Taking hardwood cuttings in the fall is an easy, economical way to increase plants through vegetative reproduction; the new plants will be clones of the original. This method is also the only way to propagate hybrids and cultivars, which won’t come true from seed. Grow an entire hedge with cuttings from one privet shrub, or reproduce cuttings from a favourite weigela or … [Read more...] about How to take hardwood cuttings
About Judith Adam
How to prune roses
Prune your roses properly and they will perform better in appreciation. Here’s how to make your first attempt at rose pruning successful to spur the plant’s growth and reap the rewards of more blooms this season. While there are basic pruning guidelines, such as when to remove dead wood and how to make the right cut, different types of roses often require different … [Read more...] about How to prune roses
The sweet scent of magnolias
Creamy magnolia blossoms in the crisp spring air are the fulfillment of a gardener’s winter dream. But their alluring scent exceeds our expectations of what these lovely trees offer. I learned this on a trip to Washington, D.C., where I came upon a mature specimen of Magnolia grandiflora, the great bull bay or evergreen southern magnolia. It is a prominent member of the family … [Read more...] about The sweet scent of magnolias
Why won’t my passion flower bloom?
Isabel in Clinton, Ontario, asks: I have a passion flower plant that’s growing green leaves but not many flowers. Last year it grew in a tight mass of leaves and plenty of flowers, but they were mostly on the inside so they were hard to see. This year I made it a trellis so it could grow freely and that it has, but there have not been many flowers to enjoy. I water it and … [Read more...] about Why won’t my passion flower bloom?
The beauty and burden of snow
As we burrow under the bedclothes in a few months, let’s hope for a thick blanket of snow over the garden this winter. The structure of each snowflake contains layers of frozen water and air. As falling flakes pile up on the ground, more air is trapped within increasing layers of snow. This blanket of frozen water and air moderates winter soil temperature, keeping plant roots … [Read more...] about The beauty and burden of snow
