August is a very important transitional time in our vegetable gardens. Some vegetables are still maturing, but many others have finished completely, leaving gaps here and there that could still produce a few crops.
When late summer arrives, far too many landscapes look a bit tired, tatty and worn out. This is especially true when the summer has been long and hot. By adding some very special late blooming perennials, you can make an enormous difference to the whole look and feel of your late summer garden.
Hydrangeas, next to roses, are perhaps the most common deciduous flowering shrub in West Coast gardens. The ‘macrophylla’ or ‘garden hydrangea’ was introduced to England in 1736, and since then, a whole series of beautiful plants have been developed for the home garden.
In the heat of summer (should we be so lucky), we normally would be looking to add a little extra punch to our gardens, and there is one family of plants that has so much to offer but really doesn’t get the attention it deserves.
By adding some very special late summer blooming perennials, you can make an enormous difference to the whole look and feel of your garden.
If you’re a little late with the colour in your garden this year, consider yourself lucky. The cool wet weather has really held things back and caused more than the usual number of insect and disease problems, but there is still plenty of time for a splendid garden.
Extend your living space with an outdoor room. Master gardener Brian Minter tells you how.
Smaller spaces, both for living and gardening, are today’s reality. Unfortunately many…
Roses are now bursting out with buds already showing and even some colour. However, I am absolutely amazed to hear of aphid problems already on roses and would highly recommend simply washing them off with a gentle flow of water.
Mother’s Day is almost here, and many of us are still looking for some inspiration. Well, let me make a few suggestions.
Looking for a simple but fast cover-up to screen an old fence or wall, an unsightly building or a nosy neighbour? Why not make good use of some interesting and attractive vines.
When we think of rhododendrons, we usually conjure up images of lush foliaged varieties smothered in huge trusses of blossoms. According to the respected Oregon rhododendron authority, Ted Van Veen, over 800 species and over 10,000 named varieties grow within 800 miles of the North Pole and as far south as the sand dunes of Florida.
We take many things for granted today, often not fully appreciating the…
I’ve never seen a year that has stayed so cold and wet…
Moss… moss… and more moss! It is in lawns everywhere this year, spreading vigorously and choking out those poor lawn grasses. In spite of all the lime and moss control applied, it seems to get worse.
It’s hard to imagine a June garden without the mouth-watering flavour of…
The last thing gardeners on the West Coast need now is a…
Asparagus is one of our oldest perennial vegetables. The generic word is…
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. If you really want to…
It’s high time to be out there with pruning shears in hand, cleaning up our trees and shrubs, but we also must be a little cautious with some of our plants to make sure we don’t prune off this year’s flowers and fruits.
