MULCH: WHAT IT IS, WHY IT'S IMPORTANT, HOW TO APPLY IT

Kristina Howley, Proven Winners® ColorChoice®

Mulch is a common element in a garden. It serves an aesthetic purpose as well as many practical ones. When faced with covering a whole bed, it can be hard to decide what material to use, how much to apply, and what to do when it’s been there a while. Let’s cover the facts so you can get back to enjoying your garden!

10 SHADE-TOLERANT PLANTS FOR SUN-STARVED YARDS

Kathy LaLiberte, Gardener's Supply Company

A shady yard can seem limiting, but there are plenty of ways to brighten it up with some perennials! Although hostas are the go-to, there are lots of other easy-care options that will add some fun and color to your shady spaces. Read on to find 10 great shade-friendly plants.

SENSATIONAL SUMMER COMBOS

Delilah Onofrey, Suntory Flowers

Now is the time to shop for annuals that will go the distance all summer. Based in Japan, Suntory Flowers has bred a portfolio of gorgeous varieties that thrive in the heat. Let’s start with Sun Parasol mandevillas. 

HERBS TO START IN THE GREENHOUSE

Mary-Kate Mackey, Hartley Botanic

Recently I joined my grandchildren’s outdoor school class as they visited a nearby, but remote, Oregon nursery, The Thyme Garden. To get there necessitated an hour-and-a-half car trip, part of it on roads that twisted over the side of Marys Peak, the tallest mountain in the Coast Range of the Siuslaw National Forest. But it was worth the drive.

THE TOP 5 MYTHS ABOUT ROSES

Monrovia Nursery Company

Let’s face it, roses have gotten a bad rap. These stunning shrubs with beautiful blooms have a prickly reputation, with reasons not to grow them taking on mythical status. But modern breeding is making rose growing easier and more enjoyable. From the front yard garden to backyard containers, your landscape deserves a rose or two! 

MYCORRHIZAE: THE GOOD FUNGUS

Milo Shammas, Dr. Earth

Imagine a giant underground network, a transportation system, complex by nature yet simple in concept. In the network, all established plants grow in harmony together, sharing nutrients with each other, the plant on the east side of your house sharing nutrients with Bob's tree across the street. How can this be? Mycorrhizae make it possible.

TIME TO MAKE A STATEMENT IN YOUR YARD

Unique Lighting

A tenet of landscape design is to create a focal point in your yard. Many times this is accomplished by highlighting a statement piece or specific landscape feature. Statement pieces draw you into a space, express your creativity and add a touch of individuality. It could be an architectural element such as a fountain or statue, a pond, tree, or even a unique plant. 

CALADIUMS

Therese Ciesinski, GardenSMART

When choosing plants to give my shady deck that exotic, tropical look, I turn to caladiums. They’ve never let me down. Grown for their brilliant leaves in patterns of pink, red, green, white, and silver, caladiums provide summer-long color right up to frost. Other than water and fertilizer, they need very little care.

8 BEST VEGETABLES TO GROW IN CONTAINERS

Park Seed

Container gardening is perfect for sprucing up small spaces and keeping your favorite greens just steps away from your kitchen. We’re sharing top tips on picking the best veggies and containers, along with how to water and deal with pests. 

5 NEW SUN-LOVING ANNUALS FOR YOUR GARDEN

Heather Blackmore, Proven Winners

Whether you need something temporary until your sun-loving perennials fill a border or are desperate for dependable color in your container gardens, these five new annuals take the heat and thrive all summer long. See what the hoopla is all about! 

BULBS VS. SEEDS: CULTIVATING THE PERFECT SEASONAL GARDEN

Ashleigh Smith, True Leaf Market

When planning the garden, most people think of traditional vegetables, such as tomatoes, corn, beans, broccoli, etc. But have you ever considered incorporating edible and flowering bulbs into your seasonal plans? It’s not too late to diversify and add a unique touch to your garden by including a wide assortment of bulbs in your seasonal gardening projects. 

5 FABULOUS BUT UNDER-APPRECIATED HOUSEPLANTS FOR EVERY HOME

Justin Hancock, Costa Farms

There are so many wonderful houseplants to choose from, especially with a lot of new varieties coming out. Not sure what to choose? Here are some of our favorite overlooked varieties! 

FOREVER, FOREVER, FOREVER HEUCHERA!

Dan Heims, Terra Nova Nurseries

Well, campers, people really dug our article on the Kismet™ series of Echinacea. So we took it upon ourselves to show the new member of the Forever™ family. Heucheras are still hot. Few plants match the choices in foliage color and bloom, size, and adaptability to cold and heat of all flavors. 

TACKLING THE TOP 10 TOMATO PLANT PROBLEMS

GrowJoy

Tomatoes are the most widely grown vegetable in home gardens around the world. They can be grown successfully in both garden plots and in pots on patios. But what happens when you run into tomato plant problems? Everyone does at one time or another. Arm yourself by learning about the most common problems, what to look for, as well as suggested solutions, and get ready for your tomato growing season!

GIANT HOGWEED

Therese Ciesinski, GardenSMART

If you think poison ivy is a scourge of the great outdoors, meet giant hogweed, the plant that tells poison ivy, “hold my beer.” Without knowing what it was, you’d want one in your garden. A magnificent specimen with huge leaves and umbrella-sized flowers, it’s a monster in more ways than one. 

THE JOY OF NESTING BIRDS

Wild Birds Unlimited

There are a lot of things in nature that bring joy…to name all of them would take many pages. But certainly one item on the list would be the sights and sounds of young birds making their first appearances in your yard and at your feeders. A new generation of birds is entering the world and we can find joy in knowing that the food and housing we provide can make a difference in how well they survive and thrive.

INSPIRATION THRIVES AT GIBBS GARDENS

Barbara Schneider, Gibbs Gardens

Making the best out of a bad situation has become an art form for Jim Gibbs, the owner, designer and developer of Gibbs Gardens. When the remnants of Tropical Storm Irma collided with Gibbs Gardens on September 11, 2017, the storm wiped out a forested hillside of mature trees, leaving more than 50 huge root balls in its wake. Learn more...

BOOST THE BEAUTY AND COMFORT OF YOUR OUTDOOR SPACES

Melinda Myers

Add some comfort and beauty to your outdoor spaces this year. Look for options that fit your lifestyle, budget, and schedule. Even simple changes make a positive impact on the time you spend relaxing and entertaining on your patio, deck, or other outdoor spaces. Here are some tips.

EASY FROM SEED FLOWERS

Home Garden Seed Association

Some flowers are not just easy to grow from seed, they actually perform better when sown directly in the garden. They will not suffer transplant stress, and many prefer to get their start in cooler spring weather. Try it! You’ll have more flowers at less expense, and you’ll attract pollinators. Plus, it’s fun!

BOXWOOD CARE

The owners of Freesia Ridge give Eric a tour of their mountain garden. One of the biggest number of plantings is boxwood, the American boxwood. That is not something one would think of in a wild setting, but for some reason they do beautifully up in the mountains. Watch the video...

AN AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL GARDEN WITH A VIEW

In this episode GardenSMART tours a stunning mountaintop gem tucked away in the hills of North Carolina. Cashiers is a sleepy mountain town of around 2000 that swells to as many as 25,000 in peak season. Learn more...