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23.07.2024 - 16:33 / theprovince.com / Brian Minter
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
The reality of our changing climate and extreme weather should motivate us be strategic in planning and planting our gardens. We need to choose plants that tick off more boxes. From hardiness and heat tolerance, to being pollinator and wildlife friendly, the team of plants in today’s gardens must provide a higher level of performance.
Our plants should be self-cleaning, play nicely with their companions and bloom longer into our seasons. Many perennials, in particular, are now being bred for longer garden performances with less maintenance and better weather tolerance.
I admire many of our city parks departments for their choices in street and median plantings. We all get to enjoy their year-round plantings as we drive through communities and at the same time, we should also take note of their plant choices. With only minimal care, exposure to car exhaust, little growing space, extra heat exposure from the surrounding pavement and no cold protection, it’s truly amazing how well these plants survive. The list of these resilient perennials has expanded year after year, so that now, there are some truly great standouts.
A few years ago, rumours originating in Europe suggested that nepeta was overtaking lavender in terms of popularity. Well, that trend did not play out over here as both nepeta and lavender are top selling perennials.
Proven Winners’ Lavandula angustifolia Sweet Romance is exceptional because of its compact nature, long blooming habit and good size flowers. Dummen Orange in Holland has also introduced some very long flowering lavenders,
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
“Impossibly unaffordable” are two words that Californians are probably less than thrilled to hear. In a recent report from Chapman University in Orange, California, and the Frontier Centre of Public Policy (FCPP) in Canada, that’s exactly how four California metros are described. The 2024 edition of Demographia International Housing Affordability shows San Jose, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego listed among the top 10 least affordable housing markets—not just in the United States, but worldwide.
Although redbuds usually get the most attention in spring when a plethora of magenta-pink blooms burst out of every stem before the leaves emerge, this new cultivar has more to offer. Midnight Express®, a nativar that sports velvety purple leaves, fills out much faster and maintains a denser habit than the similar, more familiar ‘Forest Pansy’. As summer gives way to autumn, the interior heart-shaped leaves shift to a golden yellow-orange, while the outer ones stay burgundy. This gives the small tree the appearance of being on fi re. Silvery, ghostlike bark carries the interest into winter, making this plant a worthy year-round investment.
There are countless ornamental grasses to choose from, so narrowing down a list of my favorites is tough. However, the following assortment—categorized by their best season of interest—is a good start. Choosing at least one from each season will ensure that your grass-forward garden always has something spectacular going on.
From temperature extremes to shifting rainfall patterns, communities coast to coast are experiencing the increasing impacts of climate change. In many areas summers are hotter and drier, making gardeners more reliant on supplemental irrigation to grow the same plants that thrived for them in years past. Meanwhile, restrictions on watering in some regions make responding to drought more challenging. In the face of unpredictable rainfall and unprecedented temperature fluctuations, it’s more important than ever to invest in plants that can withstand waves of heat and drought.
You’ve measured your outdoor space, you’ve agreed on a style — contemporary, traditional, rustic or more — you’ve determined a budget, now it’s time to look for the perfect garden furniture set.
How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Dill Weed and Seed Anethum graveolens
If left untouched, this lovable houseplant can turn into a gentle giant! But you don’t always have to get your shears out, as there are smarter ways to handle its size issues. Read on to discover secret hacks to shape your overgrown pothos into a thing of beauty!
All you need is a full fallen leaf for a brand-new jade plant! The process is easy and especially great if you don’t want to buy but still want a beautiful Crassula ovata. So, here’s how to propagate it from individual leaves to birth a lush new jade plant for your collection!
Are you looking for some easy ways to get your garden looking good in autumn? This guide to the best fall plants and fall flowers for pots is packed with autumn plant inspiration.
“Paul from Hull developing his garden with GardenAdvice”