If you’re confused about what to plant now, you’re not alone. Rapidly shifting climate conditions, from drought to floods and fires to ice storms, have many of us rethinking our approach to gardening. I asked industry experts across the country to share their perspectives, and several themes emerged about stewarding beautiful, resilient landscapes in the years ahead. Wherever you live, you’ll find strategies to apply in your garden.
Be Your Garden’s Detective
“Gardeners need to keep learning and being curious. If a plant is struggling, start acting like a detective,” said Brooke Edmunds, Oregon State University extension agent and Master Gardener lead in the state’s Marion and Polk counties.
“Gardeners attuned to their conditions will continue asking foundational questions,” she said. “Is it something with the soil? Is it not in quite the right spot? Is it getting enough sunlight? We all have to adapt.”
As we try to lessen our impact on the planet and garden with fewer inputs and greater purpose, finding the right plant for the right place has never been trickier or more important.
Location, Location: Microclimates Rule
The sun, wind, drainage and soil can change within a few feet in your garden. Observing microclimates—like where your spring bulbs bloom first, which spots hold water and which get scorched in the afternoon sun—is key to success. Elevated sites, including raised beds and the tops of berms, tend to be warmer and windier and can dry out quicker. Beds against sunny walls can offer some cold protection, while gardens at the base of a hill may sit in a frost pocket.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July - August 2024-Ausgabe von Horticulture.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July - August 2024-Ausgabe von Horticulture.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
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WEEDING OUT WORRY
Two books give perspectives on gardening's importance to mental health
Prized Perennials
GAPS IN THE GARDEN? TRY ONE OF THESE AWARD-WINNING PLANTS AS A SAFE-BET FIX
A TOAST TO CORK
A trip to Portugal inspired Greg Coppa to peel back the botany of the cork oak
THE GARDEN CENTER'S GRIP
SOMETHING WEIRD HAPPENS when gardeners enter a garden center. We change. Suddenly, somehow, we're overcome with this vague yet powerful, transcendental feeling of liberation, and we become aware of money we probably have and hopefully won't otherwise need.
OUTSIDE OF THE BOX
AS BOXWOOD BLIGHT DAMAGES THIS STAPLE EVERGREEN, IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT WORTHY ALTERNATIVES
NEW MOUNDING ANNUALS
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AN ANNUAL AFFAIR
Combine a designer's best advice with the year's new varieties for a summer's worth of showstopping containers
A Big Role for SMALL GRASSES
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GOLDENSEAL
A woodland herb worth guarding
RICHARD HAWKE
Try and try again