If you haven’t hilled up your roses that aren’t super hardy, there’s still time. Hilling roses isn’t meant to protect the wood above ground, but to ensure the vulnerable bud union won’t be exposed to severe freezing. That bulgy knob at the base of most rose shrubs is the bud union, where understock roots and grafted scion (or upper canes of the plant) are surgically grafted … [Read more...] about Hilling roses
gifts for gardeners
Colourful oakleaf hydrangeas worth the risk
I seem to be increasingly tolerant of risk these days, especially when it involves a desirable shrub, and oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia, Zone 6) fall into this category. They’re borderline hardy in my Zone 6a garden, meaning this is the coldest winter temperature they can survive in. Like all hydrangeas, H. quercifoliarequires consistent moisture, and suffers in … [Read more...] about Colourful oakleaf hydrangeas worth the risk
