Tuberous and wax begonias rank among the most popular bedding and container plants for summer gardens. A single well-cared-for plant can keep blooming for ten years or longer, but only if it survives the gap between fall and spring. Gardeners in hardiness zones 8 and higher, where winters stay warm, can grow begonias year-round or […]
An arbor is a vertical structure built from two or four posts topped with a simple slatted roof, often arched but not always. The sides can stay open or carry lattice and trellis work for a more enclosed effect that also helps vines attach. An arbor can attach to a fence, wall, or building, or
Ornamental grasses dominate many planting plans, but sedges deserve a closer look. The Carex genus holds more than 2,000 species, and while many grow as weeds, dozens have earned a place in North American gardens. Sedges contribute fine texture, arching form, and foliage color that runs from green to yellow, red, and even purple. Gardeners
Bridal wreath spirea (Spiraea prunifolia) is a fast-growing deciduous shrub whose arching branches carry cascades of small white double flowers every spring. Gardeners choose it for reliability: it tolerates heat, drought, and cold, and it asks for little beyond a sunny spot and occasional pruning. Plan with the future in mind, because a shrub that
An artful cluster of houseplants can turn a plain corner into a lush, jungle-like display, and in homes and offices alike the greenery gets credit for making a room feel alive. The arrangement should not be chosen purely for looks. Grouping plants closely together may create the visual impact you want, but whether the foliage
An empty raised bed in autumn is not wasted space; it is a head start on next season. The same bed that grew tomatoes and squash in July can carry vegetables, bulbs, and soil-building crops through the cold months, and in cold climates it can hold everything in place for an early spring. Gardeners have
Bee balm (Monarda) earns a permanent spot in perennial borders with its spiky, nectar-rich flowers that keep hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies busy for weeks. Keeping those blooms coming year after year depends less on feeding than on timing: this perennial responds differently to pruning in spring, summer, and fall, and each window produces a different
Raking leaves feels like hard work mostly because of how it is done: bent backs, wet piles, and repeated trips across the yard. Small changes in tools, timing, and technique remove most of that strain. The same logic behind a simple workshop modification that makes spray paint can caps easier to remove applies to autumn
Rosemary brings a woodsy aroma and savory flavor to the garden all summer, but it is a Mediterranean native with little tolerance for cold, wet winters. Gardeners in USDA zones colder than zone 7 have to plan ahead: choose hardy cultivars, mulch at the right time, cut watering back, and move containers indoors before the
Peppers are tender, tropical, warm-season vegetables, which is why most gardeners grow them as annuals and start over from seed every spring. Overwintering changes that equation. Move plants indoors before the first frost, prune them back, clean them of pests, and hold them in a cool, dim spot with minimal water, and the same plants
