Ernst Pagels – Dedicated to Perennials
It is a lucky person who finds there calling in life, and is able to spend a fulfilling and satisfying life doing what they love. Although his name is not widely-known, Ernst Pagels…
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Get all the latest insight into the world of plants, from experts.
How To Grow an Avocado Tree (that gives you avocados)
In a previous blog post we looked at the principle of growing your own avocados. Of course for that you need an avocado tree, but, as we explain in that post, NOT ONE…
10 Fragrant Flowers and Plants to Fill Your Garden with Perfume
10 Fragrant Flowers that Should be in Your Garden Bee Balm – Monarda The whole plant smells of citrus and something else mysterious, while the red flowers brighten summer. Grows well in wet…
Pruning Grape Vines – Let’s Get it Right
Grapes hold a fascination for many gardeners, who really like the idea of harvesting grapes from your own garden – there is something decadent and even Bacchanalian about it (Bacchus was the Roman…
Which Hosta Plants Grow in Hot Zones?
Hosta are among the most popular of shade plants, and no wonder. With so many varieties, in so many different sizes and leaf colors, you could have a wonderful shade garden using nothing…
Hummingbird Mints – the Perfect Flowering Plants for Dry Gardens
It’s nice to have a sunny garden, but sometimes it can become a miniature Sahara, especially if your soil is sandy and naturally dry. It can be frustrating trying to find plants that…
Mophead or Lacecap? – Two Beautiful Kinds of Hydrangea
Everyone loves Hydrangeas – they are a classic summer shrub for partially-shade parts of the garden, and their long-lasting blooms make a real impact for weeks and weeks – probably longer than any…
The Hardiest Rhododendrons of All – PJM
I am writing this as the days shorten, in late fall, with winter round the corner. If you live in colder zones, and love rhododendrons, this could be the time when you start…
August In the Garden
On the calendar, December is the end of the year. In the garden, in many ways, the year ends in August. A new cycle begins with the cooler weather of September, an ideal…
Why Garden?
It’s the beginning of not just a new year, but a new decade too, and such moments can bring on episodes of deep reflection. Here at the Tree Center we focus on the…
Japanese Maples – Bark Can be Beautiful Too
One of the best features of Japanese Maples is their fall color, but after that there is not so much to see, and during winter many are brown or perhaps green. The idea…
Meet the Magnolias
Say ‘Magnolia’ to a southerner and their mind conjures up images of huge white blossoms like dinner plates, and big evergreen trees with glossy foliage. Say it to a northerner and they see…
Grow Living Fossil Trees in Your Garden
Most of us grow plants in our gardens simply for their beauty, and that surely is the best reason of all. But many plants also have a story to tell, perhaps of how…
5 Steps to Help Your Indoor Plants Through Winter
Winter can be a drain on us all. Short days, heavy cloud, rain and snow – these all work to bring us down, even though we have a warm, dry home. The same…
Tips on Protecting Your Evergreens for Winter
In the north the snow is already beginning to swirl, and the first heavy falls are not far away. New gardeners are often surprised to see that their evergreens can look fine all…
Fall – the Ideal Season for Planting Trees
With Labor Day just around the corner, we have reached the traditional end of summer – even if, in some areas at least, hot weather will continue through September. There is nonetheless a…
Modern Twists on the PG Hydrangea
If you live in colder parts of the country, the chances are good that you have seen the PG Hydrangea, even if you didn’t know what it was. This plant is a true…
Top Drought Resistant Trees and Shrubs
With summer in full swing, and many people on holiday, plants in the garden can suffer in the typical dry conditions at this time of year. This may not be an exceptional summer…
Time to Prune Spring-flowering Shrubs – Part Two
Last week I started discussing the pruning of spring-flowering shrubs and trees, but after diverting into the choice and use of pruners, delayed finishing the conversation till now. So let’s get back to…
Navel or Valencia – Which Orange for Me?
Everyone loves oranges, for that summer in the mouth feeling you get popping a juicy segment, or drinking a glass of freshly-squeezed juice. When it comes from your own tree, then nothing beats…
Deer Resistant Trees and Shrubs
As winter turns to spring, many gardeners are out inspecting their gardens, and all too often they are finding plants damaged by winter. Cold and ice is one thing, but when animal damage…
American Wisteria
With the first hints of spring already arriving in the warmer states, before long the wisteria will be in bloom. These plants must surely be among the most spectacular of all climbing plants,…
Privet – the Good, the Bad and the Beautiful
Let’s face it – Privet has a bad reputation. Mention it to the average gardener and they picture a big, boring plant with green leaves that must be constantly battled with to stop…