We’re visiting with Tingshu Hu from Massachusetts again today. We’ve visited their beautiful garden in the spring when the flowering trees are stealing the show, and today they’re sharing their garden in the summer, with photos they took in June:
How to Use the Science of Plant Survival Strategies for a Healthier Garden
06.12.2023 - 15:35 / finegardening.com
The biggest epiphany of my horticultural career was learning about plant survival strategies. Like most gardeners, I was accustomed to classifying plants as annuals, biennials, or perennials. But dividing them into groups based on their survival strategies instead got me thinking about how they evolved to grow, which in turn helped me to cultivate them more successfully in my garden in Texas.
According to ecologist J. Philip Grime, who researched these strategies, plants have evolved certain approaches to deal with two lethal conditions in their environment: stress and disturbance.
Stress is any environmental factor that reduces plant vigor or growth. Drought, waterlogged soil, heat, cold, nutrient toxicities or deficiencies, and low or high light levels are all stressful growing conditions for plants. To continue living under these conditions, a plant would have to endure them, and if the situation persisted for too long, the plant could die.
Disturbance is any factor that damages or destroys plant tissues above or below ground. A plant can lose shoots and roots due to fire, wind, floods, herbivory, or trampling feet, like those of the wild boar that occasionally come through my backyard. Human effects from soil cultivation and mowing also count as disturbance. Losing foliage or roots in such an event would be a major setback for any plant.
| KEY CONCEPT |
Many gardeners would like to welcome more plants into their gardens, but not everything thrives on rich soil and ample moisture. Though it may seem counterintuitive, stress and disturbance can actually be helpful tools for diversifying our gardens.
Research shows that as conditions shift from favoring competitors to being more stressful for stress-tolerators or
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finegardening.com
25.12.2023 / 12:56
Summer in Tingshu’s Back Garden
We’re back in Massachusetts, visiting with Tingshu Hu again. Yesterday we took a look at summer in her front garden, today she’s sharing views from her beautiful back garden, with photos all taken last June.
awaytogarden.com
23.12.2023 / 12:59
Ecological resolutions, with uli lorimer of native plant trust
LIKE EVERYONE around this time of year, I get into a “looking back while looking ahead” combined mindset. Today I want to do just that, but with a sort of ecological filter, taking stock of how things in the garden fared in the bigger environmental picture and what opportunities lie ahead for me to read nature’s signals even more closely and be an ever better steward of the place.
gardenersworld.com
22.12.2023 / 09:51
2-for-1 Gardens – Winter wonders
Our 2-for-1 Gardens are filled with interest all year round, even in winter. Join us this month and use your 2-for-1 Gardens entry card to experience the stillness and beauty of deep winter.
finegardening.com
21.12.2023 / 11:57
More from Kathy’s Sacramento Garden
Kathy Sandel sent in just a few more photos of hercurrent garden in Sacramento, California, and I couldn’t resist sharing them:
balconygardenweb.com
20.12.2023 / 14:23
15 Best Ideas to Make Plants Look Festive for Holiday Season
There’s nothing like prepping up your garden and green friends for a merry vibe! If you are looking for ways to Make Plants Look Festive for Holiday Season, then here are the best ones right in tune with the jolly spirit.
gardenerspath.com
19.12.2023 / 17:55
How to Repot Spider Plants in 5 Easy Steps
How to Repot Spider Plants in 5 Easy Steps
finegardening.com
14.12.2023 / 14:53
Front Yard Landscaping in Texas
Sabrina Farber sent in today’s photos:
houseandgarden.co.uk
12.12.2023 / 11:55
The best plants for a bathroom | House & Garden
As well as being that haloed place where one can enjoy a bit of peace and quiet and a hot soak, the bathroom is also one of the best rooms to grow house plants. Its high humidity is a haven for a lot of indoor plants because so many of them hail from tropical or subtropical forests. There they flourish in the consistently damp, warm air and the light that pours in between the trees. These plants will feel right at home in bathrooms, shower rooms, and kitchens, if provided with the indirect light and average-to-warm temperature that most of them crave.
savvygardening.com
12.12.2023 / 00:33
The Best LED Grow Lights for Indoor Gardening
Using a grow light to start seeds or grow houseplants, microgreens, and herbs inside your home is an efficient way to promote healthy plant growth. LED grow lights have become the standard for indoor gardeners for their energy efficiency and long life. Yet with so many options available you might be wondering how to choose the best LED grow lights. Over the years I’ve used many LED light systems to grow all types of indoor plants. Below I share my top choices for LED spotlights, tabletop models, and multi-tier grow stands. Keep reading to learn more.
balconygardenweb.com
08.12.2023 / 16:31
Never Throw Leaves of These 15 Plants! They'll Grow!
Before you consider discarding those seemingly unimportant leaves from your plants, pause for a moment and check out this list from top to bottom. They can grow into a new plant!
finegardening.com
06.12.2023 / 06:47
Evergreen Perennials for the Southwest
Purple poppy mallow