opuntia and other intriguing native-plant stories, with jared rosenbaum

Collaborative post

Collaborative post

The Pee Dee region is expecting rain from a potential tropical weather system this week. Fall crops are growing well with fairly low disease pressure. Caterpillar populations are climbing in places. See below for more details.

If you love experiencing life through dreamy, rose-colored glasses, grow these pink-leaved outdoor plants in your garden for year-round color! Emerging in all shades of pink, your garden will look like something straight out of a fairy tale! Check it out!

Happy Monday GPODers!

Jason Donnelly

As well as what could be classed as ‘projects’, there is a tendency for minor editing at this time of year and, on the whole, I feel the borders generally have been improving in recent years because of this.  I daresay I will never be completely happy with them and inevitably there will always be changes to be made, but at least there seems to be more cohesion to them these days and I don’t have an issue with removing plants that no longer bring pleasure. The bold borders have certainly come a step closer in their boldness, although some editing is still required in the one to the left of the gate (above), where an over-exuberant geranium has been swamping the new Geum ‘Totally Tangerine ‘ in front of it (below); moving the geranium further back in the border will be a first step.

Don’t put away your gardening tools just yet! Once the weather moderates, there’s still plenty of time to plant. In fact, fall actually is an ideal time for adding new perennials and shrubs to your garden to add beauty, privacy, andpollinator-friendly plants.

When and How to Fertilize Jasmine

Long flowering plants mean that you can extend your summer colour right through to autumn. And even to the first frosts of winter.

Hostas are perennials that can be planted across borders and inside containers. They are grown for their attractive foliage. But none of the varieties can tolerate full sun. They preferred shaded spots and moisture. If you want hosta like foliage in your outdoor garden, check out these full-sun hosta alternatives.

Boxwood (Buxus) are slow-growing shrubs that lend year-round evergreen symmetry and structure to a space. Popular as hedges and topiaries, poor practices like over-shearing have made it unviable and vulnerable to disease. Here are the best alternatives to the quintessential boxwood, which is likely more manageable and natural to your setting!