What to Plant Where

We are frequently asked the question – “what can I plant here?”, which usually translates into “I’ve got this certain plant in mind (or I’ve already purchased), and I want/need to find a place for it”.

Must Have’s – 5 Tools No Gardener Should Be Without

If you didn’t receive everything on your Christmas list, you may want to consider being your own Santa. After all, there are some “gotta have ‘em” in all facets of life. If you want to smoke a pork butt, you need an off-set smoker and some apple wood. If you’re going to garden, there are 5 essential tools:

Got an Ugly Landscape Feature?  Half Hide It!

When you think about it, there are quite a few items that landscapes commonly have that – well…a homeowner would rather not be all that visible to visitors or themselves. They include cable boxes, electrical pad mounted transformers, dog runs and water hydrants.

Pruning Broadleaf Shrubs

The month of March and throughout the rest of spring is a good time of year to prune shrubs in the landscape.

2025 Gardening Resolutions

Since January in the Midwest is usually not all that favorable for outdoor activities, we can grab the trowel by the handle and think ahead and backwards. Asking the question, “what didn’t go so well last year?” is a good one to springboard forward, or to borrow from the world of personal finance or fitness, to make new gardening resolutions.

Fall Color in the Landscape

As you drive around the highways and byways, or even just the various neighborhoods, some of the most enjoyable views out the window glass are heavily influenced by the fall colors of trees and shrubs in the landscape. The reds, oranges and yellows of fall show off Mother Nature’s pageantry in its finest form.

Simple is OK!

In the world of gardening, the felt need to create a landscape/garden/patio that is lush, flowing and elaborate often rears its head. In some cases, bigger is better, but sometimes, simple is ok…or even better

Anticipating Shade Needs

Trees are among our most permanent landscape plants. Some can live and enhance a landscape for over 100 years. It’s important that you select shade trees carefully, as you’ll be planting them not only for yourself, but for future generations as well.

The 10 Garden Catalog Rules

Most of us hate rules, myself included…so why does the title of this article contain the word “rules”? Actually, they’re not so much “rules” per se, but guidelines to help make the most of the garden catalog perusing experience and application for better outdoor living in the landscape.

Late Fall Color in the Landscape

As we ease into winter, late November keeps our attention focused on a few plants that exhibit great color even though a few hard freezes have been delivered.