Fine Gardening – Issue 214

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12 Beautiful Plants That Evolved Nasty Defenses Against Pests

My taste in plants is not exactly traditional. Somewhere along the line, when my gardening priorities shifted toward sustainability, my passion for pretty things morphed into an appreciation for survivalists.…
8 Gardening Pros Pick Their Favorite Must-Have Trees

Trees are among the most majestic plants in the landscape, and they are essential components of Earth’s ecology. We literally could not survive without these large, beautiful, and life-sustaining botanical…
How to Handle Common Houseplant Pests

Outdoors, pest populations are kept in check by rain and diseases and by birds, beneficial insects, and other predators; indoors, however, plant pests can proliferate very quickly with nothing to…
‘Grape Crush’ New England Aster Is Long-Blooming and Has a Wonderful Mounding Form

Sometimes plants are just like us gardeners and can’t wait to get going at the beginning of the season. Often our gardens trumpet forth in a symphony of color and…
‘Spring Lace’ Viburnum Is a Compact Workhorse Shrub

In 2017 Bailey Nurseries sent me four ‘Spring Lace’ viburnums to trial. When in flower in spring, they have become one of my most asked-about plants. An interspecific cross developed…
7 Gorgeous Climbing Vines That Won't Take Over

While far from the only unruly things growing in our gardens, vines always seem to be the poster children for invasive plants. Many years ago, when Brushwood Nursery was young,…
How to Choose a Structure for Vining Plants

Are you looking to add interesting height to your garden, camouflage a view, or bring life to a barren zone? Check out these structural strategies, all of which come in…
Plants That the Herbivores Will Avoid in the Northeast

Fionuala Campion says in her article, Dazzling Deer-Resistant Perennials, "Though very graceful and delightful to behold in their native habitat, deer are a voracious force to reckon with in many…
Plants That the Herbivores Will Avoid in the Mid-Atlantic

Fionuala Campion says in her article, Dazzling Deer-Resistant Perennials, "Though very graceful and delightful to behold in their native habitat, deer are a voracious force to reckon with in many…
Plants That the Herbivores Will Avoid in the South

Fionuala Campion says in her article, Dazzling Deer-Resistant Perennials, "Though very graceful and delightful to behold in their native habitat, deer are a voracious force to reckon with in many…
Plants That the Herbivores Will Avoid in the Southern Plains

Fionuala Campion says in her article, Dazzling Deer-Resistant Perennials, "Though very graceful and delightful to behold in their native habitat, deer are a voracious force to reckon with in many…
Plants That the Herbivores Will Avoid in the Midwest

Fionuala Campion says in her article, Dazzling Deer-Resistant Perennials, "Though very graceful and delightful to behold in their native habitat, deer are a voracious force to reckon with in many…
An Appreciation for Plants That Protect Themselves | Letter from the Editor

Plants with leaves as sharp as razor blades. Plants that smell like rotten meat. Plants that will cause severe gastrointestinal problems if ingested. These all sound like great garden additions,…
Plants That the Herbivores Will Avoid in the Southwest

Fionuala Campion says in her article, Dazzling Deer-Resistant Perennials, "Though very graceful and delightful to behold in their native habitat, deer are a voracious force to reckon with in many…
Green Heroes: Plants Making a Positive Environmental Impact

This article has the potential to be very short. That is because most garden plants provide some type of environmental benefit to their immediate surroundings—assuming they are chosen appropriately for…
Plants That the Herbivores Will Avoid in Your Region

While results can vary, the expert-selected plants are the closest you'll get to pest-proof. Find plants the herbivores will avoid for your region.
Battery-Powered Pruning Tools for Jobs Big and Small

These hedge shears work for a variety of chores Tested by Jason Reeves Using battery-powered hedge shears is a game changer. I love my Black and Decker 22-inch cordless hedge…
Tour a Stunning New England Garden That Peaks in Fall

Fall is a magical time in Bruce Lockhart’s garden in Petersham, Massachusetts. Bruce’s garden is actually a collection of smaller themed gardens, including a shaded woodland area, a meadow garden,…
8 Fantastic Fall Plant Combinations for Lovely Late-Season Gardens

Fall is pure magic at Swift River Farm, a private landscape in Petersham, Massachusetts. Several different gardens weave together to create this dynamic space, including a woodland area, a more…
Plants That the Herbivores Will Avoid in the Northwest

Fionuala Campion says in her article, Dazzling Deer-Resistant Perennials, "Though very graceful and delightful to behold in their native habitat, deer are a voracious force to reckon with in many…
An Alluring Design for a Lawnless Front-Yard Garden: Plant IDs

In An Alluring Design for a Lawnless Front-Yard Garden, Stacie Crooks writes, "The key to creating a low-maintenance yet visually appealing garden lies in careful planning and thoughtful design choices.…
Golden Sunset® Yellow Prairie Grass Is a Great Native Substitute for Invasive Pampas Grass

Dazzled by the big, bold inflorescences of pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana and cvs., Zones 5–11) but not the invasiveness? Check out Golden Sunset® yellow prairie grass. This native, selected by…
Tried-and-True Methods to Prevent or Minimize Winter Storm Damage

Winter in North America is typically an uneventful time of year for plants, when growing slows or stops and when most plants go dormant. Because of that, average winter weather…
Readers Tips: Repurposed Tools in the Garden Used to Great Effect

Winning Tip: From the kitchen to the garden Several times a year a visitor to our garden is shocked to find a rogue steak knife pierced downward in one of…
An Alluring Design for a Lawnless Front-Yard Garden

Is there a gardener anywhere who wouldn’t appreciate a beautiful space designed specifically to keep maintenance requirements realistic and manageable? I recently designed such a landscape for a client who…