The magical process of cold hardening enables plants to withstand extreme freezing temperatures in the winter. In an unhardened plant, tissue death occurs when the water inside the plant cells freezes and forms crystals that rupture the cell walls. Many factors weigh in to determine whether a plant will handle winter conditions. Find out which plants are most at risk from cold damage, and learn how to recognize cold injury in different types of plants.
Preparing your landscape for winter began with proper planting and continued with year-round support. Healthy plants are better equipped to fend off the stresses of winter. But there are specific tasks that can be critical to improve survival and keep your landscape in good shape. Efforts we make at this time may not seem as enjoyable as gardening at other times of the year, but they do ensure a rewarding spring. Here are 12 essential activities for a successful winter.
Although it can seem like a quiet downtime for gardening, protecting your plants from winter injury can be critical to the longevity of your landscape. Sometimes even a small act that reduces cold or wind can mean the difference between the death or survival of a plant. Follow these strategies to fend off an impending frost or freeze event.
Finding suitable plants that can thrive in a shady garden can seem like a discouraging task. The choices are actually more abundant than you might think. But what if you are looking for an exceptional plant that’s not so commonly seen, with unique qualities?
In just about any environment, shrubs are indispensable for an attractive and comfortable home landscape. A landscape without shrubs is a little like a home without walls.
A hot topic in conservation these days is Connectivity - how to alleviate the habitat fragmentation that threatens the livelihood of wildlife. Gardeners can become part of the solution by ensuring that migrating pollinators have food sources along their way.
What defines a "tough" perennial? A list of Home Nursery perennials that are considered "tough."
In 2015, the state of Illinois began a program to raise awareness of the decline of their native oak woodlands and put their oaks on the path to health and regrowth. It is an admirable effort that would be beneficial to many areas of the country.
