Rabbits damage gardens in ways that frustrate even experienced growers. They clip seedlings at soil level, chew stems, strip bark from young trees in winter, and graze flower beds down to stubs. Trapping rarely solves the problem because more than one rabbit is usually present, and removing one animal simply opens territory for the next. […]
Philodendron white princess (Philodendron ’White Princess’) is a variegated tropical aroid prized for the white sectors that streak its dark green leaves. It grows upright rather than trailing, reaching about 4 ft tall in containers, and belongs to the Araceae family alongside other popular houseplants. The plant is a hybrid with no native range, rated
Mulberry trees are medium-sized deciduous trees grown for small, sweet, edible berries that ripen over a six to eight week stretch in summer. They grow best in USDA zones 4 to 8 in rich, well-drained, moist soil with full to partial sunlight. Red mulberry (Morus rubra) and white mulberry (Morus alba) both attract birds and
Boxwood shrubs are known for small, dense, lush green leaves that give a garden an instant sense of order. They make excellent hedges, edging, and topiary, and a well-cared-for plant can anchor a bed for decades. That elegance disappears quickly when the leaves start turning brown, a change that can happen fast and for several
Portulaca, commonly called moss rose, is a low-growing flowering plant that most gardeners grow as an annual. Native to South America, it thrives in sunny, dry locations where it reseeds and returns year after year, spreading gently across beds, sidewalk cracks, and driveway edges. The spiky, semi-succulent leaves give it remarkable heat and drought tolerance,
Peonies are the perennial that gardeners wait for all winter. When the full, fragrant blooms open in spring, the payoff is immediate, and after flowering the plants keep earning their space with dense foliage that works as a backdrop for everything else in the bed. A garden plan deserves the same early attention as the
Coffee grounds can benefit roses when used properly. They provide nutrients with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and as they decompose in the soil they help protect plants from diseases such as Fusarium wilt. The material is free, renewable, and available in every household that brews coffee. In coffee-growing regions the supply is nearly endless. Small
Mexican petunias, also called Mexican bluebells, are adaptable perennials with vibrant purple flowers that resemble petunias. The botanical name is Ruellia simplex, and the plant belongs to the Acanthaceae family. Mature clumps reach 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, and in mild climates the foliage stays evergreen through winter. Blooming
Mulch does four jobs at once: it holds soil moisture, protects tree roots, blocks weeds from sunlight, and gives flower beds a finished edge. Timing decides how well it does those jobs. Spread mulch too early in spring and you slow the soil from warming; spread it too late and weeds have already taken over.
The Annabelle hydrangea is one of the most dependable white-flowering shrubs for American gardens. This smooth hydrangea, Hydrangea arborescens ’Annabelle’, produces rounded clusters of white blooms that can reach a foot in diameter, held above sharply toothed green leaves from June through September. It grows 3 to 5 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet
