4 Reasons Not to Rush the Spring Garden Cleanup

For some of us, especially those in the eastern U.S., spring can’t come soon enough. But for others, it’s been a dry and relatively warm winter. Still, no matter where we are, the spring itch is fully upon us —

11 Ways to Save Water at Home

Americans have been blessed with a steady supply of clean water, for outdoor as well as indoor use. It’s a privilege we often take for granted. But with much of the western United States in a severe, years-long

Great Design Plant: Gilia Capitata

Don’t let the delicate powder-blue flowers fool you. Globe gilia (Gilia capitata) is tough and one of the easiest annuals to grow. It loves hot sun and dry, rocky hillsides. I have it in sunny locations in my ho

Simple Pleasures: 15 Ways to Welcome Spring

After we muddled through what was a particularly bleak winter in some regions, finally being able to greet spring is a genuine pleasure. Here are 15 ideas for welcoming spring into your home — from bringing natu

Invite Mining Bees to Your Garden by Planting Their Favorite Plants

Mining bees (Andrena) are a diverse genus of bees common in urban and suburban gardens. The majority of mining bee species are active in spring. Like most solitary, wild bees, mining bees nest in the ground and

Designing With Conifers: Find the Perfect Fit for Your Landscape

Nursery tags can be confusing. When you’re thinking about the size of conifers — trees with cones and needle- or scale-like leaves — there’s the 10-year size, the ultimate size and the pruned size. Does the vari

Great Design Plant: Crinum Americanum

Southern swamp lily (Crinum americanum) is much prettier than its name suggests. Living among finely textured native grasses in wetlands and wet meadows, it has delicate flowers that bring an ethereal beauty to

Great Design Plant: Bouteloua Gracilis

I have a crush on blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis), whose feathery summer seed heads would be the envy of any mascara commercial. Even better, blue grama grass is a resilient, tough little native prairie gr

Spring Checklist: Freshen Up Your Homes Curb Appeal

Time to pack away the winter coats and pull out those Wellies — spring is finally here! With this checklist as your guide, help your home burst into spring with a curb appeal makeover. Pick as few (or as many) t

Great Design Plant: Thuja Occidentalis ‘Bobozam’

Perfect garden plants are few and far between. To qualify as such, a plant should be hardy, be adaptable, possess year-round interest and be easily tended. Mr. Bowling Ball arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Boboza

Great Design Plant: Carex Eburnea

For years I’ve struggled with the north side of my house, where, depending on the time of year, a plant may be in full sun or full shade, sitting in very moist soil or extremely dry ground. I have lost plant aft

Summer Crops: How to Grow Cucumbers

Cucumbers are versatile vegetables that are easy to grow in summer. They can be eaten raw; added to lemonade or a mojito; sautéed; pureed into a dressing, yogurt dip or soup; or pickled. And they’re prolific pr

Great Design Plant: Uvularia Grandiflora Thrives in Shade Gardens

Largeflower bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) is a beautiful, medium-size, shade-tolerant perennial that will delight you with its bright yellow flowers and upright form. This easy-to-grow, reliable native plant i

Summer Crop: How to Grow Blueberries

Ornamental, versatile, edible, and highly nutritious — blueberries tick all the must-have boxes for a top landscape plant. With their pink-white spring flowers, blue berries through the summer, and red or yellow

Warm Up Your Garden With Orange Flowers

We all feel differently about color, especially when it comes to color at home, but outside, nothing makes a garden glow quite like orange-flowering plants. Here are 13 of our favorite orange-flowering great des

Summer Crops: How to Grow Squash

New to vegetable gardening? Start with squash. This easy-to-grow plant is almost guaranteed to thrive and produce an abundant crop, even if you’ve never put a hand in the soil before. Experienced gardener? Branc

How to Prune Your Flowering Shrubs for the Best Blooms

It’s no wonder many people are confused about how and when to prune their flowering shrubs — or if pruning is really necessary. Drive down any neighborhood street and you’ll notice flowering shrubs that have bee

Great Design Plant: Eriogonum Nudum, a Summer Oasis for Pollinators

Naked buckwheat (Eriogonum nudum) is a tough plant that is easy to grow and provides important food for pollinators year-round, especially during California’s hottest and driest season. Native bees, honeybees, b

Summer Crops: How to Grow Beans

Green beans are probably one of the most readily available vegetables at the grocery store. So why grow your own? First, they’re easy and quick to produce, making them a good choice for a beginning gardener. Sec

Great Design Plant: Buddleja Marrubiifolia

Woolly butterfly bush (Buddleja marrubiifolia) is a drought-tolerant plant that deserves more attention in the garden. What’s not to love about a medium-size shrub that has velvety gray-green leaves and a long b