The St. Johnsworts make up a large group of herbaceous and shrubby plants widely distributed over the northern hemisphere. A number of the herbaceous kinds and some of the moderately hardy shrubs of the group have received considerable attention in plant catalogs, but the value of some of the hardy and ‘dependable woody. Species are … Read more
Gardening as a happy and healthful experience is a balanced combination of planning, timing, physical effort, and mechanical and chemical aids, with the most significant emphasis on the first three. But, in these technological times, we are easily mesmerized by labor and time-saving gadgets beautifully illustrated in page-splashed ads. Garden aids, both mechanical and chemical, … Read more
In recent years, the switch to high analysis, quickly soluble, complete plant foods by thousands of gardeners and commercial growers of food and ornamental plants is an outstanding development of twentieth-century agriculture. Oddly enough, with but a few exceptions, the manufacturers of these concentrated plant foods first offered them as supplements rather than substitutes for … Read more
A significant survey was conducted some time back to check the most common mistakes of amateur gardeners. The area covered was part of the Midwest and much of the Northeast; the gardeners ranged from beginners to those with many years of experience. Can you guess what was at the top of the poll in these … Read more
Would you like to have a naturalistic garden of native flowering plants? Have you always thought that a woodland plot or other natural habitat is necessary to grow wildflowers? Many gardeners have thought positively about these queries, only to abandon the idea because such an area was not available. On the other hand, many wait … Read more
Bamboo. The very word conjures up pictures of a lush tropical jungle steaming under a downpour of rain or arching, swaying canes tossing their luxuriant burden of foliage along river banks where crocodiles bask, and birds of paradise preen their splendid plumage. Warm-climate gardens in the Orient have long used the more decorative bamboo species. … Read more
Limited space need not deter you from having a water garden. Visitors who admire the magnificent display of tropical waterlilies at the Missouri Botanical Garden often express their enthusiasm for these exotic aquatics and wish they could grow them in their back yards. Anyone can grow and enjoy waterlilies even in a small plot where … Read more
For over a century, European gardeners have made the most of their garden space, both decoratively and productively, in training fruit trees by the espalier system. This method has many points of value to small property owners. Fruit trees typically grow quite tall and broad and bear a prodigious quantity of fruit. This is all … Read more
With one-story homes being built the country over, new homeowners are realizing more and more that it’s no longer necessary to plant trees that grow to the 150′ foot giants. Trees under 30′ feet are in ever-increasing demand, especially those with exciting spring flowers. The Japanese snowbell (Styrax japonica) meets both of these specifications, sometimes … Read more
Air layering plants is an ancient method of plant propagation. Also called air grafting, many believe it originated with Asian gardeners. The technique allows gardeners to increase hard-to-get plants or those with sentimental value. The How To Of Air Layering Propagation Step by Step: 1. Select a branch from 1/4″ to 1 1/2″ inches in … Read more