Designing a Sunny Corner Bed After Tree Loss

Perennials often disappoint — few are truly long-lived and low-maintenance. A woody shrub (evergreen or deciduous) gives more impact for less work. Your location determines options. Share your zone and sun exposure for s

Treating Snapdragon Fungus Organically

Dont wait for fungal spots to spread. Treat early with organic copper-based fungicides like Soap-Shield (Gardens Alive). Several effective non-toxic options exist — browse Gardens Alives disease control section. Early in

When to Pinch Nasturtium Seedlings

Dont pinch at the two-leaf stage — those are cotyledons, not true leaves. Removing them kills the plant. Wait until four leaf sets (including cotyledons), then pinch the top set. Most nasturtiums dont need pinching: moun

Reviving a Declining New Guinea Impatiens Indoors

Yellowing, browning, curling stems suggest either spider mites (thrive in dry indoor heat) or overwatering. Spider mites: wash leaves twice daily, use a humidifier, or tent with a plastic bag (out of sun). Overwatering:

Deadheading vs. Pinching: What Greenhouse Annuals Need

Deadhead everything — removing spent flowers prevents seed formation and redirects energy to more blooms. But for greenhouse seedlings, youre actually pinching: removing stem tips to trigger branching and create stocky p

Saving Frost-Hit New Guinea Impatiens

If only top leaves are frosted, the plant will recover. Trim damaged foliage, place outside by day and inside at night until May, then fertilize. If stems are mushy and watery, its dead — discard and replace. New Guinea

Why Full-Sun Container Annuals Become Leggy and Dry

Common causes: old potting soil with residual roots blocking new growth, no drainage holes (causing root rot), evening watering wetting foliage (promotes mildew), overfertilizing or fertilizing dry soil (causes weak grow

Native Plants for Northern Exposure Clay Soil in Western Massachusetts

For clay soil in shade: Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina, 2x3), foam flower (Tiarella, blooms May-July), native bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia), and celandine poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum, yellow spring flowers, self-so

Companion Plants for Morning Glory and Moonflower Containers

Morning glories and moonflowers demand full sun and heat — they wont thrive on a north-facing fence with only 3 hours of indirect sun. If you proceed, choose heat- and drought-tolerant base plants: lantana (bold colors,

Sun Requirements for Easter Lilies

Easter lilies need full sun. After indoor bloom, plant outdoors in rich garden soil with organic fertilizer. Leave the stalk until it browns — the leaves feed the bulb. A second bloom may appear in late summer. Fertilize

Growing Hybrid Tea Rose 'Blue Girl' in Zone 5

Hybrid teas are finicky but rewarding. For Blue Girl in zone 5: enrich a 3-foot-wide planting hole deeply with manure and organic fertilizer (Plant Tone, Rose Tone, or alfalfa meal). Bury the graft union below soil. Spra

Saving Impatiens with Damaged Root Balls

Impatiens transplanted without intact root balls will struggle but can survive. Water daily for two weeks and mulch with shredded bark or leaves to retain moisture and stabilize soil temperature. If they make it two week

Are Moonflowers and Other Ornamentals Edible?

No. Moonflower (Datura) is potentially lethal — seeds and plant parts are poisonous. The other listed flowers (Evening Promise, Corpses, Columbine, Cosmos) lack safety data for consumption. Never candy or eat ornamental

Can Petunias Survive German Winters?

Petunias are hardy annuals — they tolerate light frost but die at hard freeze. In Germany, where winters drop well below freezing by October/November, petunias wont survive outdoors. You cannot overwinter them indoors su

Growing Vines on a Chicago Balcony: Ivy Alternatives

Ivy wont survive Chicago winters in a pot — container plants experience 20°F colder temps than in-ground. Plus, ivy damages buildings with holdfasts that trap moisture against walls. Instead, install a large trellis and

Watering New Flower Beds: Avoiding Too Much or Too Little

Thirty seconds of shower-setting watering only dampens the surface — roots stay dry. Water new beds every other day for 4-5 minutes. After 2-3 weeks, switch to deep soaking: run a sprinkler 1.5 hours every 4-6 days (ever

Propagating Easter Lilies from Seed

Yes, you can grow more Easter lilies from seed. Let seed pods ripen on the stem until they yellow, then collect before they split. Sow immediately in moist (not wet) sterile potting mix, barely covered. Keep moist until

Growing Wave Petunias from Seed: A Beginner's Guide to Success

Congratulations on successfully growing Wave petunias from seed on your first attempt! Thats quite an achievement, as these popular trailing petunias can be challenging for beginners. Wave petunias, along with Supertunia

Why Ground-Planted Bougainvillea Won't Bloom

Bougainvillea blooms best when slightly stressed — root-bound in pots, dry between waterings, and in full sun (6+ hours including noon). Ground-planted plants often get too much water and nitrogen (from lawn fertilizer),

How to Pinch and Propagate Mums from Cuttings

As mum flowers fade, pinch back only the spent bloom stem, cutting just below the top leaf set. After first frost, cut plants to a few inches and mulch with shredded leaves or straw for winter protection. To root cutting