Creating the Daylilies of Tomorrow: a Daylily Hybridizer’s Story
Hybridizing – the creation of new plants – is something every serious gardener thinks of at least once. For many plants, the creation of a new hybrid is a lengthy…
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Landscaping
22 posts
Lawn Burn Caused by Dog Urine: How to Deal With It
As a dog guardian you are aware of the common ‘problem’ that results when your dog’s urine burns the lawn. It’s frustrating to deal with and difficult to prevent, but…
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An Act of Provenance of the Importance of Seed Source to Hardiness
I want to tell you a true story. A friend of mine living in Zone 4 tried to grow a red maple, but it didn’t survive its first winter. Another…
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Mums, Lilies, and Monardas, Oh Boy! Exciting New Developments in Perennials
There is always excitement and anticipation associated with the introduction of a new hardy plant to the market, and any new addition to the short list of hardy plants is…
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Sowing the Seeds of Success: A Primer for Starting Seeds Indoors
Seeds are one of the most fascinating things on earth. These tiny, hard objects – looking very much like rocks – contain everything necessary to grow and bloom and give…
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A Bird in the Hand…
Here’s a little story about birds that might just surprise the backyard gardener. I want to inform you that wild birds can land on your hands and eat out of…
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Fragrant Shrubs for Northern Yards: Inviting Scent and Fragrance Into Your Landscape
You are walking through a local park when you suddenly stop dead in your tracks, transfixed by a spicy fragrance that has commanded your attention. You are driving through a…
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Planning a Sidewalk Under Three Feet of Snow: Don’t Forget to Design for Winter!
When it comes to snow shoveling, this winter has been a little on the forgiving side for most people in the North. Well, at least that was the case until…
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Planting Underneath Mature Trees: A Story of Drought, Shade and Roots Galore
If you’ve ever been through the experience of dealing with creating a sustainable landscape in the immediate vicinity of a fully grown tree, you’ll relate to this article immediately. But…
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Front Yard Accent Plants in the Landscape: Everything You Need to Know for Success
You drive by a well-landscaped house. You intuitively know that you like what you see, although you may not be certain exactly what it is about this particular landscape that…
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Growing Azaleas and Rhododendrons in the North
Of all the colorful flowering shrubs that northern gardeners and homeowners bemoan not having available for their yards and gardens, none is more often lamented than that most colorful of…
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Elaborate Landscapes You’ll Probably Never Have, but There’s Much to Be Learned From Them
How often have you come across a magical landscape setting that you simply could never have in your yard? It may have been on a massive estate or ranch, perhaps…
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Rare Plants for Northern Yards and Gardens, Showstoppers Sure to Keep Them Guessing!
When was the last time you saw a striking yellowhorn shrub blooming in your neighbor’s yard? Chances are, unless you walk the paths of the few elite arboreta around North…
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Landscaping Guide – Four Seasons Landscaping
A Measure of Interest If the secret of landscaping could be summed up in one word, that word would be “interest“; it’s all about interest. The value of a landscape…
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Landscaping Guide – The Artist’s Palette
The Dance of the Elements Elements are simply the individual things that you put into your landscape, the “stuff” that your landscape is made of. They are the materials that…
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Landscaping Guide – Basic Landscaping Principles
Landscaping is a form of art, and art is about composition. So what exactly is composition? It is the combining of various elements and characteristics to produce an end result…
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Landscaping Guide – The Art of Landscaping
The next time you walk through a neighborhood, take some time to stop and really focus on what you see. Look closely at the homes and the yards. How do…
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Creating an Authentic Japanese Garden – But Made in North America, Eh?
Creating an Asian garden in our colder North American climates shouldn’t be a frightening task. All you have to do is remember what you are trying to accomplish in your…
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Secrets to Creating a Personal Garden Sanctuary
The average garden is usually designed for a measure of the show, but more insightful gardeners will always carve out a portion of the garden for themselves, a place for…
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Dealing With Winter Stress on Your Lawn
Each year as the spring approaches, many homeowners anxiously wait and watch for their lawns to green up. How quickly does this happen with your lawn? Do you feel like…
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