Articles Index

Types of Shrubs

The types of shrubs available for landscaping belong generally in the needled evergreen, broadleaf evergreen and deciduous categories. But you can also break them down by landscape usage.

What Is the Best Way to Get Rid of Invasive Plants?

What is the best way to get rid of invasive plants? The answer will depend on the particular invasive plants you're trying to remove and your own preferences (i.e., organic or not).

What Are Some Rabbit-Proof Flowers?

What are some rabbit-proof flowers? I offer examples among shrubs, vines and perennials.

I'm a Beginner and Want to work on my own landscape plan. How do I begin?

Drawing a landscape plan for beginners could be just the boost to help you get going with your DIY yard project. Planning adequately is half the battle.

Why Do I Have Brown Leaves on My Magnolia Trees?

Magnolia trees (deciduous types) will naturally develop browning leaves in fall and drop them. More generally, brown leaves on trees could be the result of drying winds.

My Southern Magnolia Has Yellow Leaves. Is It Dying?

This reader had a question on a southern magnolia tree that had yellow leaves. Sometimes, when the foliage of these trees experiences yellowing, it is a prelude to natural shedding.

Why Isn't My Wisteria Blooming?

Ever wonder why your wisteria isn't blooming? One of the frequent questions I receive, you can learn the answer here to the question, where I focus on pruning.

I Want to Kill Japanese Knotweed by Choking It Out. What Can I Cover It With?

One way to kill Japanese knotweed is by choking it out. What you need for this strategy is a covering that is tough, as I inform this reader.

What's the "Dig Safe" or "Call Before You Dig" Phone Number?

You've heard about the "Dig Safe" phone number you should call before plunging that shovel into new ground. Dialing this "Call Before You Dig" number could save you from a lot of trouble.

What Is Heavenly Bamboo?

What is heavenly bamboo? Find out the more accurate designation for this plant, which would be as pretty a shrub by any other name.

Do Bamboo Hedges Make Good Privacy Screens and Noise Buffers?

Bamboo privacy hedges make a yard private by screening out unwelcome gazes. Planting such hedges can also provide you with good noise buffers.

For Growing Bamboos in Cold Climates, Are There Any Cold-Hardy Types?

For growing bamboos in cold climates, you need to find one of the cold-hardy plants. The Fargesias are among the most cold-hardy.

How Do You Grow Bamboo?

How to grow bamboo? As with any other plants, growing this one basically comes down to sun, soil, nutrients and water.

Is There a Way of Containing Bamboo Plants?

One way of containing bamboo plants is with barriers. This method of containing them involves sinking plastic into the ground all around the plants, as described here.

What's the Difference Between Running Bamboos and Clumping Bamboos?

If you're concerned with invasiveness, it's probably best to stick with clumping bamboos. Unlike their 'running' cousins, clumping types generally won't spread quickly.

What Are the Uses for Bamboo Plants?

The uses for bamboo plant are as diverse as the regions they inhabit. Included is its use as a privacy hedge.

What Is Bamboo?

What is bamboo? You'd never know the correct classification to look at the larger members of this group.

Is Lucky Bamboo a True Bamboo?

So-called 'lucky bamboo' is really Dracaena sanderiana. This type of bamboo is used in Feng shui.

How Can I Tell a Male Holly Apart From a Female Holly?

How do you tell a male holly shrub apart from a female holly shrub, using their respective flowers to make the identification? If you've never had berries, you may, indeed, have to resort to looking at the flowers, which I show in pictures.

What's the Best Way to Shovel Snow?

The best way to shovel snow is to work smarter (more effectively), not harder. I'll show you the best way to shovel snow by concentrating on avoiding unnecessary work.

Do I have to continue watering my lawn in late fall?

Do you have to continue watering lawns in fall in the North, or will winter snow provide sufficient irrigation to last your lawn till spring? Find out the facts in this FAQ.

For effective (natural) rock garden design, how should the plants be arranged?

How do you arrange rock garden plants so that they look natural? I help beginners achieve a naturalistic look in this piece on grouping plants in the rockery.

What are "alpine rock gardens" and "Japanese Zen rock gardens"?

What is the difference between alpine rock gardens and Japanese Zen rock gardens? I present the answer here in this design discussion geared to beginners.

What plants are the best to plant in rock gardens?

What plants are the best to plant in rock gardens? After giving a brief answer here, I link to a database with more extensive plant suggestions.

What about the soil for planting rock gardens and the sun requirements?

Know about the right soil for planting rock gardens before you begin. The toughest part of planting is getting the soil prepared properly and making the right choices in vegetation.