One special fern If I had to make a list of my favorite ferns from the hundreds of species found worldwide, the Japanese painted fern would be in my top five. The Perennial Plant Association even declared it the Perennial Plant of the Year a few years back. The burgundy at the center of each grayish-green frond, combined with its lovely form and frosty foliage, make it a garden accent like no other....

Start with the best type of grass for your climate As a professional horticulturist and a former landscaper, I’ve seeded dozens of brand-new lawns over the years, and I’ve over-seeded bare spots in hundreds more. No matter how large or how small your job is, success always starts with selecting the best grass seed for your region. Different grass species thrive in different climates. There are cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses....

Why you should be growing shishito peppers ‘Shishito’ means ‘lion’s head’ and the name was inspired by the bumpy blunt tip of the pepper fruit which resembles the king of the jungle. I first started growing shishito peppers five years ago and was surprised how productive they were in my northern zone 5 garden. Now they’re a summer staple and we look forward to the harvest which begins in late July and continues until frost....

You’ll know your seedlings are ready to be repotted when their roots have filled their current containers and their foliage is crowding out the neighbours. Still not sure? Use a butter knife to pop a plant out of its pot and take a peek at the roots. If they’re well developed and encircling the soil ball, it’s time to repot. Moving your seedlings to larger containers will help ensure a healthy root system and top-quality transplants for your garden....

There are over 55 types of lemongrass, but only the East Indian and West Indian varieties are used for tea and cooking. This incredibly fragrant culinary herb is used in Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, and Malaysian cooking. There are health studies that show lemongrass can reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, and relieve anxiety, among other benefits. And if I ever come across a lemongrass lotion or soap, I grab one. I absolutely love the scent!...

In my garden, I do all my main planting—containers, perennial beds, vegetable garden—through the spring and early summer. However depending on plants I might accidentally on purpose bring home, I also plant in the summer and fall in my USDA zone 6a garden in Southern Ontario. Annuals, of course, are not as much of an issue, since they only last for the one season. But when you spend your hard-earned money on a perennial, you expect it to come back the following year....

What are elephant ears? Elephant ears are foliage plants that hail from tropical regions of Asia. They are members of the plant family Araceae, and their large, arrow-shaped leaves easily earn them the common name of elephant ear. Growing from subterranean bulbs, they are surprisingly easy to cultivate. Elephant ears grow best where daytime temperatures range from 60° to 85°F. In temperate climates like mine here in Pennsylvania, elephant ears are grown as a summer ornamental (often the smaller varieties are also grown indoors as houseplants)....

Unlike spring planting where cool temperatures and ample moisture help crops settle in quickly, summer weather can be a challenge for a succession planter. It’s hot and dry, and establishing seeds and seedlings can require a lot of TLC from the gardener. However, there are several ways to get around dry soil and soaring temperatures. Here are a few of our best tips to get you started in summer succession planting....

I started this habit a few years ago, when I was placing a seed order. I added a packet of tomatillo seeds to my cart on a whim. I’d never eaten a tomatillo in my life, but by the end of the season I quickly discovered that I love salsa verde on everything from tacos to fish. Besides tomatillos, a few new-to-me edibles have been added to my permanent roster this way: cucamelons, lemon cucumbers, lemongrass, and gooseberries, to name a few....

What is ledebouria? The plants in the genus ledebouria are bulb-forming with most originating from South Africa, Madagascar, or India. There are around 40 species in the genus, but it’s silver squill (Ledebouria socialis) that is most commonly grown as a houseplant. This popular plant is also called leopard lily (for its spots) or wood hyacinth. It was first named Scilla socialis by John Gilbert Baker in 1870, and has also been called Scilla violacea....

I was at Chelsea on press day, so I was allowed to arrive bright and early. Sometime after 7 am, I picked up my badge at one of the back gates and wandered up to a bustling press office. Canada Blooms is our big national garden show and it is a welcome flower-bulb-filled respite at the end of the winter, but it does not compare to the grandeur and importance placed on Chelsea....

I’ve talked on this site about things you need to think about before building your raised bed, but next comes the creative part of choosing the design. Start by thinking of which materials you want to use. Pinterest is a great source of information (it’s where I discovered the corrugated steel look) and will likely introduce you to creative gardening writers who have come up with some interesting raised bed designs for gardening that they’ve written about, or even companies who sell kits....

Understanding the basics of the nutrient cycles Most of us learned about nutrient cycles in middle school. We learned how ecosystems naturally recycle nutrients through the processes of life and decay. Plants are major players in both the carbon and nitrogen cycles as they photosynthesize, grow, transpire, decompose, or become part of the food chain. In an undisturbed ecosystem, plants are self-feeding, so to speak. In a nutshell, carbon, nitrogen, and many other essential plant nutrients are released back into the soil upon a plant’s death (or upon the digested plant being excreted by whatever organism ate it)....

Here are 10 of our favorite early blooming perennials: Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea): The sunny yellow flower in the feature photo of this post is a Golden Alexander. This tough, North American native requires only lean soil and full to partial sun. With blooms much like a yellow Queen Anne’s lace and parsley-like foliage, Golden Alexanders are in full bloom by the end of April in my Pennsylvania garden. They readily self-sow and reach about two feet in height when in flower....

Meet the Golden Goddess philodendron Of all the purchases I’ve made for my ever-growing collection of indoor plants, few have been as rewarding as philodendrons. They are low maintenance plants and are a great addition for both expert and novice houseplant growers. While I have several different types of philodendrons in my collection, the Golden Goddess philodendron is the one that garners the most attention. Each and every neon-yellow leaf on this member of the trendy philodendron family is a stand-out....

Some years, I plant my amaryllis from a bulb, but others I opt for a plant that has already been potted and looks promising in terms of growth. I look for straight, sturdy stems. I also give the plant a good once over to make sure I’m not bringing home any pests to my other plants. Last year I almost grabbed a potted amaryllis bulb and it had fungus gnats flying around it!...

What is a jalapeno pepper? A jalapeno pepper is a medium-sized chili pepper with glossy, bright green skin that eventually turns red when fully ripe. The fruits range from 2500 to 8000 on the Scoville scale and are considered mildly-hot. Capsaicin is the compound that gives chili peppers their heat and fully ripe red jalapenos, which have spent more time on the plants, contain higher capsaicin levels than green fruits....

Savvy Gardening is excited to be partnering with Nature Hills Nursery for a terrific gardening giveaway! Spring is here at long last, so we’re teaming up to give one lucky winner a gorgeous, 1-gallon-sized Brilliance™ Autumn Fern, perfect for a shady corner of your yard. This beautiful fern, Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’, has coppery-orange fronds in the spring that mature to a glossy green. Reaching 18-24 inches in height at maturity, Brilliance™ Autumn Ferns are deer resistant and thrive in varied soil conditions....

A special clock Phenological events are amazing timekeepers. Natural events occur in the exact same order every year, many times with plant-based phenological events corresponding to the appearance of particular insects. For example, in Ohio, black vine weevil adults always emerge a few days after the American yellowwood trees are at full bloom, the eggs of Eastern tent caterpillars always hatch just as the first forsythia flower opens, and greater peach tree borers emerge as adults exactly when the Northern catalpa tree begins to flower....

Kimono™ Hydrangea This cultivar of a big-leaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla ‘Hokomareki’) was introduced to the market in 2021. It has several traits that make it a real knock-out in the garden. First, the petals are bicolor. On their interior, they’re white, but on their outer edges, they are a deep carmine, making them a complete stunner. Next, the plants have a compact form and thick, sturdy stems that hold up under the weight of the massive blooms....