Teo Spengler

3 days 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.

5 days ago | gardeningknowhow.com | Teo Spengler

Flowering shrubs are an important element in many landscapes, and azaleas are one of the top choices. Evergreen azaleas are extremely popular landscape shrubs, especially in the South. They hold their leaves all year long, growing low and dense. But native azaleas have increasing numbers of fans. Like evergreens, native types of azaleas are in the genus Rhododendron. They are tall, deciduous shrubs or small trees with airy canopies.

1 week ago | gardeningknowhow.com | Teo Spengler |Amy Draiss

Limelight hydrangea, (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’) is a very popular panicle hydrangea cultivar. Its name gives you a hint at its beautiful flower color: the blossoms emerge lime-green, mature to white, then finish up as deep pink. Is ‘Limelight’ hydrangea pruning necessary? Panicle hydrangea are vigorous shrubs producing dense flowers, and most benefit from pruning. ‘Limelight’ is one of them. In fact, the cultivar produces bigger flowers on stronger branches if pruned back in winter.

1 week ago | gardeningknowhow.com | Teo Spengler

Roses in full bloom are a sight to behold in the garden. They add elegance to a landscape, pleasing the senses with their soft petals, vast color palette, and fragrance. But for roses to perform at their best, you do need to get the basics right. Well-draining soil and sufficient irrigation are important, but nothing is more essential to the health of a rose than light exposure. Most roses need full sun, although some varieties and locations are compatible with partial shade.

2 weeks ago | gardeningknowhow.com | Teo Spengler

Meadows are casual, easy and lovely, like windblown hair and dappled sunshine. Unlike formal gardens, meadow plantings require little maintenance, often including native meadow flowers and grasses. If you are considering planting a meadow lawn or turning a flower garden to a meadow, careful selection of landscape plants is an important first step. The visual appeal of meadows lies in their diversity, mixing easy-care flowers with grasses in a wild, wonderful botanical collage.