Garden Gate eNotes

Instant protection for perennials

katecorman — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:10:52 +0000

Don’t watch on as just planted perennials get trampled or suffer broken stems! With just a handful of pliable branches, you can make easy, long-lasting coverage for new growth. First, stick the 2- to 3-foot-long twigs a couple of inches into the ground, in a circle surrounding each plant. Then, reinforce the structure by weaving smaller, thinner branchlets throughout. This dome-like cage will provide extra support to your perennials for a few years before it’ll need to be replaced.

Top Pick Spring Combos

shayna — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:04:43 +0000

Our 3 favorite spring combos will keep your garden filled with color throughout the season!

Great Plant Combos 2

katecorman — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:01:09 +0000

Learn to combine plants like a pro for instant impact and season-long color with this NEW book from the editors of Garden Gate magazine...

Soil Scoop

katecorman — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:14:30 +0000

Here’s an easy way to add potting mix to a container — use an old-fashioned-style ice cream scoop! It’s just the right size, especially when plants are tightly packed. No more maneuvering a big trowel around fragile plants or spilling potting mix on the ground.

Vines for Arbors

katecorman — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:04:08 +0000

These four vines are perfect to grow up any arbor.

Great Gardens: Beds & Borders

katecorman — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:01:19 +0000

Learn how to create dramatic beds and borders whatever your garden space...

Birdseed troubles?

katecorman — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:09:14 +0000

Finding a bunch of uneaten seeds around your birdfeeders? Weevil larvae may be eating the hearts out of sunflower seeds. While the birds will eat the worms or the bugs if they find them, they’ll kick all of the empty shells to the ground.

Prevent the problem

Not sure if this is the problem? Here are two signs your birdseed is infested:

Tiny holes in the seeds like those in the photo at left
Clumps of white cobwebs mixed in with the seeds

This problem gets worse the longer the seed is stored, especially in warm weather. So always store bags of seeds in a cool spot. If you feed birds in summer, store the seed in the freezer. This may not kill larvae already inside the shells, but it will keep them from eating more of the kernels.

Winter Flowers

katecorman — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:07:55 +0000

No need to deny yourself winter flowers. Here are three of our favorite winter-blooming shrubs.

Ultimate Flowers for Sun & Shade

katecorman — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:01:36 +0000

You'll love this softcover book — more than 150 flowering favorites from Garden Gate magazine!

Alyssum

katecorman — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:10:42 +0000

This fragrant annual never stops blooming! Meet Snow Princess sweet alyssum.

Arbors

katecorman — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:04:57 +0000

Love arbors but don't know where to put one? Check out three spots an arbor would look great in your yard!

YIG Vol 17

katecorman — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:01:35 +0000

The latest volume of an entire year's worth of great gardening information from the editors of Garden Gate magazine.

Add drama with hollyhocks

katecorman — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:11:42 +0000

Hollyhocks come in a wide range of colors from pastel to bold — even bicolored — which can blend into or stand out in any garden scheme.

Sow seeds in winter

katecorman — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:09:59 +0000

Save time and money! This may be the easiest way to get a bunch of new perennials ever. Let us show you how.

Great Plant Combos 2

katecorman — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:01:49 +0000

Learn to combine plants like a pro for instant impact and season-long color with this NEW book from the editors of Garden Gate magazine...

Christmas rose

katecorman — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 07:08:29 +0000

The white Christmas rose is the earliest hellebore to bloom, although usually not until about a month after Christmas.

Christmas rose

Helleborus niger

Type Perennial

Blooms White flowers in midwinter; turn pink as they age

Light Part shade to shade

Size 12 to 15 in. tall, 18 in. wide

Cold-hardy USDA zones 5 to 9

Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1

Create a winter destination

katecorman — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 07:04:46 +0000

Check out our plan to surround a garden seating area with winter shades of green, brown, rust and gold.

Year in Gardening, Volume 17

katecorman — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 07:01:15 +0000

The latest volume of an entire year's worth of great gardening information from the editors of Garden Gate magazine.

Northern cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

katecorman — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 07:12:35 +0000

These cheerful red birds are native to the eastern part of the United States and Canada but their range is increasing. Did you know…

An adult male cardinal is bright red, while the adult female is brown.
Once cardinals mate, it’s for life. Generally, one of the pair keeps a lookout while the other feeds.
In spring, the female lays three to four brown-speckled, gray-green eggs that hatch within two weeks.
They love unhulled black oil sunflower seeds. They’ll also eat safflower seed and bread crumbs.
Cardinals appreciate a year-round source of water. A heated birdbath provides a winter watering spot.

Great plants for winter

katecorman — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 07:04:15 +0000

These 5 tough plants keep the garden beautiful while you rest and get ready for spring.