Articles

  • 2 days ago | gardeningknowhow.com | Teo Spengler

    Coming, ready or not – there are some troubling new types of pests that you should all be bracing yourself for! This summer, you’ll have to deal with more than the usual aphids and mealybugs, because there are a few new kids in town. These new pests are fascinating, but when it comes to getting rid of them, it isn’t all that easy. There goes the neighborhood! So if you thought dealing with common garden pests was worrying enough, this roundup might give you a whole new perspective.

  • 4 days ago | gardeningknowhow.com | Teo Spengler

    It’s not an exaggeration to say that pollinators – think bees and butterflies and hummingbirds among others – make the world go 'round. Without pollinators, nature’s system of plant fertilization breaks down. Yet, urban sprawl and the use of toxins in the environment are reducing pollinator populations with monarch butterflies and bees being the poster-children of this problem. Planting herbs for pollinators is one simple step everyone can take to help.

  • 1 week ago | gardeningknowhow.com | Teo Spengler |Amy Draiss |Janey Goulding

    Quick FactsBotanical name: Hydrangea paniculata ‘Renhy’Height: 8ft (2.3m) tallSpread: 5ft (1.6m) wideSun: Full sun, afternoon shadeSoil: Excellent drainageHardiness zones: 3-8When to plant: Spring, fallBloom time: Jul-SepIf you aren’t sure what color hydrangea you like best, a Vanilla Strawberry hydrangea (aka Vanille Fraise hydrangea) offers a gorgeous fusion of pinks and whites.

  • 2 weeks ago | gardeningknowhow.com | Teo Spengler |Amy Draiss

    With their big, lush and beautiful flowers, hydrangeas are in a class of their own. And while whites and pinks make lovely entry points, a purple hydrangea can create a unique visual impact. The truth is there are no true purple hydrangeas – but several hydrangeas can produce purple flowers with the right soil pH. The options listed here are big leaf hydrangea varieties that flower blue in acidic soil and pink in alkaline soil.

  • 3 weeks ago | gardeningknowhow.com | Teo Spengler |Amy Draiss

    Hydrangeas are the workhorses of both my gardens. They are tolerant and hardy, accepting both the cold winters of Basque Country in France and the mild, foggy San Francisco climate – oh, and the flowers are huge! While many gardeners gravitate towards conventional pinks or unusual greens and bright whites, some of my favorite types are the blue hydrangea varieties you can grow. One isn’t supposed to have a favorite, but I love blue hydrangea flowers more than any others.