Articles written by Susan Mertz
Showing 35 Articles
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Spring Flowering Bulbs
Lately my spring garden planning has been interrupted with an endless barrage of requests from daughter to buy her a horse. All I want to do is buy bulbs.
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The End of a Garden
A friend of mine says it was easier to move than kill off the invasive plants. I'm too stubborn for that.
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Choosing a Tree with Healthy Roots
Do you want your tree with or without soil? Today's article gives you the pros and cons. And, there are tips for searching for a tree with healthy roots.
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Annuals in the Trial Gardens
Start planning for your 2007 flower gardens with a trip to a local trial garden this summer.
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Boy Holly + Girl Holly = Fruit?
Winterberry Hollies add color to the winter landscape with red and gold fruit. But not every female holly likes every male holly...
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Shopping for Native Plants
Finding retail garden centers that sell native plants has become easier with a new website. Read today's article to learn more about American Beauties.
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Installing a Japanese Garden
It's planting day for the Japanese gardens and the temperature is soaring. Will the inspiration garden be inspiring?
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Plants for a Japanese Garden
The homeowner said yes to a Japanese inspiration garden. Now it's time for the interior designer and landscape designer to visit the nursery and finish their plan.
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Creating a Japanese Garden
What happens when an interior designer looks out the window? A whole house redo results in the creation of a Japanese inspiration garden.
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Is that a weed?
Have you ever had a plant pop up in the garden and wondered if you should leave it alone and see what happens?
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Blackberry Lily
Do you want to give your garden a tropical look without the trouble of over wintering plants that aren't cold hardy? Blackberry Lily may be just the plant you need.
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Flowers and Plants for Drying
Some plants do best air dried, others with glycerin or silica. Tips for preserving plants and suggestions for plant varities to harvest are in today's article.
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Selecting a Crabapple Tree
Are you thinking of buying a crabapple but have heard that they are disease prone? Today's article will help you select a crabapple that is disease resistant.
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It's Daylily Season
A listing in a local garden magazine told of a garden with 800 varieties of daylilies. There was no way I could stay at work and miss this garden tour.
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Colorful Containers
There is never a bad time to fill a container with colorful plants to give the garden a fresh look. Today's article is full of ideas and tips for Colorful Containers.
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Landscape Built For Speed
The slogan "The Track That Will Blow You Away" not only refers to the action on the track but the windy conditions. What plants will survive at the Kansas Speedway?
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Summer Flowering Shrubs
There are many shrubs available to choose from for summer flowers. Today's article takes a look at ones that are both loaded with flowers and easy to care for.
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Plants That Help Blend Colors
Put some plants side by side and you end up with jarring combinations. In today's article, a landscaper shares some of her favorite plants that help colors blend.
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Planting Gold in the Garden
Many gardeners have discovered that using gold foliage in the landscape is an easy way to add color without depending on flowers.
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A Tropical Garden With Cannas
At the nursery this year, we have many landscape customers buying tropical plants. Cannas are a top seller because they are easy to use in the garden and in containers.
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Create a Garden Wall
Today's article tells how a few plants will make a living wall out of a dry stack rock wall.
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Black Lace Sambucus
With the way the winds blow in Kansas, I'm wondering if I should have skipped the Japanese laceleaf maple and planted a Black Lace Sambucus.
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A Birdbath Full of Sedums
Garden tours can be a source for creative ideas to take home and recreate in your own gardens. Today's article will help you create your own birdbath full of sedums.
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Peonies are Legacy Plants
The garden shouldn't be skipped when looking for treasures to share with your children. Peonies are perfect plants to share with future generations.
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A Gladiolus Makes Me Glad
You'll be glad you gave Glads a try in your cut flower garden.
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Planning For Spring 2007
Spring 2006 is the best time to begin planning for Spring 2007. My neighbor's yard is full of spring flowering bulbs and I have a few crocus. Do you have this problem?
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Managing Bamboo
Bamboo. Is it under control in your garden or in control of your garden? This week I turn to a couple of experienced horticulturists for assistance.
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Frosty Morn Sedum
Frosty Morn Sedum is a problem solving perennial in my garden. It has earned a place in the garden by being a low maintenace plant that looks great without flowers.
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Summer Flowering Bulbs
Included in the wide array of summer flowering bulbs, you will find cut flowers, fragrant blooms and colorful foliage plants.
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Purple Robe Locust
When I first saw Purple Robe Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Purple Robe’) in flower, I knew I had to have it.
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Bulbs and Alcohol
We know drinking and driving don’t mix. How about bulbs and alcohol? This week’s article reports on some surprising research by Professor William Miller of Cornell.
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Sky Pencil Holly
Does your garden design make you hum? Or, do you look at the layers of plantings and hear a symphony? If you want a symphony, include Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil Holly'.
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Dr. Seuss Trees
"Show me some Dr. Seuss trees" a customer requested. Cascade Falls Weeping Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum ‘Cascade Falls’) is a good selection to accent water gardens.
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Late Winter Flowers
Persian Parrotia has a lot to offer the garden. Unfortunately, late winter flowers are not on the top of the list. Witchhazel is the choice for winter flowers.
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White Fringetree
White Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) is a small native tree to North America with long white fringe flowers. It was the delicate fragrance that caught my attention.
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