Pacific Northwest Regional Report

Colorful Heaths and Heathers

Winter can be a long and dreary season around here, yet there is rarely a time between November and June when I can't gather sprays of the bell-shaped blossoms from my winter-flowering heaths. Mine bloom in shades of pink, rose, light purple, lilac,...
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Resources

The Houseplant Bible
Viburnums

Winterize Sprinkler Systems
Feed the Birds
Control Fungus Gnats
Don't Prune Evergreens
Plant the Last of the Bulbs

Time to Dig Those Dahlia Tubers

I never met a dahlia I didn't like. They come in all sizes, from miniature plants that look great in borders or containers, to almost bush-like giants, perfect for focal points or as background plants. They come in a wide variety of blossom shapes and...
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Resources

Quirky Gardeners
Ornamental Kale

Recycle Fallen Leaves
Wrap Tree Trunks
Search for that Perfect Poinsettia
Leave Healthy Foliage Alone
Clean Gutters and Downspouts

Fall-Planted Primroses

Ornamental kale, pansies, snapdragons, and calendulas are the standard fare around here, but primroses are gaining in popularity. They're available in most colors, from brilliant jewel tones to pale soft pastels, which make them perfect additions to...
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Resources

Lemon Verbena
Fall Webworms

Prepare Beds for Spring
Appreciate Fall Foliage
Compost Plant Debris
Sweeten Root Crops
Plant Garlic

Practicing Good Garden Sanitation

If you've harvested the last of your vegetables, it's time to get the garden ready for winter. It might be tempting to just walk away and deal with the garden next spring, but a little work now will result in a healthier, more productive garden next...
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Resources

Hydrangeas for American Gardens
Velcro Plant Ties

Divide and Transplant Iris
Prune Back Diseased Plants
Take Geranium Cuttings
Add Color to the Fall Landscape
Allow Roses to Harden Off

Autumn Gardens

As summer ends and garden colors fade, we often think about putting our gardens to rest. But this time of year doesn't have to symbolize the end. Instead, think of it as a new beginning. Autumn gardening is challenging, but it is also rewarding. It...
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Resources

Simplifying the Selection of Trees and Shrubs
Autumn Crocus

Harvest Small Fruits
Clean Up the Garden
Compost Your Debris
Keep Out Gophers and Moles
Avoiding Red Thread

Time to Plant Spring Bulbs

September and October are prime months for purchasing spring-blooming bulbs. I always buy extra to pot up and force into early bloom indoors. Forcing bulbs is easy -- it just takes a little advance planning. How to Start Forcing Bulbs The first...
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Resources

Northwest Garden Style
A Late-Season Bloomer

Late Summer Rose Care
Practice Good Garden Sanitation
Prune Flowering Shrubs
Keep Composting
Sow Onion Seeds

Fabulous Fall Mums

As the days of summer grow shorter and cooler, fall chrysanthemums burst into bloom, offering a grand finale to the garden year and a glorious complement to the vivid foliage of fall. I plant them anywhere I can for a spectacular splash of color. If...
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Resources

Late-Season Garden Planning
Elijah Blue

Take Rose Cuttings
Sow Cover Crops
Leach Salts from Containers
Control Disease and Insect Problems
Replace Spent Annuals

Hollyhocks Take Center Stage in August

I have an old-fashioned cottage garden alongside my garage which takes center stage during the month of August, blooming profusely in a wide range of vibrant colors. My favorite August plants are the old-fashioned hollyhocks ( Alcea rosea ). Hollyhocks...
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Resources

The Harmonious Garden
Bargain Garden Gloves

Harvest Fruits
Replace Spent Annuals
Water Regularly
Control Insects and Diseases
Leach Salts from Pots

Avant-Garde Rose Culture

Now that the summer season is in full swing, we're enjoying our garden to the fullest, especially our spectacular roses. Some shrubs require minimal care, but roses need a regular maintenance program for peak performance. I think it's worth the effort....
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Resources

Birdwatcher's Delight
In-ground Division

Stake Tall Plants
Prevent Cucumber Bitterness
Plant More Veggies
Eradicate Weeds
Build a Wasp Trap

Seed-Saving Time

Collecting and germinating seeds from your favorite annuals and perennials adds a new dimension to gardening. With a little bit of effort, you can increase your stock and share the wealth with friends. And because seedlings can be quite variable, you...
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Resources

The Pocket Gardener
Everlasting Statice

Prune Flowering Shrubs
Control Apple Maggots
Cut Back Annuals
Reseed Bare Spots
Provide Morning Showers

Gardening is Child's Play

The experiences that made me an avid gardener come from my earliest memories: planting sweet peas with my mother, harvesting baby carrots with my grandfather, roaming my uncle's ranch and picking kumquats for the first time. I remember when my brother...
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Resources

Making More Plants
'Great Expectations' Hosta

Divide Early-Season Perennials
Pinch Back Herbs
Water Container Plants
Take Geranium Cuttings
Prevent Corn Earworms

Pacific Northwest Regional Report

Colorful Heaths and Heathers

Resources

Reminders

Time to Dig Those Dahlia Tubers

Resources

Reminders

Fall-Planted Primroses

Resources

Reminders

Practicing Good Garden Sanitation

Resources

Reminders

Autumn Gardens

Resources

Reminders

Time to Plant Spring Bulbs

Resources

Reminders

Fabulous Fall Mums

Resources

Reminders

Hollyhocks Take Center Stage in August

Resources

Reminders

Avant-Garde Rose Culture

Resources

Reminders

Seed-Saving Time

Resources

Reminders

Gardening is Child's Play

Resources

Reminders