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.

February does have a purpose after all

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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 • THE BEST EDGING TOOLS FOR CLEAN LAWN AND GARDEN BORDERS

Put a cherry on your garden sundae with this sultry-hued fuchsia • FIND OUT WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE GROWING

This evergreen sparkles long after the snow has melted

A color breakthrough for a winter-blooming star

UNDERSTANDING ROOT ROT • SCIENCE-BASED INSIGHT FROM SOURCES YOU CAN TRUST

Risk factors for root rot

NEW AND IMPROVED HELLEBORES • These selections offer showier flowers and stronger performance for a dynamic cool-season display

HOW AND WHEN TO PRUNE HELLEBORES

HOW TO DEAL WITH HELLEBORE PESTS AND DISEASES • Hellebores are naturally resistant to deer and rabbit browsing, and few insect pests or diseases bother them. They are also more drought resistant than ferns and hostas when growing in the shade of large trees. While they are relatively resilient, they can be affected by a few problems, especially if growing conditions are not ideal. Here’s how to spot and handle some potential issues:

A Pair of Unconventional FRONT YARDS • Kiss traditional turf goodbye and say hello to some serious curb appeal

Great pollinator plants for seasonal drama • These are a few of the plants that Jeff relies on for interest during peak times in his front garden.

Notable textural plants for creating depth • These are a few of the plants that John selected to provide proper proportion and scale in a small space.

The best cut flowers to grow from seed • Keep your vases filled all summer long with the reliable varieties that the pros grow

RETHINKING THE POLLINATOR GARDEN • This design relies on muted colors and a refined layout to provide eco-friendly beauty

The dos and don’ts of maintaining a pollinator garden • There can be a delicate balance between keeping up appearances while also maximizing sustainable practices with wildlife in mind. These tips allow you to get the most ecological benefit out of your garden while still maintaining a strong design.

Managing stormwater runoff with rain gardens • Rain gardens have come a long way over the past 20 years. Originally a novelty, they are now a large part of developmental planning. For years, gardeners contoured their land to drain stormwater runoff as quickly as possible and with as little filtration as possible. Though those were the best engineering ideas at the time, they completely ignored the way nature likes to work and how water absorbs into the earth. Here are some of the steps to install a large-scale rain garden that manages roof runoff.

3 WAYS TO PRUNE A LILAC • Whether you are training, maintaining, or rejuvenating your shrub, these guidelines will yield the best results

AT A GLANCE • Lilac | Syringa spp. and cvs.

Make pruning cuts with confidence • When pruning lilacs, there are three main types of cuts you will use most. In nearly every case, you will be removing an entire branch, either taking it back to a branch collar or to the ground.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST

SOUTHWEST

MOUNTAIN WEST

MIDWEST

SOUTHEAST

MID-ATLANTIC

NORTHEAST

THE USDA PLANT HARDINESS ZONE MAP

CAPTIVATING COMBINATION