May 2023

CONTAINER GARDENING WITH SHRUBS Natalie Carmolli, Proven Winners® ColorChoice® It's spring! And it’s the perfect time to start planning a container garden! Incorporating shrubs into your mix will add texture, structure, and year-round interest to your patio pots. Here are some tips to help you create and maintain a captivating container garden with a little help from some delightfully durable Proven Winners® ColorChoice® shrubs.

PLANT SUMMER FLOWERING BULBS NOW Power Planter Spending time outdoors is one of the easiest ways to improve your mental health and well-being. The rewards are two-fold when you’re planting beautiful flower bulbs. Those spring-planted bulbs will burst with beautiful blooms this summer, making quite a statement with little effort and are perfect for cut-flower bouquets.

BENEFITS OF DIRECTLY-SOWN VEGETABLE GARDENS Ashleigh Smith, True Leaf Market I love starting my seeds early indoors, but did you know some plants grow better when directly sown outdoors? With the knowledge of how to correctly plant your seeds outside, you won’t want to rely on starting your whole garden indoors any longer.

SENSATIONAL SUMMER COMBOS Delilah Onofrey, Suntory Flowers The weather is breaking and you’re ready to plant. As you shop for your tried and true (and something new), consider which plants will go the distance all summer. Varieties that beat the heat include Sun Parasol mandevillas/dipladenias, Surdiva scaevolas, Soiree Kawaii catharanthus, and Granvia bracteantha. Here's how to combine them.

WHAT VEGETABLE GARDENERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GMO Park Seed GMO, or genetically modified organism, refers to plants or animals that have been genetically altered through scientific techniques in a laboratory. The purpose is to improve their resistance to pests, diseases, and harsh environmental conditions, among other advantages. Learn more...

FOODSCAPING Therese Ciesinski, GardenSMART Do you have a small garden, but big growing dreams? Do you yearn to grow both radishes and roses? Then try foodscaping, the art of combining vegetables, fruits, and ornamental plants in an attractive way.

MUST-HAVE HYDRANGEAS FOR THE NEW ROMANTIC GARDEN Monrovia Nursery Company Romantic, beautiful blooms are making a comeback this season, as gardeners embrace a return to classic flowers. Nostalgia varieties such as roses, hydrangea, peony, and other flowering shrubs that may be thought of as old-fashioned are now in demand. These timeless flowers bring us back to simpler times and offer a connection to memories, family, and friends that may have influenced our love of gardening.

BLUEBIRDS Wild Birds Unlimited What is it about bluebirds? They just seem to be one of the most endearing birds to be found anywhere…but why? Maybe it’s their gentle demeanor. Social by nature and seldom alone, they rarely appear excitable or aggressive and seem to treat each other with the good-natured and calm deportment of an old friend. Learn more...

5 WAYS TO USE ANNUALS IN THE GARDEN Heather Blackmore, Proven Winners Annuals aren’t just for patio pots! They can also play an important role in your garden’s design and maintenance planning. Follow along as I show you five ways I’m using annuals in my garden this season.

3 COMMON SUMMER LAWN PESTS Sav Maive, Lawn Love If you’re watering your lawn, but those brown patches don’t seem to get any greener, you might be dealing with a common summer pest. But how can you tell the difference between damage from pests, drought, and lawn disease? Learn how to identify, remove, and prevent three of the most common summer lawn pests.

SOME COOL POKERS THAT ARE HOT! Dan Heims, Terra Nova Nurseries There was a time when red hot pokers, Kniphofia, were a brilliant flash in the pan. Clumsy habit and a brief flowering period on the negative side. Showy flowers, drought tolerance, reasonable hardiness and long-lived nature on the positive. Enter Terra Nova’s breeders with a breeding plan to fix them.

WHEN TO PLANT DAHLIAS GrowJoy Dahlias are one of the most popular flowers to grow in a garden. With their vibrant colors and diverse shapes, they add a touch of beauty to any outdoor space. However, timing is crucial when it comes to planting. If you want to enjoy a spectacular display of blooms during the summer and fall, you need to know when to plant them.

DELPHINIUMS Pamela Crawford I planted this basket to take advantage of some gorgeous delphiniums I found at a garden center. I knew they wouldn’t bloom for the five months that I aim for, but I just couldn’t resist them. The snapdragons planted on either side don’t bloom continually, like the delphinium. By planting the two together, at least one of them bloomed the entire time this basket lived.

LACEWINGS Therese Ciesinski, GardenSMART As insects go, lacewings are one of the prettiest. Adults are bright green and have wings traced with delicate green veins; hence the name. They are one of the most beneficial of the beneficial insects.

TIPS FOR DESIGNING AND MAINTAINING A LOW-MAINTENANCE GARDEN Melinda Myers Don’t let your spring garden enthusiasm lead to overplanting and the creation of a summer gardening nightmare. A design with maintenance in mind and some strategic care can help reduce the time you spend managing your gardens and landscape.

5 EASY-CARE VARIEGATED HOUSEPLANTS Justin Hancock, Costa Farms Variegation is one of the hottest trends in houseplants. Discover five of my favorite easy-care variegated varieties that are perfect for your home!

HEALTHY VISION STARTS HERE Visionworks You might ask yourself, do I need an annual eye exam even if I have crystal clear vision? The answer is yes! It’s important to be proactive with taking care of your eyesight, especially when you are young and healthy. Regular appointments with your eye doctor will help identify any changes in your eyesight.

GIBBS GARDENS IN MAY: A WORLD-CLASS SPRINGTIME EXPERIENCE Gibbs Gardens Mother Nature reveals her annual miracle as spring comes into full bloom throughout Gibbs Gardens. An awakening—a breathtaking newness—for plants of all shapes and sizes occurs everywhere in this 376-acre paradise. Vibrant colors deepen as delicate blossoms burst forth on plants. May has arrived at Gibbs Gardens.

5 MYTHS ABOUT GRILLING YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR BBQ SEASON Leroy Hite, Cutting Edge Firewood Grilling is a centuries-old culinary technique that involves cooking meat and other food directly over a fire. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation out there on the topic. Read on as I debunk five myths you should ignore about grilling.

GROW HEIRLOOM FLOWERS FROM SEED Home Garden Seed Association Heirloom flowers are not easy to define precisely, but you know them when you see them. Flashy spikes of hollyhock rule the early summer garden; fragrant four o’clocks bring a smile at day’s end. Some call heirloom flowers “pass-along plants,” because they are open pollinated and you can save their seed.

CHOOSING AND PLANTING A LARGE CONTAINER When it comes to planters, it's best to have a large soil reservoir. The smaller the container, the faster it's going to dry out. Not only do big containers make a bold statement, there's more flexibility from a design and planting standpoint. Watch the video...

TRANSFORMING A DECK INTO A GARDENING WORK OF ART In this episode we catch up with one of the queens of container gardening. Pamela Crawford has authored a host of books on the subject, and has devoted much of her career to making containers accessible to every gardener. Learn more...

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