Landscaping

0 comments on "The Best Shade Plants for a Shady Side of a House"

Best shade plants. A reader asks what shady plants and shrubs she can plant in a shady area of her yard. Best shade plants. A reader asks what shady plants and shrubs she can plant in a shady area of her yard.

Q: A friend is looking for ideas to plant on the side of her house that sees almost no sun at all. She needs something to go with the inevitable hostas.   Tip #1: Ferns will do wonderfully. Ferns have varied texture like other plants have colorful blooms. Small to large leaves. Wide to narrow…

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0 comments on "Elderberries for Every Garden"

Elderberry varieties and uses. Not only are elderberries great for making jams and syrups, they are also a favorite for butterflies and other wildlife. Elderberry varieties and uses. Not only are elderberries great for making jams and syrups, they are also a favorite for butterflies and other wildlife.

If you have room for only one edible plant, consider growing elderberries. This arching eight-foot tall shrub is easy to grow, anchors the mixed border with its bold compound foliage and flowers, and of course, provides glorious clusters of shiny, dark purple berries.   Elderberries come in a variety of cultivars and species. The American…

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2 comments on "Growing Bird’s Nest Spruce"

Beginner's tips for growing bird's nest spruce, a low maintenance shrub that is great to plant along sidewalks or walkways. Beginner's tips for growing bird's nest spruce, a low maintenance shrub that is great to plant along sidewalks or walkways.

The Bird’s Nest Spruce is one of the most common dwarf evergreen shrubs. It is a member of the Norway Spruce (Picea abies) family; its Latin name is ‘Nidiformis’. This attractive, low-growing shrub gets its name from a depression in the center that makes it look like a bird’s nest.   A versatile shrub, it…

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