plant […]

Three Cool Sedges (Carex)

Over the past decade Japanese Sedges (Carex spp.) have become popular in U.S. gardens. Uncertain which ones to plant – here are three that are easy to grow and require little maintenance. The following three clump-forming evergreen Japanese sedges flaunt arching, green and white variegated grass-like foliage. Tiny insignificant, brown flower spikes arise on long stems […]

Growing Cosmos

Cosmos are native to Mexico. In the U.S. these old-fashion annuals bloom throughout the summer months and attract birds, bees, and butterflies to your garden. They produce colorful 2- to 4-inch wide daisy-like flowers that sit atop 3-5 feet tall slender stems. Cosmos make excellent cut flowers and dwarf forms are ideal in containers. Annual cosmos […]