Growing outdoor walls and floors

climbing hydrangea

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…

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Erosion, flood plains, and other landscape disasters

Ed Castro Landscape

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…

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Got shade?

Michael Jackson Landscape Company

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…

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Deer 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…

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