Written for passionate gardeners, Fine Gardening provides inspired ideas backed by detailed instructions for creating healthy gardens, outdoor rooms, and beautiful landscapes suited to the region. Horticulturists, nurserymen, and designers share their expertise on plants, care, soil, eco-friendly pest control, propagation, design, and landscaping.
Excuse me—do you have a tree for me?
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OVER THE FENCE • READER COMMENTS AND OPINIONS
Fine Gardening Magazine
CONTRIBUTING THIS ISSUE
READERS’ TIPS • FROM ONE GARDENER TO ANOTHER
GARDEN SHED • ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR SPRING
SUPER COOL PLANTS • FIND OUT WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE GROWING
HEALTHY GARDEN • SCIENCE-BASED INSIGHT FROM SOURCES YOU CAN TRUST
What is wrong with my Harry Lauder’s walking stick?
DESIGN IDEAS • UNIQUE SPRING-CONTAINER INSPIRATION
Step Inside a Living Art Installation • This foliage-forward garden demonstrates how a small space can be transformed into an immersive, serene oasis
Art as inspiration
9 foliage plants you can’t live without • When you rely on foliage over flowers, a plant rarely experiences a “down period.” The following are all plants that play an important role in my garden’s composition.
9 FANTASTIC FLOWERING TREES • Bring a bounty of blooms to your landscape with some seasonal stars
Tips for pruning flowering trees • Pruning can be intimidating. Many of us fear making a mistake our plants won’t recover from. Overall, trees are resilient; with a little practice and know-how, any gardener should be able to tackle this task. Here are some things to keep in mind before grabbing the saw.
NEW HEUCHERAS THAT AREN’T JUST HYPE • If you’ve been burned by the latest varieties of this popular perennial in the past, never fear! These expert-tested options won’t let you down.
Mindful nurturing will lead to happier plants
CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN HEUCHERA TRIAL
THE CHEATER’S GUIDE TO PRUNING • Can’t remember what to cut when—and why? Follow a few basic rules the next time your woody plants need attention
GROUND COVERS THAT POLLINATORS LOVE • Layering wildlife-friendly plants adds ecological value, seasonal beauty, and charm to any space, large or small
Tips for installing and caring for a pollinator garden • Choosing a palette of plants that will sustain pollinators throughout the growing season is a great start. However, the way you plant and care for your selections can provide additional advantages for the pollinators you’re seeking to attract. Here are some ways to make the lower layers of your garden even more beneficial.
Weaving VIGNETTES TOGETHER • Create a unified design with repeated plant groupings and cohesive hardscaping
Knitter plants tie the garden together • Among the diverse combinations, several adaptable players help to knit the different parts of the garden together, thriving in a variety of microclimates and design aesthetics.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST
SOUTHWEST
MOUNTAIN WEST
MIDWEST
SOUTHEAST
MID-ATLANTIC
NORTHEAST
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE • HOW TO SAY THE BOTANICAL NAMES IN THIS ISSUE
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
CAPTIVATING COMBINATION