Fall is a great time of year to organize, repair and clean your garden tools. After a season of working hard in the landscape it is a good idea to put your tools away in top shape. That was in the spring you can get gardening ASAP! The following a short checklist of tasks you […]
My Favorite Hydrangeas: Part 2

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Quickfire’ is another of my favorite varieties. It grows 6-8’ tall and 5-6’ wide but with a much more upright habit than ‘Limelight’ which I spoke of in my last blog. Again 5-6 hours of sunlight is required with a well drained soil tolerating a variety of soil types. Photo credit: Fred Ortlip […]
My Favorite Hydrangeas: Part 1

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ is one of my favorite varieties. It grows 6-8’ tall and 5-6’ wide so it needs a generous space either planted alone or in groups. 5-6 hours of sunlight is required with a well drained soil but will tolerate a variety of soil types. Photo credit: Michele Dorsey Walfred via Visual Hunt […]
Pruning – Rules of Thumb
Following are a few rules of thumb I use when teaching pruning. 1) There are exceptions to all rules. 2) Right Plant = Right Place – If you chose the right plant for a site, one that does not outgrow the area and is in the right exposure you will minimize any necessary pruning. 3) […]
Pruning at the Proper Time

A common question is when should a certain plant be pruned. Often it is a generic question as to when should one prune. The timing of when a plant should be pruned to me is less important than how it is pruned. More often than not people are whacking away at their plants with shears […]
Your New Favorite Rose Bush
I have never been a fan of fussy Hybrid Tea Rose bushes. They’re kind of like a pet. (I’m reminded of a purbred Irish Setter I knew as a kid…) Then I met the ‘Knokcout’ Rose bush. A trademark mane that comes in colors of light yellow pink and red (really a dar, hot pink) […]
What is Bonsai?
Bonsai is pronounced with a long ‘o’ (bone-sigh). When pronouncing with a short ‘o’ it means attack, like in the war movies with the Japanese pilots. The dictionary defines bon-sai as: a potted plant dwarfed by special methods of culture; the art of growing such a plant. I know it as “The Art of Pruning”. […]