Expert Spring Garden Layout for the Southwest
Southwest horticulture professor Jared Barnes outlines a spring garden plan featuring drought‑tolerant natives such as scarlet penstemon, Texas sedge, ‘Bonnie’s Pink’ prairie phlox, and Alabama snow wreath. Each plant is chosen for its ability to thrive in arid, sandy soils while providing seasonal color and pollinator habitat. The design replaces traditional mulch with ground‑cover sedge, reducing water and maintenance needs. Barnes’ layout offers a replicable template for homeowners and professionals seeking resilient, low‑input landscaping in the Southwest.
Expert Spring Garden Layout for the Pacific Northwest
Lisa Bauer, a Seattle‑based garden designer, unveils a spring garden layout tailored to the Pacific Northwest’s cool, moist climate. The design centers on a multi‑trunk ‘Autumn Brilliance’ serviceberry, paired with the dark‑leafed ‘Ebony Pearl’ rhododendron, white‑blooming ‘Canyon Snow’ iris, and...
Expert Spring Garden Layout for the Mountain West
Mary Ann Newcomer, a Mountain West gardening authority, outlines a spring garden plan featuring four standout perennials and shrubs. The design highlights the dwarf sour cherry ‘Carmine Jewel’, the vivid ‘Hearts on Fire’ bleeding heart, golden currant, and the ‘Shogun’...
The Best New Plants for 2026
Fine Gardening’s 2026 roundup spotlights a wave of new perennials, shrubs, annuals and vegetables that blend classic garden appeal with modern resilience. Highlights include the drought‑hardy ‘Lavender Towers’ baptisia, disease‑resistant ‘Treasure Trove’ black‑eyed Susan, and the continuously blooming DreamCloud® hydrangea....
Reader Tips: Smart Solutions for Common Garden Challenges
Fine Gardening’s latest reader‑submitted tips showcase low‑cost, DIY solutions for everyday garden challenges. Highlights include suspending garlic bulbs on a clothesline for rapid drying, converting fallen tree trunks into sturdy outdoor tables, and crafting reusable dahlia labels from recycled containers....
FlowerFull Smooth Hydrangea Is Anything but a Flop
FlowerFull® smooth hydrangea, a new cultivar of native Hydrangea arborescens, was released after a nine‑year breeding program by Bailey Nurseries. The plant features reinforced stems, abundant double‑white flowers, and strong disease resistance, performing well across USDA zones 3‑9. Trials at...
Texas Plume: Kick It Up a Notch with This Charismatic Biennial
Fine Gardening spotlights Texas plume (Ipomopsis rubra), a drought‑tolerant native biennial that shoots 4‑6 feet of scarlet, tubular blooms from late spring to midsummer. The plant thrives in well‑drained sand, gravel or loam and is hardy to USDA zones 6‑9, with...
What Makes a Plant Water-Wise?
Creating a water‑wise garden hinges on selecting plants with drought‑adapted root and leaf traits and then nurturing them through proper establishment. Deep taproots or extensive fibrous systems capture and retain moisture, while small, waxy leaves curb transpiration. Consistent watering, deep...
Top Plants to Reinvigorate a Mature Garden
The article spotlights nine plant selections—three woody, three perennial, and three annual—to rejuvenate mature gardens without a full redesign. Each plant is chosen for its vigor, seasonal interest, and adaptability to a range of USDA zones. Highlights include a compact...
Webinar: The Gravel Garden: Visionary, Drought-Defying, Naturalistic Designs
Jeff Epping will host a live webinar on April 24 at 9 a.m. EDT to showcase gravel gardening, a low‑maintenance, water‑wise landscape style. Drawing on his 35‑year horticultural career and his forthcoming book, *The Gravel Garden*, he will demonstrate how these plant communities can...
Strong Summer Bloomers for the Southeast
The article spotlights four low‑maintenance perennials that deliver prolific summer color across the Southeast, from the heat‑tolerant hummingbird plant to the award‑winning ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ coneflower, the historic Bidwill’s coral bean, and the resilient ‘Grape Sensation’ Texas firewheel. Each species thrives...
Expert Pruning Tips for a Perfectly Shaped Hedge
Professional horticulturist Kayla Robinson demonstrates a systematic approach to shaping a young inkberry hedge using T‑posts, string lines, and hand shears. The method creates a tapered profile—wider at the base and narrower at the top—to maximize sunlight exposure throughout the...
Ask an Expert: Garden Design Q&A with Susan Calhoun
FineGardening.com is hosting a one‑hour live webinar on March 27 at noon EST featuring award‑winning landscape designer Susan Calhoun. With 25 years of experience, Calhoun will walk participants through tackling design challenges, achieving visual balance, and planning gardens for year‑round...
Container Challenge: Natives in the Garden – Design Sweepstakes
Fine Gardening has launched the "Container Challenge: Natives in the Garden" design sweepstakes, inviting readers to create container plantings that feature at least one North American native species. The grand prize, valued between $550‑$850, includes two AquaPots Lites, premium potting...