Archive for the ‘Fertilizing plants’ Category

Rhizomatous Alliums

Alliums are a members of the lily family, containing 1100 species, including the edible kinds that you add to your burgers and salads. In the ornamental flower world include spring- blooming bulbs, culinary herbs and durable foliage and bountiful summer flowers. Whether your summer garden is located in a challenging part of the U.S. such […]

New Annual Vincas ‘Kawaii Soiree’ Series

Sun-loving vincas (Catharanthus) are annual periwinkles. This may confuse gardeners who also grow perennial periwinkles (Vinca spp.) that are grow in shady groundcovers. New from Proven Winners (PW)!! Soiree Kawaii® series of vincas (C. roseus) are bred by Suntory and entered the market around three years ago. I highly recommend that you include them to […]

Growing Healthy Blackberries in Your Garden

Yummy blackberries from the garden excel in flavor compared to store-bought. To get the most out of a blackberry planting, select a full sun location with well-drained organically rich loamy soils. The site should be close to a water supply to get the planting off to a good start and to maximize berry size and […]

Passionflower Vine

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a fast-growing, trailing vine that climbs via axillary tendrils. It is woody where winter climes are warm. In zone 5, the foliage dies back to the ground in cold winters. This summer-flowering vine is native to the southeastern U.S. where you see it growing habitat in sandy soils along stream banks, roadsides, woodland edges, […]

Summer Blooming Golden Raintree

Golden raintree (Koelreuteria paniculata)is a medium sized deciduous tree that grows 30 to 45 feet tall and 25-35 feet wide, a horizontally branched tree Zones 5-9). This tree has a medium to fast growth rate, blooms at an early age with upright twigs with yellow flowers, a rare color among flowering trees whenever the time […]

Adding Compact Summer Flowering Shrubs

Yes, to reduce annual garden maintenance some gardeners are switching to space-saving flowering shrubs. Patio gardeners are popping compact shrubs into containers such as spireas, hydrangeas, crape myrtles, chaste tree, weigelias, and buddleias. They’re looking to add color and reduce their maintenance workload.   Numerous new [rose] varieties have been created that are relatively resistant to the […]

Whale’s Tongue Agave

Whale’s Tongue Agave Over the past 10-15 years, interest in growing agaves has really caught fire, whale’s tongue agave (Agave ovatifolia) in particular. It grows to 3 to 4 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide in 5 to 8 years, especially with summer water. Like many agaves, whale’s tongue blooms after 15-20 years, […]

Silk Tassel Sedge

‘Silk Tassel’ Japanese sedge is an outstanding Japanese sedge cultivar of Carex morrowii temnolepis. It is ornamentally grown in shade areas for its narrow (1/8 inch wide) variegated foliage (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9). This dense, grass-like clump grows 12 inches high and 1 to 1 ½ feet spread. Let’s start with an old […]

Lion’s Tail

Lion’s tail (Leonotis leonurus) is a tropical plant native to south Africa (USDA hardiness zones 8-11). I have seen used as a late summer – fall blooming annual in public gardens. Lion’s tail’s bright burnt orange flowers are standouts and receive great notice. The common name “Lion’s Ear” comes from the flowers resembling the color […]

10 Drought Tolerant Perennials

Once established, these ten drought-tolerant plants can cope with hot sun and humidity with low amounts of supplemental water. If you garden in a drought-prone area, or growing in fast-draining raised beds, these drought-resistant plants are a great choice for your garden. Perhaps you wish to reduce your water bills. Plan to keep plantings adequately […]