Liriope earns the nickname border grass because it does the job of a living edge so well. This grass-like flowering perennial, native to parts of Asia, forms dense clumps that hold soil, smother weeds, and stay green through winter in warmer climates. Gardeners plant it from spring to fall using nursery plants or divisions, and […]
Wildflowers bring a steady parade of color to gardens from late spring through early fall, and they earn their keep with far less fuss than many bedding annuals. Because most are perennials, they return year after year, and because they are adapted to the local climate, they shrug off heat, drought, and poor soil that
An edger carves a clean vertical face where turf meets a sidewalk, driveway, or planting bed, and that single line does more for curb appeal than an entire mowing pass. Edgers come in four basic power families: manual, corded electric, battery, and gas, and each suits a different yard size and maintenance habit. Because a
Potatoes are among the easiest vegetables to grow, and nearly all home plantings start from seed potatoes: sections of a tuber, not true seed. Each piece carries the same genetics as the parent, so the method, called vegetative propagation, produces uniform plants faster than starting from botanical seed. A spring planting matures in about 60
The end of summer is the right time to start thinking about vegetables to plant in fall for a spring harvest. In fall, the soil is still warm enough for roots to establish before winter sets in, and the crops you plant now become next spring’s side dishes, snacks, and pickles. The same discipline that
Pruning shapes a tree or shrub by selectively cutting branches, and it is the fastest way to push more energy into the flowers you actually want. Every cut removes growth that competes for water and nutrients, so the plant redirects those resources to the buds that remain. Gardeners who prune with a plan get denser
Fall is the classic planting season for good reason. Cool air, warm soil, and autumn rain give roots time to establish before winter, and plants set out in September and October come through spring ahead of anything planted later. The soil work done now pays off for years, which is why fall planting produces stronger
Butterfly bushes are one of the most recognizable shrubs in American gardens, sending up arching wands of pink, purple, and white flowers from early summer through fall. The Asian native arrived in American gardens in the early 1900s and quickly became a favorite, because the long bloom season draws butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds for months
Cayenne peppers are a medium-heat variety of Capsicum annuum, the same nightshade species that produces bell peppers, serrano peppers, and jalapeños. A ripe cayenne pod measures 30,000 to 50,000 on the Scoville scale, runs 4 to 6 inches long, and tapers into a slender, curved shape with glossy red, slightly wrinkled skin. The plants grow
Fall changes the rhythm of lawn care. The weekly mowing that carried the yard through summer gives way to a shorter list of tasks, and the first question most homeowners ask is when the mower can finally rest. The answer has little to do with the calendar and everything to do with grass growth, which
