Answers to Your Questions: Hardy Hibiscus That Doesn’t Bloom
Question I have a Swamp rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) that grows 2.4 meters (8 feet) tall and will be inContinue 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.
Yes, You Can Compost Black Walnut Leaves
Black walnut (Juglans nigra) and, to a lesser extent, other walnuts (Juglans spp.), as well as their close relatives, theContinue Reading
Bulbs That Succeed
I’m a big consumer of bulbs. I buy thousands (every year) and plant them everywhere: in pots, in flowerbeds andContinue Reading
Answers to Your Questions: A Mock Orange That Doesn’t Flower
Question I bought a mock orange (Philadelphus) three years ago and placed it in full sun and out of theContinue Reading
Roses That Don’t Need Winter Protection
Winter comes early to many regions of North America, so early that many gardeners haven’t yet finished installing the winterContinue Reading
Illuminate your garden this Halloween with the Chinese lantern
There are Christmas plants, Valentine’s plants, Easter plants. And now there’s a Halloween plant. Yet the plant itself is nothingContinue Reading
Answers to Your Questions: My Maple Is Losing Its Branches
Question I have a magnificent ‘Crimson King’ maple that is 20 years old and looks healthy from a distance. However,Continue Reading
Let Sleeping Clematis Climb
Some older gardening books recommend taking clematis down off their support for the winter, laying them on the ground and covering themContinue Reading
A Poinsettia for Christmas
One of the questions I receive most often concerns how to get a poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) to bloom again atContinue Reading
What Can You Store in a Garden Shed Over Winter?
If you live in a climate where winter means freezing temperatures, it’s worthwhile going through your garden shed before itContinue Reading