Perennials, roses, flowering plants, bulbs, climbers, hedges and ornamental planting.
Quick answer: Snip a healthy, non-flowering shoot 3–4 in (8–10 cm) long, strip the lower leaves and let the cut end dry for about an hour. Push it into light, moist seed compost, keep it bright but out of direct sun at 64–68°F (18–20°C), and skip the plastic cover — pelargoniums tend to do better…
Quick answer: Plant Japanese maples in a wind-sheltered spot with sun to light shade, in loose, well-drained soil. Keep the soil evenly moist, feed lightly only in spring, and prune in mid to late summer to avoid heavy sap bleed. Most cultivars are hardy in USDA zones 5–8; gardeners in colder zones 3–4 do best…
Quick answer: Plant magnolia in a sheltered spot with full sun to light shade, in rich, well-drained soil that’s slightly acidic to neutral. Water deeply while the tree establishes, feed lightly in spring only, and prune as little as possible, in July–September if you must. For USDA zones 3–6, choose a hardy, late-blooming variety —…
Quick answer: Prune lilac within two to four weeks after it finishes flowering, usually in late spring to early summer depending on your zone — wait until fall or winter and you’ll cut off next year’s flowers. Remove dead, crossing and oldest wood every year, and rejuvenate a tall, bare-legged shrub by cutting one-third of…
Quick answer: Rhododendrons need acidic, humus-rich soil with a pH of 4.5–5.5, light shade and shelter from wind. Plant at or slightly above the surrounding soil level, water with rainwater when you can, and feed with a lime-free, acid-loving plant fertilizer from bud break through midsummer. Yellow leaves almost always trace back to soil pH…
Quick answer: Most tall ornamental grasses need full sun, while sedges and Japanese forest grass tolerate part shade. Plant in spring or late summer, feed lightly, and never cut the clumps back in autumn — wait until early spring instead, when the old stems have finished protecting the crown and sheltering wildlife over winter.
Quick answer: The most reliable evergreen shrubs for USDA zones 3–6 are arborvitae, juniper and yew for hedges and sun, plus boxwood, mahonia and rhododendron for shade. Match the species to your hardiness zone, light and purpose, and plant in early fall or spring. Water deeply before the ground freezes — a dry root system…
Quick answer: Pelargoniums (often called ”geraniums”) need full sun, watering once the compost dries out, and weekly feeding from spring through midsummer. Bring them in before the first frost and store cool, 40–50°F (5–10°C), somewhere bright if scented or trailing. Water sparingly all winter, cut back to about 4 in (10 cm), and wake plants…
Quick answer: Plant thuja in spring or early fall, spacing plants 60–150 cm (2–5 ft) apart depending on the variety and how fast you want the hedge to fill in. Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide, water deeply and consistently through the first two growing seasons, and feed…
Quick answer: For fast privacy, arborvitae, privet or hornbeam are the best hedge plants – clip once or twice a year and expect 1.5-2 m (5-6.5 ft) in about 3-5 years. For a tighter, formal hedge that takes hard pruning, choose yew or boxwood instead, though both grow much more slowly and need closer watching…