Month: April 2020

The old-fashioned bleeding heart is a favorite perennial of the shady flower garden and was called the finest hardy plant of the 19th century. Here’s how to plant and grow bleeding heart flowers in your garden! Even today, nothing surpasses its graceful, arching, 3-foot stems adorned with its flowers of...

Chives are a perennial member of the onion family that sport beautiful edible flowers. They are cool-season, cold-tolerant perennials that are best planted in early spring for a late spring and early summer harvest. Be mindful when planting this herb, as it will take over your garden if the...

Basil is a warm-weather, fragrant herb that tastes great in Italian dishes—and let’s not forget homemade pesto! Plant seeds or transplants after all danger of frost has passed and soil is warm, and it will yield an abundant harvest within weeks. Keep harvesting the leaves to keep the plant going strong. The most common type of...

If you have ever seen a tree covered with pretty pink blooms (but not leaves) in winter, you likely encountered the eastern redbud bush. It is one of the first trees to flower each year. The species tends to have a short lifespan (on average up to 20 years) because of...

Northern red oak (Quercus rubra) is a handsome, adaptable tree that thrives in nearly any setting. Planting a red oak tree requires a bit of extra preparation, but the payoff is great; this American classic provides glorious summer shade and reliable fall color for many years to come. Read...

Rhododendrons and azaleas, both from the genus Rhododendron, have long been mainstays of late spring because of their spectacular clusters of showy blooms plus, large green leaves that often stay green through winter. The flowers are tubular-, funnel-, or bell-shaped—and often fragrant. The leaves of the smaller azalea are usually pointed and narrow; the...

Although Citrus is a subtropical genus, northern gardeners can grow lemons, oranges, and other citrus trees in containers to enjoy fresh citrus fruit. Standard-size grapefruit and orange trees can grow 18 to 22 feet tall, whereas dwarf varieties only grow 8 to 12 feet tall. Most citrus varieties are self-fertile, so only one tree is needed for fruit...

An easy-care vegetable that loves sun and water, cucumbers grow quickly as long as they receive consistent watering and warmth. Most varieties will grow in any amount of space, thanks to the plant’s ability to climb. Of course, these prolific veggies are perfect for pickling! There are two types of cucumber plants: vining...

Cantaloupes, or muskmelons, are a delicious, heat-loving fruit with a relatively long growing season, making them especially well-suited for southern gardeners.  What is commonly referred to as a ‘cantaloupe’ is not actually a true cantaloupe—rather, a type of muskmelon. (True cantaloupe has a rough, warty rind and is not widely...

Plump, juicy blueberries are now easy to grow in your backyard on bushes that are resistant to most pests and diseases, and can produce for up to 20 years. Did you know that the modern blueberry is a 20th-century invention? Before the 1900s, the only way to enjoy these...