Experienced gardeners prefer fall planting. Not for all plants, but for a great many that the beginner seldom thinks of setting out except in spring. Unless you are in a very cold section of the country, roses planted in fall take hold better than spring-set bushes. So do most fruit trees and bushes, other deciduous … Read more
If there is one American plant truly deserving of recommendation for ornamental use over a greater part of the United States, it is the flowering dogwood. Commonly distributed in the woodlands over half the country at least, Cornus florida has been a highly valued ornamental since colonial times, and justly so. One can seldom go … Read more
We must realize that many of the perennial plants we grow in our gardens need special protection to live from year to year. Some bulbs, corms, and tubers need to be dug and placed in storage for winter because they do not survive the temperatures out of doors. Those needing such treatment include gladiolus, cannas, … Read more
This is an interesting month for gardeners everywhere but particularly so for gardeners here. October is one of the best planting months of the entire year. Careful soil preparation is essential for all bulb plantings, especially for bulbs that bloom for several years before being replanted. Loosen the soil deeply and incorporate liberal amounts of … Read more
October’s beauty is so brief… and if spring gardens are to be beautiful, much work must be done now. It is moving time this month or next for plants that are placed wrong. Look at the garden with a critical eye. Are clumps of daylilies too close to walks? Do shrubs need moving? Are there … Read more
Yews are, without question, the most useful and permanent evergreens in our gardens. Except for the few varieties that are very slow growing, most grow quickly. In fact, they develop too rapidly to be allowed to go without pruning when used in foundation plantings or formal gardens, or as hedges. Japanese Yews: Annual Pruning The … Read more
Shall I or shall I not have a greenhouse? This question, teasing its way back and forth through my thoughts for many months, suddenly resolved itself. I would have a greenhouse I thought, and decided on an aluminum lean-to type, 7′ by 14′ feet, with an outside door at one end. Cool House for Proper … Read more
Standard-sized fruit trees are out of the question for many home yards because in time they take up too much space, and their tops cannot be reached with home spraying equipment. Dwarf Fruit Trees But dwarf fruit trees are another story. They are scaled at maturity to suburban properties, and their tallest branches are always … Read more
In the most beautiful garden,” my friend said enthusiastically. I “Just wait ’til you see it; there isn’t anything like it.” I listened politely but said nothing. We had often heard great reports only to arrive at the promised land to find a mass of flowers with no apparent design or well-laid out beds with … Read more
We usually think of vines as most useful for house walls and arbors, yet they will sprawl along the ground and are particularly useful for spreading over terraces. They may eliminate grass-cutting of terrace slopes or soften the sharp lines of the terrace. On either side of the terrace steps, they may be a welcome … Read more