Fine Gardening – Issue 208

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Designing a Beautiful Back Border—Planting Plan

If you fell in love with Stacie Crooks’s border in the article Designing a Beautiful Back Border from issue #208 of Fine Gardening magazine, you are not alone—so did we.…
How to Grow Tradescantias—Tough Houseplants With Beautiful Foliage

Tradescantias (Tradescantia spp. and cvs., Zones 4–12) are easy-care houseplants with cascading, colorful foliage. Apart from the ubiquitous zebra tradescantia (T. zebrina, Zones 8–12), which is beloved for its purple-and-silver…
Learn to Prevent and Control This Common Conifer Tree Disease

If you’ve ever had a beloved plant with a foliage malady, you may know firsthand the sadness of seeing that cherished garden gem slowly decline and die. Among the suspects…
Companion Planting Is Not a Myth

Companion planting is the long-standing practice of partnering two or more plants in hopes of achieving a new benefit. Information on which plants to use in companion planting has been…
How to Have Success With Sedums

Sedums are easy to care for. They tend to grow naturally in cool, rocky areas, so well-drained soil is ideal. They also grow in open and exposed situations, which means…
Sedums With Far-Out Foliage

It’s no secret that the leaves of sedums are a big draw for gardeners. Their foliage is bursting with a broad spectrum of color options. If you are looking for…
10 Stunning Sedums for Dry, Sunny Areas of the Garden

For many people, the mention of hardy sedums initially brings to mind classic Autumn Joy sedum (Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’, syn. S. ‘Autumn Joy’, Zones 3–9) with its soothing green, fleshy foliage…
A Grape Hyacinth With Pink Blooms—Just in Time for Fall Planting

Looking to add a surprising sea of pale pink color to your spring garden? This lovely grape hyacinth, with its small, charming heads of the lightest pink, will help you…
A Dwarf Fig Tree Fit for Pots, Patios, and Small Gardens

The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for people worldwide, but one silver lining about the experience is the resurgence of interest in gardening. After people in lockdown exhausted their reading…
A Dazzling Dove Tree You’ll Want to Make Space For

Wow, just wow. This tree will stop you in your tracks. ‘Lady Sunshine’ is a rare but dazzling variegated dove tree that makes a great woody plant specimen if you…
Interesting Broadleaf Evergreens for the Northeast

In an episode of Fine Gardening's podcast, Let's Argue About Plants, the hosts discuss the importance of evergreen plants, and the particular perks of broadleaf evergreens: "The key to any…
Interesting Broadleaf Evergreens for the South

In an episode of Fine Gardening's podcast, Let's Argue About Plants, the hosts discuss the importance of evergreen plants, and the particular perks of broadleaf evergreens: "The key to any…
Interesting Broadleaf Evergreens for California

In an episode of Fine Gardening's podcast, Let's Argue About Plants, the hosts discuss the importance of evergreen plants, and the particular perks of broadleaf evergreens: "The key to any…
Interesting Broadleaf Evergreens for the Mid-Atlantic

In an episode of Fine Gardening's podcast, Let's Argue About Plants, the hosts discuss the importance of evergreen plants, and the particular perks of broadleaf evergreens: "The key to any…
Interesting Broadleaf Evergreens for Your Region

In an episode of Fine Gardening's podcast, Let’s Argue About Plants, the hosts discuss the importance of evergreen plants and the particular perks of broadleaf evergreens: “The key to any…
Planting Plan for a Garden That Fills In Fast

In the article 3 Steps to Get a Garden That Fills In Fast (Fine Gardening #208), garden designer Adam Woodruff takes readers through the steps he used to get a landscape…
3 Steps to Get a Garden That Fills In Fast

Many gardeners dream of having a landscape inspired by a designer such as Piet Oudolf. Think of the High Line in New York City or the Lurie Garden in Chicago.…
Tips for Evolving a Naturalized Garden Quickly

Adam Woodruff’s garden is undeniably beautiful, but it didn’t get that way by chance. What might take others decades to achieve, Adam accomplished in only a few years. A lot…
A Gorgeous Garden Design to Border a Fence

No one wants to sit in their backyard and stare at a fence, no matter how pretty it is. I have been designing gardens for decades, and not once has…
12 Elevated Garden-Container Designs Where the Pot Is the Star

Containers add a pop of garden interest almost anywhere and in any season. One of my garden mentors, Thomas Hobbs, once said, “To design in a container, you must love…
Create a Sturdy Winter Container Arrangement

Winter combinations of stems and branches are lovely seasonal accents, but if they are not adequately supported, your decorations may flop or capsize in the wind. To avoid those pitfalls,…
Are Hostas the Plastic Swans of Plants? | Letter from the Editor

The thought of putting white plastic swan planters in my garden gives me goose bumps. And not in a good way. I’m not a garden snob. Seeing a rogue garden…
3 Reliable Garden Rakes for More Than Just Fall Cleanup

These sturdy tines can penetrate tough materials Tested by Matt Mattus A rake may be the most practical yet unexciting of garden tools. But as many gardeners know, some rakes…
Interesting Broadleaf Evergreens for the Northwest

In an episode of Fine Gardening's podcast, Let’s Argue About Plants, the hosts discuss the importance of evergreen plants, and the particular perks of broadleaf evergreens: “The key to any…
Interesting Broadleaf Evergreens for the Southern Plains

In an episode of Fine Gardening's podcast, Let’s Argue About Plants, the hosts discuss the importance of evergreen plants, and the particular perks of broadleaf evergreens: “The key to any…
Interesting Broadleaf Evergreens for the Midwest

In an episode of Fine Gardening's podcast, Let’s Argue About Plants, the hosts discuss the importance of evergreen plants, and the particular perks of broadleaf evergreens: “The key to any…
Great Plants for Hiding a Fence

A balanced mix of woody plants and perennials delivers the best show throughout the year. Learn how to design a gorgeous garden to border a fence. Designing a Beautiful Back…
10 Uncommon Holly, Winterberry, and Inkberry Varieties to Spark Winter Garden Interest

Why is it that some people think the thrill of the growing season is over after the first frost? For those of us who grow Ilex cultivars (Zones 4–9), the…
Why Native Plants Are Key to Saving Our Ecosystems: An Interview With Doug Tallamy

An appropriate space to interview a man who has spent his life advocating for the preservation of native ecosystems might be a meadow buzzing with pollinators or a forest edge…
Avoid Winter Damage to Your Holly

Hollies, especially evergreen varieties, can often be damaged by extreme winter weather. Here are a few tips for heading off some of the most common problems. 1. Siting makes a…
Plants to Attract Beneficial Insects

You can use certain plants to lure desirable insects to your garden to help with biocontrol. Many of these workhorse plants are attractive to a wide number of beneficial insects…
Tips About Deer Control, Tomato Cages, Containers, and Garden Tools

1. From dry cleaner to garden - Winning Tip To keep deer from browsing the leaves of hostas and other plants in my garden, I often float lightweight bird netting…