Fine Gardening Magazine

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.

Pruning conundrums

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Fine Gardening Magazine

Over the Fence • READER COMMENTS AND OPINIONS

GARDEN SHED • TOUGH HOSES THAT WILL LAST

Super Cool Plants • FIND OUT WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE GROWING

GOTTA HAVE IT

SMART WATERING STRATEGIES • With droughts on the rise, there’s no time like the present to adopt better methods of delivering precious H2 O to your plants

What is your favorite smart-watering tool? • There are a lot of watering gadgets, tools, and products out there. It’s always great to learn from another gardener’s experience, so we asked some gardening experts about their favorite smart-watering tool. Here’s what they said.

Four golden rules of water-wise irrigation

Indoor Gardening • HOUSEPLANT ADVICE AND INSIGHT

Three varieties to track down • There are countless philodendrons to choose from, but these three have proven staying power as easy-to-grow, stunning focal points, and any one could be the star of your home.

Plant MD • SCIENCE-BASED INFORMATION FOR A HEALTHIER GARDEN

GROUNDING A MODERN DESIGN • Soften the edges of bold architecture using textural plants and a mix of interesting hardscape materials

HOW TO CONTAIN BAMBOO

TEXTURED PLANTS STEAL THE SHOW • While color and form were important factors in choosing the plants, a mix of bold and fine textures makes the backbone of the design. Here are some of the most spectacularly textured plants in this garden.

Over-the-top tropical containers • BIG, BOLD, UNEXPECTED PLANTS ARE A GREAT WAY TO ADD DRAMA TO YOUR SUMMER DISPLAYS

How to keep tropical plants happy • Most tropical plants are pretty easygoing if they have their preferred levels of light and moisture. Following just a few key pointers will help you get the most out of your tender plants from early summer until frost brings their outdoor days to an end.

HEATING IT UP WITH HOT PEPPERS • Add some kick to your homegrown menu with these mild to super-spicy favorites

Hot peppers are often loved or feared. But where does the heat come from?

KEEGAN’S TIPS ON GROWING HOT PEPPERS

A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO PRUNING VIBURNUMS • Regular maintenance will keep these fast-growing shrubs in good shape

ASSEMBLE A PRUNING TOOL KIT • Having the right equipment will help to ensure pruning success. Here are the basic tools to get the job done right.

GOOD TO KNOW

Cut heavier branches in three steps • Making a series of three cuts will prevent bark from tearing and wood from snapping or splitting while you are removing a large branch.

Native Hydrangeas • THESE UNFUSSY SPECIES ARE GUARANTEED TO BLOOM, AND MANY ARE POLLINATOR FRIENDLY

Mophead vs. lacecap • Mopheads may be eye-catching, but lacecaps are better at attracting pollinators

Heavy annual cutbacks are not necessary

WATER-WISE DESIGN IDEAS • GET INSPIRED BY GARDENS THAT REQUIRE JUST A LITTLE MOISTURE TO LOOK SURPRISINGLY GOOD

Tips for creating a drought-resistant garden • To ensure success, follow these strategies when creating captivating combinations of water-wise plants.

Traits that can help you spot a drought-tolerant plant • Characteristics such as size, color, and texture can help you determine whether a plant might be a good candidate for a dry garden. There are...