Garden Tip 88: CARING FOR YOUR RHODODENDRONS A while back I used the term “follow the flower” regarding the correct time to prune spring flowering trees and shrubs. The same principle applies to late spring and early summer bloomers as well. I spent the last couple of days in my garden pruning my large leaf rhododendron– pruning stem by stem to maintain their natural appearance, as opposed to sheering them into geometric shapes. Large leaf rhododendrons tend to grow a bit erratically, with many stems growing at a uniform rate while others can add on two to three feet [...]

Garden Tip 87: IT'S TIME FOR THE CHELSEA CHOP! The Royal Horticultural Society has held the annual Chelsea Flower Show every year at the end of May since 1913 in Chelsea, London. There is a garden task that corresponds to these dates that has become known as the Chelsea chop. We spoke of this last year, but it is good to have a timely reminder once again because the window of opportunity is short. The Chelsea chop helps to prolong the blooms of summer and fall flowering perennials such as tall phlox and heliopsis. The chop involves cutting back [...]

Garden Tip 86: HYDRANGEA SEASON IS ALMOST HERE!  Hydrangea season will soon be upon us and flowers of blue, pink, purple and white will abound in shapes of globes, cones, and lace caps. While flowers are their most important attribute, some hydrangeas have colorful foliage that can add interest to your garden. Hydrangea Fire Island and Hydrangea Hamptons, two varieties from the Seaside Serenade Collection, have burgundy foliage in the spring that turns dark green in summer. Hydrangea Lady in Red has red stems and red-veined dark green leaves that turn a rich purple hue come fall. By far, [...]

Garden Tip 85: USING EVERGREENS IN YOUR GARDEN In the past I have talked of the importance of using evergreens in the garden to lend form and structure to the landscape and to act as the winter “bones” of the garden. Evergreens are an important ingredient in bird-friendly landscaping as well. Many bird species prefer to nest in evergreen trees and shrubs because their dense growth offers excellent concealment of vulnerable nests. A few nests I have noted thus far this season include cardinals in the English Holly and robins and catbirds in the Japanese Ilex. I am happy [...]

Garden Tip 84: TIPS FOR MOVING PLANTS OUTDOORS May 15th, May 31st, Memorial Day, after the full moon– these are some of the answers you will receive when you ask the question: “When is it safe to put frost sensitive plants outside in the month of May?” Frost sensitive plants include annual plants, vegetable plants, and of course house plants. I wait until night temperatures remain consistently in the fifties. This year I choose May 18th to begin the exodus of my house plants to the great outdoors. Once I begin, I try to do a few plants each [...]

Garden Tip 83: CARING FOR TULIPS AND DAFFODILS AFTER FLOWERING Last week we spoke of pruning spring flowering shrubs right after the flowers have passed. The same can be said of spring flowering bulbs. Tulip and daffodil flowers are now going by and should be removed. It is important when removing the old flower to remove the seed pod at it’s base at the same time. This improves the look of the plant and ensures that the energy and food produced this year will go to the bulb and not to the seed. The simplest way to remove the [...]

Garden Tip 82: PRUNING FLOWERING SHRUBS We are well into spring and it is time to talk a bit about pruning spring flowering shrubs (those that bloom before June). My advice is to “follow the flower” by pruning spring flowering shrubs right after they have finished blooming. Spring bloomers will develop next years flower buds on this season’s growth, so it is important to prune them early in the season to give them plenty of time to grow and set bud for next year. Save the hedge shears for pruning just that– hedges– such as yew and privet. Prune [...]

Garden Tip 81:RABBIT PROOFING YOUR GARDENSLonger days, warmer temperatures and rabbits in the garden are sure signs of spring. The rabbits in my garden have expensive taste. Bypassing swaths of bittercress, chickweed and clover they go right for the good stuff like children in a candy store. They must be watching me as well for when I plant a new specimen in my garden! Among the thousands of plants that are there, they seek it out and are in for the taste test within twenty four hours. Rabbits are more than welcome to eat my clover and chomp on my lawn [...]

Garden Tip 80: EDGE MULCHING A while ago, I spoke of the benefits of adding woodchips to garden beds. They act as a buffet feeding all the living microorganisms in the soil. For a more finished look, I still use bark mulch on the edge of the beds. This time of year we often see landscapers raking or blowing yards and yards of bark mulch into the garden. I realized many years ago that it is really only necessary to mulch the front ten or twelve inches of beds that are densely planted for that is all that is [...]

Garden Tip 79: CARING FOR DAFFODILS The yellows, whites and pinks of daffodils are brightening April gardens everywhere you look. Daffodil bulbs are tough, dependable and they multiply. Over the years one bulb will grow into a cluster of bulbs. In the garden you may notice some of the clumps have a lot of foliage with few and small flowers. This is a good indication that these clumps have become overcrowded. Mark these clumps now with a flag or label, and be prepared to dig, divide and transplant these clumps when the plants go dormant in early summer. Clumps [...]