category: Gardening

Few things enhance a landscape quite like a beautiful, mature tree. Crabapple trees, with their stunning spring blossoms, attractive summer foliage, and vibrant fall fruit, are particularly beloved for their ornamental value. However, beneath their charming canopy often lies a common gardening conundrum: the struggle to grow a healthy, lush lawn. If you’ve ever tried to cultivate green grass under your crabapple tree only to be met with sparse, patchy, or yellowing turf, you’re experiencing a widespread issue. ...

August in the garden and on the lawn can be a challenging month. For many regions, it’s the peak of summer heat and often a period of significant drought stress. While it might seem like a time to slow down, August is crucial for maintaining the health of your landscape, protecting it from summer’s harshest elements, and laying the groundwork for a strong autumn and next spring. It’s a month of vigilant care, strategic planning, and careful observation. ...

September marks a pivotal transition in the garden and on the lawn. As the scorching heat of summer begins to fade and the crispness of autumn approaches, conditions become ideal for a range of essential tasks that will set your yard up for success. For many regions, this month offers a second prime growing season, especially for cool-season grasses and certain plants, making it a crucial time for rejuvenation and preparation for the colder months ahead. ...

Dreaming of a tree in your garden but limited by space? Or perhaps you live in a colder climate but yearn for the lush beauty of a tropical specimen? Container gardening with trees offers a fantastic solution, allowing you to cultivate impressive woody plants on patios, balconies, rooftops, or even indoors. Trees in pots bring vertical interest, shade, privacy, and architectural flair to even the smallest urban environments. They also offer the flexibility to move plants to optimize sunlight, protect them from harsh weather, or rearrange your outdoor décor. ...

As the vibrant colors of spring and summer recede, and the lushness of autumn gives way to cooler temperatures, many gardens can appear stark and dormant. In regions experiencing true winter, snow and bare branches dominate the landscape. Even in climates like Nairobi, where “winter” is primarily a cooler, drier period rather than a snowy one, the garden’s energy shifts, and many plants are less floriferous. This transition doesn’t mean your outdoor space has to lose its appeal. In fact, winter offers a unique opportunity to highlight structural elements, evergreen textures, and subtle forms that are often overshadowed during the warmer months. ...

The common butterfly bush, Buddleja davidii, is a popular garden shrub renowned for its abundant, fragrant flowers that undeniably attract a multitude of butterflies. Its vibrant blooms, often in shades of purple, pink, and white, seem to promise a haven for these delicate pollinators, making it a staple in many pollinator gardens. However, beneath this seemingly beneficial facade lies a complex ecological issue that has led many environmentalists and even some butterfly enthusiasts to question: Are butterfly bushes actually bad for butterflies? ...

As gardeners, we all strive for vibrant, weed-free beds, especially around the delicate beauty of spring-flowering bulbs. The promise of early spring tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths is a highlight of the gardening year, but maintaining their pristine beauty without endless weeding can be a challenge. Pre-emergent weed preventers offer an appealing solution, creating a barrier that stops weed seeds from germinating. However, the critical question arises: are these chemical (or even organic) barriers safe to use around your cherished bulbs without harming their emergence or future development? ...

As the long, sun-drenched days of summer begin to wane, many gardens start to show signs of fatigue. The dazzling displays of peak season annuals and perennials may fade, leaving behind a less vibrant landscape. However, the end of summer doesn’t have to signal the end of garden beauty. Fall, with its crisp air and softer light, offers a spectacular opportunity to refresh and reinvigorate your outdoor space with a new wave of blooms. ...

As the vibrancy of summer and autumn fades, many gardens in temperate climates can become stark and muted, leaving behind bare branches and dormant beds. While winter brings a quiet beauty of its own, the lack of color can be a stark contrast to the lively seasons before. This is where berry-producing plants become invaluable. These unsung heroes of the winter landscape hold onto their colorful fruits long after their leaves have fallen, providing much-needed visual interest and a vital food source for overwintering birds. ...

When the vibrant hues of autumn fade and the chill of winter sets in, many gardeners assume the planting season is over. Visions of digging in frozen ground or exposing tender roots to icy winds might deter even the most enthusiastic plant lover. However, for temperate climates, late fall and even mild winter periods can be surprisingly advantageous times to plant trees and shrubs, particularly those sold as bare-root or balled-and-burlapped (B&B). This unconventional timing leverages the plants’ natural dormancy, allowing them to establish robust root systems without the stress of simultaneously supporting active top growth or battling summer heat. ...