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  • How-To

    Tomatoes for Mountain West Gardeners

    Despite working predominantly in ornamental—especially naturalistic—horticulture, I hold an “interdisciplinary minor in organic agriculture” from Colorado State University. Early in my career I worked primarily in food crops, and before…

  • winter tree watering
    Article

    Should You Water Your Plants in Winter?

    Those of us who have spent a few years (or more) in the American West know that winter here doesn’t look like winter in much of the country. As far…

  • succulents that grow on a windowsill
    Article

    Vibrant Succulents to Brighten Your Indoor Space

    Succulents thrive in arid, often harsh climates, with abundant bright sunshine year-round and little to no regular water. They have adapted to such conditions by developing thick, fleshy leaves and…

  • ‘Grey Owl’ eastern red cedar is a medium-size juniper
    Design

    9 Special Junipers with Unique Forms for the Garden

    Few plants generate more revulsion in the garden than junipers. The mere suggestion of planting one often musters a similar reaction to that of saying a dirty word. Maybe we’ve…

  • ‘Mahogany Splendor’ hibiscus
    Design

    Jazz Up Your Garden with Annuals You Can Easily Grow from Seed

    You know that old saying that “friends don’t let friends grow annuals”? I now ignore that sentiment. Some of the best plants in my garden are annuals, and they are…

  • garden with deep borders
    Design

    Designing Deep Garden Beds for Privacy and Interest in Your Outdoor Space

    When I moved to Michigan 13 years ago, I was ­excited by the endless plant possibilities afforded by my new Zone 6 location. Compared to the secluded 5-acre garden I…

  • Design

    5 Inspiring Naturalistic Dry Creek-Bed Designs

    The following five garden spaces are a good representation of the variety of styles that dry creek-bed designs can encompass. Each of these designs also solved a unique issue stemming…

  • dry creek bed with river stones
    Design

    How to Build a Stylish Dry Creek Bed

    Stormwater runoff, and the damage it can leave behind, has become a seemingly unmanageable problem for
gardeners from coast to coast. The perfect mix of 
unpredictable and changing weather patterns, urban…

  • How to Identify and Treat Sudden Oak Death
    How-To

    How to Identify and Treat Sudden Oak Death

    While folks on the West Coast probably hear quite a bit about sudden oak death, it is an important plant disease that everyone should have on their radar. Sudden oak…

  • how to divide perennials
    How-To

    Dividing Perennials Step-by-Step

    Dividing perennials is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to get more plants. Many perennials can be divided, but how and when should you do it? Here are three…