Pro Tips
Big ideas for small spaces
Make your outdoor living space cozy, creative, and connected. You don’t need a big yard to have an inviting space that beckons you and your family outdoors. Think “cozy,” “creative,” and “connected.” Q: What’s the definition of a small space? A: I consider a small space backyard garden to be no bigger than the footprint…
Read MoreChelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year 2013
UAC member, ItSaul Plants, wins the top prize. Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’ PP#20183, a plant bred by Ozzie Johnson of ItSaul Plants is awarded 2013 Plant of the Year at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, London, England. Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’ is a compact evergreen shrub that can be used in containers as well as shady landscapes.…
Read MoreGrowing outdoor walls and floors
Vines and groundcovers for the southern garden. When I think about vines and groundcovers, I remember my favorite childhood book — “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It’s the story of Mary Lennox, a not-too-nice orphaned girl who is sent to live with her uncle in England. She discovers an overgrown and neglected garden…
Read MoreSouthern grapes for southern gardens
Choose the best grapes to grow in your garden. Growing up in an Italian family, my mother would reminisce about my grandfather’s grapevines and the annual ritual of stomping on the grapes to make wine in the basement. While this memory always brought to mind a favorite “I Love Lucy” episode with Lucy and Ethel…
Read MoreErosion, flood plains, and other landscape disasters
Solutions for erosion and drainage problems in the landscape. As a Master Gardener volunteer, one of my responsibilities was to answer landscape and gardening questions from metro Atlanta residents. Questions such as “what’s eating my peppers and tomatoes?” and “why won’t my hydrangea bloom?” were fairly easy to answer. Recommending insecticidal soap or horticultural oil…
Read MoreSpice up your life with herbs
Grow your own herbs for freshness and flavor. If you’ve ever worked in the kitchen of a fine restaurant, you know that professional chefs demand and accept from their suppliers only the freshest fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices available. They recognize that the degree of freshness of these products has a tremendous impact on the…
Read MoreThe awful truth about roses
Choose wisely to minimize problems with roses. Want to know the awful truth about roses? They are a lot of work—if you don’t choose the right ones! With our mild winters and balmy spring and autumn weather, Atlanta’s climate seems ideal for successful rose gardening. It would be, if not for the summertime. Unfortunately, our…
Read MoreGot shade?
Celebrating the shade in your landscape. Here’s a question for you: Would you rather spend a sweltering hot July afternoon battling weeds in your perennial bed, sweat dripping down your face, or would you prefer to relax in the 10-15 degree cooler shade of dogwood trees, admiring the magnificent foliage of your shade garden? I…
Read MoreToxic plants for pets
Some landscape plants can be harmful to furry family members. If you have a green thumb and are a pet owner, it’s a good idea to take inventory of the plants and foliage both inside and around your home. The Humane Society of the United States has identified more than 700 plants that can be…
Read MoreDeer and rabbit control
Making landscape choices to limit deer and rabbit damage. Aren’t they cute? Bambi and Thumper sure are sweet, soft and cuddly, but ask any gardener how they feel about these furry creatures when they’re found munching on their prize hostas and begonias! Nursery employees, master gardeners and county extension agents claim that “How do I…
Read More