One ‘Belle’ of a Plant
Home Garden NJ » Garden
by Home & Garden Guides
1y ago
  By Bruce Crawford; Manager of Horticulture, Morris County Parks Commission; Board Member, NJ Nursery & Landscape Association. Many of our spring blooming perennials fall under the category of spring ephemerals or plants that enter dormancy shortly after they finish both blooming and setting seed.  For the plant, it is an act of survival, since it rests during the hottest and driest months.  For the gardener, spring ephemerals present an interesting design challenge; how to integrate the yellowing and declining foliage of June followed by those holes left behind from the ul ..read more
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Seven Times the Interest – the Seven-Son-Flower
Home Garden NJ » Garden
by Home & Garden Guides
1y ago
By Bruce Crawford, Manager of Horticulture Morris County Parks Commission. On numerous occasions I have heard homeowners question the worthiness of hiring a professional to help with designing their garden. After all, what could be so challenging about arranging plants? One challenge for me was understanding the flexibility of large shrubs, whose statures approach 20′ in height. Typically, they are relegated to screening or a shrub border. However, for some the lower limbs can be removed, magically transforming a shrub into a small tree. Several plants come to mind, but one of the best candida ..read more
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Solomon’s Seal – ‘Knee Deep’ in Garden Worth Forms
Home Garden NJ » Garden
by Home & Garden Guides
1y ago
By Bruce Crawford Manager of Horticulture, Morris County Parks Commission As a gardener, I am always searching for interesting, low growing plants to incorporate into designs. A garden will have more depth and visual interest if the lower levels, typically home to herbaceous plants, do not all mature to the same height. Rather, it is best if there is a variety, ranging from of ground hugging forms to those near knee height. As one might suspect, it is the ground hugging forms that are the most challenging to find, especially plants that do not spread uncontrollably. For years, I have seen Dwar ..read more
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Groundcover Go-tos
Home Garden NJ » Garden
by Home & Garden Guides
1y ago
The best low-growing/low-maintenance plants for coverage density and aesthetic appeal. By Erik J. Martin Gardening and landscaping can sometimes be a real chore – especially if your yard has areas where it’s difficult to get grass, plants, or flowers to take root and flourish. Despite your best efforts, bare spots and unsightly stretches of ground can persist. That’s when it’s time to call in the groundcover troops, the pros recommend. “Groundcovers are low-growing and long-living plants that spread quickly over the ground and don’t require special care,” says Nastya Vasylchyshyna, a Florida-b ..read more
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Flower Bed How-to
Home Garden NJ » Garden
by Home & Garden Guides
1y ago
By Erik J. Martin Few elements add instant visual appeal and eye-catching beauty to a yard or garden like flowers in full bloom. Only you don’t want to plant your petunias, roses, daffodils, tulips, or marigolds willy-nilly or without careful planning. For a clustered pop of color and greater gardening ease, it’s smart to create a flower bed that’s bordered off from other areas of your yard or garden, the experts agree. A flower bed border that is well-designed and maintained can add both aesthetic and functional value to your home, as it can really make your landscaping stand out. Plus, borde ..read more
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7 Tips for a Buzz-worthy Garden
Home Garden NJ » Garden
by Home & Garden Guides
1y ago
By Dawn Klingensmith As a garden designer, Kate Frey judges the vitality of her creations not by the appearance and performance of the flowers but by the variety of bees, butterflies, and other beneficial critters that visit them. Planting gardens that attract and sustain bees are especially important because they pollinate food crops and face worsening pressures including habitat loss and lack of forage. Frey urges homeowners to do their part to ease these pressures by providing flower-rich, bee-friendly landscape features. “Without a lot of effort we can really make a difference, but it matt ..read more
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On Your Marks, Get Set, Grow!
Home Garden NJ » Garden
by Home & Garden Guides
1y ago
A beginner’s guide to growing common vegetables. By Erik J. Martin Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your vegetable garden grow? The answer is you give it lots of sunshine, plentiful water, and extra TLC, the pros agree. And the results speak for themselves in the form of robust, delicious, and nutritious edibles that are fresher and healthier than what you can buy at the grocery store. Anyone who gardens knows that this outdoor activity is rewarding and fulfilling. But it particularly pays off when you grow vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, leafy greens, and squash, provided you have the ..read more
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A Gardeners’ Shoes for Spring
Home Garden NJ » Garden
by Home & Garden Guides
1y ago
By Bruce Crawford, State Program Leader in Home and Public Horticulture, NJAES, NJNLA Several years ago, I attended a plant conference where I was honored to be a presenter. Following the talk, a lady approached me in the hallway and mentioned how she was uncertain as to whether I was a presenter until she looked at my shoes. An odd comment I thought, but I began to wonder – can you tell a gardener by their shoes? In my case, they were well-worn loafers, undoubtedly in need of polish. They were comfortable and reflected how I prefer to garden. My garden is relaxed and I prefer groundcovers to ..read more
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Winter Planning – Exploring Different Backyard Structures
Home Garden NJ » Garden
by Home Garden NJ
1y ago
Designing an ideal backyard space requires forethought, time, and an eye for style. Knowing which features to include in your yard often boils down to what you want to achieve in the space. Will it be a relaxing oasis or a central entertaining focal point? Homeowners often look to various backyard structures to add height and visual interest to outdoor spaces.  Different Backyard Structures You will likely come across structures like arbors, gazebos, pergolas, and even trellises as you wade through the variety of features they can incorporate into your backyard plans. Each of these struct ..read more
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Seven Times the Interest – the Seven-Son-Flower
Home Garden NJ » Garden
by Home & Garden Guides
1y ago
By Bruce Crawford, Manager of Horticulture Morris County Parks Commission. On numerous occasions I have heard homeowners question the worthiness of hiring a professional to help with designing their garden. After all, what could be so challenging about arranging plants? One challenge for me was understanding the flexibility of large shrubs, whose statures approach 20′ in height. Typically, they are relegated to screening or a shrub border. However, for some the lower limbs can be removed, magically transforming a shrub into a small tree. Several plants come to mind, but one of the best candida ..read more
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