Hosta Information and Growing TipsFun, interesting, and helpful tidbits about Hostas.
More Than Just a Sea of GreenThere was a time when the Hostas available to the average gardener were predominantly shades of green with an occasional one that was gold or bluish. That is not true today, as the work of some dedicated hybridizers and mutations from Mother Nature have given us a wider palette of hosta colors to choose from. Careful selection of some of the lovely cultivars available today can make the Hosta Garden something more than a sea of green.
Add a Splash of Color to Your Hosta GardenIt goes without saying that tastes vary. Hosta purists might recoil at the addition of a strong primary color to the cool blues, greens, and golds in their garden. To others, including me, the judicious addition of a splash of strong color to a mature planting can add excitement and visual interest.
Companion Plants for the Hosta GardenHostas come in a great variety of colors, sizes, forms, and textures. A shady bed featuring only a number of well-chosen Hosta cultivars can provide great visual interest, but the addition of some companion plants can add to the overall beauty and diversity.
Hostas Are Wonderful in ContainersPlanting some Hostas in containers can bring wonderful variety to the garden. It also allows plants to be enjoyed on a patio or other shaded area where they can't go directly into the ground. A potted plant can also bring interest to a bed of Hostas. Give it a try.
Let's Celebrate Hostas!We open the Hostas Celebration Week with a look at the top cultivars, top comments, most thumbed images, and more!
Homemade Self-Watering ContainerHere is a cheap and easy way to make your own self-watering container for your vegetables and other plants.
Goji Berry, a Xeriscapic, Easy To Grow and Good for You ShrubI've been growing Gojiberries for several years now and have been so successful, I wanted to share this plant with everyone. If you've never grown this useful shrub, this article will motivate you to make it happen.
Old Bricks Get New Life in the GardenIt isn't often that we think of using old bricks in our gardens, but they add beauty and lots of interest if we give them a chance!!!
Alternative to Coir Basket LinersTrish said in a recent podcast that she dislikes coir liners for baskets. So do I!
How To Turn Brown Grass into Green GrassTired of brown grass? Try this formula!
Clematis Celebration Week Wrap UpAnother great week of celebration is coming to a close. Let's have a look at some of the highlights from the week.
How and Why to Prune ClematisIf you’ve ever seen a clematis that is one big mountain of tangled up stems, it’s almost enough to scare you away from growing them. But let’s take a look at why, when, and how these remarkable vines should be pruned and you’ll find it’s not as difficult as it seems.
The Clematis Pronunciation DebateSince this is Celebrating Clematis Week, I thought I would pose a question to all regions that grow and love the plant. How do you pronounce the word "clematis"?
Clematis/Rose CombinationsClematises and roses are ideal companions. They grow well in the same types of locations, thrive in the same types of soil, require the same amount of watering, and respond equally well to the same fertilizers.
Clematis - Dynamic Companion (Part 1)We admire clematises because of the beauty of their flowers, but their dynamic nature, their rush to the top, and the sense of movement that they bring to the landscape offer much more to gardeners and admirers.
Clematis in ContainersDespite my Canadian avatar, I live in Texas, so I can’t speak from practical experience about growing clematises in containers in the North. It is possible, however, to grow a clematis in a pot in a hot zone, and likely not that different in my native land.
The Top ClematisesWe open the Clematises Celebration Week with a look at the top cultivars, top comments, most thumbed images, and more!
How To Peel a Head of Garlic in 20 Seconds!Sounds a little far-fetched, doesn't it? But you can do it.
ATP Podcast #90: Heading into SummerWe're finally back with episode 90 and we pack a lot into this one! We talk about the fun gardening chores that occur as you head into summer. Trish shares fascinating information about hydrangea bloom colors and Dave boasts about ATP versus the rest of the gardening online websites.
Coffee, Anyone?About to pour out that leftover coffee? Wait! Hold on. It's not finished yet. It still has work to do. I have found that some plants love their coffee as much as I do.
Time Your Cut FlowersFor bouquets or floral displays, cut flowers early in the morning or late in the evening and they'll last longer in your arrangement.
Longer Lasting Cut FlowersInstead of using water in your vase of freshly cut flowers, use flat Sprite or 7-Up. The citrus keeps them perky and the corn syrup keeps them alive. Just follow these two rules: Don't use the diet version, and remember that the soda has to be flat in order to be effective.
Pot of HerbsA pot of herbs can be pretty in addition to tasting good. Include edible flowers, such as pansies, parsley for its beautiful texture, purple basil for color, etc. Keep the pot by your back door so it's handy to grab what you need.
Harvest Potatoes EarlyI have to admit I can't wait for the potato plants to die back. I want to eat potatoes with my green beans as soon as possible, and so does the rest of the family. What to do? Steal them, of course.
