home sectionhome section
Planting hydrangeas in the fall season requires you to get your plants fully established before the cold weather hits. Plant hydrangeas in the fall season with help from a certified horticulturist in this free video clip.
The three most commonly cultivated species of pyracantha -- also known as firethorn -- are the scarlet firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea), Roger's firethorn (Pyracantha rogersiana) and formosa firethorn (Pyracantha koidzumii). While all these shrubs share characteristics such as glossy leaves, thorny armament, unpleasantly scented white flowers, and evergreen foliage, pyracanthas' defining characteristic is their bright-red berries, says the Clemson Cooperative Extension. Several other shrub species produce red berries and have evergreen foliage as pyracanthas do.
When you're choosing deciduous shrubs -- or shrubs that lose their leaves during the winter -- for your northern Maine landscape, consider hardiness first. Northern Maine experiences short growing seasons and long, cold winters with average annual low temperatures that dip to minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit, placing the northern portion of the state in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3b through 4b. Select deciduous shrubs that are adapted to the cold weather in this part of the state.
The Endless Summer collection was the first bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) to produce blooms on both old and new wood, meaning these hydrangeas offer you an endless summer of colorful mophead or lacecap blooms. While they do bloom longer than most hydrangeas, they are picky about their location, like most other hydrangeas. In general, Endless Summer hydrangeas grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 4 through 9b. Giving them the right care can help ensure these bountiful bloomers do their best.
Aluminum sulfate is actually a great way to make sure that hydrangeas have all of the nutrients that they need to be as healthy as possible. Learn about aluminum sulfate for hydrangea care with help from an experienced gardening expert in this free video clip.
The hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis is also known as the tropical hibiscus. Find out about winter care of the hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis with help from an experienced gardening expert in this free video clip.
Pruning back small shrubs can help give your yard a more uniform and cleaner look and can also make sure that they plants are growing healthy. Prune back small shrubs with help from an experienced gardening expert in this free video clip.
Transplanting boxwood shrubs requires either a container or a nice spot picked out in your yard. Transplant boxwood shrubs with help from an experienced gardening expert in this free video clip.
Caring for a potted blueberry bush requires you to add nutrients via fertilizer. Take care of a potted blueberry bush with help from a garden professional in this free video clip.
Butterfly bush (Buddleja spp.) is a beautiful sight when covered in bright blooms with butterflies feeding on their sweet nectar. These bushes flower throughout summer, making them staples for the back of beds. They grow extremely large quickly, making regular pruning essential. Butterfly bushes tolerate cold winters and thrive across U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5 to 9. New cultivars are being developed regularly, preventing an accurate count of the kinds available.
For xeriscape gardens in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11, ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) provides a dramatic display. Mature plants have 20-foot-long whiplike spiny branches rising from a woody caudex. Spiky clusters of bright red tubular flowers top the branches in spring. Landscaping plants come mostly from ocotillos transplanted from the wild. Seedlings are very slow-growing, and cuttings root reluctantly.
The west side of a house is exposed to four to six hours of direct sunlight during the hottest time of day. Shrubs planted there are more likely to thrive if they prefer full-sun to partial-shade exposure. Evergreen, deciduous, needle-leaved and flowering shrubs can be combined to provide a variety of year-round colors and textures.
A beautiful heirloom Bourbon rose bears the cultivar name “Maggie” (Rosa “Maggie”). It’s a bush with deep purple-red blooms that was discovered in Louisiana and named by Dr. William C. Welch. Bourbon roses originated on the Ile de Bourbon, also known as Reunion Island, in the Indian Ocean and were brought into cultivation in Paris in the early 1800s. They are known for their vigor, fragrance, arching canes and ability to rebloom.
All tea plants are varieties or cultivars of Camellia sinensis, a species of Camellia, a genus that includes from 150 to 200 species, many of them known for their showy flowers. The two main Camellia sinensis varieties are the Chinese (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) and the Assam or Indian (Camellia sinensis var. assamica). The species name sinensis indicates that it is native to China. The abbreviation var. means variety, a naturally occurring mutation.
Flowering shrubs provide color, texture and even fragrance to your Vermont landscape. Species native to Vermont offer a number of advantages over introduced varieties, such as natural resistance to local pests and diseases, as well as adaptation to local climate and growing conditions. This northeastern state lies within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 5, so choose flowering shrubs that are hardy to annual average minimum temperatures of -35 degrees Fahrenheit.
Severe weather, including high winds, snow and ice, can damage shrubs and bushes, altering your carefully planned landscape. Often the damage is cosmetic only, and selective pruning and time will bring the shrub back. Immediate attention is required to resolve hazardous situations, but cosmetic pruning is best left until the shrub has a chance to recover.
Mexican heather, also called Mexican false heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia), grows primarily in Mexico and south into Guatemala. Because it is a tender tropical plant, it cannot survive freezing temperatures and returns in the spring only in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 to 12. While the plants may survive a hard frost in growing zone 8, they will most likely flower later in the season.
Pale yellow and lilac make perfect colors for a wide variety of different environments. Learn about decorating with pale yellow and lilac with help from a designer and interior decorator in this free video clip.
Planting bougainvilleas is a lot easier than most people seem to assume. Find out how to plant bougainvilleas with help from a gardening professional in this free video clip.
Caring for a barberry bush isn't exactly like caring for other types of bushes in your yard. Learn about barberry bush care with help from a gardening professional in this free video clip.
Caring for hydrangeas shrubs requires that you pick a planting location with a lot of sun, among other things. Learn how to care for hydrangea shrubs with help from a professional gardener in this free video clip.
The buttonbush shrub, hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 5 through 9, prefers a moist or wetland growing environment. This deciduous shrub may reach heights and widths up to 12 feet, which can serve as an effective shelter for wetland birds. The buttonbush produces white or pink flowers that birds and insects enjoy because they smell fragrantly like honey. Propagating buttonbush is a simple process because the stems root energetically with little effort.
Like many ornamental shrubs, a healthy bougainvillea can enhance your landscape by adding color and fragrance. Unfortunately, these attractive shrubs are prone to certain pests that feed on the leaves and can cause unsightly damage to the foliage and flowers. The adult form of bougainvillea looper, also known as Disclisioprocta stellata, is the most common type of moth to visit these ornamental shrubs. Adult loopers are known as Somber Carpet Moths. Ridding your bougainvillea plant of the adult moths helps reduce the risk of damage caused by the feeding larvae.
The olallieberry is a large, rather tart cousin of the blackberry. When planting and growing these berries it is important to remember that they are perennial, but the canes that produce the berries are biennial and survive for only two years. The first year the canes, sometimes also called vines or branches, produce other canes in the form of branches growing to the sides. The second year the side branches produce fruit, after which they can be removed along with the vertical canes, since they will no longer be productive and they will take energy from the plant.
The allamanda (Allamanda cathartica), also called the golden trumpet, yellow bell and angel's trumpet, is a broadleaf, evergreen shrub native to South and Central America. Winter hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11, this seasonal bloomer features showy yellow flowers with white marks on the throat. Mature shrubs range from 10 to 20 feet in height with 3- to 6-foot spreads. Allamanda plants grow rapidly and need the occasional pruning to maintain optimal attractiveness and health.
In the right location, azalea bushes produce an abundance of blossoms that nearly cover the shrub. Choosing a location with the right mix of sun and shade is key to enjoying prolific spring flowers. The best location is under a tree with a loose canopy where the shrub can get shifting or filtered sunlight throughout the day. Azaleas also bloom well when they get morning sun and afternoon shade.
Showcasing clusters of fragrant, white flowers that last most of the summer, Chilean jasmine is an ideal vine to plant near decks and porches where it will weave into railings and twirl around columns. The flowers are set against a background of large, leathery leaves that enhance their tropical appearance. Mandevilla species are tropical plants that are grown as annuals in most parts of North America. Chilean jasmine (M. laxa) is a bit hardier than most, tolerating brief periods of light frost. The plant gets its common name from its resemblance to jasmine (Jasminum), but it is not related to…
Snowball hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), is a type of bigleaf hydrangea valued for its showy white, pink or blue blooms. Snowball hydrangea is a durable, easy-to-grow shrub, but poor growing conditions, disease and insect infestations can threaten even the sturdiest plant. The first step in reviving a dying snowball hydrangea is troubleshooting to determine what is causing the plant to decline, and then take steps to rectify the situation as soon as possible.
Painted Lady hibiscus is a tropical hibiscus valued for its shiny leaves and showy, reddish-pink blossoms that feature a deep red center. The ruffled blossoms of Painted Lady hibiscus are slightly smaller than most hibiscus varieties. Plant Painted Lady hibiscus as a focal point in the landscape, combine it with other blooming shrubs for a colorful mixed border, or pot it and place it on a patio or balcony. Painted Lady hibiscus, hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 9 to 12, is an effective choice for gardeners looking to attract butterflies.
Both Dahoon holly (Ilex cassine) and Brazilian pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolius) have attractive foliage and glossy red berries. Both grow as shrubs or trees, but only one is a genuine holly tree. The other just looks like a pretty holly tree but is harmful to humans and can push out nonnative species. It is good to know the similarities and differences between the two plants because they can be mistaken for one other.
A climbing evergreen plant, star jasmine blossoms with aromatic blooms that are sought-after in the perfuming industry. In plant hardiness zones 8 through 11, the star jasmine plant thrives as a trailing groundcover or climbing trellis plant that prefers partial to full sunlight. If you have the environment necessary for this plant, the growing ideas are seemingly endless. Having some different ideas for growing star jasmine gives you the opportunity to beautify your home surroundings.
Lipstick hibiscus (Malvaviscus penduliflorus), also known as Turk's Cap, is a member of the mallow family but is not a true hibiscus. It exhibits an unusual mutation -- the petals of the lipstick hibiscus never fully unfurl, resulting in tube-shaped flowers that are often scarlet in color. Despite their tropical origin, lipstick hibiscus are fairly easy to grow as home landscape plants in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 through 11; they will often overwinter with heavy mulch in USDA Hardiness Zone 8.
Arbor vitae shrubs are evergreens in the cypress family and are often used as hedges or privacy shrubs. Some arbor vitae, such as the emerald green arbor vitae, can make an excellent hedge, since this shrub will grow only 3 to 4 feet in width. Others, such as the elangtissma, can grow up to 6 to 7 feet in width. Fairly easy to trim, the arbor vitae does not have actual buds but growing points, which are located at the tips of the plant. By trimming, you remove these growing points, temporarily slowing the tree's growth. You can trim arbor…
Landscaping a marshy area is one of the most difficult challenges for home gardeners. Constantly wet soil restricts the amount of oxygen available to plant roots, so only trees and shrubs adapted to such conditions will thrive. Unsuitable plants literally suffocate. The choice of plants is especially restricted when your marsh is near enough to the ocean that salt levels are high in the soil and water.
Some shrubs and hedges lend themselves ideally to extensive pruning. Boxwood hedges, because of their cone shape, strong stems and small foliage, respond well to topiary pruning. Cut a boxwood into a spiral shape to create a dramatic focal point in your landscape. With basic pruning tools and a little time, even someone with novice topiary pruning skills can fashion a spiral shape out of a boxwood hedge.
Most plants made from icing are those that have flowers and leaves. You can use your imagination and use these creations to decorate cakes, cupcakes and cookies. Usually, decorators use buttercream icing or royal icing to make shapes, although you can simply buy icing from the store and use it too. There is no right or wrong way to decorate; just have fun.
Native plants are almost always appropriate for landscaping, since native species are already well adapted to the local temperature, soil and water conditions. Using native species can reduce or even eliminate the care required once the plants are established. Not all plants will grow from cuttings, but many types will, especially shrubs and small trees. Choose plants that tend to produce thick, full growth, as these will make the best barriers. Try such plants as blackberry, beautyberry and Dutchman's pipe for a dense hedge.
Ornamental topiary plants can make a dynamic statement in your garden. There are primarily two types of topiary: those grown with vines that are encouraged to grow over wire forms and those sculpted from evergreen shrubs. Both forms lend themselves to striking animal and other figures and will result in eye-catching lawn decor for your property.
Softwood cuttings are a relatively simple way for home gardeners to propagate many evergreen and deciduous shrubs. Plants that are appropriate for propagation by softwood cuttings include rhododendron, arborvitae, barberry, azalea, redbud, cotoneaster, boxwood, hydrangea, jasmine, lilac and viburnum. Take softwood cuttings between late spring and midsummer when the twigs are still flexible but break with a popping sound when bent. Be patient, because it takes several years for a softwood cutting to grow into a good-size shrub.
If you live in a region that experiences stormy weather and extreme temperatures, choose shrubs that tolerate cold, windy conditions. Look for species with thick, small, waxy or needlelike foliage. Avoid shrubs with large leaves, as they tend to catch wind and sustain branch damage in storms, according to the Colorado State University Extension. Use the U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which divides North America into regions according to average annual low temperatures, to determine the plants most likely to thrive in your area.
When you are selecting plants, trees and shrubs to add to your landscape, consider the appearance as well as as the plant's hardiness and maintenance needs. Shrubs can be a dramatic part of any property due to their low maintenance requirements and high all-season interest. For maximum visual impact, choose shrubs that display orange foliage, either all year or in the autumn. The dramatic color provides an unusual contrast with more traditional shrubs.
Evergreen shrubs preserve a little bit of color in the landscape no matter how dark or snowy the winter becomes. Evergreens grow in a variety of shapes, including pyramidal, spreading and mounded. The tallest of the evergreen shrubs can take on tree forms or rounded forms similar to that of the mounded shrub. In the landscape, you can encourage many dense shrubs to resemble a mounded shrub with pruning and training.
Shade-tolerant hedge shrubs are useful for creating borders and living fences in areas with many structures or a heavy tree canopy. The hedges can be grown using a wide variety of shrubs -- choose evergreens if you need a year-around screen, or deciduous shrubs for seasonal beauty. Many hedges don't require training, especially if you choose plants that are naturally mounded or if you're seeking a casual look from your hedge.
Even if your gardening prospects are confined to your front porch, plenty of plants can grow in containers, whether in full sun, full shade or any light level between those extremes. Planting shrubs will give your porch some leafy greenery instantly. If you want to maintain maximum visibility for gazing over a porch railing, opt for low-growing or even creeping shrub varieties.
Shade can be a difficult area to landscape, especially when you want to plant flowering shrubs. Not just any shrub can be dropped into shade and thrive, let alone flower. However, shade-loving flowering shrubs like hydrangeas, azaleas and rhododendrons, viburnums and witchhazel often thrive under these conditions. These shrubs provide years of beautiful flowers, some in the deepest of shade.
Attractive flowers and ease of maintenance are some of the charms offered by the butterfly bush (buddleja). This large shrub attracts butterflies, produces showy and colorful flower spikes, and is extremely vigorous. The bush is so vigorous that it is considered a noxious weed in some parts of the United States, including Oregon and Washington state. But its colorful cultivars, exhibiting flowers in reds, oranges and blues, among others, and its graceful arching branches make it a desirable specimen for a landscape. Reaching up to 15 feet tall, the deciduous plant is vigorous and produces numerous seeds early in its…
Homeowners turn to edible landscaping as a means to grow food in often constricted spaces, using plantings that enhance the visual appeal of the property. Shrubs are the backbone of edible landscaping. Dozens of shrubs with edible fruit, nuts or leaves punctuate the landscape with striking shapes, colors and textures. Along with traditional shrubs, consider shrub-like plants, such as dwarf trees, edible grasses or tall, bushy herbs that mix well with shrubs in foundation plantings, herbaceous borders and hedgerows.
Because topiary is the art of training plants to grow in shapes that are unnatural to the plant, topiaries are a permanent work-in-progress, requiring ongoing maintenance and care to keep them looking their best. Simple shapes are equally as effective as complex ones, and indoor topiary forms are simple to make yourself.
Azara microphylla, commonly called box leaf azara, is a large shrub native to South America. The shrub grows best in full sun as well as partly shaded locations, where it develops attractive foliage and inflorescence that enhances the appearance of home landscapes. Growing azara microphylla is a simple process in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 7 through 9.
Sambucus nigra is a deciduous shrub that responds well to pruning in late winter or early spring, and it requires pruning at least once each year. This particular variety of elderberry produces dark purple-black foliage, lemon-scented pink flowers in summer and edible berries in autumn. The vitamin C-rich fruit is used to make juice, jams or jellies. The fruit is also high in phosphorus and potassium.
