Considering their Middle Eastern and western Asian roots, fig trees (Ficus carica) are generally considered warm-climate plants.
But our friends in the North and Midwest may rejoice, because you of colder climates need not be fig-less.
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Multiple varieties of cold-tolerant figs are available, and we’re going to share our favorites with you here. If you’re altogether new to growing these trees, be sure to check out our fig growing guide.
But first, let’s get some idea of how to maximize success when growing figs in chilly weather.
Most fig trees will thrive unprotected in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. The cold-hardy varieties can withstand winters in Zones 6 and 7, but they will require some protection.
Tips for Growing Figs in Cold Weather
After you choose the cold-hardy variety you would like to plant, the next important factor is site selection. Even a type well-suited for your climate needs a head start by being planted in a protected location.
Your best bet is to site your tree in a sunny area protected from wind – next to a south-facing wall, for example.
If you suspect you might have to cover or wrap your tree to keep it safe through the winter, consider keeping your tree pruned into a bush form.
Burlap and tar paper are good materials to use if you need to wrap your tree. You can also construct a “cage” of chicken wire around the tree, and then fill the cage with mulching material such as hay, straw, or shredded leaves.
You’ll also want to lay down a thick carpet of mulch round the base of the tree to protect its roots. We cover these techniques in more detail in our guide to
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No other plant native to South Carolina has such fragrant and beautiful spring blooms and stunning fall color as the witch-alders. Fothergilla was named after Dr. John Fothergill, an English physician and gardener who funded the travels of John Bartram through the Carolinas in the 1700’s. These beautiful shrubs have been planted in both American and English gardens for over 200 years, including gardens of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
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Sam Hoadley is manager of Horticultural Research at Mt. Cuba, where he and the team trialed 70 differentCarex over a four-year period. Sam’s report on the findings will be published on the Mt. Cuba website January 13.Sam is also teaching a virtual class on February 1st on these important native plants. (That’s Carex haydenii, above.)Before joining Mt. Cuba, Sam was lead horticulturist for Longwood Gardens’ hillside garden, and he received his degree in Sustainable Landscape Horticulture from University of Vermont.Plus: Enter to win one of two tickets to the virtual event on Carex by commenting in the box at the bottom of the page.Read
Each year the Royal Horticultural Society runs comprehensive trials of popular garden plants to find those that are the best to grow. A three-year trial of sanguisorba came to its conclusion recently, and lots of excellent garden-worthy varieties won the Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
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Echinaceas are real dazzlers in the late-summer border: sturdy daisies standing erect with flowers that resemble sets of spinning saucers. The colourful sun-ray petals surround bronzed, almost metallic cones. These prickly centres also give echinacea its name, for Ekhînos is Greek for hedgehog.
Each year the Royal Horticultural Society runs comprehensive trials of popular garden plants to find those that are the best to grow. A three-year trial of sanguisorba came to its conclusion recently, and lots of excellent garden-worthy varieties won the Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
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One of the most common and essential pieces of kit for DIY in the garden and home is the claw hammer. With a long handle and a weighted head, they have a face for striking and driving in nails, and a claw for removing nails and prying apart boards. Whether you’re making a hedgehog house, mending fences or building a shed, a claw hammer is a vital tool.