Rose Family (Rosaceae) Ideas, Tips & Guides

We don’t usually grow roses for the foliage. It’s nice and all, but it’s those flowers that we really want. But that doesn’t mean we don’t mind if the leaves start to rain down off the plant like raindrops in a spring storm.Even if they aren’t as beautiful as the bl

How to Grow and Care for Weeping Cherry Trees Prunus spp.

Tips for Growing Honeycrisp Apples Malus domestica ‘Honeycrisp’

How to Grow and Care for Braeburn Apple Trees Malus x domestica ‘Braeburn’

We aren’t all blessed with acres and acres of land. Most of us have to make do with a smal

The biggest benefit of juicy, reddish-black boysenberries is that they make the most excellent pie filling you’ll ever taste. (Okay, rhubarb is one of my favorite fillings, too.)Each berry weighs around 7-8 grams, which is heavy for the fruit of a br

Don’t you love showy plants that provide multiple seasons of interest?Cotoneaster shrubs are hardworking an

Not so long ago, the idea of shipping roses across the country was almost unheard of. If you wanted a particular type, you bought it locally or you couldn’t buy it all.While I’m all for supporting local businesses, this

When I was seventeen years old, I visited Knott’s Berry Farm with my then-boyfriend (now-husband) and his family on a spring break trip to southern California.He’d grown up enjoying the famous boysenberry pie and chicken dinn

Gray mold, also known as Botrytis fruit rot or Botrytis flower rot, is one of the most difficult strawberry pathogens to control if the environmental conditions are right for infection.Unfortunately, the fungus that causes this disease, Botrytis cinerea,

It goes without saying that you want the biggest, boldest blooms, and the most flowers possible on your roses, right? Water is a key part of that. No moisture, no flowers.We link to vendors to hel

I have a confession to make: I adore roses, but I rarely give them exactly what they need to look their best.One of my most common offenses? P

When I moved into my small, new house with a big patch of barren dirt for a backyard, I knew I needed to fill it with trees.Before it had been cleared for construc

There’s one thing that I constantly run into when talking to gardeners who are interested in growing roses:A sense of being overwhelmed. There seems

If only plants could talk, they could tell us that they aren’t feeling well.Your grapevines could warn you that

No offense to roses, but let’s be honest: A rose bush isn’t exactly stunning when it isn’t in bloom.Sure, it can be a lovely additi

I distinctly remember my first close encounter with a hawthorn.I was looking for the perfect pair of trees to hang

In the world of landscape design, it’s hard to go wrong with a heap of green shrubbery. And when that shrubbery is none other than a cherry laurel, it just feels oh so right.The glossy green broadleaf foliage is alluring, what with the

When you first see that spindly-looking bare root rose, you’re probably asking yourself how it’s going to go from that sad-looking pile of sticks to a big, robust bush.It’s not hard. All you need are some

Miniature roses can liven up your space, and you don’t have to sacrifice a big, bold display for a petite footprint.Though these plants are physically dimi

I think tree roses can have one of the biggest impacts on a floral garden. They stand out among the other plants because of their unique shape combined with their colorful blossoms.They’re also a challenge to grow.

It’s leafy, it’s vigorous, and it’s chartreuse. Alchemilla mollis, aka lady’s mantle, aka “that dang leafy thing that grows fast,” is a familiar plant in many gardens.We link to vendors to help you find rele

We all know what it’s like to come home from the grocery store and dig into the strawberries only to find them too bland, too tart, or too far gone.And when we get a nice, sweet, juicy batch we inhale them within a

Roses are a symbol of romance and passion, but did you know this plant can also be a source of nutrition?Rose hips are the edible a

You constantly hear gardeners saying that you should deadhead your roses. But what does that really mean? And how do you do it? And for that matter, when should you break out the pruners?I can relate. When I first s

I’m a full-grown woman with adult responsibilities and a pretty good head on her shoulders. Most of the time. But when I find powdery mildew on my roses, I just want to lie down, kick my heels in the grass, and throw a certified, grade-A tantrum.I’m sure you already know this, but you don’t w

Otherwise known as toyon, California holly, or Christmas berry, Heteromeles arbutifoliais an excellent slope-stabilizing and habitat plant, host to myriad insects including pollinating butterflies and moths.An iconic staple of California chaparral and oak woodland

Listen, I adore roses, but even I can admit that categorizing these plants has gotten a little bit, shall we say, confusing.I mean, a “shrub” is a group classification, but al

A rose by any other name might smell as sweet, but hardly anything smells better than a rose – no matter what you call it. If you agree, then you’re probably looking to find the best-smelling options for your garden.That might sound like a pretty straightforward as

One of my favorite memories is of walking through an archway of bright blooms at the rose garden in the Butchart Gardens near Victoria, British Columbia.The scent! The sight! T

I’d venture a guess that the thorns are not most people’s favorite part of a rose. The flowers probably take the top spot, though some have exceptionally lovely foliage.But the thorns? No thanks. If we could do without any part, that wo

For a few years, I found myself moving frequently. I lived in five different homes in as many years.During that time, I had to pu

If you’re just starting out with roses, chances are that someone will tell you to try growing a shrub rose first.They’re easy to handle bec

If you’ve ever checked out the roses at your local nursery, I’m sure you’ve noticed that some appear to grow small and have petite blossoms, while others are big and bushy, with blossoms that look like they must have a thousand petals. Maybe you’ve heard of wild or tea roses, but you’re wondering w

Most people have heard the term “English rose.” No, not the outdated epithet that refers to a fair-skinned, “classic” beauty from the British Isles.We’re talking about the classicall

Believe it or not, there’s a right way and a wrong way to buy a rose to plant in the garden.I know. It seems like you just go to the store, ch