Soil Health - Fine Gardening
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How-ToGet to Know Your Clay Soil
Soil is a dynamic mix of mineral particles, organic matter, living organisms, water, and air. Since clay particles are extremely tiny and stack together tightly, clay soil will naturally have…
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DesignHow Lawn Replacement Brings Beauty, Sanctuary, and Habitat to Summerhome Garden
In the world of gardening, terms like naturalistic, xeric, and climate-resilient have become buzzwords for a gardening style that uses less water, fosters biodiversity, and adapts to climate change.…
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How-ToHow to Clean Up the Garden Without Harming Beneficial Insects
Traditionally in our region, gardens were cleaned up in fall for practical and aesthetic reasons. By spring, with weeding, watering, sowing, and dividing all begging for attention, time can be…
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How-ToWhat Is Biochar, and Is It Really Good for the Garden?
While biochar is by no means new, it is relatively new to the world of horticulture as a mainstream soil amendment. But what is it exactly? Biochar is a substance…
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How-ToEasy Ways to Make Any Lawn More Eco-Friendly
Replacing your lawn with a matrix of native plants might not be an option for you, but you can still move the ecological needle in the right direction in your…
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DesignIs No Mow May a Good Idea?
No mow may, a movement that started in 2019 in the U.K., has challenged how we think about lawns. For at least one month of the year, we are encouraged…
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DesignA Sophisticated Garden Designed with Native Plants for Pollinators
As a landscape designer, I’m well accustomed to a challenge. So I wasn’t too worried when the homeowner of a property in Aldie, Virginia, gave me a seemingly straightforward mandate:…
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How-ToRoot Rot Identification and Treatment
Roots are the foundation of a plant, vital organs that anchor it in the soil, absorbing water and nutrients. Unfortunately, because roots are rarely seen in full, the problems that…
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DesignTop Native Shrubs to Replace Boxwood in Your Landscape
Throw a stone in any neighborhood, and more likely than not, you'll hit a boxwood tree. Boxwood (Buxus spp. and cvs., Zones 4–9) is the most popular evergreen shrub sold…
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How-ToThe Science of Garden Soil Health: What You Need to Know to Keep Your Garden Growing
Beneath our feet lies a vibrant yet under-appreciated ecosystem. Far more complex than mere dirt, soil is a matrix of mineral particles, organic matter, living organisms, water, and air. Scientists…
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