Answers to Your Questions: Crabapple Trees, Northern Grasses, and Rhododendrons
Do Apple Trees and Crabapple Trees Crossbreed? Question We have two apple trees, but would like to cut one down.Continue Reading
Author: Larry Hodgson
Garden writer and blogger, author of 65 gardening books, lecturer and communicator, the Laidback Gardener, Larry Hodgson, passed away in October 2022. Known for his great generosity, his thoroughness and his sense of humor, he reached several generations of amateur and professional gardeners over his 40-year career.
Thanks to his son, Mathieu Hodgson, and a team of contributors, laidbackgardener.blog will continue its mission of demystifying gardening and making it more accessible to all.
Dividing Perennials: A Necessary Evil?
Many gardening books emphasize the importance of dividing your perennials according to a specific schedule. For each variety described, theyContinue Reading
When Labelmania Gets You in Its Clutches
I confess! I am a label addict! In my eyes, there is nothing more beautiful than a flower bed withContinue Reading
Why Grow Trees That Make Us Sneeze?
Everyone blames ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) for hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and it is true that at the end of theContinue Reading
A Trio of Shrubs for Mother’s Day
On Mother’s Day, it’s traditional to give mom a bouquet of flowers or a potted plant. And that’s great. ButContinue Reading
Answers to Your Questions: Rowan, Grass Seed, and Ninebark
A Rowan Tree in Poor Shape Question Last fall, due to changes in the yard, my husband and I transplantedContinue Reading
The Right Spacing for Laidback Gardeners
Leaving abundant space in a flower bed or vegetable garden It is not very useful: weeds will quickly move intoContinue Reading
Three Strikes… You’re Compost!
Success in horticulture is not always guaranteed. There are always a few plants that don’t live up to our expectations:Continue Reading
Answers to your questions: dahlias, spruce trees, and avocados
Premature Dahlias Question I planted my dahlias too early. I find that they have grown too long and seem fragile.Continue Reading
Plants that Mammals Usually Avoid
Here are some plants that deer, hares, rabbits, and other mammals are known to dislike eating. These species often haveContinue Reading