Hotter summers, harsher winters, stronger storms, and sustained dry spells. Severe weather is affecting us all these days, and often our gardens don't react as we would expect or hope. That makes now a good time to take stock of what's managing the fluctuations, and what's succumbing to less than ideal conditions. Another smart move: turning to perennials that take it all in stride. "Gardeners are looking for plants that can adapt to tough conditions, whether that's higher temperatures and longer droughts, or more rainfall than in the past." says Monrovia Nursery's Katie Tamony.
But while we're always on the hunt for plants that can take a beating, we a don't want to turn to those that are so quick to adapt that they overtake our beds and borders, becoming a nuisance that can take years to eradicate.
Turn instead to tried-and-true plants that gardeners have counted on for generations. These include some North American natives that have been adapting to local weather changes for centuries and make area wildlife happy, as well as long-ago imports that have become mainstays in American gardens thanks to their resilience, good behavior, and charm.
Plants like daylilies, coneflowers, and bee balm may seem commonplace, but they are perennially popular because they endure. As a result, growers keep tinkering with them, developing new cultivars that maximize their benefits and mitigate their few shortcomings. Up ahead: a few bulletproof performers that will save you time and money, and provide years of enjoyment.
FALSE INDIGO
Baptisia Decadence Cherries Jubilee'
Denne historien er fra Spring 2022-utgaven av This Old House Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra Spring 2022-utgaven av This Old House Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Mobile kitchen island
TOH DIY expert Jenn Largesse shows how to build a rolling kitchen cart with a butcher-block top
Bathtub tray
TOH general contractor Tom Silva and TOH host Kevin O'Connor construct a slatted zebrawood caddy to hold grooming essentials, a book, and even a glass of wine, for those who like a long soak
Graceful grasses
With dramatic foliage and distinctive plumes, ornamental grasses come in sizes to suit virtually any garden
A better asphalt driveway
It's long-lasting and recyclable, and it weathers extreme temperatures. You can repair small cracks and divots in asphalt, too. Here's what you need to know to get-and maintain-a great-looking asphalt driveway
Modernizing a mid-century house
A family turns to TOH to renovate a 1960 house that had been awkwardly expanded over time. Their goal: to create a contemporary, energy-efficient, open-plan home that is fully accessible for a son with mobility issues
A little house that lives large
A reimagined interior and second-story addition double the living area inside a narrow shotgun house, while respecting its historical roots
Before & After: Kitchen Moving a wall makes it work
Grabbing a few feet from the adjacent dining room yields major layout improvements
From the TOH Job Site Building on the past
After an extensive renovation, a timber-framed relic of the Revolutionary War era emerges with its spirit renewed and with comfortable new spaces that showcase pieces of its 300-year history
From the TOH Job Site Building on the past
After an extensive renovation, a timber-framed relic of the Revolutionary War era emerges with its spirit renewed and with comfortable new spaces that showcase pieces of its 300-year history
Upkeep
Maintenance tasks to pay attention to this season
