Gardening Pro

Astilbe

Gardening Pro — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:51:32 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 3 to 8 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Slightly acidic PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Moist, fertile, organic PREFERRED LIGHT:Partial shade ATTRIBUTES: White, pink, purple, or red plumelike flowers; ferny foliage; for beds SEASON OF INTEREST: Summer FAVORITES: Red 'Fanal', purple 'Hyacinth', pink 'Sprits', white 'Bridal Veil' QUIRKS: Needs consistently moist soil GOOD NEIGHBORS: Bee balm, ferns, hostas, iris, lady's mantle WHERE IT GROWS BEST: [...]

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Astilbe

Marigold (Togetes spp.)

Gardening Pro — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:53:06 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Tender PREFERRED SOIL pH: Adaptable PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Moderately fertile PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun ATTRIBUTES: Quick and easy to grow; for beds, edging, pots, and window boxes SEASON OF INTEREST: Early summer to fall FAVORITES: 'Inco', 'Snowdrift', 'First Lady' American marigolds; 'Janie', 'Sophia' French marigolds; 'Lemon Gem', 'Golden Gem' signet marigold QUIRKS: Temporarily slops flowering during hot spells GOOD NEIGHBORS : Campanula, lobelia, [...]

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Marigold (Togetes spp.)

Bulbs in the Garden

Gardening Pro — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:04:17 +0000

Bulbs are a cinch to grow because Mother Nature does most of the work. Daffodils, tulips, and many others store food reserves from year to year in weighty roots, making them very adaptable. Only true bulbs have a special type of storage root that makes them different from similar-growing plants with underground storage parts called [...]

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Bulbs in the Garden

Daylily (Hemerocollis spp.)

Gardening Pro — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:06:24 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 3 to 9 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Trumpet-shaped flowers in many colors; grasslike foliage; for beds, pots SEASON OF INTEREST: Summer FAVORITES: 'Stella d'Oro', 'Happy Returns', 'Fairy Tale Pink' for repeat bloom QUIRKS: Flowers last one day, but new ones open dairy GOOD NEIGHBORS: Artemisia, herbs, roses WHERE IT GROWS [...]

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Daylily (Hemerocollis spp.)

Scarlet Runner Bean (Phaseolus Coccineus)

Gardening Pro — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:57:22 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Tender PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average, well-drained PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun FUNDAMENTAL: FACTS ATTRIBUTES: Fast grower with scarlet blooms, edible beans; for fences, trellises, pots SEASON OF INTEREST: Summer TYPE OF VINE: Tender perennial; climbs by twining FAVORITES: 'Scarlet Emperor', 'Painted Lady', 'Albus', 'Dwarf Bees' QUIRKS: May temporarily stop blooming in very hot weather GOOD NEIGHBORS: Blue-flowered ageralum, [...]

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Scarlet Runner Bean (Phaseolus Coccineus)

Zinnia Elegans Hybrids (Z. Angustifolia)

Gardening Pro — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:23:42 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Tender PREFERRED SOIL pH: Slightly acidic to neutral PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Well-drained loam PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun ATTRIBUTES: Profuse flowers in many colors and shapes; for beds, pots, cutting SEASON OF INTEREST: Midsummer to fall FAVORITES: Ruffles, Blue Point, and Cut and Come Again for cutting; dwarf Dreamland; Oklahoma, Profusion, and Z. angustifolia for disease resistance QUIRKS: Grows best in hot, [...]

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Zinnia Elegans Hybrids (Z. Angustifolia)

Periwinkle (Catharanthus Roseus)

Gardening Pro — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:16:23 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Tender PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Compact plants; blue, pink, red, purple, white flowers; for beds or pots SEASON OF INTEREST: Summer to fall FAVORITES: 'Cooler' and 'Pacifica' for a range of colors QUIRKS: Grows poorly in cool, damp conditions GOOD NEIGHBORS: Ageratum, buddleia, marigold, salvia, zinnia WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Full [...]

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Periwinkle (Catharanthus Roseus)

Cohosh (Cimicifuga spp.)

Gardening Pro — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:26:08 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 3 to 8 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral PREFERRED SOIL TYPE Rich, moist PREFERRED LIGHT: Full to partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Fragrant spikes of white flowers in summer; neat clumps of lacy foliage SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring through fall for foliage; summer to fall for flowers FAVORITES: C. simplex 'White Pearl'; C. racemosa 'Brunette'; C. ramosa, the species QUIRKS: C. racemosa [...]

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Cohosh (Cimicifuga spp.)

Wishbone Flower (Torenia Fournieri; T. Flava)

Gardening Pro — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:41:01 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Tender PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Moist, well-drained PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Pansy-shaped purple, plum, lavender, pink, white, or yellow flowers on compact plant; for beds, edging, pots SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring and summer; winter in frost-free regions FAVORITES: Duchess series for dwarf form; Happy Faces series for color range; 'Suzie [...]

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Wishbone Flower (Torenia Fournieri; T. Flava)

Dead Nettle (Lamium Maculatum)

Gardening Pro — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:44:46 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 8 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly acid PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average PREFERRED LIGHT: Partial to full shade ATTRIBUTES: Variegated leaves; white or pink flowers; for groundcover SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring through summer; evergreen in mild-winter climates FAVORITES: White-flowered 'White Nancy'; pink 'Beacon Silver', 'Chequers'; yellow 'Herman's Pride' QUIRKS: Spreads quickly in moist soil GOOD NEIGHBORS: Spring-flowering bulbs, [...]

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Dead Nettle (Lamium Maculatum)

Cyclamen

Gardening Pro — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:51:31 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 5 to 9 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly acid PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Fertile, well-drained PREFERRED LIGHT: Partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Heart-shaped leaves and dainty flowers; for beds, woodland gardens SEASON OF INTEREST: Fall through spring FAVORITES: C. hederifolium and C. coum QUIRKS: Needs good soil drainage in summer GOOD NEIGHBORS: Bugleweed, ferns, hosla, Solomon's seal WHERE IT GROWS BEST: In open [...]

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Cyclamen

Aster

Gardening Pro — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 10:57:06 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 8 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average, well-drained PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Starry lavender, purple, pink, or white flowers in profusion in the fall SEASON OF INTEREST: Late summer to fall FAVORITES: 'Purple Dome' for compact habit; A. divaricates for dry shade QUIRKS: Plants more than 2 ft (0.6 m) tall require [...]

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Aster

Early Summer Gardens

Gardening Pro — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 10:14:10 +0000

Early summer is a time of bounty in any garden. A full canopy of leaves on trees and shrubs form lush clouds of green overhead, and sunny beds boast an abundance of beautiful blossoms. The list of early-summer bloomers is a long one. The starlets of the early-summer garden are hardy perennials that spend spring [...]

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Early Summer Gardens

Centaurea spp.

Gardening Pro — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 10:14:10 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 3 to 7 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Near neutral PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average PREFERRED LIGHT Sun to partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Long-flowering, fringed blue or rose pink flowers; for beds, cutting SEASON OF INTEREST: Summer through fall FAVORITES: C. dealbata 'Steen-bergii', 'John Coutts' for pink blossoms; C. montana for blue flowers QUIRKS: Cutting blossoms boosts flower production GOOD NEIGHBORS: Artemisia, coreopsis, ornamental [...]

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Centaurea spp.

Grape (Vitis spp. and cvs.)

Gardening Pro — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 08:58:55 +0000

HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 9 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Fertile, well-drained PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Summer and fall foliage, fruits, and woody trunks; for shade, privacy SEASON OF INTEREST: Year-round TYPE Of VINE: Woody deciduous perennial; climbs by clinging with tendrils FAVORITES: Seek locally adapted cultivars QUIRKS: Aged trunks have a treelike quality GOOD NEIGHBORS: [...]

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Grape (Vitis spp. and cvs.)

Licorice Plant (Helichrysum Petiolare)

Gardening Pro — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:51:20 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Tender PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Well-drained, fertile PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Felted leaves in silver or green; dense spreading habit; for pots, baskets, window boxes, bedding SEASON OF INTEREST: Early summer to fall; all year in frost-free regions FAVORITES: Helichrysum petiolare for silver leaves; 'Limelight' for chartreuse foliage QUIRKS: Keep soil [...]

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Licorice Plant (Helichrysum Petiolare)

Camellia

Gardening Pro — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:37:18 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 6 to 9 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Acid PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Moist, humus-rich PREFERRED LIGHT: Partial to full shade ATTRIBUTES: Glossy evergreen foliage, single or double flowers; for beds, pots, specimens SEASON OF INTEREST: Year-round; flowers appear in fall, winter, or spring FAVORITES: C. japonica, C. sasanqua and their cultivars; hardy 'Winter's Charm' QUIRKS: Blooms in winter GOOD NEIGHBORS: Azaleas, ferns, [...]

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Camellia

Cold Winter Gardens

Gardening Pro — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:00:52 +0000

Every climate has its problems. In northern areas, winter comes early and stays late, much to gardeners' chagrin. This may explain why gardeners in cold climates often create beautiful gardens. They may be the result of long winter nights spent planning and dreaming. But don't wait until summer to enjoy your garden. There's entertainment out there [...]

Clematis

Gardening Pro — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 04:24:08 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 8 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Near neutral PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Moist, fertile, well-drained PREFERRED LIGHT: Foliage in sun, roots in shade ATTRIBUTES: Blue, purple, red, pink, yellow, or white flowers; tor trellises, thin supports SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring through fall TYPE OF VINE: Deciduous perennial; climbs by clinging with twining tendrils FAVORITES: C. x jackmanii, 'Henryi', 'Nelly [...]

Yucca

Gardening Pro — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 01:48:53 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 5 to 10 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Adoptable PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Spiked leaves, spires of white flowers; for beds or as an accent plant SEASON OF INTEREST: Year-round; blooms in summer FAVORITES: 'Garland's Gold', 'Golden Sword; dwarf 'Bright Edge' QUIRKS: Sharp leaves can injure; wear gloves and goggles when tending plants GOOD NEIGHBORS: [...]

Grape Hyacinth (Muscari spp.)

Gardening Pro — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:02:16 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 3 to 8 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Adaptable PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade FUNDAMENTAL FACTS ATTRIBUTES: Clusters of blue, white, or pink flowers; for beds, woodlands, naturalizing SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring FAVORITES: M. armeniacum 'Blue Spike', M. botryoides 'Album', M. latifolium QUIRKS: Needs 6 weeks minimum winter chilling; leaves grow from fall to spring GOOD [...]

Early Spring Gardening

Gardening Pro — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:26:56 +0000

The sure cure for a gardener's wintertime blues is a vibrant spring garden. Fortunately, blooming is the first thing on the agenda for many plants when they emerge from winter dormancy, so early-spring color is not difficult to create in any type of garden. Begin with easy-to-grow spring-flowering plants for guaranteed success. Combine spring-flowering bulbs with [...]

Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus Tricuspidata)

Gardening Pro — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:52:36 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 9 PREFERRED SOIL pH: Slightly acid PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average PREFERRED LIGHT: Partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Shade-tolerant vine with lobed leaves and fall color; for covering walls SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring to late fall TYPE OF VINE: Deciduous perennial; climbs with adhesive holdfasts FAVORITES: Compact 'Lowii; vigorous 'Robusta'; 'Veitchii' for foliage color QUIRKS: Can attach to almost any surface; [...]

Mid to Late Summer Gardens

Gardening Pro — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:22:08 +0000

Stress escalates in the dog days of late summer for both gardens and gardeners. Even if you live in a climate that luxuriates in cool nights, the days are long and often dry. In much of the country, late-summer days are hot, and nights are sultry. Many areas also suffer from prolonged droughts this time [...]

Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum spp.)

Gardening Pro — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:28:19 +0000

Fundamental Facts HARDINESS: Tender PREFERRED SOIL PH: Near neutral PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Well-drained, fertile PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade ATTRIBUTES: Flowers in worm colors, variegated leaves on some varieties, light fragrance; edible plants; or beds, pots, baskets SEASON OF INTEREST: Early summer to late fall FAVORITES: 'Glorious Gleam', 'Moonlight'; 'Alaska' has variegated leaves QUIRKS: Nick seeds before sowing; do not fertilize GOOD NEIGHBORS: [...]