Savvy Gardening

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.

How to harvest herbs: How and when to harvest homegrown herbs

Written by Niki Jabbour

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

Written by Tara Nolan

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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When to cut back irises for healthier, more attractive plants

Written by Jessica Walliser

Bearded irises (Iris germanica) are a star of the late spring garden, but knowing when to cut back irises can impact their bloom-power more than you think. Their big floppy blooms come in a huge range of colors, capable of creating a rainbow of hues in the landscape. Iris are deer- and rabbit-resistant, and many varieties have a lovely but subtle fragrance. Though they are fairly easy to grow, it’s important to know when and how to cut back these perennials to maximize both the plant’s health and the appearance of your garden. In this article, I’ll discuss some great tips for the most effective iris pruning and introduce the best time of the year to do it.
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Plum tomatoes: How to grow plum tomatoes in gardens and containers

Written by Niki Jabbour

Plum tomatoes are the secret to an amazing homemade tomato sauce! The oval-shaped fruits have a sweet-acid flavor and meaty texture which cooks down into a thick, rich sauce. Plus the plants are easy to grow in garden beds and containers. When given sunshine, fertile soil, and consistent moisture you can expect a bumper crop of plum tomatoes for summer sauces. Read on to learn more about planting, growing, and harvesting plum tomatoes.

Zinnia Profusion: Grow an abundance of these gorgeous annual flowers in gardens and containers

Written by Tara Nolan

Zinnias are among my favorite summer flowers. I plant these bloom-filled annuals everywhere—my raised beds, my front yard ornamental garden, in pots. I like to plant a variety of colors and several plants, so that a few flowers can be snipped here and there for cut flower arrangements, while leaving enough to be enjoyed in the garden. There are many gorgeous varieties, but today I’m going to talk about the Zinnia Profusion series.

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