Shrubs serve so many purposes in the garden. They can create a hedge that adds privacy, provide a focal point in a foundation planting, add at least three seasons of color, and anchor a garden design. Dark-leaved shrubs are special because they have standalone interest due to their interesting foliage, but also offer the perfect backdrop against which you can plant any number of vibrant colors for an eye-catching garden montage.
Small pumpkins: How to plant, grow, and harvest pint-sized pumpkins
Small pumpkins are so much fun to grow! They’re easy and productive, often yielding a dozen or more pumpkins per plant. Kids love them but so do adults and the mini fruits can be used as autumn or Halloween decor, in crafting, or baked in pies and muffins. The fruits can be as small as a couple of inches across and have orange, white, or even bi-colored rinds. Keep reading to learn more about planting, growing, and harvesting a bumper crop of small pumpkins.
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Hardy Hibiscus: How to plant and grow this tropical-looking perennial
Do you love the look of tropical hibiscus but hate having to toss the plant on the compost pile at the end of the growing season or watch all its leaves fall off when you try to overwinter it indoors? What if I told you there was a way you could enjoy those same big, gorgeous blooms without needing to worry about what to do when cold temperatures arrive? Say hello to the hardy hibiscus! Yes, you heard me right. Let me tell you more about this amazing perennial hibiscus.
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Sweet woodruff: An enchanting groundcover choice for shade gardens
It was a garden tour that introduced me to sweet woodruff, an elegant looking groundcover in a lovely, shaded corner side yard. And a trip to Germany made me aware of its culinary uses and popularity in Europe. Subsequent to my new-to-me plant discovery, I found one at a garden center and brought it home. I can’t remember why, but I planted my sweet woodruff in a part of the garden that gets a fair bit of sun throughout the day. The plant did okay—for awhile. And then it got a bit feisty, spreading and popping up in the foliage of some surrounding plants. That same year, during an especially arid summer, it completely died.
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How to harvest herbs: How and when to harvest homegrown herbs
Growing culinary herbs like basil, thyme, rosemary, and parsley is essential if you’re a gardener who loves to cook. Most herbs are easy to grow in garden beds and containers and can be harvested throughout the summer months. Harvesting herbs isn’t difficult; it’s just a matter of knowing when to harvest to preserve maximum flavor and how to harvest to encourage fresh growth. Keep reading to find out more about how to harvest herbs.
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Grow a balcony garden full of veggies, herbs, and flowers
If you’re looking to transform your balcony into a lush garden—or even if you have a tiny patio space, Field Guide to Urban Gardening by Kevin Espiritu of Epic Gardening is a really helpful guide to figure out what you need with your space constraints and unique growing conditions. This excerpt from the book about growing a balcony garden was provided by Cool Springs Press/The Quarto Group.
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