Indice dei contenuti per January/February 2025 in Garden Gate

NEEDS LIGHT: Press seeds lightly into the seed-starting mix, but don't cover.NEEDS DARK: In addition to covering with seed-starting mix, place cardboard or plastic on the flat until germination.…

Foxglove beardtongue Penstemon digitalis Native to most of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, foxglove beardtongue stands tall in the middle and back of the border. This perennial’s airy pastel blooms attract many species of bees, hummingbirds and butterflies, and make good cut flowers. WHERE IT WORKS BEST Foxglove beardtongue is at home in informal cottage gardens, prairies and native gardens, where it can reseed and mingle. Though it prefers average to dry soil, it tolerates clay as well as the fluctuating wet and dry cycles of a rain garden. HOW TO GROW IT Grow foxglove beardtongue in full sun to part shade. Plants produce the most blooms (and cultivars with burgundy or purple foliage will have the best color) when given 6 hours of sun per day.…

When planning a new perennial bed or vegetable patch, one of the first things to decide is how to define the perimeter of your space. What makes that area “the garden”? You could just start planting, defining it by the plants you place or the soil you have tilled. But you may want a separation that clearly shows where the garden starts and ends. WHY EDGE YOUR GARDEN? Giving your garden an edge, whether it is implied visually or with a physical barrier, accomplishes many things. For instance, edging can: • Give garden beds a finished look.• Deter lawn grasses from invading.• Hold mulch, soil and path materials, such as gravel, in place.• Separate the path from the garden. CHOOSING THE BEST EDGING Some materials and techniques work better than…

S pring Garden Planning GardenGateMagazine.com Best Places to Order Garden Seeds Here’s where we spend our seed money every year (and why we like each one). Native Prairie Plants for Any Size Garden If you’re ready to grow more natives, these flowers and grasses bring a lot of benefits. How to Grow Lisianthus Flowers These dreamy bouquet beauties can be a bit tricky to grow, but we have all the secrets to success! Small Garden Design Ideas from the Pros Four garden designers share their favorite plants and techniques to make the most of a limited space. How to Install a Paver Patio Following these steps can ensure that your hard work will last for years. 3 Easy Ways to Propagate Plants Try these…

With the arrival of spring, emerging perennials fill the garden with soft texture, restoring life to the harsh, often barren landscape of winter. It’s a thrill to see fresh green leaves and splashes of color from early bloomers and hear the buzz of spring pollinators. Plants that return every year offer an easy start to the season—just a bit of cleanup and the garden is ready to go. Add a cool-loving annual to the mix in a pastel palette to boost the relaxing vibe before the arrival of bolder summer flowers. FLIRTY FLOWERS Delicate, airy flowers in soft shades of blue, pink and purple woo you with a feeling that is comfortable, even romantic. Imagine being surrounded by the sweet colors and light textures of the plants in these combinations.…

Are you ready to start planning for next year’s garden? A few new plants might be just what you need to bring those dreams to reality. Imagine this stunning new epimedium filling those empty spots in your shade garden or a flower-covered agastache bringing hummingbirds to sunny borders. It’s easy to envision your containers filled with color when you see the newest super-flowery annual geranium, heat-tolerant tuberous begonia, double mandevilla and many others on the following pages. TRENDING PLANTS This year’s crop of new introductions has lots of eye-catching blooms, from lush doubles to exceptional colors or patterns and fantastic foliage plants too. Many have multiseason appeal, so just one plant provides interest from spring to frost. If you’re tired of the same old standbys, check out some improved classics…

FINISHING TOUCHESin the weeds “He who searches for spring with his knees in the mud finds it, in abundance.”— Aldo Leopold Midwesterners are used to severe weather in spring and summer. I’m no stranger to scooting down to the basement to take cover during a storm. But last July, a tornado came a little too close for comfort, zipping right down the street from my house and through my neighborhood. First and foremost, no one was injured, and there was no significant damage to the homes in my area aside from some missing shingles or siding. However, I live in a neighborhood with some tall old trees that weren’t so lucky. After the storm passed and we came out to survey the damage, it was no surprise to see enormous…

One tool, all the tricks Sandra Toumbacaris, NY A long-handled garden rake like the one at left is the only tool Sandra uses to measure and plant her vegetable garden in spring. With a permanent black marker, she marks the handle every 6 to 12 inches. These marks help her measure the proper distances between each row. Next, she presses the handle into the soil to create a channel in which to plant the seeds. Planting complete, she uses the tines of the rake to press the seeds in and cover them with a light layer of soil. Two-step trellis Dave Perry, MI Let your climbing vine be the star of the garden with the simple DIY trellis idea in the photo above. Dave made the most of the narrow…

Are you tired of coaxing turfgrass to grow in difficult spots? In her book Groundcover Revolution, Kathy Jentz says that ground covers can be the solution to these struggles. She shares practical tips for replacing turfgrass with low-maintenance plants that thrive on slopes, in clay soil, deep shade, heavy clay and more. And she emphasizes that when you choose the right plants for the right spot, you can reduce water usage, the need for fertilizers and pesticides and support wildlife habitats. If you’re ready to turn some problem spots in your lawn into thriving, beautiful spaces with minimal effort, check out Kathy’s recommendations. WHAT IS A GROUND COVER? Kathy broadly defines “ground cover” as any plant that densely covers the soil. She doesn’t limit her definition to a particular height,…

The name dianthus translates to “divine flower,” and for good reason. Gardeners love this classic beauty for its intricate, fringed blooms but also for its sweet and spicy fragrance, reminiscent of cloves. Flowers come in almost every color—from pale pinks, whites and lavenders to bold red, orange and striking bicolors. Grasslike green, blue-green or silvery leaves provide a striking backdrop to the unique, jagged-edged flowers, and look great even when plants aren’t in bloom. Additionally, the nectar-rich flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators, all while remaining unappealing to deer. VERSATILE IN EVERY WAY Dianthus fits into a variety of garden settings. You can plant it in borders, as we’ve done at the front of the bed in our test garden at left, use it as a colorful ground…

EVERY GARDEN HAS A THEME. Overflowing with flowers, a kitchen garden or focused on foliage, each garden looks a little different, and that’s because every gardener has her or his own reason for grabbing a trowel and heading outdoors. Do you know yours? Take this quiz to focus in on your quirks, preferences and habits and collect them into one gardening style. Have some fun, choose the answer that resonates with you and flip through the next pages for some inspiration. And remember, in the end, there are no rules—you can be any kind of gardener you’d like! TAKE THE QUIZ 1 What’s your favorite way to celebrate a birthday or milestone? A Casually spending time with family B Volunteering in my community C Going to a fancy restaurant for…

Q I’m seeing lots of advice against using corrugated cardboard as a garden mulch lately. What’s your opinion? Jane Sullivan, VT A Here are a few pros and cons to help you make an educated decision about using corrugated cardboard mulch in the garden: Pros • Keeps weeds down without herbicides• Holds moisture in the soil• Inexpensive Cons • Wet cardboard blocks oxygen exchange in soil• Thick layers can kill beneficial organisms, necessitating additional fertilizer• Could add “forever chemicals,” such as PFAs, to the soil• May attract termites Bottom line If you occasionally use cardboard as a mulch, do so in a small area where you aren’t growing vegetables, and keep an eye on the moisture levels. If the cardboard is staying soggy, pull it out. Finally, keep the layers…