… Tom knows how to deal with roses at every stage of their lives: young and old, tended and in need of pruning, healthy and not. For this month's Smart Gardener , we asked him to address a common issue that every gardener eventually faces—tending to overgrown roses. Dedicated in 1985, the Krasberg Rose Garden's 5,000 roses have filled in the beds, trellises, and arbor nicely over the years. Some of the original selections are …
Type: Plant Info
… Celebrating the Garden in Autumn "Wild is the music of the autumnal winds amongst the faded woods." – William Wordsworth (1770 – 1850) This is the time of year when we can stand in our gardens, take a step back, slowly inhale the spicy fall air, and muse about how our … big harvests of beefy tomatoes. More children were helping their parents and grandparents in the garden. There was a renewed interest in victory gardens and attracting butterflies. And …
Type: Plant Info
… anything else? Gardening can be approached with a similar mindset, by growing vegetables in neat, rectangular plots and flowers in their own beds. This approach implies flowers are to look at and vegetables are to eat. And fraternization is frowned on. But things are changing. To see what's happening in today's gardens, one has only to visit the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden at the Chicago …
Type: Plant Info
… it with another tree of similar ornamental value. What trees would you recommend to plant in its place? A. There are many trees that are hardy to our area and will have a similar ornamental value as an Ash tree. In order to decide on a suitable replacement, first be sure to identify the characteristics that are most important to you in a replacement tree. For example, are you looking for a street tree or a tree for the back …
Type: Plant Info
… want to save this month and cut back leggy foliage and flower heads. Repot the small plants in a soilless mix and place the herbs in a southern window. They will need at least five hours of direct sun per day. Tiered glass … cool-white bulb and one warm-white bulb. Special "grow lights" are unnecessary. Herbs do best in relatively cool rooms (60-65 degrees Fahrenheit) with adequate humidity. Because nutrients are …
Type: Plant Info
… garden is a natural or constructed depression intended to mitigate stormwater. The plantings in a rain garden allow water to percolate into the soil, reducing runoff into storm sewers, reducing erosion, and protecting ground water quality. In addition to being attractive, a rain garden generally requires less maintenance than a lawn … available sun, size of desired garden and lot, underground utilities, and plant variety. Keep in mind that smaller gardens have less room for variety. Also, because water only stands …
Type: Plant Info
… Q. What shrubs can be grown in the shade? A. It is best to determine the level of shade in your garden prior to purchasing plants for that area. Deep shade is generally defined as an … that you can select items best suited for your site. Some examples of shrubs that perform well in full shade include bottlebrush buckeye ( Aesculus parviflora ), summersweet ( Clethra …
Type: Plant Info
… recently installed a soaker hose system throughout my garden. How long do I let the water run in order to water adequately? A. The amount of time a soaker hose should run depends on the … with the water pressure, turn the hose on for one hour and then actually dig with a spade in different areas and see how far down the water has reached. Keep a record of how deep the water seeped in the different garden areas, and let that be your guide for future waterings. In general, …
Type: Plant Info
… A. Use a pair of clean, sharp cutters to prune off desired branches. Place the cut ends in water until you are ready to use them. You can crush the ends of woody stems so that the branch can take up more water. Another option is to place the greenery in water overnight to allow the cutting to absorb more water. Dry the foliage and apply an anti-desiccant to seal in the moisture. Using an anti-desiccant on juniper berries, cedar, or blue spruce can damage the …
Type: Plant Info
… rule, spring-flowering plants should be divided right after they are finished blooming or in late summer or early fall. If you divide them before they bloom, you may sacrifice blooms for that year. Transplanting earlier in the year allows plants to become established before cold weather sets in. Plants that bloom later should be divided in the spring, just as they begin to emerge. …
Type: Plant Info
