May/June 2023

Garden Gate

The Illustrated Guide to Home Gardening and Design

Garden Gate1 min read
Garden Gate
The Illustrated Guide to Home Gardening and Design® EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kristin Beane Sullivan EXECUTIVE ART DIRECTOR Eric Flynn SENIOR EDITOR Sherri Ribbey TEST GARDEN MANAGER/ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jennifer Howell ASSOCIATE EDITOR Marisa Reyes DIGITAL
Garden Gate3 min read
Reader Tips
Constance has a problem with slugs and snails eating her hostas, so she applies ground eggshells to the areas around her hostas to deter the pests. To make the process easier, she realized she could reuse a grated parmesan cheese shaker—the durable p
Garden Gate4 min read
The Secrets to Stunning Hayrack Planters
Geranium Pelargonium hybrid Pansy Viola x wittrockiana Petunia Petunia hybrid Sweet alyssum Lobularia maritima Vinca Vinca minor If you’ve always dreamed of a beautiful hayrack planter dripping with flowers under your window but weren’t sure how to e
Garden Gate1 min read
From The Editor
Sometimes when people show me or tell me about their gardens, they’re apologetic, as if they think I might judge its appearance. Believe me… I won’t. I definitely have no room to judge anyone else’s garden. For starters, my astilbes have looked rough
Garden Gate3 min read
Which Summer Blooms Are Right For You?
A mainstay of traditional cottage gardens, the hollyhock calls to mind storybook illustrations. These plants may be biennials or short-lived perennials, but they reseed to repeat their June-through-August bloom for many years. WHERE IT WORKS BEST Hol
Garden Gate4 min read
Spring into Summer with Easy-Care Combos
There’s a time between the cool-season spring bulbs and heat-loving summer annuals when many perennials explode into bloom. It’s a joy to be in the garden: The temperature is warm but not hot, there’s been enough rain but it’s not muddy, and you’re s
Garden Gate10 min read
13 Reasons to Get the Blues
Blue is such a versatile garden color: For example, dark blues tend to recede into the background, adding the illusion of space in a small garden. Its serene, calming vibe is perfect for a garden where you want to relax. Or plant blue flowers with co
Garden Gate6 min read
Asiatic Lilies
Summer borders get a whole new look when you grow the big trumpet-shaped, and often brightly colored, blooms of Asiatic lilies. Sitting on tall upright stems, they’re a sure way to grab attention early to midsummer. They bloom earlier than other grou
Garden Gate5 min read
Astilbe
Astilbe is one of those go-to perennials that brings so much to the garden. Its distinctive blooms range from bright and bold to soothing pastels, and they last for weeks—even months when you have the right combination of astilbes. Flower plumes come
Garden Gate8 min read
Peppers
It doesn’t matter if you prefer the sweet crunch of a bell pepper or the fiery heat of a habanero; you’ll find growing your own peppers is easy and rewarding. Both sweet and hot peppers grow on plants that are productive, but also beautiful with glos
Garden Gate3 min read
Sun-Soaked Side Yard
Sure, your side yard might be hidden from sight, infrequently traveled or have minimal square footage—but is it sunny? With careful planning, this area can become its own secret garden: an intimate spot that delights all the senses with lovely sights
Garden Gate6 min read
2023 Reader Container Challenge
This is the time of year that containers are top of mind for every gardener. Half the fun of planting them is trying out new combinations or swapping plants out for new looks each season. The other half is seeing what other gardeners have come up wit
Garden Gate2 min read
Tips for Growing Healthy Trees in Containers
Need privacy on your porch? Move in a hedge of container-grown evergreens to shield the view. Patio too sunny? Add a touch of shade with a kousa dogwood in a pot. Want more color in a shady spot? Try a burgundyfoliaged Japanese maple in a teal pot li
Garden Gate1 min read
Weed Watch
The most distinctive identifying factor of this North American native annual is the flower: In late summer the tall stems are topped with loose panicles that at first glance look like buds that never open. Look more closely and you’ll see the tiny tu
Garden Gate3 min read
Q & A
Q When I planted alliums several years ago, I set the bulbs at the recommended depth. Now they’re poking through the surface. What should I do? Kristi Boone, MI A If all kinds of bulbs in your garden are rising to the surface, it’s probably the wi
Garden Gate3 min read
One Tough Hosta With Long-Lasting Color
Blooms Tubular lavender flowers in late summerLight Full to part shade Soil Moist, well-drainedPests Occasional slugsSize 12 to 18 in. tall (20 in. tall in bloom), 30 to 40 in. wide Cold hardy USDA zones 3 to 9 When it comes to hostas you don’t want
Garden Gate9 min read
6 Solutions Every Gardener Needs
Crisp edges can elevate the garden bed from just-flower-filled to floriferous and refined. Plus, proper edging keeps weeds and lawn from sneaking into the bed and makes mowing the lawn easier. If your garden beds are high-maintenance or a little unti
Garden Gate2 min read
Chipmunks vs. Garden
id you know that a chipmunk tunnel can extend 2 to 3 feet deep underground and reach 20 to 30 feet in length, often leading to an extensive food cache? I know this because I witnessed it with my own eyeballs in my yard. Years ago, we built three abov

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