The most recent articles

Love that lenten rose? Divide it, make more of it!

In What's Coming Up 224:

Spreading Early Color follows our mentor's steps to divide and move spring bulbs right now.

Green Thumbs Up goes this time to Cut Harder in Spring. Learn why cutting some shrubs right to the ground can help you control size, have cleaner lines, brighter foliage and better-timed flowers this summer.

Green Thumbs Down to our least-favorite kind of pruning, undoing the result of Timid Cuts That Create A Tangle.

 

It's a  springboard in What's Coming Up 223:

Where do I start? Drive-by design: How should a person begin to design a landscape? Drive around. Take pictures. Ask experienced people, "What is this? How do I make it happen in my yard?" If you're new to gardening or helping a new homeowner plan to plant, start off right by taking this virtual tour with us.

 In Our Garden and yours, everything happens so fast in spring. It's a shame to miss any of it, especially since there's no recourse but to wait a whole year for another chance. Peruse this set of beautiful images, Close up catch up. We bet Steven caught at least a few things you missed in your own garden.

 

The articles in What's Coming Up 222:

Hellebore Divided: A pictorial how-to for making more of a good thing by dividing that lenten rose. With information about preventing crown rot of this fine perennial.

Green Thumbs Up to the optimism exhibited by anyone who trains a climbing rose.
In Roses Trained we follow the growth of two roses, one trellised and one pilloried, in a salute to the perennial optimism required to train climbing roses.

Green Thumbs Down to clematis wilt, a disease that just can't wait even one week so we can first enjoy the flowers!
In Clematis Wilted we switch gears for a big boo-hiss to clematis wilt disease for its very rude timing.

Make More Clematis. Even a world class gardener may need a reminder from a frugal English aunt now and then: No reason to buy more of a good plant. Once you have one you can make more. We pay homage to our Mentors as we demonstrate how to turn one clematis vine into many.

Cedar Color Change: When cedars (Virginia junipers) go suddenly from gray-green to burnt sienna, these gardeners pull to the shoulder to see what's up. In this 45mph Garden report we show you what we found.

Clematis Pruning Reprise: We're told that what we've written so far still leaves questions, so we aim for a better answer. Come prune clematis with us in this article from What's Coming Up #222. Includes a wander into all the dozens of species and Types of Clematis. you might add to your collection.

Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow', does!

Stumped by Spring: We are forever stumped and always delighted by Spring. Join us in What's Coming Up 220 for a quiz as we make our annual "Whoozat?" rounds.

And   Stumped by Spring 2, another round of spring's beauty, captured in What's Coming Up 221.

Splayed arborvitaes:  Why it happens, what to do, and how to live with the reality.

Arbs' spring check: Why well-shaped arbs start with a spring check up.

Arbs cut in time: The best approach to pruning an arborvitae is to begin cutting it as soon as it reaches whatever height and width you can allow.

Arbs cut hard: Sometimes there's no choice but to chop an arborvitae back a few years all at once.

Arbs long recovery: Reality check: An arborvitae's recovery can be a long road.

Yews cut hard: Cutting 'way back is harder on the gardener than the yew

Yews rejuvenated: Ah to grow young again!

Yews creep: Don't let them get away from you.

Yews normal cut: So good to know there's a very simple way to keep them forever small and lush.

Spicebush sex: When hazy woods lead to dusty revelation. For the gardener hoping for fruit from a spicebush.

 

 

Covering up for spring bulbs' wane: Sorry to mention it while bulbs are in their glory, but they are going to fade. Now's the time to plan the cover-up.

Spring bulbs: Steven's photographic extravagarden. Beautiful and full of facts about the earliest color in our gardens.

Fertilizing bulbs: Now's the time!

Green Thumbs Up and Down:
      To showering houseplants
      To denying kids plant names.

Don't worry, please. The plants will be fine even if cold returns. In the meanwhile, YOU enjoy the early show!

Big Hedges: What's Coming Up #217, March 3, 2017: 12 shrubs and trees that have all the key qualities to be a great big hedge. We commend them for good looks, density, adaptability, tolerance for continual cutting and more.

Thumbs Up and Down: What's Coming Up #217, March 3, 2017: To lovely witchhazels and aggravating deer. We enjoy the one and plan our campaign of deterrents for the other.

Raspberry Crumble, What's Coming Up #217: Raspberry bushes are persistent but here's one reason to think about replacing them every few years.

Old Spruce Hedge, What's Coming Up #217, March 3, 2017: It's a Stumper, why the gardener fails to see that her own row of aging spruces or pines can no longer serve its intended purpose. Here's why it's probably better to start over than to plant under those trees, with plenty of photos that may help you recognize the aging spruce in your own blind spot.

Kids' Views, What's Coming Up #217, March 3, 2017: Smile as they remind us of lawn's biggest value and a child's need for freedom to poke about in a garden.

Growing Concerns #647: Twelve timely articles fully illustrated, from Spruce understory for what you might plant under those aging spruces, to fertilizing citrus, flattened grasses, careers in gardens and finding a tree broker.

Pruning Panicle Hydrangea, What's Coming Up #216, February 17, 2016. It's a beautiful summer blooming, low care shrub with one problem, that it is too big for most gardens. Fortunately it's easy to control with one cut per year. Here's the when and how.

Thaw is Saw Opportunity, What's Coming Up #216, February 17, 2016: Recognize a winter thaw and get a jump on spring pruning. What to look for, what to prune.

Panicle hydrangea (H. paniculata) are beautiful but often too big. No worries, one clip per year can resize them.

Water Til it Weeps: What's Coming Up 216, February 17, 2016. Why you should be more generous with water for anything grown in a pot. Learn why and how with your houseplants this winter, put it to good use watering new perennials, shrubs and trees this spring.

Plants for a West Window: What's Coming Up #215, February 7, 2016

Kalanchoes are troopers that can take the daily, sudden shift in light and heat from the west.

Sellers Who Don't Label Plants What's Up #215, Green Thumbs Up and Down department, February 7, 2016

Shame on department- and home stores' for the deplorable practice of selling plants without identification.