Nov 17, 2016 | Disease Control, Recommended Plants, Tree Care
Phomopsis is a fungus that causes shoot blight and twig cankers. The disease is most common among junipers. Phomopsis may also affect other evergreen ornamentals and a few deciduous trees. This may include American and Oriental arborvitae, hinoki cypress, English yew,...
Aug 25, 2016 | Disease Control, Garden Care, Recommended Plants
Late summer in western Washington provides ideal conditions for powdery mildew. Powdery mildew is common on a wide range of plants, including annuals, perennials, food crops and ornamental shrubs. To help you manage it, we are updating a post on powdery mildew from...
Aug 16, 2016 | Garden Care, Pest Control, Recommended Plants
Plants that are drought stressed are more susceptible to insect pests and diseases. As we discussed in last week’s post about drought stress in trees, stressed plants often emit distress signals that many damaging insects pick up on. We are seeing signs of lace...
Aug 2, 2016 | Recommended Plants
Many gardens look spent and tired in August. The early perennials have bloomed and faded, and many annuals have died back. But late summer and fall can be a great time for vibrant, colorful flowers. Here are some ideas for flowers that will bloom from now into fall....
Jun 23, 2016 | Eco-friendly Gardening, Recommended Plants
One of the best things you can do to honor National Pollinator Week, June 20-26, is to plant wildflowers, flowering shrubs and native plants in your garden. Bees, butterflies and other pollinators use nectar as their primary food source. Choose plants that bloom at...
Jun 7, 2016 | Recommended Plants, Watering
It’s been hot in the Seattle area–already. Will we have another extremely hot and dry summer like last year? Last year was outside the norm, but climate change is likely to mean more heat and less water in the summer. How much will you want to water your...
Mar 8, 2016 | Disease Control, Garden Care, Recommended Plants
Many people love the beauty and fragrance of roses. But growing roses in western Washington can be challenging. Our moist, cool weather is ideal for diseases such as black spot, rust and powdery mildew. Roses are high-maintenance plants in our region. They are not...
Feb 16, 2016 | Recommended Plants, Tree Care, Video
Do you like the idea of eating apples off your own tree? Perhaps you haven’t planted a tree because you have heard that our damp climate makes it challenging to grow apples. The good news is that you can successfully grow healthy, delicious apples in western...
Dec 8, 2015 | Landscape Design, Recommended Plants
Would you like to add visual interest and texture to your landscape but don’t have room for another large tree? A number of gorgeous evergreens are available that work well in small gardens. Some are mounded shrubs, and others are columnar trees. The Great Plant...
Dec 1, 2015 | Eco-friendly Gardening, Landscape Design, Nature, Recommended Plants, Tree Care, Wildlife
At this time of year, many families bring evergreen trees into our homes. We decorate them with lights, ornaments and garland, and we savor their sweet fragrance. We even sing carols to them: “Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree! Thy leaves are so...
Oct 29, 2015 | Landscape Design, Recommended Plants
Would you like more color in your garden? Now that the rain and clouds have returned, does your landscape seem empty and dull? Consider planting a witch hazel. These beautiful large shrubs have leaves that turn bright colors in the fall. For example, the leaves of the...
Aug 27, 2015 | Landscape Design, Recommended Plants
Does your garden tend to look sad in late summer and fall? Consider adding seasonal interest with Arbutus unedo, or strawberry tree. It is a standout in the landscape this time of year, and continues to look beautiful all year long. Features include: Evergreen shrub...
Jun 5, 2015 | Garden Care, Recommended Plants
In our recent client survey, many of you asked for plant recommendations. We’ll share plant ideas with you from time to time. Here is a start. Ferns are a great choice for the shade garden. Many ferns are native to Washington state. The Washington Native Plant Society...
