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2 weeks ago | 
gardeningknowhow.com | Teo Spengler
Pollinator gardens are designed to support and encourage the presence of native pollinators, from bees to birds. Supporting pollinators is important because some are in decline. These vital critters are necessary for food production, in your own garden, and on farms. Planting a pollinator garden is increasingly important as pollinators are losing habitat to climate change, misuse of chemicals, and the spread of invasive species. Even planting a small garden can help make a difference.
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3 weeks 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.
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3 weeks 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.
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1 month 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.
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1 month 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.
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1 month 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.
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1 month 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.
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1 month 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.
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1 month 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.
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1 month 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.
