Ten tips for growing great garden roses Story by Hugh Conlon Roses (Rosa spp.) contribute beauty and fragrance to any garden. There are many varieties of roses to pick from, many wanting little extra care. To get your roses off to a great start, plant them in the right spot and select the best varieties. Rose …
Planning garden beds for maximum impact and minimum maintenance Story and Photography by Susan Jasan A little planning ahead can maximize your enjoyment and minimize headaches when dealing with your landscape – the maintenance in particular. A simple concept, yes; but most often overlooked. This particularly applies to the layout and design of your planting …
Louisiana landscapes are neither totally bleak nor lifeless during winter By Dan Gill Overall, Louisiana landscapes sleep restlessly over the winter. We certainly don’t see the sound slumber that is typical for gardens in climates that are considerably colder than ours. In cold climates, landscape plants hunker down and hope for a blanket of snow …
Thug plants to avoid in the landscape Story and Photography by Susan Albert Everyone who gardens can relate to the oft-used phrase “garden thugs.” During the experimental stage, when early gardeners eagerly try many plants with wild abandon, they may come across some decidedly ornery plants that cause extra work removing their offspring. And while …
Unique flowerbed ideas to make your home look great Story and Photography by Susan Jasan What’s your style? Traditionalist … Naturalist … Conservationist … Free spirited … Wild & Wonderful? Whatever your style, you can achieve fantastic flowerbeds to complement your home. It takes some thorough planning, proper ground preparation, some good old-fashioned hard work, …
It’s time to get hooked by cacti Story and Photography by Timothy J. Malinich Cacti (singular cactus) catch the eye of many hobbyists. They are easy and rewarding to grow, fun to display, and readily available. People are often hesitant to grow them because they fear the reputation of these desert denizens. Here are a …
We all have different ways of looking at our gardens By Dan Gill Beauty is in the eye of the beholder … One man’s trash is another man’s treasure … It’s all a matter of taste. These sayings all make the same point: People look at the word in their own individual ways. Gardeners, of …
Renew, refresh, and revitalize the late-summer garden Story and Photography by Richelle Stafne It’s been a long, hot summer. We could all use a spa day. Even our gardens could benefit from some renewal, refreshing, and revitalization. For some, late summer means August and for others, it’s late August through early September, even though it …
MORE THAN MULCH What to plant under trees in your landscape Story and Photography by Jennifer Williams As you walk through a forest, you may notice the layer of leaf litter and other plant debris covering the forest floor, but what you more than likely will not notice is the diversity of plants growing under …
Tools and techniques to help in the garden when life throws you a curve By Margeaux Emery Injury, illness, arthritis, and other health conditions can bring the need to change how one gardens. A stroke, for example, can result in loss of strength in hands and arms. Arthritis causes pain in movement. Whatever difficulty life …
