Pruning Climbing Roses

Pruning Climbing Roses

Prune yearly for healthier, more manageable growth and bigger, better flowers

by Andrew Schulman

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Pruning Wisteria

Pruning Wisteria

Well-placed summer and winter cuts will keep this vigorous vine manageable

by Meghan Ray

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Pruning Subshrubs

Pruning Subshrubs

Don't cut plants like lavender to the ground, and don't touch them in fall or winter

by Debra Knapke

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

How to Prune Cane-Growing Shrubs

How to Prune Cane-Growing Shrubs

Keep new plants looking young and make old plants look like new

by John C. Fech

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

The best plants for bonsai

The best plants for bonsai

Q: What trees lend themselves to the art of bonsai?
Jane Saunders, Portland, ME

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Pruning Hydrangeas

Pruning Hydrangeas

Knowing if your shrub blooms on old or new wood will help you make timely cuts

by Janet Carson

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

3 Ways to Prune Rhododendrons

3 Ways to Prune Rhododendrons

Here's how to maintain, shape, or rejuvenate rhododendrons

by Charles W.G. Smith

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Video - A Survey of Pruning Tools

A Survey of Pruning Tools

Find the right tool for the trimming your shrubs and trees
with Lee Reich

Length: 9:00 Produced By: Gary Junken

Whether you are pruning hedges, shrubs, or fruit trees, the right tool makes all the difference. In this clip from the Fine Gardening Pruning DVD-ROM, horticulturist Lee Reich, Ph.D., of New Paltz, New York, and author of The Pruning Book, examines the key features on an array of pruning implements. You'll learn what the tools do, and what to consider when shopping for a new hand pruner, lopper, saw, pole pruner, or hedge shears.

From Fine Gardening Pruning DVD-ROM

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Pruning hollies

Pruning hollies

The kind you have and the look you want determines the cuts to make

by Danielle Sherry

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Video -How to Prune Shrub Roses

How to Prune Shrub Roses
with Peter Kukielski

Length: 5:06

Pruning roses stimulates growth and flowering, and removes dead, weak or sickly canes that can drain energy from the rose and encourage disease. In this video, Peter Kukielski, curator of the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden at the New York Botanical Garden, demonstrates the best way to prune shrub roses.

Related Videos:
How to Prune Floribunda Roses
How to Prune Hybrid Tea Roses
Feeding and Mulching Roses
Planting Garden Roses in Containers

Shot by: Kate Geruntho; Edited by: Cari Delahanty

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Video -How to Prune Hybrid Tea Roses

How to Prune Hybrid Tea Roses
with Peter Kukielski

Length: 5:20

Pruning roses stimulates growth and flowering, and removes dead, weak or sickly canes that can drain energy from the rose and encourage disease. In this video, Peter Kukielski, curator of the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden at the New York Botanical Garden, demonstrates the best way to prune hybrid tea roses.

Related Videos:
How to Prune Shrub Roses
How to Prune Floribunda Roses
Feeding and Mulching Roses
Planting Garden Roses in Containers

Shot by: Kate Geruntho; Edited by: Cari Delahanty

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Video -How to Prune Floribunda Roses

How to Prune Floribunda Roses
with Peter Kukielski

Length: 5:21

Pruning roses stimulates growth and flowering, and removes dead, weak or sickly canes that can drain energy from the rose and encourage disease. In this video, Peter Kukielski, curator of the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden at the New York Botanical Garden, demonstrates the best way to prune shrub roses.
Related Videos:
How to Prune Shrub Roses
How to Prune Hybrid Tea Roses
Feeding and Mulching Roses
Planting Garden Roses in Containers

Shot by: Kate Geruntho; Edited by: Cari Delahanty

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

How to Prune Conifers

How to Prune Conifers

These plants are unforgiving, so make the right cuts for the right reasons

by Bert Cregg

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Video - Storing Seeds

Storing Seeds

Proper storage conditions are key to seed vigor

Length: 2:15

Collecting and storing seeds for the next growing season is a great way to make more plants for free. To make sure you get vigorous seeds with a high germination percentage, you need to store them under the proper conditions.

In this video, Barbara Pierson of White Flower Farm in Litchfield, Connecticut, covers the basics of seed storage.

Produced by: Gary Junken

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Video -Sowing Seeds

Sowing Seeds

Get your seedlings off to a healthy start

Length: 4:43 Produced By: Gary Junken
Few gardening pursuits are as rewarding as growing and nurturing your own plants. But growing plants isn't always an easy task. In this video, Alyson Brown, propagation manager at White Flower Farm in Litchfield, Conn., demonstrates some techniques that are sure to help you get your seeds off to a healthy start.

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Video -Seed-Starting Pre-Treat

Seed-Starting Pre-Treat

Most seeds germinate readily, but others may require a few extra steps to achieve good results
with Adrianna Vargo

Length: 6:19 Produced By: Gary Junken

Cultivated seeds, removed from nature, are removed from the natural processes they would be undergoing in the passage of the seasons and may require artificial stimuli to overcome dormancy. Scarification is the abrasive processes that some hard-coated seeds undergo in natural soils or the digestive tracts of birds and mammals; while stratification describes the warm moist conditions preceded by cold moist conditions seeds experience when left on the ground through the winter.

In this video, Adrianna Vargo, nursery manager of the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants at Monticello, in Charlottesville, Virginia, demonstrates a couple of techniques you can use to emulate these conditions before sowing the seeds.

For more on starting seeds read her article 10 Seed-Starting Tips in the January/February 2003 of Fine Gardening (#89).

From Fine Gardening 89

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Video -Rooting Tip Cuttings

Rooting Tip Cuttings

Save money and grow more plants
with Alyson Brown

Length: 6:33
The benefits of knowing how to propagate plants from tip cuttings are endless. You can make more of your favorite plants for almost no money. You can take cuttings from many tender perenials in the fall and save them for the following spring. And taking cuttings is way easier than dividing, so you can be more generous with your friends.
Produced by: Gary Junken

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Video -How to Divide Ornamental Grasses

How to Divide Ornamental Grasses
with Daryl Beyers

Length: 5:14

Ornamental grasses can be pretty intimidating to divide, given their size. Just remember that grasses respond best to division in spring and that you'll have the best luck if you use a sharp knife or, even better, a chain saw.
In this video, Fine Gardening assistant editor Daryl Beyers confirms what many fans of ornamental grasses already know: Dividing grasses is not a chore for the faint of heart.

Shot by: Danielle Sherry; Edited by: Cari Delahanty

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Video - How to Dig, Divide, and Store Dahlia Tubers

How to Dig, Divide, and Store Dahlia Tubers

Length: 6:00 Produced By: Gary Junken

Dahlias have some of the most beautiful flowers of any garden plant available. They appear in every color of the rainbow but blue, and present over a dozen unique forms and variable sizes. Dahlias are also tender perennials that need protection from harsh winters and soil that is not well drained. In this video, Barbara Pierson, of White Flower Farm in Litchfield, Connecticut, demonstrates the best way to dig, divide, and store your dahlia tubers for winter to ensure that you will enjoy their fabulous blooms year after year.

Companion Content
How to Store Dahlias for the Winter

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Video -Dividing Plants with Woody Roots

Dividing Plants with Woody Roots
with Janet Macunovich

Length: 3:01
Woody perennials often form roots when stems rest on the ground or are buried by gradually accumulating mulch. Make a new plant by simply cutting between the rooted stem and the mother plant.

Plants that have woody roots include candytufts (Iberis spp. and cvs., Z 5–9), euonymus (Euonymus spp. and cvs., Z 4–9), lavenders (Lavandula spp. and cvs., Z 5–10), sages (Salvia spp. and cvs., Z 5–10).

In this video, author and instructor Janet Macunovich demonstrates how to divide woody plants.

Related videos
Introduction to Dividing Perennials
Dividing Plants with Roots That Form Offsets
Dividing Plants with Surface Roots
Dividing Plants with Taproots
Dividing Plants with Underground Running Roots

Related Article
10 Tips on Dividing Perennials

Produced by: Gary Junken

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Video -Dividing Plants with Underground Running Roots

Dividing Plants with Underground Running Roots
with Janet Macunovich

Length: 3:04
Underground running roots can develop suckers as they grow beyond the shade of the mother clump. These suckers can be cut away from the main plant, or you can dig up the main plant and cut away any piece with an eye or sucker already forming.

Plants with underground running roots: hardy geraniums (Geranium spp. and cvs., Z 4–9), Japanese anemones (Anemone × hybrida cvs., Z 4–8), ostrich fern (Matteuccia pennsylvanica, Z 3–8), plume poppies (Macleaya spp. and cvs., Z 4–9)

In this video, author and instructor Janet Macunovich demonstrates how to divide perennials with underground running roots.

Related videos
Introduction to Dividing Perennials
Dividing Plants with Roots That Form Offsets
Dividing Plants with Surface Roots
Dividing Plants with Taproots
Dividing Plants with Woody Roots

Related Article
10 Tips on Dividing Perennials

Produced by: Gary Junken

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Video -Dividing Plants with Taproots

Dividing Plants with Taproots
with Janet Macunovich

Length: 2:22
Plants that have taproots can be divided by using a sharp knife to slice down the length of the root. Every piece that has at least one eye, some of the taproot, and a few side roots is a viable division.

Plants that have taproots include balloon flowers (Platycodon grandiflorus and cvs., Z 4–9), butterfly weeds (Asclepias tuberosa and cvs., Z 4–9), cushion spurges (Euphorbia polychroma and cvs., Z 4–9), Oriental poppies (Papaver orientale and cvs., Z 4–9)

In this video, author and instructor Janet Macunovich demonstrates how to divide perennials that have taproots.

Related videos
Introduction to Dividing Perennials
Dividing Plants with Roots That Form Offsets
Dividing Plants with Surface Roots
Dividing Plants with Underground Running Roots
Dividing Plants with Woody Roots

Related Article
10 Tips on Dividing Perennials
Produced by: Gary Junken


fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Video -Dividing Plants with Surface Roots

Dividing Plants with Surface Roots
with Janet Macunovich

Length: 1:52
Some perennials have roots that run on or just below the surface of the soil. They form new crowns and roots when they reach open spaces or make contact with the soil. If you cut between any of the stems as you would cut a piece of sod from a lawn, you will have a division with its own stems and roots.

Plants with surface roots include bee balms (Monarda spp. and cvs., Z 4–9), black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia spp. and cvs., Z 3–9), creeping sedums (Sedum spp. and cvs., Z 3–9), creeping speedwells (Veronica spp. and cvs., Z 3–8).

In this video, author and instructor Janet Macunovich demonstrates how to divide plants with surface roots.

Related videos
Introduction to Dividing Perennials
Dividing Plants with Roots That Form Offsets
Dividing Plants with Taproots
Dividing Plants with Underground Running Roots
Dividing Plants with Woody Roots

Related Article
10 Tips on Dividing Perennials

Produced by: Gary Junken

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Video -Dividing Plants with Roots That Form Offsets

Dividing Plants with Roots That Form Offsets
with Janet Macunovich


Length: 7:09
To divide a plant whose roots form offsets (small plants growing at the base of a larger one), snap the connection between any of the sections to obtain a piece with ample roots and three or more growing points (or “eyes”). Some denser clumps may have to be cut apart.
Plants that form offsets include asters (Aster spp. and cvs., USDA Hardiness Zones 4–8), coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea and cvs., Z 3–9), hostas (Hosta spp. and cvs., Z 3–8), tickseeds (Coreopsis spp. and cvs., Z 4–9).

In this video, author and instructor Janet Macunovich demonstrates how to divide perennials with roots that form offsets.

Related videos
Introduction to Dividing Perennials
Dividing Plants with Surface Roots
Dividing Plants with TaprootsDividing Plants with Underground Running Roots
Dividing Plants with Woody Roots

Related Article
10 Tips on Dividing Perennials

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Video - Dividing a Plant Without Digging It Up

Dividing a Plant Without Digging It Up
with Janet Macunovich

Length: 1:56
Dividing perennials improves the health of mature plants and allows you to increase the number of plants in your garden. Some can be divided right in the ground. In this video, author and instructor Janet Macunovich demonstrates how to divide a perennial without digging it up.
10 Tips on Dividing Perennials
Produced by: Gary Junken

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Video - Collecting Seeds

Collecting Seeds

Save your favorites now to start fresh next spring
with Barbara Pierson

Length: 2:19
Seed prices can add up pretty quickly, even if you only have one small bed to fill. Collecting seeds in the fall guarantees that you'll have a full summer garden the next year for free. In this video, Barbara Pierson of White Flower Farm demonstrates how to collect seeds.
Produced by: Gary Junken

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Video - Collecting Fern Spores

Collecting Fern Spores

Timing the harvest is the important first step in propagating ferns
with Nancy Swell

Produced By: Gary Junken

An individual fern can produce spores numbering in the millions, and they're easy to collect from the ones in your yard or even in the wild. The trick is to know when they're immature, too mature, or just right for picking.

Nancy Swell, a Richmond, Virginia gardener and contributor to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's handbook about ferns, warns that once a frond is picked the spores will not ripen further, so care should be taken in your selection. She will also demonstrate a simple way to separate the tiny dried spores from the chaff.

For more information on starting ferns from spores and a complete list of easy-to-grow ferns, see Nancy's article, "Fern Propagation, Simplified," in the January/February 2000 issue of Fine Gardening (#71).
From Fine Gardening 71

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

A movable windowsill

A movable windowsill

Though my house has south-facing windows with plenty of light for starting new plants, the windowsills are too narrow to hold a flat of seedlings or the trays of cuttings I root each year. To make convenient shelves for the plants, I bought several inexpensive, height-adjustable ironing boards. They take up very little room, and can be wiped up easily if I spill when watering. I can raise them to windowsill height and set them right against the sill so my plants get all the sun they need.
Ursula Reinhold, Doylestown, PA
From Fine Gardening 17, pp. 10


fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Propagating pachysandra

Propagating pachysandra

When I decided several years ago to plant pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) as a ground cover in two shady spots in my yard, I didn’t run out to the garden center to buy flats of cuttings. I knew from my grandmother that it would be easy to start my own cuttings for free.
With permission from my pachysandra-rich neighbor, I went next door with a laundry basket and snipped off the tips (down to the first leaf juncture) of about 200 to 300 shoots. I brought them home and stuck them, in bunches of 25, into wide-mouthed glass jars filled with water and placed the jars in a shady spot. In three to four weeks, the cuttings had sprouted enough roots to be planted out.

Because the areas that I wanted the pachysandra to cover were large, it took a number of years for me to complete the project. About three times during the growing season, from April to August, I visited my neighbor’s patch and came away with a full basket. Today, thanks to a little bit of effort on my part and my neighbor’s generosity, I have my own thriving pachysandra patches.
Martha McKeon, Sandy Hook, CT
From Fine Gardening 21, pp. 14

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Keeping seed packets in view

Keeping seed packets in view

I’m a visual person, so I need to see my seed packets when I’m planning my garden. Since I’ve got too many to spread out on a table, I string a clothesline across the inside of the garage and hang packets from the line with clothespins. Colored plastic clothespins allow me to color-code the packets by category (annuals and perennials, for example).
Cristina Duchaump, Royal Oak, MI
From Fine Gardening 36, pp. 8


fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Collecting and Storing Seeds

Collecting and Storing Seeds

by Sally Roth

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

A mini-greenhouse

A mini-greenhouse

This simple plastic sweater box was flipped upside down and made into a useful seed starter. Photo/Illustration: Mike Wanke

I use plastic sweater boxes as mini-greenhouses to germinate my seeds. I turn the lids upside down and place the flats of seeds or pots on the lid. I water the soil and then place the bottom of the box on top of the lid. I don’t have to water the flats again. I keep the boxes closed until the seeds germinate. Another advantage of using sweater boxes is that they can be stacked to conserve space.
Suzanne Coe, East Canaan, CT
From Fine Gardening 53, pp. 10

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Jump Start Your Seeds

Jump Start Your Seeds

Use these tricks to speed germination then plant up some pots

by Sally Roth

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Hormones hasten rooting

Hormones hasten rooting

When rooting cuttings in water, add a young willow branch or two to the container. Willow wood contains a natural hormone that speeds the rooting process. I have rooted coleus, petunia, jasmine, salvia, and many other plants this way.
Suzanne Coe, East Canaan, CT
From Fine Gardening 58, pp. 10

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Propagating rhodies

Propagating rhodies

Q: What’s the best time of year to take cuttings to propagate rhododendrons, and are all rooting hormones created equal?
David Lawrence, Asheville, NC


fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Grow Your Own Conifers from Hardwood Cuttings

Grow Your Own Conifers from Hardwood Cuttings

It takes a little patience, but the technique is straightforward and gives good results

by Charles W.G. Smith

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Weave a Garden of Self-Sown Splendor

Weave a Garden of Self-Sown Splendor

Letting nature have a strong hand yields a garden of untamed beauty

by Gary Keim

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Breed Your Own Gladiolus Hybrids

Breed Your Own Gladiolus Hybrids

Hybridizing is a snap to learn, yet can challenge even the experienced breeder

by Paul H. Franklin

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Propagating white-flowered four o’clocks

Propagating white-flowered four o’clocks

Q: I planted a packet of mixed-color four o’clocks (Mirabilis jalapa) and ended up with one that’s producing beautiful, pure-white flowers. How can I propagate this plant so I can grow it again next year?
Susan Riskind, San Leandro, CA

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.

Dividing Perennials: Tools, Techniques, and Timing

Dividing Perennials: Tools, Techniques, and Timing

Take your cues from root systems and weather conditions

by Todd Meier

fine Gardening is but one of the published magazines of The Taunton Press. Their web site is a wealth of information. The topic of this post is derived from pages at the web site. We do not post the whole articles here. Highlights with selected pictures may be cited and commented on.

The hyperlink for the article can be found here! The fine Gardening web site is found at: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/

The information published by The Taunton Press has copyright requirements. They are very generous in allowing reference by way of creating a Web link. There is much information, and we will attempt to focus on that which relates to our northern hardiness zones.