Innehållsförteckning för January/February 2022 från Garden Gate

Nature is full of surprises. Seedlings we didn’t plant, tender perennials that unexpectedly made it through the winter, an overnight deer decimation. That’s part of what makes gardening so interesting and keeps us doing it year after year: It’s never boring! I fully recognize that I’m not in control of my garden, but that doesn’t mean I’m not always looking for ways to fix last year’s disappointments and replicate its triumphs. For example, I ordered several dahlia tubers last spring. They were both my biggest success and failure. The rabbits made a meal of one, and others didn’t produce as many blooms as I’d hoped. But a few were just breathtaking. I’m hooked and can’t wait to pull those tubers out of the basement in a few months and do…

Combining plants is a lot like piecing together a puzzle with shifting parts: Plants often start the growing season looking one way and finish it another. Although we can appreciate “happy accidents” that happen once in a while, there are some easy rules that will help you pair plants successfully. Here are some useful tips to keep in mind (and a few tried-and-true spring plant combos). CREATE DRAMA The purple viola flowers and yellow stripes in the lily of the Nile foliage at right offer maximum contrast because they are complementary colors. You can also create contrasts with texture and shape. Pairing plants makes the individual parts look far better than they would if planted alone. Flowers that vary in shape, texture and color add unexpected depth to the garden.…

Prep surfaces by lightly sanding with 80-120 grit sandpaper. To get these stripes, I ran a strip of painter’s tape along opposite sides of the post, applied the green semi-transparent stain on all four sides and let it dry. Then I peeled the tape off, masked the edges of the unstained stripes and stained the stripes light blue. I chose to emphasize the stripes with a wood-burned line on each side using its groove tip. You could also use a black or dark brown paint pen to achieve a similar look. Prestaining saved me time and after cutting the lumber into the blocks, it was easy to play with the arrangement and see the final pattern appear. Once the blocks were cut, I stained the exposed sides light blue.…

You’ll find a huge variety of colors and patterns, leaf shapes, sizes and textures with rex begonias. They do flower but those dainty blooms aren’t the main attraction. The porch combo in photo 7 is certainly eye-catching, and ‘Fireworks’ rex begonia is a big reason why. But that gorgeous leaf pattern is just the tip of the iceberg as the gallery at right reveals. The color contrast is high with ‘Smokey Eyes’, which also has an accentuated swirl in the center. There are foliage patterns of all types that include shades of green, pink, red and silver or solid colors like ‘Black Coffee’. For something really special, try ‘Steve’s Leaves’s Pearly’. It has a shimmery leaf surface that almost looks like the inside of a shell. These are the colors…

If you’re like me, your vegetable garden plans and available space don’t always match up. But I always seem to find room! Compact crops like ‘Easy Pick Gold’ zucchini in the container at left, ‘Tasmanian Chocolate’ tomato and ‘Katarina’ cabbage let you maximize production in large and small gardens. But that’s not the only way to grow more with less. The garden you see here employs several techniques to pack more vegetables into small spaces. Let me walk you through the tips. 6 Space-Saving Vegetable Garden Strategies: 1 PLANT IN RAISED BEDS Raised beds allow you to control the soil mix and plant intensively, fitting more vegetables into a smaller space. They provide excellent drainage, warm up early in spring and are easy to tend. Use rot-resistant materials like cedar,…

Even if you’ve been successfully gardening outdoors for years, growing beautiful houseplants presents a new set of challenges. Once you have plants in the right amount of light, there are three common struggles: Overwatering, repotting and insects. Let me share some helpful secrets I’ve discovered in almost 30 years in the houseplant business. OVERWATERING: Are You Drowning Them in Love? How often should you water your houseplants? The vague, unhelpful answer is when they need it. This can vary according to the kind of plant, time of year, temperature and amount of light. It’s best not to water on a rigid schedule, but if you tend to forget, pick a day once a week and adjust water amounts according to the plant’s needs. If you skip a week because the…

Q My peace lily’s leaves turns brown around the edges. How can I prevent this from happening? Sharon Woosley, IN A The reason for your brown leaves is probably drought stress caused by underwatering. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) generally requires weekly waterings. To determine if it’s time to water, poke a finger into the potting soil. If the soil feels moist to the second knuckle, it’s too soon for watering. If the soil feels dry, it’s time to give your peace lily a drink of water. What kind of plants would work best in a 1-foot-wide space along a walkway? Janice Poroli, ID A Ostrich fern Matteuccia struthiopteris Perennial; finely dissected, medium green fronds with the appearance of long ostrich feather plumes emerge in spring; the shallow root…

In the depth of winter, there’s nothing better than poring over new-plant listings and plotting which to add come spring. But as exciting as novel cultivars can be, I always leave space for a tried-and-true, oldie-but-goodie like ‘Sugar and Spice’ foamflower. This shade-loving perennial remains popular nearly 20 years after its debut, thanks to its good looks and vigor. Each maplelike green leaf bears a deep burgundy star at its center. From midspring to early summer, bottlebrush flowers rise above the foliage, with tiny pink buds revealing frothy white blossoms. The buds within each spike open from bottom to top, creating a two-toned appearance while the bloom proceeds. A STALWART STANDOUT The bicolor flowers and leaves distinguish ‘Sugar and Spice’ among foamflowers, but other details set it apart, too. The…

Winter Flowers Didn’t think you could get anything to bloom this winter? Think again! Gardengatemagazine.com/articles/ flowers-plants/ Seed-Starting Know-How How early is too early to start seeds? What’s the best seed-starting setup for success? Find the answers to these questions and more on our website! Gardengatemagazine.com/articles/how-to/start-seeds/ JOIN OUR FACEBOOK COMMUNITY @GARDENGATEMAGAZINE See what we’re reading about gardening every day when you follow us on Facebook. Seasonal advice, new scientific research, inspiring photos... it’s all here!…

These garden poles have a simple design, can be made from supplies you may have on hand (or are inexpensive to buy), and are fun to personalize. The poles in this project are made from a series of stacked 3½-inch square blocks and 3-inch diameter river rocks. I used a chop saw to cut a 4×4 wood post (which are actually 3½×3½ inches) into blocks. If you don’t have one, you can ask your lumber source to cut them for you. Here’s how to make these unique ornaments: DECIDE ON THE DESIGN You can create whatever design you want on the blocks (or leave them plain—wood grain can be beautiful, too!). For efficiency, I did this process first, then cut my 6-foot-long wood posts into blocks, but you could decorate…

Gardening chores come fast and furious once warm weather hits and sometimes you don’t have time to fit it all in. That’s why late winter is a great time to get a few of the spring jobs started. It’s a great way to reduce stress later. That’s why I asked Daryl Beyers, an instructor at The New York Botanical Garden and author of The New Gardener’s Handbook: Everything You Need to Grow a Beautiful & Bountiful Garden, to share a checklist for getting a jump-start on the season. START WITH THE SOIL Soil is, quite literally, the foundation upon which every garden grows, and spring is a great time to prepare it for the season or make improvements. If you amend your soil early in the year, the plants will…

It’s easy to take old favorites like wax and wing begonias for granted as you browse the garden center aisles. But there’s a reason they’re still around—these longtime favorites have a lot to offer, whether you grow them in borders or containers. WAX BEGONIAS These are often some of the first annuals gardeners grow. Wax begonias are garden workhorses that provide loads of colorful flowers and disease-free foliage from spring until frost without a lot of fuss. You can buy flats at the garden center in spring or start seeds indoors a few weeks before your last frost date. Wax begonias are usually hybrids of Begonia semperflorens and sold as part of a series (a group with the same height and habit but a variety of flower, and sometimes foliage,…

Did you know that clean plants will transpire and exchange gases easier? They also photosynthesize more efficiently without a sunlight-inhibiting layer of dust. Cleaning leaves a few times a year helps. Here are ways to keep leaves clean: DUSTING A feather duster makes quick work of light cleaning, especially on plants with tiny leaves. Microfiber cloths and even venetian blind cleaners are great to wipe down large leaves. I created a pair of mitts by folding two small hand towels (or cloth diapers) in half and sewing the sides up, leaving openings for my hands to slip in. Then I wipe both sides of the leaf with my mitts. WASHING Move the whole plant outside or into the shower or sink, and spray with fresh water. If the plants are…

Velvetleaf Abutilon theophrasti What it looks like Velvetleaf was introduced to North America from southern Asia in the 1700s — now you’ll find it in all of the continental United States and well into Canada. This annual can grow up to 7 feet tall or more. The stems and 2- to 6-inch-long heart-shaped leaves are covered with fine hairs. When you crush the leaves, they give off an unpleasant odor. From July to October, five-petaled yellow-orange flowers bloom. They’re replaced by unique teacup-shaped seedpods. One plant is able to produce thousands of seeds that can remain viable for more than 50 years. Where to find it Full sun is where you’ll usually find velvetleaf growing, but it’ll grow in part shade, too. Most often found in regularly cultivated areas like…

Gardens are often overwhelmingly green, but they don’t have to be. Blue foliage adds more color to any part of your garden. For instance, there are several hostas, such as ‘Blue Cadet’, that offer an attractive contrast in the shade. Or try blue ornamental grasses, such as blue fescue, as edging. Evergreen dwarf blue spruce keeps its color through winter, adding interest year-round. Help red or orange flowers really pop by pairing them alongside blue foliage. Where yellow leaves will add a bright spot of color to gardens, blue tends to cool it down. Hosta Hosta ‘Blue Cadet’ Perennial; lavender flowers in summer; part to full shade; well-drained soil; 15 to 24 in. tall, 24 to 36 in. wide; cold zones 3 to 9 Blue fescue Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’…

• 4 × 4 treated wood post (6-foot length) • ½-inch rebar (two 1-foot lengths) • ¼-inch dowel pins (24) • ¼-inch aluminum rod (two 3-foot lengths) • 1-inch painter’s tape • Exterior wood glue or epoxy • Semi-transparent stain and brush (I used Cabot® Evergreen and Chesapeake) • Mexican river rock • Drill with ¼- and ½-inch drill bits, sandpaper (80-120 grit), metal ruler, chop saw, wood-burning tool, rubber mallet, ¼-inch dowel centers, hacksaw…

Every gardener has old standbys that keep the garden looking great through the seasons. But it’s fun to mix it up a bit and try something different now and then. What better way to find a new favorite? There are lots of new flowers and foliage plants that will bring a warm glow to your borders and containers this year. Smaller-sized perennials and shrubs, fragrant flowers and low-maintenance plants seem to be some of the common themes among the new intros. The container at right was a real standout in my garden last summer. There’s something for everyone in this new crop of plants! As usual, you’ll want to shop early for new introductions—some of them will be a little harder to find until the nurseries are able to build…

While some begonias are grown for their flowers, with others, it’s all about the foliage. Cane, trailing, rhizomatous and rex begonias have a huge range of leaf colors, patterns, shapes and textures that will keep your windowsills or shady garden spots looking fabulous. CANE BEGONIAS Also called angel wing begonias due to their wing-shaped leaves, cane types have an upright habit that doesn’t branch and jointed stems that look a little like bamboo. Flowers are pink, red, orange or white and a few are even fragrant. Many varieties, such as ‘Flamingo Queen’ or B. maculata, have polka-dotted foliage. Others, such as ‘Mme. de Lesseps’ in photo 4, have more irregular markings. Color varies from green to burgundy and the edges are smooth or lobed. Some cane begonias can grow up…

Roses can be intimidating. So much so that many gardeners don’t even bother growing them. But Teresa Byington wants you to know that their persnickety reputation is not deserved. She is a master gardener and an active member of the American Rose Society (currently serving as editor of the ARS national newsletter, Roses and You). In addition, she is the vice president of the Indianapolis Rose Society, serves as a juror at the Biltmore International Rose Trials and is co-host of the Rose Chat podcast. Teresa’s 1-acre cottage garden in Indianapolis weaves together her love of roses and other perennials and shrubs, such as the bigleaf hydrangeas in photo 1. She believes that every gardener wants to grow roses, but perhaps they’ve tried a rose that didn’t do well or…

The bane of my existence is the fungus gnat (Bradysia spp.). This insidious little creature’s larva love to inhabit overly wet soils. Their larval feeding habits can damage plant roots, even stunting or killing seedlings or less established plants. Adults leave the soil and fly, often to flutter straight into your mouth or nose. Here are 8 ways to get rid of fungus gnats in your houseplants. For best success I like to combine a few methods. 1. DRY OUT THE PLANT Fungus gnats are attracted to moist soil with fungus and rotting organic materials to feed on. The best way to eliminate them is to water less. 2. SET A STICKY TRAP The color yellow attracts fungus gnats, so position yellow sticky traps just above the soil surface. Adults…