summer gardening

Here's A List Of Garden To-Do's For The Month Of June

Here's A List Of Garden To-Do's For The Month Of June

Recently, I was browsing through my past columns looking for ideas when I came across my very first monthly check list, written in June 2001, 20 years ago. I have spilled a lot of ink since then, but the idea of a list of chores for every month of the year still seems useful. That being said, here are some thoughts to ponder…

Give These "Annual" Vines A Spot In Your Garden This Summer

Give These "Annual" Vines A Spot In Your Garden This Summer

I am inclined to think that when most gardeners discuss vines, monsters like wisteria, trumpet vine, honeysuckle, and even clematis, are probably the ones that come to mind. But there are true annuals, like sweet peas, scarlet runner beans and the many tropical vines that grow just fine in our summers, that can add a blast of color and even some privacy when grown on a trellis. Here are a few to try this summer…

Is There A Carnivorous Bog Garden In Your Future?

Of all of the wonderfully exotic species of plants on this globe we call home, carnivorous bog plants have got to be high on the list when it comes to weirdness. They absolutely look like they belong on some alien planet…

Dealing With Mosquitos In The Garden

Now that summer has arrived and we are spending more time out in our yards, it is becoming increasingly apparent that at certain times of the day we are not alone. By that I mean that the mosquitos are out in force and looking for some sustenance. Here are some techniques and more specifically, some plants that will help mitigate these annoying creatures and let us enjoy our yards without becoming victims of these flying hypodermic needles…

The Art Of Watering

The Art Of Watering

There is a certain fact that northwest gardeners are going to have to start embracing: our summers are getting longer and drier and our plants are only going to get more and more moisture stressed.  It is up to us to help our landscapes get through the summer months, so here are the basics of proper watering.  Yes, I know this could turn out to be a real snoozer, but it’s important, it could mean the difference between life and death for your plants…

Four Good Reasons To Plant In June

Four Good Reasons To Plant In June

When we think of getting out and gardening, the month of May most likely comes to mind.  There is no question that May is a glorious month on our northwest calendar to be outside and in the yard.  But for me, mostly because I own a garden center, May is shear madness with so much going on that it is all I can do to find a moment here and there to pull a few weeds and plant a few cool season veggies.  June, on the other hand, is when I really get to play in my yard, for all sorts of reasons… you should too!

Canna Lilies - Bold, Gaudy Perennials For The Flamboyant Gardener

Okay, I’ll admit it…  I have always had a love affair with cannas.  Having grown up in southern California, cannas were a staple item in the landscape.  The large growing varieties that reached 6 to 8 feet tall were seen throughout most of the public parks where they were used in formal plantings…