Verbena plants, also called vervain, are grown as annual flower bed plants and low trailers with dark green, toothed leaves and clusters of small flowers. The genus has a long history as a fragrant herb, and its lemony scent has been used in essential oils for centuries. In zones 8 to 11, many types grow […]
Mole crickets tunnel through turfgrass with paddle-like forelegs, feeding on roots and leaving brown, bare patches marked by small mounds of soil. In the southern United States, from the Carolinas to Florida, these imported insects are among the most damaging lawn pests. While keeping crickets out of your house is a separate project, the same
Lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora) is a woody shrub whose narrow, glossy leaves release a strong citrus scent every time you brush past. In USDA hardiness zones 8 through 11 the plant grows as a perennial anchor shrub, while gardeners in colder regions treat it as an annual or bring it indoors for winter. Its lemony
Mulch is any material spread over the soil surface in garden beds, around shrubs, trees, and flowers. It creates a uniform look, regulates moisture and temperature, and keeps weeds down, which is why most gardens benefit from a layer somewhere. The choice of material matters because organic mulch comes from natural sources and breaks down
Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium caeruleum), also called Greek valerian, is a woodland perennial that earns its place in shade gardens with nodding, bell-shaped blue flowers and feathery, rung-like leaves. It asks for only dappled sunlight, well-drained neutral soil, and cool summer temperatures, which makes it a dependable choice for beds under trees and along north-facing walls.
Lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.) earns its place in shade gardens with two seasons of interest: funnel-shaped flowers in blue, pink, and white open in spring, and fuzzy basal leaves stay speckled with silver through the growing season. This clumping herbaceous perennial is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8, reaches 6 to 12 inches tall and
Pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) is named for the tiered, horizontal branching that stacks one level above the next like the roofs of a pagoda. The shrub or small tree grows 15 to 25 feet tall, bears flattened clumps of yellowish-white flowers in late spring, and follows them with bluish-black berries that feed birds through winter.
Red currant bushes (Ribes rubrum) produce long clusters of translucent red berries that hang like strings of pearls against green foliage. The tart fruit ripens in early summer and turns into jams, jellies, sauces, and desserts, while the bushes themselves stay hardy, compact, and long lived. A well-tended plant fruits for 15 to 20 years,
The purple passion plant (Gynura aurantiaca) earns its name from velvety leaves edged in bright purple and covered in tiny purple hairs that give a soft sheen. Purple stems and a trailing vine structure make it a natural fit for hanging baskets, adding vivid color to windowsills, shelves, and plant stands. This evergreen perennial is
Many homeowners put the house first and the yard second, but the two share a budget and a schedule. Work like insulating a tight attic space without removing the ceiling often happens in the same season as a landscape refresh, and a well-chosen shrub makes the outdoor half of that project pay off for years.
