Tips

Nowadays, there are so many things we take for granted that make our lives as gardeners easier, compared to even half a decade ago; things such as being able to …

We are elbow-deep in the bulb-planting season and my friends are starting to doubt my honesty when I say “sorry, I can’t this weekend; I’m planting bulbs.” But that’s October …

The thrill I get when browsing online bulb catalogs is the closest feeling I’ll ever get to that of stepping into a candy shop when I was a child. Then, …

An unexpectedly popular plant care series that we ran on Blooming Backyard was the one covering reasons why beloved plants don’t bloom. I say “unexpectedly” not because our readers were …

When I first got the gardening bug, I used to despair over the end of the warm summer season. Fall, in spite of its color and richness, brought a bittersweet …

If there’s ever a plant that embodies the feeling of hopefulness, it’s the tulip. As a history buff, I’m fascinated by how the Dutch Tulip Mania unfolded in the seventeenth …

I absolutely love my star jasmine. What’s not to love? It stays green all winter long, blooms for weeks at a time and smells divine. I’ve been letting it take …

When I moved into my current home, I became the accidental step-parent of a majestic Camellia japonica bush. The woman who was moving out estimated the camellia was about seven …

If you prefer more blooms than foliage, a showy display of flowers that lasts for weeks, and a vine that doesn’t destroy the structures that it climbs on, then clematis …

Daylilies (Hemerocallis) have been working hard for our gardens all summer long, putting out stunning displays of blooms day after day. But with the advent of fall, when temperatures start …

Preparing roses for the winter season during fall can be a tedious job, so it’s no wonder that it sometimes becomes the object of procrastination even for experienced gardeners. After …

Over the past decade, the advice on the best time to cut back perennials has been noticeably shifting. Thankfully, our increased awareness of the fact that we need to protect …

Dahlias are the darlings of the flower garden and for good reason. They put out gorgeous boisterous blooms every year, but there sure is a price to pay in exchange …

As a gardener, growing annual geraniums feels very much like I’m gaming the system. I get a low-maintenance plant with attractive foliage and blooms that last for almost three full …

When we published the article on low-maintenance lawn alternatives on Blooming Backyard, we had a great response from our online community on Facebook. It warms my heart to know that …

I first became aware of the necessity of pruning perennials in the summer when I came back from an early-July vacation to a wild garden that was quickly getting out …

If you’ve never had a plant break your heart, try growing a gardenia! Gardenias blooms are the work of a fairy tale, if that fairy tale is Goldilocks and the …

Peony flowers are undeniably stunning, looking wonderful in a vase and just as good out in the garden. With the right care and attention, they will put up masses of …

Alliums are fantastic additions to any ornamental garden. Not only are these bulbs some of the easiest to care for, but their fascinating flowers look good anywhere they are planted. …

A crowded patch of irises is the most common reason for a disappointing show of flowers. If you’ve experienced a disappointing flush of iris blooms this spring, then it’s probably …

One of the most widely grown ornamental flowers around the globe, gardeners are understandably obsessed with the Hydrangea. The massive clusters that pop up around summertime are cherished both indoors …

The luxuriously luminescent blooms of the Iris are one of springtime’s favorite gifts. Rising from stiff sword-like leaves, flower stalks hold up large flowers of 6 spreading or lobed petals. …

I don’t know about you, but I find it physically impossible to walk past dahlia patches and not stop and admire them. I’ve been known to travel far and wide …

If you’re anything like me, walking into a garden center is a dangerous affair for your bank account. Even though plants aren’t particularly pricey in the larger scheme of things, …