Answers to Your Questions: Botanical Mysteries!
Mystery Plant Question I bought a plant in the fall. It looked beautiful all winter, until I recently watered itContinue 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.
What Mowed Down Your Seedlings?
What a shock! You get up in the morning to tour your vegetable garden, in perfect condition the day before, onlyContinue Reading
Time to Plant?
When is it really safe to sow seeds and plant seedlings in the ground? And even in pots? We oftenContinue Reading
A Garden for the Five Senses
Most gardens are planned to please the eye: the colors and shapes of flowers, foliage, and structures are arranged toContinue Reading
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
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